Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1915-09-18
THIRTY-FIRST EPISODE
AT THE OLD HOSTELRY.

OFF a lonely wharf on a deserted
part of the coast some miles from the
promontory which afforded Del Mar
his secret submarine harbor, a ship
was riding at anchor.
On the wharf a group of men, husky
Lascars, were straining their eyes at
the mysterious craft.
Here she comes" muttered n Of
the men, "at last"
From the ship a large yawl had put
out. AS she approached the wharf it
could be seen that she was loaded to
the gunwales with cases and boxes.
She drew up close to the wharf, and
the men fell to unloading her, lifting
up the boxes as though they were
Weighted with feathers instead Of
metal and explosives.
Down the shore, at the same time,
behind a huge rock, crouched a rough
looking tramp. His interest in the
yawl and its cargo was even keener
than that of the Lascars.
Supplies" he muttered, moving
back cautiously and up the bluff. Il
wonder where they are taking them?"
Marcus Del Mar had chosen an cid
and ruined hotel not far from the
shore as his ~storehouse and arsenal.
Already he was there, pacing up and
down the rotted veranda which shook
under his weight.
Come, hurry up" he called impa-
tiently as the first of the men carry
ing a huge box on his back made his
appearance up the hill.
One after another they trooped in
and Del Mar led them to the hotel, un-
locking the door.
Inside, the old hostelry was quite as
~ramshackle as outside. What had once
been the dining room now held moth
ing but a long, rickety table and sew
eral chairs.
Put them there" ordered Del Mar,
directing the disposal of the cases.
Then you can begin work. / shall
be back soon."
He went out, and as he did so, two
men seized guns from a corne near
by and followed him. On the veranda
he paused and turned to the men.
"If anyone approaches the house
anyone, you understand-make him a
prisoner and send for me-" he or
dered. IF he r~esists, shoot"
Yes, sir" they replied, moving over
and s%tationing themselves n at each
angle of the narrow paths that ran
before the old house.
Del Mar turned and plunged DELHI
erately into the bushes, as if for a
cross-country walk, unobserved.
Meanwhile, by another path up the
bluff, the tramp had made his way par.
allel to the line taken by the men. He
paused at the top of the bluff where
some bushes overhung and parted
them.
Their headquarters" he remarked
to himself. under his breath.
Elaine, Aunt Josephine and | were
on the lawn that forenoon when a
groom in respondent livery came up
to us.
Miss Elaine Dodge?" he bowed.
Elaine took the note he offered and
he departed with another bow.
"Oh, isn't that delightful" she cried
with pleasure, handing the note to me.
/ read 1t: "The Wilkeshire Country
club will be honored If Miss Dodge
and her friends will join the paper
chase this afternoon. L. H. Brown,
Secretary"
Il suppose q preparation for the
iox or drag hunting season." l queried,
YES" she replied. "Will you go?
81 don't ride very WELL" l answered,
but I'll 60"
"Oh, and here's Mr.. Del Mar" she
turning. You'll join us at the
hunt in a paper chase this
afternoon, surely, Mr.. Del MARI"
Charmed, I'm sure" he agreed
gracefully.
For several minutes we chatted,
flaming, then he withdrew. u shall