,,the ,,craig ,,kennedy ,,series ,,the ,,romance ,,of ,,elaine ,a ,,detective ,,novel ,sequel to the ,exploits ,,by ,,arthur ,b4 ,,reeve ,,contents ,,chapter ,i ,,the ,,serpent ,,sign ,,ii ,,the ,,cryptic ,,ring ,,iii ,,the ,,watching ,,eye ,,iv ,,the ,,vengeance ,,of ,,wu ,,fang ,v ,,the ,,shadows ,,of ,,war ,,vi ,,the ,,lost ,,torpedo ,,vii ,,the ,,gray ,,friar ,,viii ,,the ,,vanishing ,,man ,,ix ,,the ,,submarine ,,harbor ,x ,,the ,,conspirators ,,xi ,,the ,,wireless ,,detective ,,xii ,,the ,,death ,,cloud ,,xiii ,,the ,,searchlight ,,gun ,,xiv ,,the ,,life ,,chain ,,xv ,,the ,,flash ,,xvi ,,the ,,disappearing ,,helmets ,,xvii ,,the ,,triumph ,,of ,,elaine ,,the ,,romance ,,of ,,elaine ,,chapter ,i ,,the ,,serpent ,,sign ,rescued by ,kennedy at last from the terrible incubus of ,bennett's persecution in his double life of lawyer and master criminal1 ,elaine had1 for the first time in many weeks1 a feeling of security4 ,now that the strain was off1 however1 she felt that she needed rest and a chance to recover herself and it occurred to her that a few quiet days with ,aunt ,tabitha1 who had been her nurse when she was a little girl1 would do her a world of good4 ,she sent for ,aunt ,tabby1 yet the fascination of the experiences through which she had just gone still hung over her4 ,she could not resist thinking and reading about them1 as she sat1 one morning1 with the faithful ,rusty in the conservatory of the ,dodge house4 ,i had told the story at length in the ,star1 and the heading over it caught her eye4 ,it read3 ,,the ,,clutching ,,hand ,,dead ------ ,double ,life ,exposed by ,craig ,kennedy ,perry ,bennett1 the ,famous ,young ,lawyer1 ,takes ,poison--,kennedy ,now on ,trail of ,master ,criminal's ,hidden ,millions4 ---- ,as ,elaine glanced down the column1 ,jennings announced that ,aunt ,tabby1 as she loved to call her old friend1 had arrived1 and was now in the library with ,aunt ,josephine4 ,with an exclamation of delight1 ,elaine dropped the paper and1 followed by ,rusty1 almost ran into the library4 ,aunt ,tabby was a stout1 elderly1 jolly-faced woman1 precisely the sort whom ,elaine needed to watch over her just now4 ,oh1 ,i'm so glad to see you1 half laughed ,elaine as she literally flung herself into her nurse's arms4 ,i feel so unstrung--and ,i thought that if ,i could just run off for a few days with you and ,joshua in the country where no one would know1 it might make me feel better4 ,you have always been so good to me4 ,marie6 ,are my things packed8 ,very well4 ,then1 get my wraps4 ,her maid left the room4 ,bless your soul1 mothered ,aunt ,tabby stroking her soft golden hair1 ,i'm always glad to have you in that fine house you bought me4 ,and1 faith1 ,miss ,elaine1 the house is a splendid place to rest in but ,i don't know what's the matter with it lately4 ,joshua says its haunts-- ,haunts8 repeated ,elaine in amused surprise4 ,why1 what do you mean8 ,marie entered with the wraps before ,aunt ,tabby could reply and ,jennings followed with the baggage4 ,nonsense1 continued ,elaine gaily1 as she put on her coat1 and turned to bid ,aunt ,josephine good-bye4 ,good-bye1 ,tabitha1 said her real aunt4 ,keep good care of my little girl4 ,that ,i will1 returned the nurse4 ,we don't have all these troubles out in the country that you city folks have4 ,elaine went out1 followed by ,rusty and ,jennings with the luggage4 ,now for a long ride in the good fresh air1 sighed ,elaine as she leaned back on the cushions of the ,dodge limousine and patted ,rusty1 while the butler stowed away the bags4 ,the air certainly did1 if anything1 heighten the beauty of ,elaine and at last they arrived at ,aunt ,tabby's1 tired and hungry4 ,the car stopped and ,elaine1 ,aunt ,tabby and the dog got out4 ,there1 waiting for them1 was ,uncle ,joshua1 as ,elaine playfully called him1 a former gardener of the ,dodges1 now a plain1 honest countryman on whom the city was fast encroaching1 a jolly old fellow1 unharmed by the world4 ,aunt ,tabby's was an attractive small house1 not many miles from ,new ,york1 yet not in the general line of suburban travel4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy and ,i had decided to bring ,bennett's papers and documents over to the laboratory to examine them4 ,we were now engaged in going over the great mass of material which he had collected1 in the hope of finding some clue to the stolen millions which he must have amassed as a result of his villainy4 ,the table was stacked high4 ,a knock at the door told us that the expressman had arrived and a moment later he entered1 delivering a heavy box4 ,kennedy signed for it and started to unpack it4 ,i was hard at work1 when ,i came across a large manila envelope carefully sealed1 on which were written the figures #g1jjj1jjj4 ,too excited even to exclaim1 ,i tore the envelope open and examined the contents4 ,inside was another envelope4 ,i opened that4 ,it contained merely a blank piece of paper6 ,with characteristic skill at covering his tracks1 ,bennett had also covered his money4 ,puzzled1 ,i turned the paper over and over1 looking at it carefully4 ,it was a large sheet of paper1 but it showed nothing4 ,huh6 ,i snorted to myself1 confound him4 ,yet ,i could not help smiling at my own folly1 a minute later1 in thinking that the ,clutching ,hand would leave any information in such an obvious place as an envelope4 ,i threw the paper into a wire basket on the desk and went on sorting the other stuff4 ,kennedy had by this time finished unpacking the box1 and was examining a bottle which he had taken from it4 ,come here1 ,walter1 he called at length4 ,ever see anything like that8 ,i can't say1 ,i confessed1 getting up to go to him4 ,what is it8 ,bring a piece of paper4 he added4 ,i went back to the desk where ,i had been working and looked about hastily4 ,my eye fell on the blank sheet of paper which ,i had taken from ,bennett's envelope1 and ,i picked it up from the basket4 ,here's one1 ,i said1 handing it to him4 ,what are you doing8 ,kennedy did not answer directly1 but began to treat the paper with the liquid from the bottle4 ,then he lighted a ,bunsen burner and thrust the paper into the flame4 ,the paper did not burn6 ,a new system of fire-proofing1 laughed ,craig1 enjoying my astonishment4 ,he continued to hold the paper in the flame4 ,still it did not burn4 ,see8 he went on1 withdrawing it1 and starting to explain the properties of the new fire-proofer4 ,he had scarcely begun1 when he stopped in surprise4 ,he had happened to glance at the paper again1 bent over to examine it more intently1 and was now looking at it in surprise4 ,i looked also4 ,there1 clearly discernible on the paper1 was a small part of what looked like an architect's drawing of a fireplace4 ,craig looked up at me1 nonplussed4 ,where did you say you got that8 he asked4 ,it was a blank piece of paper among ,bennett's effects1 ,i returned1 as mystified as he1 pointing at the littered desk at which ,i had been working4 ,kennedy said nothing1 but thrust the paper back again into the flame4 ,slowly1 the heat of the burner seemed to bring out the complete drawing of the fireplace4 ,we looked at it1 even more mystified4 ,what is it1 do you suppose8 ,i queried4 ,i think1 he replied slowly1 that it was drawn with sympathetic ink4 ,the heat of the burner brought it out into sight4 ,what was it about8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine had gone to bed that night at ,aunt ,tabby's in the room which her old nurse had fixed up especially for her4 ,it was a very attractive little room with dainty chintz curtains and covers and for the first time in many weeks ,elaine slept soundly and fearlessly4 ,down-stairs1 in the living-room1 ,rusty also was asleep1 his nose between his paws4 ,the living-room was in keeping with everything at ,aunt ,tabby's1 plain1 neat1 homelike4 ,on one side was a large fireplace that gave to it an air of quaint hospitality4 ,suddenly ,rusty woke up1 his ears pointed at this fireplace4 ,he stood a moment1 listening1 then1 with a bark of alarm he sped swiftly from the living-room1 up the stairs at a bound1 until he came to ,elaine's room4 ,elaine felt his cold nose at her hand and stirred1 then awoke4 ,what is it1 ,rusty8 she asked1 mindful of the former days when ,rusty gave warning of the ,clutching ,hand and his emissaries4 ,rusty wagged his tail4 ,something was wrong4 ,elaine followed him down to the living-room4 ,she went over and lighted the electric lamp on the table1 then turned to ,rusty4 ,well1 ,rusty8 she asked1 almost as if he were human4 ,she had no need to repeat the question4 ,rusty was looking straight at the fireplace4 ,elaine listened4 ,sure enough1 she heard strange noises4 ,was that ,aunt ,tabby's haunt8 ,whatever it was1 it sounded as if it came up from the very depths of the earth4 ,she could not make out just what it sounded like4 ,it might have been some one striking a piece of iron1 a bolt1 with a sledge4 ,what was it8 ,she continued to listen in wonder1 then ran to ,aunt ,tabby's bedroom door1 on the first floor1 and knocked4 ,aunt ,tabby woke up and shook ,joshua4 ,aunt ,tabby6 ,aunt ,tabby6 called ,elaine4 ,yes1 my dear1 answered the old nurse1 now fully awake and