The Monticellonian., 1915-09-23

l
 1 "Thank you" said Elaine, endeayol ing to pay tine farmer.
 "No, no, miss" he demurred as h clucked to his horses.
 .Ee waved to the old fellow. As h started to drive away. he reachet some yellow harvest apples. One a time he tossed them to us as he lum bered off
 Truly rural" remarked a yoica be hind us
 It was Del Mar, all logged up an, carrying a magazine in his hand.
 Ne ehatted moment. then Elaine started to go into the house with Aun Josephine. With Del Mar l followed
 As she went Elaine took bite o the apple. To her surprise 1t separated neatly into two hollow halves. Sht looked inside There was a note Carefully she unfolded it and read Like the others, it was not written bui printed in pencil:
 Be careful to unpaek all your trunks | What did these mysterious warnings mean, she asked herself in amazement Somehow so far they had worked out all right. She tore up the note and threw the pieces away. Elaine went into the house and we followed. Del Mar. however, dropped just bit behind and, as he came to the place where Elaine had thrown the pieces of paper, dropped his magazine He stopped to pick it up and gathered the pieces, then reioined us.
 T hope you'll excuse me- said Elaine brightly. We've just arrived and haven't thing unpacked."
 Del Mar bowed and Elaine left us Aunt Josephine followed shortly. Del Mar and l sat down at table. As he talked he placed the magazi.e in his lap beneath the table. on his knees. could not see, but he was il reality secretly putting together the torn note which the farmer had thrown to Elaine.
 Finally he managed to fit all the pieces. A glance down was enough But his face betrayed nothing. Still under the table, he swept the pieces into his pocket and rose.
 .Ill drop in when you are more set ted" he excused himself. strolling leisarely out again.
 
 Up in the bedroom Elaine,s maid Marie, had been unpaeking.
 Well. what do you know about that?H she exclaimed as Jennings and Patrick came dragging in the banged up trunk.
 ''Very queer" remarked Jennings detailing the little he had seen, while Patrick left.
 The entrance of Elaine put an end to the interesting gossip and Marie started to open the trunk
 No, Marie" said Elaine. "I'H un. pack them myself. You can put the things away later. You and Jennings may go,'
 Quickly she took the things out of the battered trunk. Then she started on the other trunk, which was like it but not marked. She threw out a couple of garments, then paused, star tied.
 There was the lost torpedo-where Bertholdi had stuck it ill her haste! Elaine picked it up and looked at it in wonder as it recalled all those last days before Kennedy was lost.
 Finally she decided to lock 1t up in the bureau drawer and tell me. Not only did she lock the drawer, but, as she left her room, she took the key of the door from the lock inside and locked 1t outside.
 
 Del Mar did not go far from the house, however He scarcely reached the edge of the grounds where he was sure he was not observed when he placed his fingers to his lips and whis- tied. An instant later two of his men appeared from behind hedge.
 You must get into her room," he ordered. That torpedo is in her lug gage somewhere, after all.''
 In the rear of the house the two emissaries of Del Mar stole out of the shelter of some bushes and stood for a moment looking. Elaine's windows were high above them, too high to reach,
 Well have to use the Dutch house mans methods" decided one.
 
 Together they went around the house toward the laundry. IL was only few minutes later that they re turned. No one was about. Quickly one of them took off his coat Around his waist he had wound coil of rope. Deftly he began 10 climb tree whose upper branches fell ever the roof. Cat like he managed to reach the roof. He made his way along the ridge pole to a chimney which was directly back of and in line with Elaines windows. Then he uneoiled the rope and made one end fast to the ehim- ney. Letting the other end fall free down the roof. he carefully lowered himself over the edge. Thus it was not difficult to get into Elaine's room by stepping on the window sill and going through the open window
 The man began a rapid search of the room, turning up and paving ey ~~~~~.~~---~>-~~~~>-~S>o- fire has got enough headway for him