The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-09-03


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
on he came slowly and curlously out
OF his hiding place and gazed h1edly
at Del Mar
No sooner had Del Mars boat got
a 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 II 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
er them
Del Mar strained Ills eyes back
through his glass at the pursuing boat.
But the naturalist, in spite of 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 eye and dropped
down into the bottom OF his own boat,
where he was at least safe from scru-
tiny, If his boat we're 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 a ride herself.
She ordered her horse around from
the stables while she donned her neat
little riding habit A 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 a good
clip when suddenly her horse SHE'D at
something.
Whoa, Buster" pacified 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
up. No sooner had she looked at it
than she discovered the initials wv.
j." carved on the butt.
Walter jameson" she exclaimed,
realizing suddenly that it was mine.
It's been fired, too"
Her eye fell again on the blood
spots. Blood and-footprints-into
the brush!" she gasped in horror, fol-
lowing the trail. What could have
happened to Walter"
With the revolver, Elaine followed
where the bushes we're 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?"
she asked. looking all about but dis
covering no trail.
She was plainly at loss what
course to pursue.
What would Craig do?" she asked
herself
Finding no answer, she stood think
ing a moment, slowly tearing the en-
velope to pieces. If she were to do
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.
1t 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 cliff. Then the trail wound up the
cliff. We climbed it until we reached
the top.
There in the rock was a rude stair
way. drew back. But one man drew
a gun and the other preceded me
down. Along the steep stone steps
cut in the face of the rock they forced
me.
Below, in a 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
breakneck stairway, the foremost of
my captors stepped on a large fiat
rock AS he did so. 1t gave way slight
ly under his foot.
A light in the cave flashed up. I'm
der the rock was a secret electric
connection which operated lamp.
Someone coming" muttered the
two men, on guard instantly.
1t was a somewhat precarious foot
ing as we descended and for the mo-
ment | was more concerned for my
safety from a fall than anything else.
Once my foot did slip and a 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 mo covered,
raised the fiat stone on the top step.
Carefully he reset the connection of
the alarm rock, series of metal
points that bent under the weight Of
a person and made a contact which
signaled down in tho cavern the ap-
proach of anyone who did not know
the secret.