Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-10-22
Jennings" called Elaine.

| luduk you, Sdlu Lldlne, enUedFOT-
ing to pay the farmer.
mo, no. MISS" he demurred as he
CLICKED to his horses.
We waved to the old fellow. AS he
started to drive away, he reached
down into the basket and drew out
some yellow harvest apples. One at
a time he tossed them to US as he lum-
bered off.
Truly rural" remarked a voici be-
hind us.
1t was Del Mar, all logged up and
carrying a magazine in his hand
We chatted a moment, then Elaine
started to 60 into the house with Aunt
Josephine. With Del Mar l followed.
As she went Elaine took a bite of
the apple. To her surprise it separated
neatly into two hollow halves. She
looked inside. There was a note.
Carefully she unfolded it anc read.
Like the others, it was not written but
printed in pencil:
Be careful to unpaek all your trunks
yourself. Destroy this note. A Friend.
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 a 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 rejoined US.
Il 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 a table AS he
talked he placed the magazise in his
lap beneath the table, on his knees. l
could not see, but he was in 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
tied" he excused himself, strolling
leisurely out again.
Up in the bedroom Elaine's maid,
Marie. had been unpacking.
well. what do you know about
that?" 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.
mo. Marie" said Elaine. I'll un-
pack them myself. You can put the
things away later. You and Jennings
may CO."
Quickly she took the things out of
the battered trunk. Then she started
on the other trunk which was like 1t
but not marked. She threw out a
couple Of garments, then paused, star
tied.
There was the lost torpedo-where
Bertholdi had stuck it in her haste!
Elaine picked it up and looked at it in
wonder, as 1t 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 it outside.
Del Mar did not 70 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 q 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 |
of Del Mar stole out of the |
shelter Of some bushes and stood for |
\ moment looking. Elaine's windows
were high above them. too high to
reach.
We'll have to use the Dutch house
mans methods" decided one.
Together they went around the
house toward the laundry. 1t was
only a few minutes later that they re-
turned. No one was about. Quickly
one Of them took OF his coat. Around
his waist he had wound q coil of rope.
Deity he began to climb tree whose
upper branches fell over the roof. Cat
ike he managed to reach the roof.
He made his way along the ridge pole
% chimney which was directly back
If and in line with Elaine's windows.
Then he uncoiled the rope and
made one end fast to the chin
ley. Letting the other end fall free
Town the roof, he carefully lowered
himself over the edge. Thus It was
aot dificult to get into Elaine's room
by stepping on the window sill and
yoing through the open window.
The man began a rapid search of
he room. turning up and paving ev-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS