The Monticellonian., 1915-09-09
"she has found it." he exclaimed Ill wonder following Elaine.

Outside on the lawn, Del Mai h,oN had been looking about, but had ui9 covered nothing They paused d nno ment to speak. .,
 Look out" whispered one oI 'ne 'There's someone coming. They dropped down in the shauo"' . There in the light of the street lamps was the fussy old gentleman coming across the lawn. He stole up to the door of the conservatory ana Iooheu through De Mars men era~led a Ae" feet closer. The little old man en- tered the conservatory and leokeu about again stealthily e'he two men followed him Tn nolselessly anu watched as he bent ovss the palm pot from which the dog hau dug up the torpedo. He looked at the hole curl ously. lust then he heard sounds pc hind him and sprang to his feet
 Hands up" ordered one Of the 1nen' covering him with gun.
 The little old man threw up ms hands. raising his cane still in ms right hand. The man with the gun took a step closer. As he did so the little old man brought down his cane 1 with a quick blow and knocked the gun out of his hand The second man seized the cane The old man jerkeo the cane back and was standing there with thin. tough steel rapier. It was a sword cane. Del Mars man held the l sheath.
 As the man attacked with the sheath the little old man parried, sent it flying from his grasp and wounded him. The wounded man sank down while the little old man ran of through the palms, followed by the l other of Del Mars men. Around the hall he ran and back into the conservatory, where he 1 picked up a heavy chair and threw II through the glass, dropping himself behind a convenient hiding place near i by Del Mars man, close after him. mistaking the crash of glass for the escape of the man he was pursuing went on through the broken exit l Then the little old man doubled on his tracks and made for the front of the house.
  With Aunt Josephine had remained in the library.
 Whats that?" l exclaimed at the first sounds "A fght?"
 Together we rushed for the con seryatory
 The fight, followed so quickly by the crash of glass, also alarmed Elaine and Del Mar in the hallway and they hurried toward the library, which we had just left, by another door.
 AS they entered they saw a little old gentleman rushing in from the conservatory and locking the door be hind him. He whirled about, and he and Del Mar recognized each other at once. They drew guns together, but the little old man fired first. His bullet struck the wall back of Del Mar and a cloud of yapor was tn- stantly formed. enyeloping Del Mar and even Elaine Del Mar fell. over 0 ' The little old man ran forward
 In the conservatory Aunt Josephine and I heard the shooting, just as one of Del Mars men ran in again With him we ran back toward the library
 By this time the whole house was aroused Jennings and Marie were hurrying downstairs. crying for help and making their way to the library also.
 In the library the little old man bent over Del Mar and Elaine. But it was only a moment later that he heard the whole house aroused. Quick ly he shut and locked the folding doors to the drawing room as, with Del Mars man, was beating at the rear library door.
 'I'll go around" I suggested, hur- rying off, while Del Mars man tried to beat in the door.
 Inside the little old man. who had been listening, saw that there was no means of escape He pulled of his coat and vest and turned them inside out. On the inside he had prepared an exact copy of Jennings livery. It was only a matter of seconds be fore he had completed his change For a moment he paused and looked at the two prostrate figures before him. Then he took rose from a vase on the table and placed it in Elaine hand
 Finally. with his whiskers and wig off. he moved to the rear door where Del Mars man was beating and open ed 1t.
 Look" he cried. pointing in an agi- tated way at Del Mar and Elaine. What shall we do?"
 Del Mars man, who had never seen Jennings, ran to his master, and the little old man, in his new disguise. slipped quietly into the hall and out the front door, where he had a taxieab waiting for him down the street. A moment later burst open the other library door and Aunt Josephine followed me in, just as Jennings him. self and Marie entered from the draw. 1 ing room.
 It was only a moment before we had Del Mar, who was most in need of care, on the sofa, and Elaine, already regaining consciousness, lay back in q | deep easy chair.
 As Del Mar moved turned again te Elaine, who was now nearly recovered
 How do you feel?" I asked. anx- iously.
 Her throat was parched by the as- phyxiating fun.ss. but she smiled brightly, though weakly.