straightening her nightcap4 ,joshua6 ,together the old couple came out into the living-room1 still in their nightclothes1 ,joshua yawning sleepily still4 ,listen6 whispered ,elaine4 ,there was the noise again4 ,this time it was more as though some one were beating a rat-tat-tat with something on a rock4 ,it was weird1 uncanny1 as all stood there1 none knowing where the strange noises came from4 ,it's the haunts6 cried ,aunt ,tabby1 trembling a bit4 ,for three nights now we've been hearing these noises4 ,around and around the room they walked1 still trying to locate the strange sounds4 ,were they under the floor8 ,it was impossible to say4 ,they gave it up and stood there1 looking blankly at each other4 ,was it the work of human or superhuman hands8 ,finally ,joshua went to a table drawer and opened it4 ,he took out a huge1 murderous-looking revolver4 ,here1 ,miss ,elaine1 he urged1 pressing it on her1 take this--keep it near you6 ,the noises ceased at length1 as strangely as they had begun4 ,half an hour later1 they had all gone back to bed and were asleep4 ,but ,elaine's sleep now was fitful1 a constant procession of faces flitted before her closed eyes4 ,suddenly1 she woke with a start and stared into the semi-darkness4 ,was that face real1 or a dream face8 ,was it the hideous helmeted face that had dragged her down into the sewer once8 ,that man was dead4 ,who was this8 ,she gazed at the bedroom window1 holding the huge revolver tightly4 ,there1 vague in the night light1 appeared a figure4 ,surely that was no dream face of the oxygen helmet4 ,besides1 it was not the same helmet4 ,she sat bolt upright and fired1 pointblank1 at the window1 shivering the glass4 ,a second later she had leaped from the bed1 switched on the lights and was running to the sill4 ,down-stairs1 ,aunt ,tabby and ,uncle ,joshua had heard the shot4 ,joshua was now wide awake4 ,he seized his old shotgun and ran out into the livingroom4 ,followed by ,aunt ,tabby1 he hurried to ,elaine4 ,wh-what was it8 he asked1 puffing at the exertion of running up-stairs4 ,i saw--a face--at the window--with some kind of thing over it6 gasped ,elaine4 ,it was like one ,i saw once before4 ,uncle ,joshua did not wait to hear any more4 ,with the gun pointed ahead of him1 ready for instant action1 he ran out of the room and into the garden1 beneath ,elaine's window4 ,he looked about for signs of an intruder4 ,there was not a sound4 ,no one was about1 here4 ,i don't see any one1 he called up to ,elaine and ,aunt ,tabby in the window4 ,he happened to look down at the ground4 ,before him was a small box4 ,he picked it up4 ,here's something1 though1 he said4 ,joshua went back into the house4 ,what is it8 asked ,elaine as he rejoined the women4 ,she took the curious little box and unfastened the cover4 ,as she opened it1 she drew back4 ,there in the box was a little ivory figure of a man1 all hunched up and shrunken1 a hideous figure4 ,she recoiled from it--it reminded her too much of the ,chinese devil-god she had seen1--and she dropped the box4 ,for a moment all stood looking at it in horrified amazement4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was the afternoon following the day of our strange discovery of the fireplace done in sympathetic ink on the apparently blank sheet of paper in ,bennett's effects1 when the speaking-tube sounded and ,i answered it4 ,why--it's ,elaine1 ,i exclaimed4 ,kennedy's face showed the keenest pleasure at the unexpected visit4 ,tell her to come right up1 he said quickly4 ,i opened the door for her4 ,why--,elaine--,i'm awfully glad to see you1 he greeted1 but ,i thought you were rusticating4 ,i was1 but1 ,craig1 it seems to me that wherever ,i go1 something happens1 she returned4 ,you know1 ,aunt ,tabby said there were haunts4 ,i thought it was an old woman's fear--but last night ,i heard the strangest noises out there1 and ,i thought ,i saw a face at the window--a face in a helmet4 ,and when ,joshua went out1 this is what he found on the ground under my window4 ,she handed ,kennedy a box1 a peculiar affair which she touched gingerly and only with signs of the greatest aversion4 ,kennedy opened it4 ,there1 in the bottom of the box1 was a little ivory devil-god4 ,he looked at it curiously a moment4 ,let me see1 he ruminated1 still regarding the sign4 ,the house you bought for ,aunt ,tabby1 once belonged to ,bennett1 didn't it8 ,elaine nodded her head4 ,yes1 but ,i don't see what that can have to do with it1 she agreed1 adding with a shudder1 ,bennett is dead4 ,kennedy had taken a piece of paper from the desk where he had put it away carefully4 ,have you ever seen anything that looks like this8 he asked1 handing her the paper4 ,elaine looked at the plan carefully1 as ,kennedy and ,i scanned her face4 ,she glanced up1 her expression showing plainly the wonder she felt4 ,why1 yes1 she answered4 ,that looks like ,aunt ,tabby's fireplace in the living-room4 ,kennedy said nothing for a moment4 ,then he seized his hat and coat4 ,if you don't mind1 he said1 we'll go back there with you4 ,mind8 she repeated4 ,just what ,i had hoped you would do4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,wu ,fang1 the ,chinese master mind1 had arrived in ,new ,york4 ,beside ,wu1 the inscrutable1 ,long ,sin1 astute though he was1 was a mere pigmy--his slave1 his advance agent1 as it were1 a tentacle sent out to discover the most promising outlet for the nefarious talents of his master4 ,new ,york did not know of the arrival of ,wu ,fang1 the mysterious--yet4 ,but down in the secret recesses of ,chinatown1 in the ways that are devious and dark1 the oriental crooks knew--and trembled4 ,thus it happened that ,long ,sin was not permitted to enjoy even the foretaste of ,bennett's spoils which he had forced from him after his weird transformation into his real self1 the ,clutching ,hand1 when the ,chinaman had given him the poisoned draught that had put him into his long sleep4 ,he had obtained the paper showing where the treasure amassed by the ,clutching ,hand was hidden1 but ,wu ,fang1 his master1 had come4 ,wu had immediately established himself in the most sumptuous of apartments1 hidden behind the squalid exterior of the ordinary tenement building in ,chinatown4 ,the night following his arrival1 ,wu ,fang was reclining on a divan1 when his servant announced that ,long ,sin was at the door4 ,as ,long ,sin entered1 it was evident that1 cunning and shrewd though he was himself1 ,wu was indeed his master4 ,he approached in fear and awe1 cringing low4 ,have you brought the map with you8 asked ,wu4 ,long ,sin bowed low again1 and drew from under his coat the paper which he had obtained from ,bennett4 ,for a moment the two1 master and slave in guile1 bent over1 closely studying it4 ,at one point in the map ,long ,sin's bony finger paused over a note which ,bennett had made3 ,,beware ,,poisoned ,,gas ,,upon ,,opening ,,compartment4 ,and you think you can trace it out8 asked ,wu4 ,without a doubt1 bowed ,long ,sin4 ,he went over to a bag near-by1 which he had already sent up by another servant1 and opened it4 ,inside was an oxygen helmet4 ,he replaced it1 after showing it to ,wu4 ,with the aid of the science of the white devil1 we shall overcome the science of the white devil1 purred ,long ,sin subtly4 ,outside1 ,wu had already ordered a car to wait1 and together the two drove off rapidly4 ,into the country1 they sped1 until at last they came to a lonely turn in a lonely road1 somewhat removed from the section that was rapidly being built up as population reached out from the city1 but on a single-tracked trolley line4 ,long ,sin alighted and disappeared with a parting word of instruction from ,wu who remained in the car4 ,the ,chinaman carried with him the heavy bag with the oxygen helmet4 ,along this interurban trolley the cars made only half-hourly trips at this time of night4 ,long ,sin hurried down the road until he came to a trolley pole1 then looked hastily at his watch4 ,it was twenty minutes at least before the next car would pass4 ,quickly1 almost monkey-like1 he climbed up the pole1 carrying with him the end of a wire which he had taken from the bag4 ,having thrown this over the feed wire1 he slid quickly to the ground again4 ,then1 carrying the other end of the wire in his rubber-gloved hands1 he made his way through the underbrush1 in and out1 almost like the serpent he was1 until he came to a passageway in the rough and uncleared hillside--a small opening formed by the rocks4 ,it was dark inside1 but he did not hesitate to enter1 carrying the wire and the bag with him4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was nightfall before we arrived with ,elaine at ,aunt ,tabby's4 ,we entered the living-room and ,elaine introduced us both to ,aunt ,tabby and her husband4 ,it was difficult to tell whether ,elaine's old nurse was more glad to see her than the faithful ,rusty who almost overwhelmed her even after so short an absence4 ,in the midst of the greetings1 ,i took occasion to look over the living-room4 ,it was a very cozy room1 simply and tastefully furnished1 and ,i fancied that ,i could see in the neatness of ,aunt ,tabby a touch of ,elaine's hand1 for she had furnished it for her faithful