The Ordway new era., 1915-11-05

tramp. What shall ! do?" she asked.
Don't talk" he whispered close to
her ear. Go out-and II you meet
anyone. Just salute and walk past"
"Yes-yes. understand" she nod
ded back. "and thank you.'
He gave her no time to say more.
even II It had been safe, but turned
and locked the door of her room.
Trying to keep the old stairway
from creaking and betraying her, she
went down. She managed to reach
the lower hallway without seeing any
body or being discovered. Quietly she
went to the door and out. She had
not gone far when she met an armed
man, the sentry. who had been con-
cealed in the shrubbery.
who goes there?" he challenged.
Elaine did not betray herself by
speaking, but merely saluted and
passed on as fast AZ she could without
exciting further suspicion. Non
plused. the man turned and watched
her curiously as she moved away down
the path.
"Where's he going?" the sentry
muttered, still staring.
Elaine in her eagerness was not
looking as carefully where she was
going as she was thinking about get
ting away in safety. Suddenly an
| overhanging branch OF q tree caught
her hat. and before she knew 1t pulled
1t of her head. There was NO con.
cealing her golden hair now.
"Stopl" shouted the sentry.
Elaine did not pause. but dived into
the bushes on the side Of the path.
just as the man fred and ran forward.
still shouting for her to halt. She ran
as fast as she could. pulling of the
goggles and mask and looking back
now and then In terror at her pursuer.
who was rapidly gaining on her.
Before she could catch herself she
missed her footing and slipped over
the edge OF a gorge. Down she went.
with a rush.
The sentry checked himself Just in
time at the top of tho gorge and
leaned as far over the edge as he
dared. He raised his gun again and
fired. But Elaine's course was so hid
den by the trees and so zigzag that he
missed again. A moment he hesitat-
ed. then started and climbed down
after her as fact as he could.
At the bottom OF the hill she picked
herself up and dashed again into the
woods. the sentry still after her and
gaining again.
At the same time we who were still
In the chase had circled about the
u-h n a
we started. Following the dogs over
a rail fence, drew up suddenly, hear
| ing a scream.
There was Elaine, on foot, running
as II her life depended on 1t. l need
ed no second glance. Behind her was
a man with rifle. almost overtaking
her.
As luck would have 1t, the momen-
tum of my horse carried me right at
them. Careful t. avoid Elaine. l rode
square at the man, striking at him
viciously with my riding crop before
he knew what had struck him.
The fellow dropped. stunned. l
leaped from my horse and ran to her.
just as the rest of the hunt came up.
| =.
Having waited until he was sure
that Elaine had got away safely. the
old tramp slowly and carefully fol
lowed down the stairs of the ruined
hotel.
| AS he went down he heard a shot
from the woods. Could it be one of
the sentries? He looked about keen
ly, hesitating just what to do.
In an instant. down below, he heard
the scurry of footsteps from the i'm
provised laboratory and shouts. He
turned and stealthily ran upstairs
| Just as the door opened.
The tramp had not been the only
one who had been alarmed by the shot
of the sentry.
Del Mar was talking again to the
men when it rang out. What's that?
he exclaimed. Another intruder?"
| The men stared at him blankly
while Del Mar dashed for the door
followed by them all. In the hall he
issued his orders quickly.
Here, you fellows he called, di
viding the men. get outside and see
what is doing. You other men follow
me. l want you to see If everything
is all right up above"
Meanwhile the tramp had gained
the upper hallway and dashed past
the room which he had occupied. Out
side, in the hall. Del Mar and his men
rushed up to the door of the room in
which Elaine had been thrown. II
was locked and they broke in. She
was gone!
On into the next room they dashed
bearing down this door also. There
was Shorty, trussed up in his under
clothes. They fastened to release
him.
Where are they-where's the
tramp?" demanded Del Mar angrily.
81 think l heard someone on the
roof" replied Shorty weakly.