The Monticellonian., 1915-10-21

meet you on the way to the club" be l promised.
 IL was not long before Elaine was ready. and from the stable a groom | led three of the best-trained cross | country horses in the neighborhood, for old Taylor Dodge, Elaine's father, had been passionately fond of hunting, as had been both Elaine and Aunt Jo- sephine.
 We met on the porch and a few min utes later mounted and cantered away, On the road Del Mar joined us and We ] galloped along to the Hunt club, care full, however, to save the horses as much as possible for the dash over the fields.
 For some time the uncouth tramp continued gazing fxedly out of the bushes at the deserted hotel.
 Suddenly be heard noise and dropped fiat on the ground, looking keenly about. Through the trees he could see one of Del Mars men sta toned on sentry duty. He was lean ing against tree, on the alert.
 The tramp rose cautiously and moved off i'll another direction to that in which he had been making his way, endeayoring to flank the sentry. Far ther along, however, another of Del Mars men was standing in the same attentive manner near path that led from the woods.
 AS the tramp approached the sentry heard a crackle of the brush and stepped forward. Before the tramp knew 1t. he was covered by a rifle from the sentry in an unexpected quarter.
 Anyone but the sentry, with half an eye, might have seen that the fear he showed was cleYerly feigned. He threw his hands above his head even before he was ordered, and in general was the most tractable captive imag- inable The sentry blew a whistle whereat the other sentry ran in.
 What shall We do with him? asked the captor.
 Masters orders to take anyone to ths rendezvous" responded the other firmly. and lock him up."
 Together they forced the tramp to march double quick toward the old hotel. One sentry dropped back at tramp before him into the hotel, avoid ing the big room on the side where the men were at work and forcing him upstairs to the attic which had once been the servants quarters.
 There was no window in the room and 1t was empty. The only light came in through a skylight in the roof
 The sentry thrust the tramp into this room and tried door leading to | the next room. It was locked. At the point of his gun the sentry frisked the tramp for weapons, but found none As he did so the tramp smiled quietly to himself He tried both doors They were locked Then he looked at the skylight and meditated.
 Down below, although he did not know 1t, in the bare dining room which i had been arranged into a sort of l chemical laboratory, Del Mars men were engaged in manufacturing gas l bombs much like those used in the war in Europe. Before them was a l formidable array of bottles and re i torts. The containers for the bombs were large and very brittle globes of hard rubber As the men made the i gas and forced it under tremendous pressure into tubes, they protected themselves by wearing goggles for the 1 eyes and large masks of cloth and sat urated cotton over their mouths and noses.
 Satisfied with the safety ot his cap | tive, the sentry made his way down stairs and out again to report to Del Mar.
 At the bungalow. Del Mars valet was setting the library in order when he heard signal in the secret pas sage. He pressed the button on the desk and opened the panel From 1t the sentry entered.
 Where is MT. Del Mar?" he asked hurriedly, looking around We've been followed to the headquarters by tramp whom I've captured, and don't know what to do with him.
 He Is not here,' answered the valet. He has gone to the Country club"
 "Confound It." returned the sentry, yexed at the enforced waste of time. Do you think you can reach him ?"
 'If hurry, may" nodded the valet.
 Then do so," directed the sentry.
 He moved back into the panel and disappeared while the valet closed it. A moment later he. too, picked up his hat and hurried out.
 At the Wilkesh're club a large num- ! Der of hunters had arrived for the imitation meet Elaine, Aunt Joseph inc Del Mar and myself rode up and 1 were greeted by them as the master I of the fexheuRds assembled us. Off bit a splendid pack Of hounds was | held by the huntsman while they de bated whether to hold a paper chase or try drag hunt.
 i The chase was just about to start, when the valet came up. Del Mar caught his eye and excused himself to us. What he said we could not hear, but Del Mar frowned, nodded and dis. missed him.
 Just then the horn sounded and we ~~-~~~~~~~-~~~~~-~--~~~~~~