The Monticellonian., 1915-09-30

operations about here. Come on. Get into the boat"
 For some reason best known to himself. the naturalist seemed to have lost all interest in his specimens and to have a sudden curiosity about Del Mars affairs. As the motor boat sped off. he came slowly and curiously out of his hiding place and gazed fixedly at Del Mar
 No sooner had Del Mars boat got little distance out into the harbor i than the naturalist hurried down the Dodge dock There was tied Elaine's own fast little runabout. He jumped into it and started the engine, follow ing quickly in Del Mars wake
 Look" called the emIssary to Del Mar. spying the Dodge boat with the naturalist in it, skimming rapidly aft CT them
 Del Mar strained his eyes back l through his glass at the pursuing boat. But the naturalist, in spite of his 1 smoked glasses, seemed not to have 1 impaired his eyesight by his studies. 1 He caught the glint of the sun on the lens at Del Mars eye and dropped down into the bottom of his own boat, where he was at least safe from scru- tiny, if his boat were not.
 Del Mar lowered his glass. That's the Dodge boat" he said thoughtfully. T don't like the looks of that fellow. Give her more speed.
 
 Tel Mar had not gone long before Elaine decided to take a ride herself. | She ordered her horse around from itttle riding habit A few minutes later. as the groom held the horse, she l mounted and rode away, choosing the road by which l had gone, expecting to meet me on the return from town
 She was galloping along at a good clip when suddenly her horse shied at something
 Whoa, Buster" paeified Elaine.
 But it was of no use. Buster still reared up.
 Why, what is the matter?" she asked. What do you see?'
 She looked down at the ground. There was spot of blood in the dust. Buster was one of those horses to whom the sight of blood is terrifying.
 Elaine pulled up beside the road. There was a revolver lying in the grass She dismounted and picked it l up. No sooner had she looked at 1t than she discovered the initials w. J" carved on the butt
 Walter Jamesoni" she exclaimed, realizing suddenly that it was mine. It's been fired. tool"
 Her eye fell again on the blood spots. 'tBlood and-footprints-in the brush!" she gasped in horror, fol lowing the trail What could have happened to Walter?"
 With the revolver, Elaine followed where the bushes were trampled down until she came to the place where had been bound There she spied some pieces of paper lying on the ground and picked them up.
 She put them together. They were pieces of the envelope of the letter which We had decided to send to Wash. ington.
 Which way did they take him 2s she asked, looking all about but dis covering no trail.
 She was plainly at a loss what course to pursue.
 What would Craig do?" she asked herself.
 Finding no answer, she stood think ing moment, slowly tearing the en yelope to pieces. If she were to dc anything at all, it must be done quick ly. Suddenly an idea seemed to occur to her. She threw the pieces of paper into the air and let them blow away It was unscientific detection, perhaps but the wind actually took them and carried them in the direction in which the men had forced me to walk. after they had robbed me of the letter
 That's it" cried Elaine to herself I'll follow that direction
 
 Meanwhile, the men had hurried me off along a trail that led to the foot of a cliff. Then the trail wound up the cliff. We climbed it until We reached the top.
 There in the rock was rude stair way l drew back. But one man drew gun and the other preceded me down. Along the steep stone steps cut in the face of the rock they forced me.
 Below, in rift in the very wall of | the cliff, was a cave in which already were two more of Del Mars men, talk ing in low tones, in the dim light.
 As we made our way down the breakneek stairway, the foremost of my eaptors stepped on a large fiat rock. As he did so. it gave way slight ly under his foot.
 A light in the cave flashed up. Un- connection which operated lamp.
 Someone coming" muttered the two men, on guard instantly.
 It was a somewhat precarious foot ing as We descended and for the mo ment I was more concerned for my 1 SdIety nun ls~Al than eiA eAAnS Si9S. Once my foot did slip and shower of pebbles and small pieces of rock start ed down the face of the cliff.
 As We passed down, the man be- hind me. still keeping me covered, raised the flat stone on the top step. Carefully he reset the connection of the alarm rock. a series of metal points that bent under the weight of | o ,,oreor oD5 ,,ada O coptaet wbicb