The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-09-03

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And we must strike quickly for n
they heed the advice in this book. II
may be too late for US to take advan.
tage of their foolish unpreparedness,
II was a book entitled 'Defenseless
America, written by great Ameri.
can inventor, Hudson Maxim.
Del Mar turned the pages until ne
came to and pointed out a map. The
others gather about him leaning for
ward eagerly as he talked to them.
There, on the map with a radius Of
some one hundred and seventy miles,
was drawn a big segment OF a circle.
with Peekskll, New York, marking the
center
That is the heart OF America said
Del Mar, earnestly 1T embraces New
York, Boston, Philadelphia But that
is not the point. Here are the great
majority Of the gun and armor fac
tories, the powder and cartridge works
together with the principal coal fields
of Pennsylvania
He brought his fist down decisive
ly on the table. IF we hold this sec
tion, he declared. I'VE practically hold
America"
Eagerly the other emissaries lis
tened as Del Mar laid before them the
detailed facts which he was collecting,
the greater mission than the mere cap.
ture OF Kennedys wireless torpedo
which had brought him into the coun-
try Detail after detail Of their plans
they discussed as they worked out
the gigantic scheme.
Il was a war council Of a secret
advance guard OF the enemies Of
America
Meanwhile, Del Mars man in mis-
boat cutting a wide circle and avoid
ing the Dodge boat carrying the natur-
alist, made his way across the harbor
until he came to the shore.
There he landed and proceeded up
the beach to the foot of a rocky cliff.
where he turned and followed trail
up it to the top. It was the same path
already travelled by my captors with
me and later followed by Elaine.
AS he came stealthily out from un-
der cover, Del Mars man gazed down
the stairway. He drew back at what he
saw. Slowly he pulled a gun from his
pocket, watching down the steps with
tense interest There he could see
Elaine and myself wearily climbing to-
ward the top, our backs toward him,
as we covered the men in the cave.
So surprised was he at what he saw
that he forgot that his boat below had
been followed by the mysterious nat
uralist, who, the moment Del Mars
man had landed, put on the last burst
of speed and ran the Dodge boat close
to the spot where the aide had left
Del Mars.
A glance into the boat sutticed to
tell the naturalist that the figure IN 1t
was only a dummy He did not pause.
but followed the trail up the Hill unit!
he was close after the emissary ahead,
going more slowly.
Only a few feet further along the
cliff. the naturalist paused, too, keeping
well under cover, for the man was
now just ahead of him He looked
fixedly at him and saw him gaze down
the cliff. Then he saw him slowly
draw gun.
Who could be below Quickly the
naturalist's mind seemed to work. He
crouched down, as if ready to spring.
The emissary slowly raised his re-
volver and took careful aim at the
backs of Elaine and myself, as we
came up the steps.
But before he could pull the trigger,
the naturalist, more like one Of the
wild animals which he studied than
like a human being, sprang from his
concealment in the bushes and
pounced on the man from behind, SELF
ing him firmly.
Over and over they rolled, strug-
Cling almost to the brink CT the preci-
pice
Elaine and I had got almost to the
top of the fight of steps, when sud
denly we heard a shout above us and
sounds of a terrific struggle, wa
turned and saw two men.
Nearer and nearer the edge of the
cliff they rolled We crouched closer
to the rocky wall gazing up at the
death grapple of the two Who they
were we did not know but that one
was fighting for and the other against
us we could readily see.
The more vicious of the two seemed
to be forcing the naturalist slowly
back. when. with a superhuman effort,
the naturalist braced himself, His foot
was actually en- a small ledge Of rock
directly at the edge of the cliff.
He swung around quickly and struck
the other man The vicious looking
man pitched headlong over the cliff
We shrank back closer to the rock
as the man hurtled through the air
only a few feet from us. Down below,
we could hear him land with a sicken-
ing thud
Far over the edge Elaine leaned in a
sort of fascination at the awful sight.
For moment | thought the very imp
of the perverse had got possession OF
her and that she herself would fall
over. She brushed her hand INSTEAD
lily over her eyes and staggered.
caught her Just in time.
1t was only an instant before the
brave girl recovered control of herself
We reached the top of the stairway
and gazed about for the victor in the
contest To our surprise he was gone
Come" | urged, I'VE had better get
away quickly"
CTO BE CONTINUED