The Dermott news., 1915-11-04


anyone, just salute and walk past
"Yes-yes, l understand" she nod
ded back, and thank you.
He gave her no time to sav more.
even if ii had been safe, but turned
and locked the door of her room.
Trying to keep the old stairway
from creaking and betraying her. she
/ went down. She managed to reach
the lower hallway without seeing any
body or being discovered Quietly she
went to the door and out. She had
not gone far when she met an armed
man. the sentry who had been con
cealed in the shrubbery.
WHO goes there ," he challenged
Elaine did not betray herself by
speaking, but merely saluted and
! passed on as fast as she could without
exciting further suspicion. Non
/ plused, the man turned and watched
! her curiously as she moved away down
/ the path.
where's he going - the sentry
muttered still staring
| Elaine in her eagerncss was not
i looking as carefully where she was
i going as she was thinking about get.
+ ting away in safety Suddenly an
overhanging branch of 4 tree caught
her hat. and before she knew 1t pulled
| it off her head. There was no con.
cealing her golden hair now.
stop" shouted the sentry.
Elaine did not pause. but Owed into
the bushes on the side Of the path.
just as the man fired and ran forward,
s,ilI shouting fer her TO halt. she ran
as fast as she could. pulling eft the
goggles and mask and looking back
now and then in terror at her pursuer,
who was rapidly gaining on her.
Before she could catch herself she
missed her footing and slipped over
the edge OF gorge. Down she went,
with a rush
The sentry checked himself just in
time at the top OF the gorge and
leaned as far over the edge as he
dared He raised his gun again and
fired But Elaine's course was SO hid
den by the trees and SO zigzag that he
missed again moment he hesitat-
ed. then started and climbed down
after her as fact as he could.
At the bottom of the hill she picked
herself UP and dashed again into the
woods. the sentry still after her and
gaining again
At the same time We who we're still
in the chase had eireled about the
country until We were Yer! near whore
we started Following the dogs over
i rail fence, | drew UP suddenly hear
ing scream.
There was E'aine. on foot, running
as If her life depended on it. | need
ed ne second glance. Behind Ter WAS
man With rifle, almost oyertaking
her
As luck would have it. the n9men-
tum OF my horse carried me right at
them Careful 10 avoid Elaine | rode
square at the man. striking at him
Vciously with my riding crop before
he knew what had struck HIM.
The fellow dropped. stunned. !
leaped from my horse ard ran to her,
Just as the rest OF the hunt came up
Having waited until he vas sure
that Elaine had got away safely. the
old tramp slowly and carefully fol
lowed down the stairs OF the ruined
hotel
As he went down he heard a shot
from the woods Could IL be one Of
the sentrics2 He locked about keen
ly. hesltating just what to do.
In an instant down below, he heard
the scurry of footsteps from the i'm
proyised laboratory and shouts. He
turned and stealthily ran upstairs.
Just as the door opened
The tramp had not been the only
one who had been alarmed by the shot
Of the sentry
Del Mar was talking again to the
men when it rang out. What's that
he exclaimed Another intruder"
The men stared at him blankly.
while Del Mar dashed for the door,
followed by them all. In the hall he
issued his orders quickly.
Here. you fellows. he called di-
viding the men, get outside and see
what is doing. You other men follow
me. want ycu to sea if everything
is all right up above
Meanwhile the tramp had gained
the upper hallway and dashed past
the room which he had occupied. Out
side. in the hall. Del Mar and his men
rushed up to the door OF the room in
which Elaine had been thrown. II
was locked and they broke in. She
was gone!
On into the next room they dashed,
bearing down this door also. There
was shorty. trussed up in his under
clothes. They FASTENED to release
him.
where are they-where's the
tramp" demanded Del Mar angrily.
Il think | heard someone on the
roof" replied Shorty weakly
He was right. The tramp had man
t.