The Ordway new era., 1915-09-24

How | managed to pass the time
during the first few days after the
strange disappearance Of Kennedy i
don't know. 1t was all like dream
tho apartment empty. the laboratory
empty, my own work on the Star
uninteresting, Elaine brokenhearted,
life itself burden.
Hoping against hope, the next day
! decided to drop around at the Dodge
house. AS l entered the library un-
announced l saw that Elaine, with
faith for which l envied her, was sit
ting at table, her back toward the
door. She was gazing sadly at pho
tograph. Though l could not see 1t,
l needed not to be told whose 1t was.
She did not hear me come in, so en-
crossed was she in her thoughts. Nor
did she notice me at first as l stood
just behind her. Finally I put my
hand on her shoulder as If had been
an elder brother.
She looked up into my face. Have
you heard from him YETI" she asked
anxiously.
could only shake my head sadly
She sighed. Involuntarily she. rose
and together we moved toward the
garden, the last place we had seen him
about the house.
We had been pacing up and down
the garden. talking earnestly, only a
short time when n man made his way
in from the Fifth avenue gate.
"Is this Miss Dodge?" he asked.
Neither Elaine nor I knew him at
the time. though ! think she thought
he might be the bearer of some mes
sage from Craig. As matter of fact,
he was the emissary to whom the ste
nographer had thrown the torpedo
model from the Navy building in
Washington.
His visit was only part of deep
laid scheme. Only few minutes be-
fore three crooks-among them our
visitor-had stopped Just below the
house on a side street. To him the
others had given final instructions and
a note. and he had gone on, leaving
the two standing there .-..-- t.-+,
81 have a note for you," he said.
bowling and handing an envelope to
Elaine, which she tore open and read.
Washington, D. c.
Miss Elaine Dodge,
Fifth avenue. New York.
Ny Dear Miss Dodge:-The bearer,
Mr.. Bailey Of the Secret Service,
would like to question you regarding
the disappearance Of Mr.. Kennedy and
the model Of his torpedo.
Morgan Bertrand,
United States Secret Service.
Even as we were talking, the other
two crooks had already moved up and
had made their way around back OF
the stone wall that cut of the Dodge
garden back of the house. There they
stood, whispering eagerly and gaz-
ing furtively over the wall as their
man talked to Elaine.
After moment l stepped aside,
while Elaine read the note, and as he
asked her few questions l could not
help feeling that the affair had very
suspicious look The more l thought
of it, the less liked it. Finally /
could stand it no longer.
II beg your pardon" l excused my
may speak to Miss Dodge alone just
minute?"
He bowed, rather ungracefully !
thought, and Elaine followed me aside
while told her my fears.
II don't like the looks of 1t my
SELF" she agreed. "Yes. I'll be very
careful what I say"
While we were talking could see
out of the corner of my eye that the
fellow was looking at us askance and
frowning. But II had had an X-ray
eye might have seen his two COM
panions on the other side of the wall,
peering over as they had done before
and showing every evidence Of annoy
ance at my interference.
The man resumed his questioning of
Elaine regarding the torpedo, and she
replied guardedly, as, in fact, she could
not do otherwise.
Suddenly we heard shouts on tho
other side of the wall. as though some
one were attacking someone else.
There seemed to be several Of them,
the wall and ran to US.
They're after u.s." he shouted to
Bailey.
Instantly our visitor drew gun and
followed the newcomer as he ran to
get out of the garden in the opposite
direction.
Just then tall, well-dressed, strik-
ing man came over the wall, accom-
panied by another dressed as police
man, and rushed toward us.
The car bearing the mysterious
stranger, Del Mar. kept on until it
reached New York. then made its way
through the city until it came to the
Hotel La Coste.
Del Mar jumped out of the car. his
wet clothes covered completely by the
long coat. He registered and rode up
the elevator to rooms which had al
ready been enpaped for hirl In his