The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-02-18

acts. Leaping into the machine he
started at high speed and went over
the bridge on his way to the rescue.
=. + f
A heavy fog rolled up from the
river through the gorges and over
the hills on a rough preSipitous vir-
Einia road, tortuous in It's mary
turns and angles. An automobile in
which was seated two men, one OF
whom was the chauffeur. and a wom-
an, labored through the darkness
with all lights extinguished. The
road lay in part through deep woods
and here and there between high
banks and hills roughly winding up
ward. Until the toPo Of hill. many
lies on the Journsy$had been reach
ed not a word was spoken by the
occupants of the car.
Reaching the summit, where the
road turns at a sharp angle before a
sudden decline, where on one side
doomed a high embankment covered
with a tangle OF matted vines, and
on the other a stretch Of rough
boulder ground. where stunted trees
and shubbery grew among the rocks,
the woman touched the chauffeur on
the shoulder, and in q voice having
the hesitance OF fear, whispered, This
IL the place"
The machine was stopped. The
woman and one Of the men got out.
Then the chauffeur. with low speed,
following the directions given him
by his companion, moved the car to 4
side path, which lead to a dense wood.
Lights were burning Gimly in the
old house where Madeline had found
shelter. Seated before an open fire
place Madeline, Knowles, and Hen
Himban to return. Madeline ex-
pressed grave apprehension that
some misfortune may have overtaken
him. Neither Henderson nor Knowles
at first participated in this apprehen-
sion. each insisting that the aviator
could take care of himself.
With all their reassuTing words.
the anxiety OF Madeline could not be
dispersed, and as the light advanced
silence fell over the group, and it be-
came apparent that the two young
officers had themselves begun to feel
apprehensive. Knowles walked to
the window. peering out into the
darkness In an aimless fashion, and
Henderson moved laboriOusly about
the room, looking idly at some pic
ture on the wall or leaning on the
.nantel staring into the fre perplex-
eddy.
Zone Of US must hunt him up"
said Knowles.
That is right" said Henderson,
but how about guarding the house?"
The one who stays can. with the
assistance we have at hand. give
abundant protection, l think" replied
Knowles, land apprehend the
search will not be long"
1t was agreed that Knowles should
go, with the promise OF speedy re-
turn, and, with reassuring express
sions for the comfort Of Madeline, he
stepped out into the darkness.
He had been gone but a few min
utes when Henderson asked, Made
line, have you the chart in a secure
placer"
Madeline started. Until that mo-
ment she had not remembered that
the chart had been placed in the
keeping OF Knowles by her. Now ne
had gone on a venturesome trip alone
with this precious document in his
possession.
In his readiness TO seek his friend
Knowles had for the moment forgot
ten that he had the chart in his
pocket. The recollection Of this came
to him as shock when he buttoned up
his coat as he passed through che
grounds from the house and through
the short village street into dense
darkness Of the woods" path leading
to the country road. He had gone but
a short distance into the darkn ass
when all OF a sudden a shadow seemed
to fall upon him out OF the clouds, and
his head was enveloped in a muffler,
and, his arms pinioncd to his side.
Near by he could hear the mufTlcd
throbbing OF a motorcycle and GTufs
voice which he identified as that OF