Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-08

might be ticklish for us, supposing the
square package really to be a bomb
What II II should go off? The idea sug-
gested another. instantly. The car be-
hind was only a few feet off.
AS We reached the narrow road by the
stream. l rose up. AS far as 1 could,
back Of me. j hurled the Internal ma
chine. II fell. We received a shower of
dirt and small stones, but the cover Of
the car protected us. Where the bomb
landed. however. II cut deep hole in
the roadway.
On came Del Mars car. the driver
4 frantically Juggling at the emergency
( brake. But It was Of no use. There was
not room to turn aside. The car crashed
into the hole. like gigantic plow.
! 1t took one header over the side OF the
road and down several feet into the
/ stream, just as the masked man and the
driver jumped far ahead into the water.
| Safe now in our car. which was slack
enng its terrific speed looked back.
/ They've been thrownl" l cried. Were
ali right"
On the edge of the water. Just covered
by some wreckage. the chauffeur lay
motionless. The masked man crawled
/ from under the wreckage and looked at
him for a moment.
Dead" he exclaimed. still mechan-
ieally gripping rifle in his hand.
! Angrlly he raised It at us and fired.
A moment later. some other men gath
cred from all directions about him, each
armed.
Don't mind the wreck" he cried. ex-
asperated. Fire.
A volley was delivered at US. But the
distance was now apparently too great.
| We were just congratulating ourselves
on our escape. when a stray shot whizzed
I past, striking piece directly out Of the
head of the steering post, almost under
Elaino's hands
Naturally she lost control. though fortu-
nately we were not going so fast now.
I Crafty. our car swerved from side to side
I of the road. as she vainly tried to con-
troll both its speed and direction. On the
very edge OF the ditch, however. II
stopped.
I We looked back. There we could see a
group OF men who seemed to sprins out
OF the woods. as II from nowhere, at the
sound of the shots. A shout went up at
the sight of the bullet taking effect, and
they ran forward at us.
one Of their number, 1 could see,
masked, who had been In the wrecked
car, stumbled forward weakly. until he
sank down.
A couple of the others ran to him. &c
on" he must have urged vehemently
zone OF you Is enough to stay with me
I'm going back 70 the submarine hsrbor
The rest-zgo on-report to me there"
As the rest ran toward U.S. there wal
nothing for us 20 do but to abandon this
car ourselves and run for Il. We left th'
road and struck into the trackless woods
followed closely now by two of the meT
who had out-distanced the rest Through
the woods We fled. taking advantage o
such shelter as we could find.
Look, here's a cave" cried Elaine, n
we plunged, exhausted and about read,
to drop, down into a ravine.
We hurried In and the bushes swunl
over the cave entrance. Inside We stop
ped short and gazed about. II was darl
and gloomy We looked back. There wa
no hope there. They had been overtalinl
US on down a passageway, we went.
The two men who were pursuing vi
plunged down the ravine also. AS ill-lucl
would have Il. they saw the cave entrane
and dashed IN, then halted. Crouehing h
the shadow We could see their figures sill
houetted in the dim light Of the entrane'
of the cavern. One stopped at the en-
trance while the other advanced He wa
big fellow and powerfully built and tn
other fellow was equally burly. l mad
up my mind 70 fight to the last though
knew It was hopeless. II was dark
could not even see the man advancing
now.
Quickly Elaine reached into her poke
and drew out something.
Here. Walter. take this" she cried.
seized the object II was the search
light gun.
Hastily aimed II. the spot OF lighi