The Washington times., 1919-02-25

arms to him but to go to bed where
they could be more easily controlled.
Henderson interrupted to say %But
what about this goat which the major
heard about over the telephone?" "oh,
that's another story" Kimball re-
piled, "Iet's get out of here before I
tell it," Collecting the reVoIvers and
the clothing OF the two bedridden
victims OF bad Judgment the three
men slammed the door in the face OF
he swearing pair and locked it They
then returned to Henderson's room
where the conference was held.
Kimball had learned Of MadeIine's
whereabouts, because his two captors
had been so sure he could not make
his escape they had boasted of the
joke they had played on Madeline,
and in telling it had revealed her hid
ing place. Kimball had received an
other letter that day the contents OF
which, added to the information con-
tanned in the triangle, would enable
the finsl tests to be made Of the fam
Gus formula. Therefore, it was with
even more than lovers ardor that
he desired to find Madeline. There
was no talk Of delay and the three
men were soon in an automobiles
speeding toward Vine Cottage. It
was dark by the time they reached
the path leading up to the house and
when they started up the muddy path
way, using their flashlights to keep
the trail. Kimball leading the way,
saw unmistakably in the mud the
tracks of Chinese shoes. He eau
toned his companions TO proceed care
fully and without noise, but gave
them no reason for this caution. After
toiling up the path for a hundred
yards, through the trees they could
see a faint streak OF light and their
hearts jumped at this evidence that
the cottage was occupied
No sound could be heard, but they
proceeded now with even greater
caution, as they did not know what
unexpected danger might meet them.
Like Indians they trailed each other
step by step, startled by every
broken twig. but they reached the
edge of the veranda without hearing
a sound. KimbaIl then threw his
pocket searchlight on the do0r,
sweeping il from top to bottom. With
a suppressed exclamation he stepped
back against Knowles, for projecting
from the door and lying on the floor
Of the veranda was a lean, yellow
arm ending in a claw-like hand KIM
ball had too much grit to be more
than momentarily startled by sucn a
grisly sight, and, creeping across tine
veranda on hands and knees, Re
touched the hand, which did not
move, although to his touch it did
not seem dead. The men decided
after a whispered colloQuy that III
would be better to reconnointer bit
before attempting to enter the house,
so each one selected a window 70
peer in.
A startling sight rewarded them.
On a couch near the great stone hre-
place lay Madeline securely bound by
ropes. Against the door OF the cot
tage. which was open wide enough
to allow the egress Of his arm, lay Wu
in a crumpIed heap. Standing in the
middle OF the floor calmly nibblinG
the triangle was Bill. the goat With
a wild yell of agony Major Knowles
sprang to rescue the precious triangle.
but Bill was not 20 be denied, and in
one gulp it disappeared and evidently
met with the approval of Bill's gas
tronomic Judgment. as he wagged his
long whiskers joyfully.
To be continued tomorrow in
chapter written by Charles G. Foster,
of OccOquan Work.