The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-12-21

waited Tor a chance to act-Masters
carrying a blanket. The chance came
l-or at least the conspirators thought
1t had cOme-when peering cautiously
through the shrubbery they caught a
glimpse of Lady Melrose sitting near
the fountain. The striking resemblance
OF the hostess and Helen completely
deceived them.
There's our bird" muttered Mas
tiers In an undertone. snow /; how we
going to get herr"
"The first thing replied Marshall
III to get rid Of the garden lights,
I'll hunt up the switch. 1t must Re
near the house. When / throw 1t, dash
In and grab her"
Sinking away. Marshall locating the
switch, lost no time In throwing 1t and
ran quickly back to his companion.
Dashing Into the garden they dropped
the blanket over Lady Melrose, caught
her up and despite her struggles and
screams, made OF with their frightened
captive into the outer darkness. All
was done so quickly that a servant hur-
rying to turn the lights on again was
too late to prevent the crime.
Guests who had been In the vicinity
OF the fountain now looked for Lady
Melrose. She was not to be seen. An
alarm was sounded and running to
Lord Melrose they told him of his
wife's disappearance. Frantic with
anxiety, Melrose ordered a hurried
search. Nowhere could any trace OF
his missing wife be found panic over
spread the fete.
The search was continued. No cor
ner Of the house or the grounds was
overlooked. Rumors few about thick
and fast and the woman guests them
selves shivered with alarm and appre-
hensl0n.
Helen, when the lights went OF.
stood near Roy Wilson. While the
confusion was at its height she glanced
toward the main drive just as a car.
whirling from 1t, dashed out into the
highway. Helen caught a glimpse Of
the number plate on the back Of the
machine: take that number, Roy"
she cried quickly, "52479. Let's follow
It."
Roy scratched the figures down on
his cuff and running with Helen to
the neares motorcar, he called to Lord
Melr0se. who joined them.
The three climbed hurriedly into the
q but the guests, eager to help, crowd
Ing around. delayed their start:
Keep them away-clear the road"
cried Helen to the servants. You
are holding u.s." she exclaimed to those
nearest. keep back"
The Car started. The pursuers
whirled down the driveway and out
on the highway at top speed, but too
much time had been lost. The abduc-
tors already had a good lead and in
spite of all Helen's driver could do,
were soon lost to view.
"Drive to the nearest police station"
she directed, when the chase became
hopeless, and reaching 1t, an alarm
was flashed thence to all stations, to
stop a touring a bearing license tag
52470.
Masters and Marshall had safely
made the rendezvous In Chinatown and
were delivering their captive. Both men
were highly excited: Get her out Of
here quick" exclaimed Masters to the
Chinaman. They're hot after u.s."
Their unfortunate captive was be-
ginning to recover consciousness. With
out scruple they drugged her almost in
to a cataleptic state and hunting up q
trunk, laid her within it and started, for
the station to put her aboard q train
for Pedro.
Helen had telephoned Webb and he
fastened to the police station with q
change OF clothing for her. All waited,
hoping to get word OF the abductors
through their license number.
Marshall and Masters got to the rail-
road station and were billing the trunk
to Pedro when q passing policeman
noticed the number on their car. Only
recently warned to keep q lookout for
that particular number, he walked to-
ward the freight house and en-.
countered the two criminals.
rs that your car standing there at
the PLATFORM he demanded OF Mas
tiers.
NO." responded Buck promptly: he
scented q trap.
Thought 1t might be yours" re-
turned the officer indifferently. "A
man there just now was trying to
drive OF with It"
WHAT Where7" demanded Mar
shall OF his guard. That's my car.
He's q thief"
Fright you are" responded the Of
fcer, unruf1ed, land SO are you, I reck-
on. Anyway. you two fellows car drive
to the station with me. You're under
arrest"
Chagrined at being outwitted, the
crestfallen thieves started with the po-
liceman for the machine. But 1t was
now two res0urceful men against one
and the officer was dealing with crooks
who RcrunlQd af nOthinr Az ho