The Ely miner., 1915-10-22

uInSSil tOSclueT dIL6r QlS TCuldT hdUi6
trip.
The men at the council table rose
and saluted as Del Mar himself en-
tered He returned the salute and
quietly made his way to the head of
the table where he took a seat, natu-
rally
This is the area in which we must
work first of ALL he began, drawing
toward him book and opening it.
And we must strike quickly, for if
they heed the advice in this book, it
may be too late for us to take advan-
tage of their foolish unpreparedness. .
1t was a book entitled "Defenseless
America" written by great Ameri-
can inventor, Hudson Maxim.
Del Mar turned the pages until he
came to and pointed out map. The
others gather about him, leaning for
ward eagerly as he talked TO them.
There, on the map, with b radius of
some one hundred and seventy miles,
was drawn a big segment of a circle,
with Peekskill, New York, marking the
center.
THAT is the heart of America" said
Del Mar, earnestly. 1T embraces New
York, Boston, Philadelphia. But that
is not the point. Here are the great
majority of the gun and armor fac
tories, the powder and cartridge works,
together with the principal coal fields
Of Pennsylvania.
He brought his fist down decisive
ly on the table. "If we hold this Sec
tion," he declared. 1--WE practically hold
America"
Eagerly the other emissaries ifs
tened as Del Mar laid before them the
detailed facts which he was collecting,
the greater mission than the mere cap
ture of Kennedy's wireless torpedo
which had brought him into the coun-
try. Detail after detail of their plans
they discussed as they worked out
the gigantic scheme.
It was a war council of secret
advance guard of the enemies of
America!
Meanwhile, Del Mars man in mis-
boat, cutting wide circle and avoid
ing the Dodge boat carrying the natur-
alist, made his way across the harbor
until he came to the shore.
There he landed and proceeded up
the beach to the foot of rocky cliff,
where he turned and followed a trail
up it to the top 1t was the same path
already travelled by my captors with
me and later followed by Elaine.
AS he came stealthily out from un-
der cover, Del Mars man gaZed down
the stairway. He drew back at what he
saw. Slowly he pulled gun from his
pocket, watching down the steps with
tense interest There he could see
Elaine and myself wearily climbing to
ward the top, our backs toward him,
as we covered the men in the cave.
So surprised was he at what he saw
that he forgot that his boat below had
been followed by the mysterious nat
uralist, who, the moment Del Mars
man had landed, put on the last burst
of speed and ran the Dodge boat close
to the spot where the aide had left
Del Mars
A glance into the boat sufficed to
tell the naturalist that the figure in it
was only dummy. He did not pause,
but followed the trail up the hill until
he was close after the emissary ahead,
going more slowly.
Only a few feet further along the
cliff, the naturalist paused, too, keeping
well under cover, for the man was
now just ahead of him. He looked
fxedly at him and saw him gaze down
the cliff Then he saw him slowly
draw gun
Who could be below? Quickly the
naturalist's mind seemed to work. He
crouched down, as If ready to spring.
The emissary slowly raised his re-
volver and took careful aim at the
backs of Elaine and myself, as we
came up the steps.
Eat before he could pull the trigger
the naturalist, more like one of the
wild animals which he studied than
| like a human being, sprang from his
concealment in the bushes and
| pounced on the man from behind, seiz
ing him firmly.
Over and over they rolled, strug
Cling almost to the brink of the preci
pice.
Elaine and I had got almost to the
| top of the flight CT steps, when sud
denly We heard shout above US and
sounds of terrific struggle. We
| turned and saw two men.
Nearer and nearer the edge of the
cliff they rolled. We crouched closer
to the rocky wall, gazing up at the
death grapple of the two. Who they
were we did not know but that ono
was fighting for and the other agains,
US we could readily see.
The more vicious of the two seemed
| to be forcing the naturalist slowly
back, when, with superhuman effort
the naturalist braced himself. His foot
was actually on small ledge Of rock
| directly at the edge of the cliff.
| He swung around quickly and STRUCK
the ether man. The vicious looking
man pitched headlong over the cliif
| We shrank back closer to the rocl
as the man hurtled through the all
| only a few feet from us. Down below
we could hear him land with sickeD
ing thud.
Far over the edge Elaine leaned in 6
sort of fascination at the awful sight
For a moment | thought the very imI
of the perverse had got possession o.
her and that she herself would fal
over. She brushed her hand unstead
lily over her eyes and staggered.
caught her just in time.
| Il rrnc 0nlx On instant before fhf