Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-01

There was just time enough for the
l. -, ais approach. He ran
swiftly and softly over to the further
corner and dropped down as II sound
asleep, The key turned in the lock and
the small man entered. careful to lock
the door TO Elaine's room. He moved
over to where the tramp was feigning
sleep.
Get up" he growled, kicking him.
The tramp sat up, yawning and rub
hing his eyes Come now, be reasonable"
demanded the man. Follow me-"
He started toward the door into the
hall. He never reached 1t. Scarcely was
his hand on the knob when the tramp
seized him and dragged him to the floor
One hand on the mans throat and his
/ knees on his chest, the tramp tore off
the breathing mask and goggles. Al
ready he had the man trussed up and
gagged.
| Quickly the tramp undressed the man
and left him In his underclothes. still
struggling to get loose, as he took
Shortys clothes, including tho strange
headgear. and unlocked the door into
the next room with the key he also took
from him
\
Elaine was pacing snxiously up and
down the little room into which she had
been thrown. greatly frightened.
| Suddenly the door through which her
captor had left opened hurriedly again.
A most disreputable looking tramp en-
tered and locked the door again. Elaine
started back in fear.
He motioned to her to be quiet. You'll
/ NJ arAN nNe oil he wnrhl aA
speaking rapidly and thickly. as though
to disguise his voice ''Here-take these
clothes. DO just as I say. Put them on.
Put on the mask and goggles Cover up
your hair 1t is your only chance"
He laid the clothes down and went out
into the hallway. Outside he listened
carefully at the head of the stairs and
looked about, expecting momentarily to
be discovered. tt
Elaine understood only that suddenly
friend in need had appeared. She
changed her clothes quickly. finding for
tunately that they fitted her pretty well.
BY pulling the hat over her hair and the
goggles over the eyes and tying on the
breathing mask, she made a very pre-
sentable man.
Cautiously she pushed open the door
|
What shall DOR she asked
Don't talk" he whispered close "a
her ear. GO out-and II you meet any
one. just salute and walk past"
''Yes-yes. understand" she nodded
back, 'and-thank you"
He gave her no time to say more. ever
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 wen
down. She managed 10 reach the lowel
hallway without seeing anybody or being
discovered Quietly she went 70 the dool
and out. She had not gone far when sh,
met an armed man. the sentry. who has
been concealed I'm the shrubbery.
'iWho goes there7" he challenged.
elaine did not betray herself by speak
ing but merely saluted and passed ON a.
fast as she could without exciting fur
Their suspicion. Nonplussed. the maj
turned and watched her euriously as sh
moved away down the path.
where's he golngT' the sentry NUT
} tered. still staring.
Elaine In her eagerness was not look
ing as carefully where she was goinl
as she was thinking about getting ava,
In safety. Suddenly an overhangin
branch of tree caught her hat and be
: fore she knew It pulled It off her head
There was no concealing her golden hal
now.
stop" shouted the sentry.
Elaine did not pause. but dived Int
the bushes on the side OF the path. jus
, as the man fired and ran forward. stil
shouting for her to halt She ran a
fast as she could. pulling off the google
} and mask and looking back now an,
> then In terror at her pursuer. who wa
! rapidly gaining on her.
: Before abe could catch herself an,
J u.aAssd her footing and sltped over IN