Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-03-09

of a little fire having been built, II
chicken bones lying about. The
woods are thicker there than here.
He heard something come creeping
through the bushes, but it must
have seen him first, for it plunged
off again."
Frank probably stumbled .on
some picnic place" remarked Barry.
And that noise might have been a
stray dog"
Animals don't take off their
clothes INC try to burn EN-" re-
torted Hulse. HE saw near the re-
mains OF that fire q charred bit of
grayish flannel, and it had some bits
of red cloth, just narrow strips,
sewed onto it like the beginnings of
letters or numbers"
whats that?" A quick, incisive
voice spoke 81 close to them in the
darkness hat the sheriff jumped.
1t was Captain Warren's voice
which had interrupted him, but the
tones were quite unlike those which
raSped out in stern command, and
the sheriff gulped and started his
story anew.
The five men were so deeply en-
crossed in their plans that none of
them noted a slender. dark-clad
little figure which lowered just be-
yond the wavering. light OF the Ian
tern and which now drew closer.
Lets CO." suggested the captain
briefly. This is almost the time he
usually sets forth for his depreda-
lions, isn't it?"
They agreed and finally set off,
walking in single file down the path
which led to the shore. Behind them
a soft voice exclaimed aloud in be-
wilderment: THE cave! But how
could the man have found it?"
The ace which Fay had seen at
the window on the night of her ar
rival rose once more before her
that strange, leering, wild-eyed face,
in which there had been something
weirdly, hauntingly familiar. All at
once she stiffened and stood as rigid
as a statue. The next instant she
IA off like a flying shadow in the
wake of the manhunters.
To Captain Warren, trailing along
on his crutches at the rear of the
party, there came an odd sense that
someone was behind him, trailing
him in turn. He paused. Nothing
but shadows met his gaze. Cursing
himself for a nervous. weak incom-
petent, he toiled painfully after the
others.
He had never felt his infirmity as
poignantly before as on that night,
when there was excitement and adj
venture abroad.
1t Inundated him to have them
stop and wait for him, and he re-
piled almost surlily to their inquiries
as to how he was standing the pace.
That he was not standing it well
was painfully evident to himself.
The prolonged, unaccustomed effort
was telling upon him. When at last
he reached the boat-shaped rock
the rest were far ahead.
He sank down upon the rock,
painting and racked with pain, and
it was then that that sensation of
someone near came to him once
more with overwhelming force. He
Strengthened himself to look about,
when a small hand was laid timidly
upon his shoulder and a soft voice
spoke close to his ear.
ITS only l, captain
Fay. Miss Tudor" he gasped.
"What are you doing here?'
II followed because L thought l
could help she replied. II was-I
was down by the garage when !
heard you discussing your plans. and
| could not avoid hearing. / think l
know the place you are trying to
find, but Frank is leading you all
astray. Only myself and one other
ever knew it, L think. until this man
unaccountably stumbled upon it in
his wanderings."
what is it-some old deserted
shack 2" The captain was rapidly
forgetting his pain and fatigue in
awakening interest.
Fay shook her head with a sad
little reminiscent smile.
"There isn't even the remains of
a human habitation along the shore
line here for miles" She spoke very
softly. ut is a cave, Captain War
rem; o really a cave. O know,
but just a natural fissure in the rock,
upon which another has fallen,
forming a roof. / don't suppose the
whole thing is more than three feet
wide and about six long. My brother
and l discovered it by chance one
day, and we Swore we would never
tell anybody about it. l can't mag
inc how this poo man discovered it,
but it is the only shelter for miles"
And you think he is there"
where else could he be, if it was
the remains of his fire which Frank
found?" she shrugged her shoulders.
1 KNOW IL SHUT cut HUM tlio loSN
straight to it. and we can be there
ages ahead of the rest if you feel
strong enough to start"
The captain clipped his crutches
beneath his armpits and pulled him.
self up with alacrity.
you lead the way, Miss Tudor,
and I'll follow
Continued in Il next issue)
(Copyrieht. 1922, NEA Service)