old friend4 ,i followed ,kennedy's eyes1 and saw that he was looking at the fireplace4 ,sure enough1 it was the same in design as the fireplace which the heat had so unexpectedly brought out in sympathetic ink on the blank sheet of paper4 ,kennedy lost no time in examining it1 and we crowded around him as he went over it inch by inch1 following the directions on the drawing4 ,at one point in the drawing a peculiar protuberance was marked4 ,kennedy was evidently hunting for that4 ,he found it at last and pressed the sort of lever in several ways4 ,nothing seemed to happen4 ,but finally1 almost by chance1 he seemed to discover the secret4 ,a small section at the side of the fireplace opened up1 disclosing an iron ladder1 leading down into one of those characteristic hiding-places in which the ,clutching ,hand used to delight4 ,kennedy looked at the mysterious opening some time1 as if trying to fathom the mystery4 ,let's go down and explore it1 ,i suggested1 taking a step toward the ladder4 ,kennedy reached out and pulled me back4 ,then without a word he pressed the little lever and the door closed4 ,i think we'd better wait a while1 ,walter1 he decided4 ,i would rather hear ,aunt ,tabby's haunts myself4 ,he carefully went over not only the rest of the house but the grounds about it1 without discovering anything4 ,aunt ,tabby1 with true country hospitality1 seemed unable to receive guests without feeding them1 and1 although we had had a big dinner at a famous road-house on the way out1 still none of us could find it in our hearts to refuse her hospitality4 ,even that diversion1 however1 did not prevent us from talking of nothing else but the strange noises1 and ,i think1 as we waited1 we all got into the frame of mind which would have manufactured them even if there had been none4 ,we were sitting about the room when suddenly the most weird and uncanny rappings began4 ,rusty was on his feet in a moment1 barking like mad4 ,we looked from one to another4 ,it was impossible to tell where the noises came from1 or even to describe them4 ,they were certainly not ghostly rappings4 ,in fact1 they sounded more like some twentieth century piece of machinery4 ,we listened a moment1 then ,kennedy walked over to the fireplace4 ,you can explore it with me now1 ,walter1 he said quietly1 touching the lever and opening the panel which disclosed the ladder4 ,he started down the ladder and ,i followed closely4 ,elaine was about to join us1 when ,kennedy paused on the topmost round and looked up at her4 ,no1 no1 young lady1 he said with mock severity1 you have been through enough already--you stay where you are4 ,elaine argued and begged but ,kennedy was obdurate4 ,it was only when ,aunt ,tabby and ,joshua added their entreaties that she consented reluctantly to remain4 ,together1 ,craig and ,i descended into the darkness about eight or ten feet4 ,there we found a passageway1 excavated through the earth and rock1 along which we crept4 ,it was crooked and uneven1 and we stumbled1 but kept going slowly ahead4 ,kennedy1 who was a few feet in front of me1 stopped suddenly and ,i almost fell over him4 ,what is it8 ,i whispered4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,long ,sin had made his way from the opening of the cave to the point on the plan which was marked by a cross1 and there he had set up his electric drill which was connected to the trolley wire4 ,he was working furiously to take advantage of the fifteen minutes or so before the next car would pass4 ,the tunnel had been widened out at this point into a small subterranean chamber4 ,it was dug out of the earth and the roof was roughly propped up1 most of the weight being borne by one main wooden prop which1 in the dampness1 had now become old and rotten4 ,on one side it was evident that ,long ,sin had already been at work1 digging and drilling through the earth and rock4 ,he had gone so far now that he had disclosed what looked like the face of a small safe set directly into the rock4 ,as he worked he would stop from time to time and consult the map4 ,then he would take up drilling again4 ,he had now come to the point on which ,bennett had written his warning4 ,quickly he opened the bag and took out the oxygen helmet1 which he adjusted carefully over his head4 ,then he set to work with redoubled energy4 ,it was that drill as well as his pounding on the rock which had so alarmed ,elaine and ,aunt ,tabby the night before and which now had been the signal for ,kennedy's excursion of discovery4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,our man1 whoever he was1 must have heard us approaching down the tunnel1 for he paused in his work and the noise of the drill ceased4 ,he looked about a moment1 then went over to the prop and examined it1 looking up at the roof of the chamber above him4 ,evidently he feared that it was not particularly strong4 ,from our vantage point around the bend in the passageway we could see this strange and uncouth figure4 ,who is it1 do you think8 ,i whispered1 crouching back against the wall for fear that he might look even around a corner or through the earth and discover us4 ,as ,i spoke1 my hand loosened a piece of rock that jutted out and before ,i knew it there was a crash4 ,confound it1 ,walter1 exclaimed ,kennedy4 ,down the passageway the figure was now thoroughly on the alert1 staring with his goggle-like eyes into the blackness in our direction4 ,it was not the roof above him that was unsafe4 ,he was watched1 and he did not hesitate a minute to act4 ,he seized the bag and picked his way quickly through the passage as if thoroughly familiar with every turn of the walls and roughness of the floor4 ,we were discovered and if we were to accomplish anything1 it was now or never4 ,kennedy dashed forward and ,i followed close after him4 ,we were making much better time than our strange visitor and were gaining on him rapidly4 ,nearer and nearer we came to him1 for1 in spite of his familiarity with the cavern he was hampered by the outlandish head-gear that he wore4 ,it was only another instant1 when ,kennedy would have laid his hands on him4 ,suddenly he half turned1 raised his arm and dashed something to the earth much as a child explodes a toy torpedo4 ,i fully expected that it was a bomb2 but1 as a moment later1 ,i found that ,kennedy and ,i were still unharmed1 ,i knew that it must be some other product of this devilish genius4 ,the thickest and most impenetrable smoke seemed to pervade the narrow cavern6 ,a ,chinese smoke bomb6 sputtered and coughed ,kennedy1 as he retreated a minute1 then with renewed vigor endeavored to penetrate the dense and opaque fumes4 ,we managed to go ahead still1 but the intruder had exploded one after another of his peculiar bombs1 always keeping ahead of the smoke which he created1 and we found that under its cover he had made good his escape1 probably reaching the entrance of the cave in the underbrush4 ,at the other end of the passageway1 up in the living-room of the cottage1 the draught had carried large quantities of the smoke4 ,elaine1 ,aunt ,tabby and ,joshua coughing and choking1 saw it1 and opened a window1 which seemed to cause a current of air to sweep through the whole length of the passageway and helped to clear away the fumes rapidly4 ,long ,sin1 meanwhile1 had started to work his way through the bushes to reach the waiting car1 with ,wu1 then paused and listened4 ,hearing no sound1 he replaced the helmet which he had taken off4 ,pursuit was now useless for us4 ,with revolvers drawn1 we crept back along the passageway until we came again to the chamber itself4 ,there1 on the floor1 lay a bag of tools1 opened1 as though somebody had been working with them4 ,caught red-handed6 exclaimed ,kennedy with great satisfaction4 ,he looked at the tools a minute and then at the electric drill1 and finally an idea seemed to strike him4 ,he took up the drill and advanced toward the safe4 ,then he turned on the current and applied the drill4 ,the drill was of the very latest design and it went quickly through the steel4 ,but beyond that there was another thin steel partition4 ,this ,kennedy tackled next4 ,the drill went through and he withdrew it4 ,instantly the most penetrating and nauseous odor seemed to pervade everything4 ,kennedy cried out4 ,but his warning was too late4 ,we staggered back1 overcome by the escaping gas and fell to the ground4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,long ,sin1 with his oxygen helmet on again1 had returned to the passageway and was now stealthily creeping back4 ,he came to the chamber and there discovered us lying on the ground1 overcome4 ,he bent down and1 to his great satisfaction1 saw that we were really unconscious4 ,quickly he moved over to the safe and pried open the last thin steel plate4 ,inside was a small box4 ,he picked it up and tried to open it1 but it was locked4 ,there was no time to work over it here1 and he took it under his arm and started to leave4 ,he paused a moment to look at us1 then took out a piece of paper and a pencil and on the paper wrote1 ,thanks for your trouble4 ,beneath1 it was signed by his special stamp--the serpent's head1 mouth open and fangs showing4 ,long ,sin looked at