The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-01-08

"Davis' room is just beneath this.
the girls beneath the adjoining one,i
which I also engaged. ! happened to
remember that 1t would be easy for
US to pull up 4 few door boards in.
this old seaside shack. and that's what
put the idea In my head" whispered
the Hawk, as they began their task.
Ten minutes Of silent work had re-
moved a plank from the flooring Of
each room. showing them the man and
girl lying asleep in their rooms be-
low. Because Of the warmth Of tho
weather neither was fully dressed,
and each was lying without covering.
From the contents Of the grip, Nor
gan selected two long, telescoped cones
which he drew to their full length and
thnn handed one to the Spider.
You etherize Davis while do the
same for the girl" he whispered.
With nod Of assent Bellas passed
into the adjoining room. while Nor
gan bent over the opening In the floor,
OF his chamber. A moment later tho
cones slowly descended until they were
close over the faces of the sleeping,
ones, and the etherizlng process be-
gan. Within fivc minutes the victims
lay wholly unconscious.
Quickly Morgan and his accouplice
descended TO the floor below, and open
ing the doors leading to the stumber-
ing dunes, bound them securely. Then
raising them In their arms they car
ried them 30 ,hc window. from whence
they were lowered to the ground by
means OF ropes which the Spider had
brought. for the rrrposc. and from
there conveyed them TO the deck. The
Spider pointed to the launch with Its
skin In tow.
THAT skin has steel wnter-tight
compartments both fore and aft, and
In each of the compartments is nm In
fernnl machine" he said.
Good" returned Morgan. when
we get out safe distance We'll cut
loose and let them go to glory together
the way they were bound to live"
Slowing the bound and helpless pair
In the skiff, the villains entered the
launch and went chugging out to sea.
An hour later Morgan looked at his
watch.
"One-thirty," he said. 1.-THE bombs
are set for AS. We're far enough out.
Let CO." A swift pass by knife
and the towing painter was severed.
the launch shooting ahead and leaving
the skin with Its death-dealing freight
rocking Idly on the low waves Of its
wake.
John had regained his senses some
five minutes before the cutting loose
of the little craft. Hearing the words
Of Morgan, "the bombs are set for
AS" but not recognizing the voice. he
lad lain quiet. knowing that to speak
would mean the death Of both himself
and the girl. No sooner had the launch
disappeared, however. than he began
making violent efforts to free himself.
Finding this impossible, he rolled to
the side Of the girl. who was now be-,
ginning to revive.
Keep quiet. and think I can get
you loose" he said. Sinking his eharp
teeth into the light rope which bound
her wrists he began tearing 1t apart
fiber by nber. until at last she snapped
the bonds and sat up. +
my sheath knife-yop will see its
handle sticking up under my coat" he,
told her. and quickly finding 1t. she
severed his fastenings. In the still
ness each could hear the ominOus tick
ings Of the clocks OF the Internal con-
trivances locked In their steel compart-
ments and beyond their reach. The
man lifted the girl to her feet.
This craft is going to.be blown to
flinders In about five minutes" he said
MS he slipped one arm about her waist.
ITS going to he long swim and q
hard one, but there is no help for 1t.
Hang on tight and keep your courage
up." Raising her. he lenpeti into the
sea.
Barely had they covered the dis
lance OF hundred yards than the
twin explosions came. Such WAS the
power OF the devilish inventions that
they were shOwered with flying splint-
ers and buried beneath spray, hut the
distance was great enough to save
them from hurt.
Attracted by the noise and flash Of
the explosion. fishing craft drew
aside from its course. to see what had
caused 1t. Hearing the shouts of the
man in the water. they dragged him
and the girl aboard and landed them
1t village few miles farther down
he beach. There Davis learned that
he next trolley would leave for the
Sea Clin Inn at 8 a. M, and ut once
allied Morgan on the telephone.
Returning to the wharf and salts.
led that their victims had died in the
explosion which they had witnessed
rom afar. Morgan and the Spider
ound themselves confronted by Rain
ace. gun In hand, Who had been un-
lble to follow them out into the bay.
Hermit Hell! Where 10 Missy