The Ordway new era., 1915-10-15

cident. he knocked the letter from my
hand.
Il beg your pardon" he apologized.
quickly STOPPING and picking the mis-
sive up.
Though he managed to read the ad-
dress, he maintained his composure
and handed the letter back to me. l
started to 60 out, when Elaine called
to me.
Excuse me Just moment. Mr.. Del
Mar" she queried. accompanying me
out on the porch.
Already a saddle horse had been
brought around for me.
perhaps you'd better put a special
delivery stamp on it. too. Walter" she
added. walking along with me. "And
be very careful"
II WILL" promised. as rode quick
ly of.
Del Mar. alone, seized the opportun-
ity to go over quietly to the telephone.
1t was the work of only a moment to
call up his bungalow where the ennis
sary who had placed the submarine
bell was waiting for orders. Quick
ly Del Mar whispered his instructions.
which the man took, and hung up the
receiver.
Il hope you'll pardon me-" said
Elaine. entering just as Del Mar left
the telephone. "Mr. Jameson was 60
ing into town and had number OF
little things wanted him to do. Won't
you sit DOWN."
They chatted for q few moments,
but Del Mar did not stay very long.
He excused himself shortly and Elaine
bade him good-by at the door as he
walked of. apparently. down the road
l had taken.
Del Mars emissary hurried from the
bungalow and almost ran down the
road until he came to q spot where
two men were hiding.
Jameson is coming with letter
which the Dodge girl has written to
the Secret Service" he cried. pointing
excitedly up the road. you've got
to get it. see?"
was cantering along nicely down
the road by the shore, when suddenly.
from behind some rocks and bushes,
three men leaped out at me. One Of
them seized the horses bride, while
the other two quickly dragged me out
Of the saddle.
1t was very unexpected, but had
time enough to draw my gun and fire
once. hit one Of the men, too, In the
arm, and he staggered back. the blood
squirting all over the road.
But before could fire at the others.
they knocked the gun from my hand.
Frightened, the horse turned and bolt
ed. riderless.
Together, they dragged me of the
road and into the thicket, where was
tied and gagged and laid on the
ground, while one Of them bound up
the wounded arm OF the man had hit.
1t was not long before one Of them be-
gan searching me.
"Aha!" he growled, pulling the let.
ter from my pocket and looking at 1t
with satisfaction. Here 1t is"
He tore the letter open, throwing
the envelope on the ground, and read
1t.
There, confound you," he muttered.
"The governmental never get that.
Come on, men. Bring him this way.
Hurry up!"
He showed the letter into his pocket
and led the way through the under
brush, while the others half dragged,
half pushed me along. We had not
gone very far before one of the three
men, who appeared to be the leader,
paused.
Take him to the hang-out," he or
dered grufiy. "rll have to report to
the chief"
He disappeared down toward the
shore of the harbor while the others
prodded me along.
Down near the Dodge dock, along
the shore, walked a man wearing
broad-brimmed hat and plain suit OF
duck. His prim collar and tie COM
ported we'll with his smoked glasses
Instinctively one would have called
him professor" though whether ma
turalist. geologist. or plain "bugolo-
gist," one would have had dimculty in
determining.
He seemed, as a matter of fact, to
be a naturalist, for he was engrossed
in picking up specimens. But he was
not so much engrossed as to fail to
hear the approach Of footsteps down
the gravel walk from Dodge hall to
the dock. He looked MP in time to see
Del Mar coming, and quietly con-
cealed himself in the shrubbery up
on the shore.
. On the dock. Del Mar stood for some
minutes, waiting. Finally. along the
shore came another figure. 1t was the
emissary to whom Del Mar had tele-
phoned and who had searched me.
The naturalist drew back into his hid
ing place, peeping ort keenly at the
two men.
"Well?" demanded Del Mar. What
luck?"
We've got him." returned the man
with hrief satisfaction "Here'0 the