us a moment1 then a subtle smile seemed to spread over his face4 ,at last he had us in his power4 ,he drew out a long1 wicked-looking ,chinese knife and stuck it through the note4 ,then he felt the edge of the knife4 ,it was keen4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in the sitting-room1 ,elaine1 ,aunt ,tabby and ,joshua had been listening intently at the fireplace but heard nothing4 ,they were now getting decidedly worried4 ,finally1 the fumes which we had released made their way to the room4 ,they were considerably diluted by fresh air by that time1 but1 although they were nauseous1 were not sufficient to overcome any one4 ,still1 the smell was terrible4 ,i can't stand it any longer1 cried ,elaine4 ,i'm going down there to see what has become of them4 ,aunt ,tabby and ,joshua tried to stop her1 but she broke away from them and went down the ladder4 ,rusty leaped down after her4 ,joshua tried to follow1 but ,aunt ,tabby held him back4 ,he would have gone1 too1 if she had not managed to strike the spring and shut the door1 closing up the passageway4 ,joshua got angry then4 ,you are making a coward of me1 he cried1 beating on the panel with the butt of his gun and struggling to open it4 ,he seemed unable to fathom the secret4 ,elaine was now making her way as rapidly as she could through the tunnel1 with ,rusty beside her4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was just as ,long ,sin had raised his knife that the sound of her footsteps alarmed him4 ,he paused and leaped to his feet4 ,there was no time for either to retreat4 ,he started toward ,elaine1 and seized her roughly4 ,back and forth over the rocky floor they struggled4 ,as they fought1--she with frantic strength1 he craftily1--he backed her slowly up against the prop that upheld the roof4 ,he raised his keen knife4 ,she recoiled4 ,the prop1 none too strong1 suddenly gave way under her weight4 ,the whole roof of the chamber fell with a crash1 earth and stone overwhelming ,elaine and her assailant4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,by this time ,joshua had left the house and had gone out into the garden to get something to pry open the fireplace door4 ,of a sudden1 to his utter amazement1 a few feet from him1 it seemed as if the very earth sank in his garden1 leaving a yawning chasm4 ,he looked1 unable to make it out4 ,before his very eyes a strange figure1 the figure of ,long ,sin in his oxygen helmet1 appeared1 struggling up1 as if by magic from the very earth1 shaking the debris off himself1 as a dog would shake off the water after a plunge in a pond4 ,long ,sin was gone in a moment4 ,then again the earth began to move4 ,a paw appeared1 then a sharp black nose1 and a moment later1 ,rusty1 too1 dug himself out4 ,joshua had run into the house to get a spade when ,rusty1 like a shot1 bolted for the house1 took the window at a leap and all covered with earth landed before ,joshua and ,aunt ,tabby4 ,see6--he went down there--now he's here6 cried ,aunt ,tabby1 pointing at the fireplace1 then looking at the window4 ,rusty was running back and forth from ,joshua to the window4 ,follow him6 cried ,aunt ,tabby4 ,rusty led the way back again to the garden1 to the cave-in4 ,elaine6 gasped ,aunt ,tabby4 ,by this time ,joshua was digging furiously4 ,rusty1 too1 seemed to understand4 ,he threw back the earth with his paws1 helping with every ounce of strength in his little body4 ,at last the spade turned up a bit of cloth4 ,elaine6 ,aunt ,tabby cried out again4 ,she was in a sort of little pocket1 protected by the fortunate formation of the earth as it fell1 yet almost suffocated1 weak but conscious4 ,aunt ,tabby rushed up as ,joshua laid down the spade and lifted out ,elaine4 ,they were about to carry her into the house1 when she cried weakly1 but with all her remaining strength4 ,no--no--,dig6 ,craig--,walter6 she managed to gasp4 ,rusty1 too1 was still at it4 ,joshua fell to again4 ,man and dog worked with a will4 ,there they are6 cried ,elaine1 as all three pulled us out1 unconscious but still alive4 ,though we did not know it1 they carried us into the house1 while ,elaine and ,aunt ,tabby bustled about to get something to revive us4 ,at last ,i opened my eyes and saw the motherly ,aunt ,tabby bending over me4 ,craig was already revived1 weak but ready now to do anything ,elaine ordered1 as she held his hand and stroked his forehead softly4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile ,long ,sin had made his way to the automobile where his master1 ,wu1 waited impatiently4 ,did you get it8 asked ,wu eagerly4 ,long ,sin showed him the box4 ,hurry1 master6 he cried breathlessly1 leaping into the car and struggling to take off the helmet as they drove away4 ,they may be here--at any moment4 ,the machine was off like a shot and even if we had been able to follow1 we could not now have caught it4 ,back in ,wu's sumptuous apartment1 later1 ,wu and his slave1 ,long ,sin1 after their hurried ride1 dismissed all the servants and placed the little box on the table4 ,wu rose and locked the door4 ,then1 together1 they took a sharp instrument and tried to pry off the lid of the box4 ,the lid flew off4 ,they gazed in eagerly4 ,inside was a smaller box1 which ,wu seized eagerly and opened4 ,there1 on the plush cushion lay merely a round knobbed ring6 ,was this the end of their great expectations8 ,were ,bennett's millions merely mythical8 ,the two stared at each other in chagrin4 ,wu was the first to speak4 ,where there should have been seven million dollars1 he muttered to himself1 why is there only a mystic ring8 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,the ,,cryptic ,,ring ,kennedy had been engaged for some time in the only work outside of the ,dodge case which he had consented to take for weeks4 ,our old friend1 ,dr4 ,leslie1 the ,coroner1 had appealed to him to solve a very ticklish point in a ,tong murder case which had set all ,chinatown agog4 ,it was1 indeed1 a very bewildering case4 ,a ,chinaman named ,li ,chang1 leader of the ,chang ,wah ,tong1 had been poisoned1 but so far no one had been able to determine what poison it was or even to prove that there had been a poison1 except for the fact that the man was dead1 and ,kennedy had taken the thing up in a great measure because of the sudden turn in the ,dodge case which had brought us into such close contact with the ,chinese4 ,i had been watching ,kennedy with interest1 for the ,tong wars always make picturesque newspaper stories1 when a knock at the door announced the arrival of ,dr4 ,leslie1 anxious for some result4 ,have you been able to find out anything yet8 he greeted ,kennedy eagerly as ,craig looked up from his microscope4 ,kennedy turned and nodded4 ,your dead man was murdered by means of aconite1 of which1 you know1 the active principle is the deadly alkaloid aconitine4 ,craig pulled down from the shelf above him one of his well-thumbed standard works on toxicology4 ,he turned the pages and read3 ,pure aconite is probably the most actively poisonous substance with which we are acquainted4 ,it does not produce any decidedly characteristic post-mortem appearances1 and1 in fact1 there is no reliable chemical test to prove its presence4 ,the chances of its detection in the body after death are very slight4 ,dr4 ,leslie looked up4 ,then there is no test1 none8 he asked4 ,there is one that is brand new1 replied ,kennedy slowly4 ,it is the new starch-grain test just discovered by ,professor ,reichert1 of the ,university of ,pennsylvania4 ,the peculiarities of the starch grains of various plants are quite as great as those of the blood crystals1 which1 you will recall1 ,walter1 we used once4 ,the starch grains of the poison have remained in the wound4 ,i have recovered them from the dead man's blood and have studied them microscopically4 ,they can be definitely recognized4 ,this is plainly a case of aconite poisoning--probably suggested to the ,oriental mind by the poison arrows of the ,ainus of ,northern ,japan4 ,dr4 ,leslie and ,i both looked through the microscope1 comparing the starch grains which ,kennedy had discovered with those of scores of micro-photographs which lay scattered over the table4 ,there are several treatments for aconite poisoning1 ruminated ,kennedy4 ,i would say that one of the latest and best is digitalin given hypodermically4 ,he took down a bottle of digitalin from a cabinet1 adding1 only it was too late in this case4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,just what the relations were between ,long ,sin and the ,chong ,wah ,tong ,i have never been able to determine exactly4 ,but one thing was certain3 ,long ,sin on his arrival in ,new ,york had offended the ,tong and now that his master1 ,wu ,fang1 was here the offence was even greater1 for the criminal society brooked no rival4 ,in the dark recesses of a poorly furnished cellar1 serving as the ,tong headquarters1 the new leader and several of his most trusted followers were now plotting revenge4 ,long ,sin1 they believed1 was responsible for the murder1 and1 with truly ,oriental guile1 they had obtained a hold over ,wu ,fang's secretary4 ,their plan decided on1 the ,chinamen left the headquarters and made their way