The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-10-22

had turned from Del Mar when the
valet entered. apparently 10 speak 20
Elaine, but In reality 70 throw them
on 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.
yeyed. Although nothing was said,
Del Mar was indicating by dumb show
orders Of some kind.
Il hope you1l pardon me, Miss
Dodge" Del Mar deprecated, as the
valet Tetreated toward the door to the
kitchen and pantry. But. you see,
have 20 be housekeeper here, too, It
seems"
Actually. though he was talking TO
us, 1t was in a way that enabled him,
by palming something in his hand,
fancied, to look at It,
II must have been hard to read, for
| managed by a quick shift at last to
catch just a heeting glimpse that it
was a piece OF paper he held in his
hand.
What was Il, / asked myself, that he
should be 80 secret about Il? Clearly,
| reasoned, it must be something that
was OF interest to Elaine and myself.
II l must act ever, | concluded, now
was the time to do so.
Suddenly | reached out and snatched
the note from his hand. But before /
could read 1t Del Mar had 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," l 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 1t says-quick."
Eagerly she took it 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 to step on a metal mat to
do so. l put my hand behind me and !
grasped the knob about to open the
door.
AS l did so. the man who had |
jumped from behind the curtain sud |
denly threw down his upraised hands |
Before | could fire, instantaneously in |
fact, / felt a thrill as though a mil. |
lion needles had been thrust into all |
parts Of my body at once paralyzing |
every muscle and nerve. The gun fell |
from my neryeless hand, Gathering to
the floor
The man had thrown an electric
switch which had completed a circuit
from the metal mat to the door knob .
through my 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. l struggled
with the doorknob but | could no more
let go than r could move my feet off
that mat. 1t was torture.
Henry" called Del Mar to the
valet
Yes, sir"
open the cabinet. Give me the
helmets and the suits"
The valet did so, bringing out
number of queer-loolling headpieces
with a single weird eye Of glass in the
front, as we'll as rubber suits of an
outlandish design. While he was do
ing so, Del Mar stuffed a handker-
chief into Elaines mouth to keep her
quiet.
By this time Del Mar, as we'll as the
man from behind the curtains and the
valet, were provided with suits, and
one at time holding Elaine, the 9th
ers put them on.
Del Mar moved toward Elaine hold
ing an extra helmet. He strapped it
on her, then started to force her
into a suit.
/ struggled still, but in vain, to free
myself from the doorknob and mat. 1t
was more than l could stand, and |
sank down, half conscious.
l revived only long enough to see
hat Del Mar had forced one of the
suits on Elaine finally. Then he
pressed button hidden on the side Of
lis desk and a secret panel in the wall
opened. Picking up Elaine, he and the
others hurried through into what
ooked like a dark passage and the
PANEL closed.
They were gone. put forth all my
'emaining strength in one last des-
)erate struggle. Somehow, l managed
o kick .he wire mat from under my
eet, breaking the contact
l staggered toward the panel, but
ell to the floor unconscious.
Outside, the iron ring, as Woodward
lad planned it, Of soldiers were look
ng about alert for any noise or move
nent Suddenly, two Of them who
lad been watching the grounds at
entively signaled to each other that
hey saw something.
From the shrubbery emerged most
urious and uncouth figure, all in rags,
With long, unkempt hair and beard,
allow complexion, and carrying a
ong staff. 1t might have been a
ramp or hermit, perhaps, who was
making his way toward the house. {