The Ordway new era., 1915-06-11

~ StAs0 Ns"HsSy 'o'"s v" w 49,
~ Rise .
when l heard the telephone ring. 1t
was Craig. Without a word OF apology
for his rudeness. which l knew had
been purely absent-minded. heard
him say: Walter. meet me in half
an hour outside that Florence Leish's
house."
Half an hour later was waiting
near the house in the suburbs to
which had been directed by the
strange telephone call the day before.
/ noticed that 1t was apparently de-
serted. The blinds were closed and a
ITO Let" sign was on the side Of the
house.
Hello, Walter" cried Craig at last.
hustling along.
He led the way around the side Of
the house to . window. and, with q
powerful grasp, wrenched open the
closed shutters. He had just smashed
the window when policeman ap-
peared.
-Hey. you feilows-what are you
doing there!" he shouted.
Craig paused . second. then pulled
his card from his pocket.
"Just the man want" he parried.
much to the policeman's surprise.
There's something crooked going on
here. Follow us IN"
We climbed into the window. There
was the same living room We had
seen the day before. But 1t was now
bare and deserted.
Como on" cried Kennedy. beckon-
ing Us on.
Quickly he rushed through the
house. There waa not thing In It to
change the dsserts4 Appearance Of
the first door. At ISst It occurred to
Craig to grope his way down cellar.
There was, nothing there.
+. Kennedy had been carefully going
over the place. and was at the other
side Of the cellar from ourselves
when saw him stop and gaze at the
floor. -
Hide" he whispered suddenly to
US.
We waited moment. Nothing hap
pened. Had he been seeing things or
hearing things. I wondered?
From our hidden vantage We could
now sec . square piece in the floor,
perhaps i've feet In diameter. slowly
open up as though on q pivot.
The weird and sinister figure OF
man appeared. Over his head he wore
q peculiar helnet with hideous glass
pieces over the eyes and tubes that
connected with a tank which he car
ried buckled to his back. ii3"(
Quickly he closed down the cover OF
the tube, but not before . vile effiuvi-
um seemed to escape. and penetrate
even to us in our hiding places. AS
he moved forward. Kennedy gave q
flying leap at him, and we followed
with regular football Interference.
It was the work Of only a moment
for us to subdue and hold him. while
Craig ripped OF the helmet.
It was Dan the Dude.
whats that thins?' puffed. as
helped Craig with the headgear.
'An oxygen helmet" he replied.
There must be air down the tube that
cannot be breathed."
He went over to the tube. Carefully
he opened the top and gazed down,
starting back second later. with his
face puckered up at the noxious odor.
Sewer gas" he ejacuiated. as he
slammed the cover down. Then he
added to the policeman: Where do
you suppose It comes from?"
"why." replied the omcer. "the st.
James viaduct-an old dsewer-is some
where about these parts"
Kennedy, puckered his face as he
gaxed at our prisoner. He reached
down quickly and lifted something on
the mans coat. ~ 1t~
.Golden hair" he muttered.
"Elaine's!" cJ- -GHf ~.
A moment later he seized the man
and shook him roughly.
Where IL she-telif me?" he de-
manded. EiA
The man snarled some kind Of re-
ply, refusing to say word. about her.
'"Tell me-" repeated Kennedy.
"Hqmph!" snorted the prisoner. more
close-mouthed than ever.
Kennedy was furioue. Az he sent
ths man 1reeling away, from him he
sslsed the oxygen helmst and began
putting It on. There was only, one
thing to. do-to follow the clue Of the
golden strands Of hair.
Down Into the pest hole he went. his
head protected by thefoxygen helmet.
Al. he cautiously took one step after
another down . series Of iron rungs
inside the hole, he found that the wa
ter was up 10 his chest AZ the bot
tom Of the perpendicular pit was .
narrow. low passageway leading Oh.