separately up-town4 ,they rejoined one another in the shelter of a rather poor house1 before which was a board fence1 in the vicinity of a fashionable apartment house4 ,a moment's conference followed1 and then the secretary glided away4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,wu had taken another apartment up-town in one of the large apartment houses near a parkway2 for he was far too subtle to operate from his real headquarters back of the squalid exterior of ,chinatown4 ,there ,long ,sin was now engaged in making all possible provisions for the safety of his master4 ,any one who had been walking along the boulevard and had happened to glance up at the roof of the tall apartment building might have seen ,long ,sin's figure silhouetted against the sky on the top of the mansard roof near a flagpole4 ,he had just finished fastening to the flagpole a stout rope which stretched taut across an areaway some twenty or thirty feet wide to the next building1 where it was fastened to a chimney4 ,again and again he tested it1 and finally with a nod of satisfaction descended from the roof and went to the apartment of ,wu4 ,there1 alone1 he paused for a few minutes to gaze in wonder at the cryptic ring which had been the net result so far of his efforts to find the millions which ,bennett1 as the ,clutching ,hand1 had hidden4 ,he wore it1 strangely enough1 over his index finger1 and as he examined it he shook his head in doubt4 ,neither he nor his master had yet been able to fathom the significance of the ring4 ,long ,sin thought that he was unobserved4 ,but outside1 looking through the keyhole1 was ,wu's secretary1 who had stolen in on the mission which had been set for him at the ,tong headquarters4 ,long ,sin went over to a desk and opened a secret box in which ,wu had placed several packages of money with which to bribe those whom he wished to get into his power4 ,it was ,long ,sin's mission to carry out this scheme1 so he packed the money into a bag1 drew his coat more closely about him and left the room4 ,no sooner had he gone than the secretary hurried into the room1 paused a moment to make sure that ,long ,sin was not coming back1 then hurried over to a closet near-by4 ,from a secret hiding-place he drew out a small bow and arrow4 ,he sat down at a table and hastily wrote a few ,chinese characters on a piece of paper1 rolling up the note into a thin quill which he inserted into a prepared place in the arrow4 ,then he raised the window and deftly shot the arrow out4 ,down the street1 back of the board fence1 where the final conference has taken place1 was a rather sleepy-looking ,chinaman1 taking an occasional puff at a cigarette doped with opium4 ,he jumped to his feet suddenly4 ,with a thud an arrow had buried itself quivering in the fence4 ,quickly he seized it1 drew out the note and read it4 ,in the ,canton vernacular it read briefly3 ,he goes with much money4 ,it was enough4 ,instantly the startling news overcame the effect of the dope1 and the ,chinaman shuffled off quickly to the ,tong headquarters4 ,they were waiting for him there1 and he had scarcely delivered the message before their plans were made4 ,one by one they left the headquarters1 hiding in doorways1 basements and areaways along the narrow street4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,long ,sin was making his rounds1 visiting all those whom the glitter of ,wu's money could corrupt4 ,suddenly from the shadows of a narrow street1 lined with the stores of petty ,chinese merchants1 half a dozen lithe and murderous figures leaped out behind ,long ,sin and seized him4 ,he struggled1 but they easily threw him down4 ,any one who has visited ,chinatown knows that at every corner and bend of the crooked streets stands a policeman4 ,it was scarcely a second before the noise of the scuffle was heard1 but it was too late4 ,the half dozen ,tong men had seized the money which ,long ,sin carried and had deftly stripped him of everything else of value4 ,the sound of the approaching policeman now alarmed them4 ,just as the new ,tong leader had raised an axe to bring it down with crushing force on ,long ,sin's skull a shot rang out and the axe fell from the broken wrist of the ,chinaman4 ,in another moment the policeman had seized him4 ,then followed a sharp fight in which the ,tong men's knowledge of jiu-jitsu stood them in good stead4 ,the policeman was hurled aside1 the ,tong leader broke away1 and one by one his followers disappeared through dark hallways and alleyways1 leaving the policeman with only two prisoners and ,long ,sin lying on the sidewalk4 ,but the ring and the money were gone4 ,are you hurt much8 demanded the burly ,irish officer1 assisting ,long ,sin to his feet1 none too gently4 ,long ,sin was furious over the loss of the precious ring1 yet he knew to involve himself in the white man's law would end only in disaster both for him and his master4 ,he forced a painful smile1 shook his head and managed to get away down the street muttering4 ,he made his way up-town and back to the apartment of ,wu1 and there1 pacing up and down in a fury1 attended to his wounds4 ,his forefinger1 from which the ring had been so ruthlessly snatched1 was a constant reminder to him of the loss4 ,any one who could have studied the vengefulness of his face would have seen that it boded ill for some one4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was the day after her return from ,aunt ,tabby's that ,kennedy called again upon ,elaine to find that she and ,aunt ,josephine were engaged in the pleasant pastime of arranging an entertainment4 ,jennings announced ,craig and held back the portieres as he entered4 ,oh1 good6 cried ,elaine as she saw him4 ,you are just in time4 ,i was going to send you this1 but ,i should much rather give it to you4 ,she handed him a tastefully engraved sheet of paper which he read with interest3 ,miss ,elaine ,dodge requests the honor of your presence at an ,oriental ,reception on ,april #fth1 at #h o'clock4 ,very interesting1 exclaimed ,craig enthusiastically4 ,i shall be delighted to come4 ,he looked about a moment at the library which ,elaine was already rearranging for the entertainment4 ,then you must work1 she cried gaily4 ,you are just in time to help me buy the decorations4 ,no objections--come along4 ,she took ,kennedy's arm playfully4 ,but ,i have a very important investigation for the ,coroner that ,i am-- ,no excuses1 she cried1 laughingly1 dragging him out4 ,among the many places which ,elaine had down on her shopping list was a small ,chinese curio shop on lower ,fifth avenue4 ,they entered and were greeted with a profound bow by the proprietor4 ,he was the new ,tong leader1 and this up-town shop was his cover4 ,in actual fact1 he was what might have been called a ,chinese fence for stolen goods4 ,in their interest in the wealth of strange and curious ornaments displayed in the shop they did not notice that the ,chinaman's wrist was bound tightly under his flowing sleeve4 ,elaine explained what it was she wanted1 and with ,kennedy's aid selected a number of ,chinese hangings and decorations4 ,they were about to leave the shop when ,elaine's eye was attracted by a little show case in which were many quaint and valuable ,chinese ornaments in gold and silver and covered ivory4 ,what an odd looking thing1 she said1 pointing out a knobbed ring which reposed on the black velvet of the case4 ,quite odd1 agreed ,kennedy4 ,the subtle ,chinaman stood by the pile of hangings on the counter which ,elaine had bought1 overjoyed at such a large sale4 ,praising the ring to ,elaine1 he turned insinuatingly to ,kennedy4 ,there was nothing else for ,craig to do--he bought the ring1 and the ,chinaman proved again his ability as a merchant4 ,from the curio shop where ,elaine had completed her purchases they drove to ,kennedy's laboratory4 ,i had been at work on a story for the ,star when they entered4 ,you will be there1 too1 ,mr4 ,jameson8 coaxed ,elaine1 as she told of their morning's work4 ,i needed no urging4 ,we were in the midst of planning the entertainment when a slight cough behind me made me start and turn quickly4 ,there stood ,long ,sin1 the astute ,chinaman who had delivered the bomb to ,kennedy and had betrayed ,bennett4 ,we had seen very little of him since then4 ,long ,sin bowed low and shuffled over closer to ,kennedy4 ,i noticed that ,elaine eyed ,long ,sin sharply4 ,but as yet we had seen no reason to suspect him1 so cleverly had he covered his tracks4 ,kennedy1 having used him once to capture ,bennett1 was still not unwilling to use him in attempting to discover where ,bennett's hidden millions lay4 ,i am in great trouble1 ,professor ,kennedy1 began ,long ,sin in a low tone4 ,you don't know the ,chinese of the city1 but if you did you would know what blackmailers there are among them4 ,i have refused to pay blackmail to the ,chong ,wah ,tong1 and since then it has been trouble1 trouble1 trouble4 ,kennedy looked up quickly at the name ,chong ,wah ,tong1 thinking of the investigation which the ,coroner had asked him to make into the murder4 ,he and ,long ,sin moved a few steps away1 discussing the affair4 ,elaine and ,i were still talking over the entertainment4 ,she happened to place her hand on the desk near ,long ,sin4 ,my back was toward him and ,i did not see him start suddenly and look at her hand4 ,on it was the ring--the ring which1 unknown to us1 ,long ,sin had found in the passageway under ,aunt ,tabby's garden1 of which he had been robbed1 and which now1 by a strange chance1 had come into ,elaine's possession4 ,it was a peculiar situation for ,long ,sin1 although as yet we did not know it4 ,he could not lay claim to the mystic ring1 for then ,kennedy would make him prove his ownership1 and the whole affair of which we still knew nothing would be exposed4 ,he acted quickly4 ,long ,sin decided to recover the ring by stealth4 ,elaine was still talking enthusiastically about her party1 when ,long ,sin turned from ,kennedy and moved toward us with a bow4 ,the lady speaks of an ,oriental reception1 he remarked4 ,would she care to engage a magician8 ,elaine turned to him surprised4 ,do you mean that you are a magician8 she asked1 puzzled4 ,long ,sin smiled quietly4 ,he reached over and took a small bottle from ,kennedy's laboratory table4 ,holding it in his hand almost directly before us1 he made a few sleight-of-hand passes1 and1 presto6 the bottle had disappeared4 ,a few more passes1 and a test tube appeared in its place4 ,before we knew it he had caused the test tube to disappear and the bottle to reappear4 ,we all applauded enthusiastically4 ,i don't think that is such a bad idea after all1 nodded ,kennedy to ,elaine4 ,perhaps not1 she agreed1 a little doubtfully4 ,i hadn't intended to have such a thing1 but--why1 of course1 that would interest everybody4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was the night of the reception4 ,the ,dodge library was transformed4 ,the ,oriental hangings which ,elaine and ,kennedy had purchased seemed to breathe mysticism4 ,at the far end of the room a platform had been arranged to form a stage on which ,long ,sin was to perform his sleight-of-hand4 ,the drawing-room also was decorated like the library4 ,at the other end of the room ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine1 in picturesque ,oriental costume1 were greeting the guests4 ,every one seemed to be delighted with the novelty of the affair4 ,we came in just a bit ahead of ,long ,sin1 and ,elaine greeted us4 ,almost everybody had arrived when ,elaine turned to the guests and introduced ,long ,sin with a little speech4 ,long ,sin bowed and every one applauded4 ,he made his way to the platform in the library and mounted it4 ,i shall not attempt to describe the amazing series of tricks which he performed4 ,his hands and fingers seemed to move like lightning4 ,among other things1 ,i remember he took up a cover from a table near-by4 ,he held it up before us4 ,instantly it seemed that a flock of pigeons flew out of it around the room4 ,how he did it ,i don't know4 ,they were real pigeons1 however1 and the trick brought down the house4 ,long ,sin bowed4 ,another of his feats which ,i recall was nothing less than kindling a fire on a small bit of tin and1 as the flames mounted1 he deliberately stepped into them1 apparently as unharmed as a salamander4 ,so it went from one thing to another4 ,the entertainment was brilliant in itself1 but ,long ,sin seemed to put the finishing touch to it4 ,in fact1 ,i suppose that it was a couple of hours that he continued to amuse us4 ,he had finished and every one crowded about him to congratulate him on his skill4 ,his only answer1 however1 was his inscrutable smile4 ,this is wonderful1 wonderful1 ,i repeated as ,i happened to meet ,elaine alone4 ,we walked into the conservatory while the guests were crowding around ,long ,sin4 ,she seated herself for the first time during the evening4 ,may ,i get you an ice8 ,i suggested4 ,she thanked me1 and ,i hurried off4 ,as ,i passed through the drawing-room ,i did not notice that ,long ,sin had managed to escape further congratulations of the guests4 ,just then a waiter passed through with ices on a tray4 ,i called to him and he stopped4 ,a moment later ,long ,sin himself took an ice from the tray and retreated back of the portieres4 ,no one was about1 and he hastily drew a bottle from his pocket4 ,on the bottle was a ,chinese label4 ,he palmed the bottle1 and any one who had chanced to see him would have noticed that he passed it two or three times over the ice1 then1 lifting the portieres1 entered the drawing-room again4 ,he had made the circuit of the rooms in such a way as to bring himself out directly in my path4 ,with a smile he stopped before me1 rubbing both hands together4 ,it is for ,miss ,elaine8 he asked4 ,i nodded4 ,by this time several of the guests who were fascinated with ,long ,sin gathered about us4 ,long ,sin fluttered open a ,chinese fan which he had used in his tricks1 passed it over my hand1 and in some incomprehensible way ,i felt the plate with the ice literally disappear from my grasp4 ,my face must have shown my surprise4 ,a burst of laughter from the other guests greeted me4 ,i looked at ,long ,sin1 half angry1 yet unable to say anything1 for the joke was plainly on me4 ,he smiled1 made another pass with the fan1 and instantly the plate with the ice was back in my hand4 ,there was nothing for me but to take the joke in the spirit in which the other guests had taken it4 ,i laughed with them and managed to get away4 ,meanwhile ,kennedy had been moving from one to another of the guests seeking ,elaine4 ,he had already taken an ice from the waiter and was going in the direction of the conservatory4 ,there he found her4 ,won't you take this ice8 he asked1 handing it to her4 ,it is very kind of you1 she said1 but ,i have already sent ,walter for one4 ,kennedy insisted and she took it4 ,she had already started to eat it when ,i appeared in the doorway4 ,i was rather vexed at ,long ,sin for having delayed me1 and ,i mumbled something about it4 ,kennedy laughed1 rather pleased at having beaten me4 ,never mind1 ,walter1 he said with a smile1 ,i'll take it4 ,and er--,i don't think that ,elaine will object if you play the host for a little while with ,aunt ,josephine1 he hinted4 ,i saw that three was a crowd and ,i turned to retrace my steps to the drawing-room4 ,kennedy1 however1 was not alone4 ,back of the palms in the conservatory two beady black eyes were eagerly watching4 ,long ,sin had noted every movement as his cleverly laid plan miscarried4 ,chatting with animation1 ,kennedy tasted the ice4 ,he had taken only a couple of spoonfuls when a look of wonder and horror seemed to spread over his face4 ,he rose quickly4 ,a cold sweat seemed to break out all over him4 ,his nerves almost refused to respond4 ,his tongue seemed to be paralyzed and the muscles of his throat seemed to be like steel bands4 ,he took only a few steps1 began to stagger1 and finally sank down on the floor4 ,elaine screamed4 ,we rushed in from the library and drawing-room4 ,there lay ,kennedy on the floor1 his face most terribly contorted4 ,we gathered around him and he tried to raise himself and speak1 but seemed unable to utter a sound4 ,he had fallen near the fountain and one hand drooped over into the water4 ,as he fell back he seemed to have only just enough strength to withdraw his hand from the fountain4 ,on the stone coping1 slowly and laboriously1 he moved his finger4 ,what's the matter1 old man8 ,i asked1 bending over him4 ,there was no answer1 but he managed to turn his head1 and ,i followed the direction of his eyes4 ,with trembling finger he was tracing out1 one by one1 some letters4 ,i looked and it flashed over me what he meant4 ,he had written with the water3 ,digitalin--lab-- ,i jumped up and almost without a word dashed out of the conservatory1 down the hall and into the first car waiting outside4 ,to the laboratory1 ,i directed1 giving the driver the directions1 and drive like the deuce6 ,fortunately there was no one to stop us1 and ,i know we broke all the speed laws of ,new ,york4 ,i dashed into the laboratory1 almost broke open the cabinet1 and seized the bottle of digitalin and a hypodermic syringe1 then rushed madly out again and into the car4 ,meanwhile some of the guests had lifted up ,kennedy1 too excited to notice ,long ,sin in his hiding-place4 ,they had laid ,craig down on a couch and were endeavoring to revive him4 ,some one had already sent for a doctor1 but the aconite was working quickly on its victim1 and he was slowly stiffening out4 ,elaine was frantic4 ,i scarcely waited for the car to stop in front of the house4 ,i opened the door and rushed in4 ,without a word ,i thrust the antidote and the syringe into the hands of the doctor and he went to work immediately4 ,we watched with anxiety4 ,finally ,kennedy's eyes opened and gradually his breathing seemed to become more normal4 ,the antidote had been given in time4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy was considerably broken up by the narrow escape which he had had1 and1 naturally1 even the next morning1 did not feel like himself4 ,in the excitement of leaving ,elaine's we had forgotten the bottle of digitalin4 ,as for myself1 ,i had been so overjoyed at seeing my old friend restored that ,i would have forgotten anything4 ,kennedy looked rather