Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-09-18
Mar the paper which he had written.

Mar the paper which he had written.
now folded up into a very small space.
had turned from Del Mar when the
valet entered. apparently L speak 10
Elaine. but in reality To throw them
of their guard.
Under that cover | was able TO
watch the precious pair from the tail
OF my eye. ] saw Del Mar nod to the
valet as though he understood that
some warning was about to be con
veyed. Although nothing was said.
Del Mar was indicating by dumb show
orders of some kind.
IL hope you'll pardon me, Miss
Dodge Del Mar deprecated. as the
valet retreated toward the door TO the
kitchen and pantry. But. you see.
have 10 be h-ousekeeper here. too. II
seems
Actually. though he was talking 10
US. ii Was in a way that enabled him.
by palming something in his hand. /
fancied. to look at il.
II must have been hard TO read. for
managed by a quick shift at last to
catch just a iieeting glimpse that it
was a piece Of paper he held in his
hand.
What was ID. | asked myself. that he
should be * secret about il? Clearly.
! reasoned. il must be something that
was OF interest 10 Elaine and myself.
IL must act ever. | concluded. now
was the tine 10 do so.
Suddenly | reached out and snatched
the note from his hand. But before |
could read it Del MaNhad sprung to
his feet.
At the same instant a man leaped
out from behind the curtains.
But | was on my guard. Already /
had drawn my revolver and had them
all covered before they could make
another move.
Back into that corner-by the win
dow-all OF you" | ordered. thinking
thus TO get them together. more easily
covered. Then. handing the note. with
my other hand. to Elaine. | said TO her
See what il says-quick."
Eagerly she took ii and read aloud.
House surrounded by soldiers"
Woodward. | cried.
Still keeping them covered. | smiled
quietly To myself and took one step
after another slowly To the door.
Elaine followed.
| reached the door and | remember
that | had 10 step III a metal mat I'd
Do so. | put my hand behind me and
grasped the knob about to open the
door.
As ! did 50, the man who had
jumped from behind the curtain sud
denly threw tn%n tbs appraised hands.
Before | could fire. i-nstantancOusly in
fact. | felt a thrill as though a mil
lion needles had been thrust into all
parts VI my bcdy III once paraIyzing
every muscle and nerve. The gun fell
from my nerveless hand. Gathering to
the floor.
The man had thrown an electric
switch. which had completed a circuit
from the metal mat "a the door knob
through ny body and then to the light
and power current of high power.
There ! was. held a prisoner. by the
electric current.
At the same instant. also. Del Mar
with an oath leaped forward and
seized Elaine by the arms. / struggled
with the dOOrknob but / could no more
let 20 than could move my feet of
that mat. II was torture.
Henry" called Del Mar To the
valet.
Yes. sir
open the cabinet. Give me the
helmets and the suits
The valet did 50, bringing out a
number OF queer-looking headpie.es
with a single weird eve of glass III the
frcnt, as well as rubber suits Of am
%outlandiSh design. While he was do
ing so. Del Mar stuffed a handker-
chief into flaine's mouth to keep her
quiet.
BY tbs tine Del Mar. as well as the
man from behind the curtains and THE
valet. were provided with suits. and
n AZ a time holding Elaine. the 9th
ers put them on
Del Mar moved toward Elaine hold
ing an extra helmet. lie strapped il
on her. then started to force her
into a suit.
! struggled still. but in vain. to free
myself from the Gcorknob and mat Ii
was more than | could stand. and |
sank down. half conscious.
revived only long enough TO see
that Del Ma had forced che OF the
suits on Elaine finally. Then he
pressed a button hidden on the side OF
his desk and a secret panel in the wall
opened. Picking IN Elaine. he and the
others hurried through into what
looked like a dark passage and the
panel closed.
Z They were gone. | put forth all my
remaining strength in one last des-
pcrate struggle. Somehow. | managed
q kick the wire rat from under my
feet, breaking the contact.
| staggered toward the panel, but
fell to the floor. unconscious.
Outside. the iron ring. "a Woodward
had planned il. Of soldiers were look
ing about alert for any noise or move
rra~t GttNlanHy tuln - tHap, v,lA