Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-11

some 1TO miles. was drawn q big segment
Of circle. with Peeksklll, New York. as
a center.
THAT is the heart OF America" said
Del Mar, earnestly. 1T embraces New
York, Boston. Philadelphia. But that 10
not the point Here are the great ma
jority Of the gun ana armor factories,
the powder and cartridge works, to-
gether wath the principal coal fields Of
Pennsylvania"
He brought his fist down decisively
on the table IF we hold this section"
he declared. I'VE practically hold
Americai"
Eagerly the other emissaries listened
as Del Mar laid before them the de-
tailed facts which he was collecting, the
greater mission than the mere capture
of Kennedy's wireless torpedo which had
brought him into the country. Detail
after detail OF their plans they discussed
as they worked out the gigantic scheme.
1t was a war council Of a secret adj
vance guard OF the enemies Of Americai
Meanwhile, Del Mars man in his boat,
cutting a wide circle and avoiding the
Dodge boat carrying the naturalist, made
his way across the harbor until he came
tc the shore.
There he landed and proceeded up the
beach to the foot Of 9 rocky cliff. where
he turned and followed a trail up II to
the top. II was the same path already
Travelled by my captors with me and
later followed by Elaine.
AS he came steathily out from under
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 In
terest. There he could see Elaine and
myself wearily climbing toward the top,
cur backs toward him. as we covered
the men In the cave.
So surprised was he at what he saw
that he forgot his boat below had been
followed by the mysterious naturalist,
who, the moment Del Mars man had
landed. put on the last burst of speed
end 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 1t was
only a dummy. He did not pause, but
followed the trail up the hill until he
was close after the cmissary ahead.
going more slowly.
Only a few feet further along the
cliff the naturalist paused. too. keepinS
we'll under cover, for the man was now
tust ahead of him. He looked ffzedly
at him and saw him gaze down the
cliff. Then he saw him slowly draw
gun.
Who could be belowf Quickly the nat
uralist's mind seemed to work He
crouched down, as II ready to spring.
The enissary slowly raised his re-
volver and took careful aim at the backs
OF Elaine and myself. as we came UP
the steps
But before he could pull the trigger. the
naturalist, more like one of the wild AMI
mails which he studied than like human
being, sprang from his concealment In the
bushes ana pounced on the man from be-
hind, selling him firmly.
over and over they rolled, struggling
almost to the brink Of the precipice.
I Elaine and had got almost to the top
Of the flight OF steps, when suddenly we
heard a shout above us and sounds Of q
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 one was fighting
for and the other against us we could
readily see.
The more vicious Of the two seemed 20
be forcing the naturalist slowly back.
when. with q superhuman effort the
nattiraliat hraced hirnsaelf His foot was ,
actually on small ledge Of rock directly
at the edge OF the cliff.
He swung around quickly and struoa
the other man. The vicious looking man
pitched headlong over the cliff
We shrank back closer TO the rock e.
the man hurtled through the air oniy-e
few feet from US. Down below. we could
hear him land with a sickening thud
Far over the edge Elaine leaned In =
sort OF fascination at the awful sight.
1Confin,iad IN Pa0a T,weive-(soi11no-, Gl,-S