wan and peaked1 but insisted on going to the laboratory as usual4 ,do you remember what became of the bottle of digitalin8 he asked1 fumbling in the closet4 ,mechanically ,i felt in my own pockets2 it was not there4 ,i shook my head4 ,i don't seem to remember what became of it--perhaps we left it there4 ,in fact1 we must have left it there4 ,i don't like to have such things lying around loose1 remarked ,kennedy1 taking up his hat and coat with forced energy4 ,i think we had better get it4 ,elaine had spent rather a sleepless night after the attempt to poison her which had miscarried and resulted in poisoning ,kennedy4 ,to keep her mind off the thing1 she had already started to take down the decorations4 ,jennings and ,marie1 as well as a couple of workmen1 were restoring the library to its normal condition under the direction of ,aunt ,josephine4 ,the telephone rang and ,elaine answered it4 ,her face showed that something startling had happened4 ,it was ,jameson1 she cried1 almost dropping the receiver1 overcome4 ,they all hurried to her4 ,he says that ,mr4 ,kennedy and he were visiting that ,chinaman this morning and ,mr4 ,kennedy suffered a relapse--is dying there1 in the ,chinaman's apartment4 ,he wants us to come quickly and bring that medicine that they used last night4 ,he says it is on the tabaret in the library4 ,marie1 will you look for it8 ,and1 ,jennings1 get the car right away4 ,jennings hurried from the room1 and a moment later ,marie had found the bottle behind some ornaments on the tabaret and came back with it4 ,scarcely knowing what to do1 ,elaine1 followed by ,aunt ,josephine1 had rushed from the house1 hatless and coatless1 just as the car swung around from the garage in the rear4 ,jennings went out with the wraps4 ,they seized them and leaped into the car1 which started off swiftly4 ,it was only a matter of minutes when they pulled up before the apartment house where ,wu had taken the suite from which ,long ,sin had telephoned the message in my name4 ,together ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine hurried in4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy went directly from the laboratory to the ,dodge house4 ,i don't think ,i ever saw such an expression of surprise on anybody's face as that on ,jennings's when he opened the door and saw us4 ,he was aghast4 ,back of him we could see ,marie4 ,she looked as if she had seen a ghost4 ,is ,miss ,elaine in8 asked ,kennedy4 ,jennings was even too dumfounded to speak4 ,why1 what's the matter8 demanded ,kennedy4 ,then--er--you are not ill again8 he managed to blurt out4 ,ill again8 repeated ,kennedy4 ,why1 explained ,jennings1 didn't ,mr4 ,jameson just now telephone that you had had a relapse in the apartment of that ,chinaman1 and for ,miss ,elaine to hurry over there right away with that bottle of medicine8 ,kennedy waited to hear no more4 ,seizing me by the arm1 he turned and dashed down the steps and back again into the taxicab in which we had come4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in ,wu's apartment ,long ,sin was giving his secretary and another ,chinaman the most explicit instructions4 ,as he finished each nodded and showed him a ,chinese dirk concealed under his blouse4 ,just then a knock sounded at the door4 ,the secretary opened it1 and ,aunt ,josephine and ,elaine almost ran in4 ,before they knew it1 the secretary had locked the door4 ,long ,sin rose and bowed with a smile4 ,where is ,mr4 ,kennedy8 demanded ,elaine4 ,long ,sin bowed again1 spreading out his hands1 palm outward4 ,mr4 ,kennedy8 ,he is not here4 ,then1 straightening up1 he faced the two women squarely4 ,you have a ring that means much to me1 he said quickly4 ,the only way to get it from you was to bring you here4 ,he was pointing now at the ring on ,elaine's finger4 ,she looked at it a moment in surprise1 then at the menacing ,chinaman1 and turned quickly4 ,she ran to the door4 ,it was locked4 ,long ,sin1 motionless1 smiled4 ,there is no way to get out1 he murmured4 ,aunt ,josephine was standing now with her back to the door leading into another room4 ,she happened to look up and saw the secretary1 who was near her and half turned away4 ,from where she was standing she could see the murderous dirk up his sleeve4 ,she acted instantly4 ,without a word she summoned all her strength and struck him4 ,the secretary stumbled4 ,elaine1 she cried1 look out6 they have knives4 ,before ,elaine knew it ,aunt ,josephine had taken her by the arm1 had pulled her into the back room1 and1 although ,long ,sin and the others had rushed forward1 managed to slam the door and lock it4 ,the ,chinamen set to work immediately to pry it open4 ,while they were at work on the doer1 which was already swaying1 ,aunt ,josephine and ,elaine were running about1 trying to find an outlet from the room4 ,there seemed to be no way out4 ,even the windows were locked4 ,i don't know why they want the ring1 whispered ,aunt ,josephine1 but they won't get it4 ,give it to me1 ,elaine4 ,she almost seized the ring1 hiding it in her waist4 ,as she did so the door burst open and ,wu1 ,long ,sin and the other ,chinamen rushed in4 ,a second later they seized ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy and ,i dashed up before the apartment house in which we knew that ,long ,sin lived1 leaped out of the car and hurried in4 ,it was on the second floor1 and we did not wait for the elevator but took the steps two at a time4 ,kennedy found the door locked4 ,instantly he whipped out his revolver and shot the lock in pieces4 ,we threw ourselves against the door1 the broken lock gave way and we rushed in through the front room4 ,no one was there1 but in a back room we could hear sounds4 ,it was ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine struggling with the ,chinamen4 ,long ,sin and the others had seized ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine was trying to help her just as we rushed in4 ,with a blow ,kennedy knocked out the secretary1 while ,i struggled with the other ,chinamen who blocked the way4 ,then ,kennedy went directly at ,long ,sin4 ,they struggled furiously4 ,long ,sin1 with his wonderful knowledge of jiu-jitsu1 might not have been a match for six other ,chinamen1 but he was for one white man4 ,with a mighty effort he threw ,kennedy1 rushed for the door and1 as he passed through the outside room1 seized a ,tong axe from the wall4 ,afraid of the wonderful jiu-jitsu1 ,i had picked up the first thing handy1 which was a tabaret4 ,i literally broke it over the head of my ,chinaman1 then turned and dashed out after ,long ,sin just as ,kennedy picked himself up and followed4 ,i caught up with the ,chinaman and we had a little struggle1 but he managed to break away and raised his axe threateningly4 ,a shout from ,kennedy caused him to turn and run down the flight of stairs1 ,kennedy closely behind him4 ,in the main hall of the apartment house were two elevator shafts facing the street entrance1 some twenty-five or thirty feet away4 ,through the street door the janitor and two or three other men were running in4 ,they had heard the noise of the fighting above4 ,escape to the street was cut off4 ,we were behind him on the flight of stairs4 ,long ,sin did not hesitate a moment4 ,he ran to the elevator1 the door of which was open1 seized the elevator boy and sent him sprawling on the marble floor4 ,then he slammed the door and the elevator shot up4 ,kennedy was only a few feet behind1 and he took in the situation at a glance4 ,he leaped into the other elevator1 and before the surprised boy could interfere shot it up only a few feet behind ,long ,sin4 ,up the two elevators rose1 ,kennedy firing as best he could at ,long ,sin1 while the shots reverberated through the elevator shaft like cannon4 ,it was a wild race to the roof4 ,long ,sin had the start1 and as the elevator reached the top floor he flung it open1 dashed out and through a door up to the roof itself4 ,a second later ,kennedy's elevator stopped4 ,craig leaped out and fired his last shot at the legs of ,long ,sin as he disappeared at the top of the flight of stairs to the roof4 ,he flung the revolver from him and followed4 ,without a moment's hesitation ,kennedy threw himself at ,long ,sin4 ,they struggled with each other4 ,finally ,long ,sin managed to wrench one arm lose and raise the ,tong axe over ,kennedy's head4 ,kennedy dodged back4 ,as he did so he tripped on the very edge of the roof and went sliding down the slates of the mansard4 ,fortunately he was able to catch himself in the gutter4 ,it was the opportunity that ,long ,sin wanted4 ,he started across the rope1 which he had stretched from this apartment house to the building across the court1 with all the deftness of the most expert ,chinese acrobat4 ,by this time ,i had reached the roof1 followed by the janitor and the elevator boys4 ,kennedy was now crawling up the mansard1 helping himself as best he could by some of the ornamental ironwork4 ,i hurried over with the janitor1 and together we pulled him out of danger4 ,long ,sin had reached the roof on the opposite side as we ran across in the direction of the taut rope4 ,a moment later he returned and bowed at us mockingly1 then