The Monticellonian., 1915-11-18

HUN lOlQcu up lnIO O NCiy otioii SP%NC' had turned from Del Mar when the valet entered, apparently to speak to Elaine, but in reality to throw them off their guard.
 Under that cover I was able to watch the precious pair from the tail of my eye I saw Del Mar nod to the valet as though he understood that some warning was about to be con veyed. Although nothing was said, 1 Del Mar was indicating by dumb show orders of some kind.
 T hope you'll pardon me, Miss | Dodge" Del Mar deprecated as the valet retreated toward the door to the | kitchen and pantry. But, you see. have to be housekeeper here, too, it l seems"
 Actually, though he was talking to us, it was in way that enabled him, by palming something in his hand, l 1 fancied, to look at it. It must have been hard to read, for 1 I managed by quick shift at last to catch just a fieeting glimpse that 1t was piece of paper he held in his hand.
 What was it, asked myself, that he l should be so secret about it? Clearly, 1 reasoned, it must be something that was of interest to Elaine and myself. l If I must act ever, I concluded, now was the time to do so.
 Suddenly I reached out and snatched | | |. L EOf could read it Del Mar had sprung to his feet
 At the same instant a man leaped | out from behind the curtains.
 But I was on my guard. Already l had drawn my revolver and had them all covered before they could make another move.
 Back into that corner-by the win dow-all of you" 1 ordered, thinking thus to get them together, more easily covered. Then, handing the note, with my other hand, to Elaine, said to her, See what it says-quick. Eagerly she took it and read aloud, House surrounded by soldiers,"
 Woodward, l cried.
 Still keeping them covered, l smiled quietly to myself and took one step after another slowly to the door. Elaine followed.
 1 reached the door and I remember that l had to step on metal mat to do so. 1 put my hand behind me and grasped the knob about to open the door.
 As I did so, the man who had denly threw down his upraised hands. Before I could fire, instantaneously in fact, l felt a thrill as though a mil lion needles had been thrust into all parts of my body at once paralyzing every muscle and nerve. The gun fell from my neryeless hand, clattering to the floor.
 The man had thrown an electric switch, which had completed circuit from the metal mat to the door knob through my body and then to the light and power current of high power There I was, held a prisoner, by the electric current!
 At the same instant, also, Del Mar with an oath leaped forward and seized Elaine by the arms. I struggled with the doorknob but could no more let go than 1 could move my feet off | that mat. It was torture.
 "Henry!" called Del Mar to the valet
 Yes, sir
 Open the cabinet. Give me the helmets and the suits
 The valet did so, bringing out a number of queer-looking headpieces with single weird eye of glass in the 1 front, as we'll as rubber suits of an | outlandish design. While he was do- 1 ing so, Del Mar stuffed a handker- chief into Elaine's mouth to keep her quiet.
 By this time Del Mar, as we'll as the man from behind the curtains and the valet, were provided with suits, and one at time holding Elaine, the oth- CTS put them on.
 Del Mar moved toward Elaine hold ing an extra helmet. He strapped 1t on her, then started to force her into a suit
 I struggled still, but in vain, to free myself from the doorknob and mat It was more than I could stand, and sank down, half conscious.
 1 revived only long enough to see that Del Mar had forced ono of the pressed a button hidden on the side of his desk and secret panel in the wall opened. Picking up Elaine he and the others hurried through into what looked like a dark passage and the panel closed.
 They were gone. I put forth all my remaining strength in one last des perate struggle. Somehow, 1 managed to kick the wire mat from under my feet, breaking the contact.
 I staggered toward the panel but fell to the floor, unconscious.
 Outside, the iron ring, as Woodward had planned it, of soldiers were look ing about alert for any noise or move ment. Suddenly, two of them who had been watching the grounds at tentively signaled to each other tha they saw something.
 From the shrubbery emerged a mos curious and uncouth figure, all in rags with long. unkempt hair and beard sallcw complexion. and carrying { long staff It might have been ; tramp or a hermit, perhaps, who wal making his way toward the house.
 The two soldiers stole up noiseless