The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-09-18

Denslow as usual assisting moor Nrs
AIchihan, VINO was nearly exhausted.
Inc short climb was made without
disaster other than few raps on ex-
posed shins. Harry pressed the but
ton of his electric torch and SURVEYED
the scene. He was lust exclaimine
disgustedly over the absence of n fire
when Lord George and Collins STUN
oled up the path, each carrying sew
eral strips of driftwood. A FIRE was
quickly kindled, and by its light, aid
ed by Harry's torch, Bess investigated
the contents of the lunch baskets.
As the six already knew, the baskets
contained chiefly canned goods Bess.
however, discovered package of
sandwiches and large thermos bot
tie containing coffee that was still
hot. Lastly she found, far down in
one of the baskets, a thin packet,
scarcely larger than a letter, at which
she gazed in wonder
Then she laughed. Price certainly
Is good to you men," she said. Hes
put In cigars for you" AS she spoke,
she tore open the wrappings. Then
her tone changed. at isn't cigars"
she cried. Its our map-or-or''-
she unfolded the parchment-"it not
our map; it's another one and-and-
good gracious It's the same as ours,
only different"
"What do you mean2" Lord Georges
tones were sharp. LET me see." Un-
tremendously he took the parchment
from the girls fingers and scanned It,
you're right" he declared. Its diff
ferent This is the original. The one
you had first was an altered copy.
The thief sent 1t to you so that you
might lead him to the island; and he
altered 1t so that he and he only
might find the spot on 1t that you both
were seeking. It's that scoundrel
Price And he and his friends have
taken possession of the Ell Rio and
have gone to the spot"
"How do you know this is the orig
inal? 1t may be the copy!" objected
Harry.
1.-The other is obviously wrong.
We've found that out. The chances
are that this one is right"
"But-but why does the thief give
1t back to us nowT demanded Bess
wonderingly.
Miss Denslow answered. She had
picked up the wrappings of the packet
and had extracted from them half
sheet of paper. She bent forward to
the freight and glanced at the few
lines that had been scrawled hurriedly
across it. Then she started. It's"
Abruptly she broke off. "Pll read It,"
she gasped.
"Fm afraid trouble is brewing, but
IL 1t is, you're well out of it ashore. 1
stole this map from the first thief last
night. / have never seen yours. but
suspect 1t is different
When she began Miss Denslow's
voice showed extreme agitation, but 1t
grew steadier as she went on and was
nearly normal when she ended. While
she read, Lord George scanned her
features as narrowly as he could by
tbe freight, as If suspecting some Sc
cpet reason for her excitement. The
others either noticed nothing or as
cribed what they did notice to the
words of the message.
When she finished, the six looked at
each other, stricken momentariiy
dumb. Each and every one OF them
seemed to be cropping mentally Tor
some explanation of the truly amaz-
ing contretemps.
Bess was the first to speak. "oh!
What does it all mean2" she walled.
ut means that somebody on board
ia in league with the mutineers, but Is
secretly friendly to us. Maybe 's
Price"
mo. 1t isn'tw Miss Denslow inter
runted. "It isn't Price. It's some one
very different. Price was the nrst
thief and"
"How do you known Lord georges
ewes bored into Miss Denslow's.
T-I-I don't know, after ALL" Inc
woman's eyes dropped and her answer
came falteringly. Tim just sure.
"You do know! Lord George spoke
f,ercely. "You do know. You're play
inp a double part and"
But Harry stepped forward. ioiu
on 7" he exclaimed, with sudden ac,
cess of dignity. stop right there, l
won't have it. You be civil TO MISS
penslow or you'll answer to me .
Lord George stared at the boy IN
amazement. Before he could answer
Ross struck in. "ohl For goodness
sake don't quarrel" she begged.
"We're in a bad enough fix without
that Lord George didn't mean any
thing. I'm sure" She looked d. 'ne
Englishman appealingly.
His lordship gulped. Il peg you.
nordon Miss Denslow," he said. with
p resumption of his characteristic
manner n Il jolly well forgot myses'
I fancy I'm good deal eAc''e''
What?" :, .or,+ blame
vouwunder the circumstances sne
said. "But suppose we look at '""'
map and see"