The Dermott news., 1915-10-14

operations about tsss. 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 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
little distance out into the harbor
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. Swimming rapidly aft
er them
Del Mar strained his eyes back
through his glass at the pursuing boat.
But the naturalist. in spite or his
smoked glasses. seemed not to have
impaired his eyesight by his studies
He caught the CLINT of the sun on the
lens at Del Mars eve and dropped
down into the bottom of his own boat
where he was al least safe from sCru
tiny, II his boat were not.
Del Mar lowered his glass That's
the Dodge boat" he said thoughtfully
I don't like the looks of that fellow
Give her more speed
lei Mar had not gone long before
Elaine decided to take ride herself
She ordered her horse around from
| the stables while she donned her neat
little riding habit few minutes
| later. as the groom held the horse she
mounted and rode away, choosing the
road by which | had gone. expecting
to meet me on the return from town
She was galloping along at good
clip when suddenly her horse SHE'D at
| something.
Whoa. Buster. paeified Elaine
But it WAS of no use Buster still
reared up.
Why. what is the natter" 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 VAS a revolver lying in the
grass She dismounted. and picked ii
up. No sooner had she looked at ii
than she discovered the initials w
j." carved on the butt
Walter Jameson" she exclaimed
realizing suddenly that 1t was mine
Its been fired. too"
Her eye fell again on the blood
spots. blood and -footprints-intc
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 dowr
until she came to the place where
had been bound. There she spice
some pieces of paper lying on tn,
ground and picked them Up.
She pat them together They We're
pieces of the envelope OF the letteI
which We had decided to send to Wash
inston.
| Which way did they take him
she asked, looking all about but dis
covering no trail.
She was plainly at a loss wha
| course to pursue.
What would Craig too" she asket
herself
Finding no answer, she stood think
ing Il moment. slowly tearing the en-
velope to pieces. II she were to dt
anything at all. II must be done quick
ly. Suddenly an idea seemed to occur
to her. She threw the pieces of papel
into the air and let them blow away
II was unscientific detection. perhaps
but the wind actually took them anC
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
III follow that direction
|
Meanwhile. the men had hurried ms
off along trail that led to the foo
! of ciif. Then the tran wound up th'
cliff. We climbed it until We reached
the top.
There in the rock was rude stair
way. drew back, But one man drew
gun and the other preceded ms
down. Along the steep stone step:
cut In the face OF the rock they forced
me.
Below. in rift in the very wall o
the elf. was cave in which a!read,
were two more of Del Mars men, talk
ing in low tones. in the dim light.
As we made our way down the
oreakneck stairway. the foremost o.
my captors stepped on large ha'
rock As he did so. it gave way slight
~ under his foot
A light in the cave flashed up. Tn
der the rock was secret electric
connection which operated lamp.
Someone coming, muttered the
two men, on guard instantly.
II was n somewhat prccarious foot
ing as We descended and for the mo