Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-29
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nothing was said, Del Mar was indicating
by dumb show orders Of some kind. 1
had no idea what 1t was all about, but
1 stood ready to whip out my gun on
the slightest suspicious move from either.
Il hope you'n pardon me. Miss Dodge,
Del Mar deprecated. as the valet re-
treated toward the door to the kitchen
and pantry. But, you see, have to be
housekeeper here. too. 1t seems"
Actually, though he was talking to us,
1t was In a way that enabled him, by
palming something in his hand. l fan
cied, to look at 1t. 1t was, though l did
rot know It. the hastily scrawled warn
ing of the valet.
It must have been hard to read, for 1
managed by a quick shift at last to
catch just a fleeting glimpse that 1t
was piece Of paper he held in his hand.
What was it, i asked myself. that he
should he 80 secret about it2 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 80.
Suddenly J reached out and snatched
the note from his hand. But before I
could read it Del Mar had sprung to his
feet.
At the same instant man leaped out
from behind the curtains.
But l 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 window
all of you" I ordered. thinking thus to
get them together, more easily covered.
xn1t
hand, to Elaine, said 20 her, See what
II says-quick."
Eagerly she took it and read aloud,
house surrounded by soldiersp"
woodward" 1 cried.
Still keeping them covered, smiled
quietly to myself and took one step after
another slowly to the door. Elaine fol-
lowed.
1 reached the door and l remember that
1 had to step on a metal mat to do so.
1 put my hand behind me and grasped
the knob about to open the door.
As 1 did so, the man who had jumped
from behind the curtain suddenly threw
down his appraised hands. Before
could fire, instantaneously in fact, I felt
thrill as though a million needles had
been thrust into all parts of my body ut
once paralyzing every muscle and nerve.
The gun fell from my nerveless 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 1 was, held
prisoner by the electric currentl
"Henryi" called Del Mar to the valet.
eyes. sir"
Open the cabinet. Give me the helmets
and the suits"
The valet did so, bringing out a num-
Der of queer looking headpieces with a
single weird eye OF glass in the front, as
well as rubber suits of an outlandish de-
sign While he was doing so Del Mar
stuffed q handkerchief into Elaine s
mouth to keep her quiet.
Del Mar moved toward Elaine, holding
an extra helmet He strapped 1t on her,
then started to force her into a suit.
1 struggled still. but in vain, to free
myself from the door knob and mat. 1t
was more than could stand, and sank
down. half conscious.
I revived only long enough to see that
Del Mar had forced one of the suits on
Elaine finally. Then he pressed button
hidden on the side of his desk and a Sc
cret panel in the wall opened. Picking up
Elaine, he and the others hurried through
into what looked like a dark passage and
the panel closed.
They were gone. I put forth all my re-
naming strength in one last desperate
struggle. Somehow. 1 managed to kick
the wire mat from under my feet. break
ing the contact.
1 staggered toward the panel. but fell
to the floor. unconscious.
Outside The iron ring. as Woodward had
planned II, OF soldiers were looking about
alert for any noise OF movement. Sud
denly two of them who had been watch
Ing the grounds attentively signalled to
each other that they saw something.
From the shrubbery emerged most
curious and uncouth figure. all in rags.
with long, unkempt hair and a beard
sallow complexion. and carrying a long
staff. II might have been a tramp or a