disappeared behind a skylight4 ,kennedy did not stop an instant4 ,you fellows go down to the street and see if you can head him off that way1 he cried4 ,stay here1 ,walter4 ,before ,i knew it he had seized the rope and was going across to the other building1 hand over hand4 ,it was a perilous undertaking1 but his blood was up4 ,kennedy had almost reached the other roof when suddenly from behind the skylight stepped ,long ,sin4 ,with a wicked leer1 he advanced to the edge of the roof1 his axe upraised4 ,i looked across the yawning chasm1 horrified4 ,slowly ,long ,sin raised the axe above his head1 gathering all the strength which he had1 waiting for ,kennedy to approach closer4 ,kennedy stopped4 ,swiftly the axe descended1 slashing the rope at one blow4 ,like the weight of a pendulum ,kennedy swung back against our own building1 managing to keep his hold on the rope with superhuman strength4 ,i bent far over the edge of the roof1 fully expecting to see him dashed to pieces at the bottom of the court4 ,there was a tremendous shattering of glass4 ,the rope had been just long enough to make him strike a window and he had gone crashing through the glass three floors below4 ,i dashed down the stairs and into the apartment4 ,kennedy was lying on the floor badly cut4 ,i raised him up4 ,he was dazed and considerably overcome2 but as he staggered to his feet with my help ,i saw that no bones were broken4 ,help me1 quick1 ,walter1 he urged1 moving toward the elevators4 ,meanwhile ,long ,sin had quickly dived down into the next building4 ,a few moments later he had come out on the ground floor at the rear4 ,gazing about to see whether he was followed1 he disappeared4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,back in the apartment1 ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine were just about to run out when the two ,chinamen who had been knocked out recovered4 ,one of them threw himself on ,elaine4 ,aunt ,josephine tried to ward him off1 but the other one struck her and threw her down4 ,before she could recover they had seized ,elaine4 ,with a hasty guttural exclamation they picked her up and ran out4 ,instead of going down-stairs they crossed the hallway1 slamming the door behind them4 ,as ,kennedy and ,i reached the ground floor we saw the janitor and one of the elevator boys on either side of ,aunt ,josephine4 ,elaine6 ,elaine6 she cried4 ,what's the matter8 demanded ,kennedy1 leaning heavily on me4 ,they have kidnapped her1 cried ,aunt ,josephine4 ,kennedy pulled himself together4 ,tell me1 quick--how did it happen8 he demanded of ,aunt ,josephine4 ,it was the ring1 she cried1 handing it to him4 ,kennedy took the ring and looked at it for a moment4 ,then he turned to us blankly4 ,all the rooms were empty4 ,elaine had been spirited away4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,the ,,watching ,,eye ,not a clue was left by the kidnappers when they so mysteriously spirited ,elaine away from the apartment of ,wu ,fang4 ,she had disappeared as completely as if she had vanished into the thin air4 ,kennedy was frantic4 ,wu and ,long ,sin themselves seemed to have vanished1 too4 ,where they held her1 what had happened to her was a sealed book4 ,and yet1 no move of ours was made1 no matter how secret1 that it did not seem to be known to them4 ,it was as though a weird1 uncanny eye glared at us1 watching everything4 ,craig neglected no possibility in his eager search4 ,he even visited the little house in the country which ,elaine had given to ,aunt ,tabby1 and spent several hours examining the collapsed subterranean chamber in the vain hope that it might yield a clue4 ,but it had not4 ,it was half filled with debris from above1 where the pillar had given way that night when we had all so nearly lost our lives4 ,still1 there was enough room in what remained of the cavern so that we could move about4 ,kennedy had even dug away some of the earth and rock1 in the hope of discovering some trace of the strange visitor whom we had surprised at work4 ,but here1 also1 he had found nothing4 ,it was maddening4 ,what might at any moment be happening to ,elaine--and he powerless to help her8 ,unescapably1 he was forced to the conclusion that not only ,elaine's amazing disappearance1 but the tragic succession of events which had preceded it1 had been caused1 in some way1 by the curiously engraved ring which ,aunt ,josephine had taken from ,elaine4 ,craig had taken possession of the mystic ring himself1 and now1 forced back on this sole clue1 it had occurred to him that if the ring were so valuable1 other attempts would1 without doubt1 be made to get possession of it4 ,i came into the laboratory1 one afternoon1 to find ,kennedy surrounded by jeweler's tools1 hard at work making an exact copy of the ring4 ,what do you think of it1 ,walter8 he asked1 holding up the replica4 ,perfect1 ,i replied1 admiringly4 ,what are you going to do with it8 ,i can't say--yet1 answered ,kennedy1 forlornly1 but if ,i understand these ,chinese criminals at all1 ,i know that the only way we can ever track them is through some trick4 ,perhaps the replica will suggest something to us later4 ,he placed the copy in a velvet-lined box closely resembling that in which the real ring lay1 and dropped both into his pocket4 ,let's see if ,aunt ,josephine has received any word1 he remarked abruptly1 putting on his hat and coat1 and nodding to me to follow4 ,kennedy and ,i were not the only visitors to the subterranean chamber where it had seemed that the clue to the ,clutching ,hand's millions might be found4 ,it was as though that hidden1 watching eye followed us4 ,the night after our own unsuccessful search1 ,wu ,fang1 accompanied by ,long ,sin1 made his way into the cavern4 ,as they flashed their electric bull's-eyes about the place1 they could see readily that we had already been digging there4 ,wu examined the safe which had been broken into1 while ,long ,sin repeated his experiences there4 ,and you say there was nothing else in it8 demanded ,wu4 ,nothing but the ring which they got from me1 replied ,long ,sin1 ruefully4 ,strange--very strange1 ruminated ,wu1 still regarding the empty strong box4 ,long ,sin was now going over the walls of the cavern minutely1 his close-set1 beady black eyes examining every square inch of it4 ,a sudden low guttural exclamation caused ,wu to turn to him quickly4 ,long ,sin had discovered1 back of the debris1 a small oblong slot1 cut into the rock4 ,above it were some peculiar marks4 ,wu hurried over to his henchman1 and together they tried to decipher what had been scratched on the rock4 ,as ,long ,sin's slender and sinister forefinger traced over the inscription1 ,wu suddenly caught him by the elbow4 ,the ring6 he cried1 as at last he interpreted the meaning of the cryptic characters4 ,but what about the ring8 ,for a moment ,wu looked at the slot in deep thought4 ,then he reached down and withdrew a ring from his own finger and dropped it through the slot4 ,they listened a moment4 ,they could hear the ring tinkle as though it were running down some sort of track-like declivity inside the rock4 ,then1 faintly1 they could hear it drop4 ,it had fallen into a little cup of a compartment below at their feet4 ,nothing happened4 ,wu recovered his ring4 ,but he had hit at last upon the ,clutching ,hand's secret6 ,bennett had devised a ring-lock which would open1 the treasure vault4 ,no other ring except the one which he had so carefully hidden was of the size or weight that would move the lever which would set the machinery working to open the treasure house4 ,again ,wu tried another of his own rings1 and a third time ,long ,sin dropped in a ring from his finger4 ,still there was no result4 ,the ring which we lost is the key to the puzzle--the only key1 exclaimed ,wu ,fang finally4 ,we must recover it at all hazard4 ,to his subtle mind a plan of action seemed to unfold almost instantly4 ,there is no good remaining here1 he added4 ,and we have gained nothing by the capture of the girl1 unless we can use her to recover the ring4 ,long ,sin followed his master with a sort of intuition4 ,if we have to steal it1 he suggested deferentially1 it can be accomplished best by making use of ,chong ,wah ,tong4 ,the ,tong was the criminal band which they had offended1 which had in fact stolen the ring from ,long ,sin and sold it to ,elaine4 ,yet in a game such as this enmity could not last when it was mutually disadvantageous4 ,wu took the suggestion4 ,he decided instantly to make peace with his enemies--and use them4 ,later that night1 in his car1 ,wu stopped near the little curio shop kept by the new ,tong leader4 ,long ,sin alighted and entered the shop1 while the ,tong man eyed him suspiciously4 ,my master has come to make peace1 he began1 saluting the ,tong leader behind the counter4 ,nothing1 in reality1 could have pleased the ,tong men more1 for in their hearts they feared the master-like subtlety of ,wu ,fang4 ,the conference was short and ,long ,sin with a bow left quickly to rejoin ,wu1 while the ,tong leader disappeared into a back room of the shop where several of the inner circle sat4 ,all is well1 master1 reported ,long ,sin when he had made his way back to the car around the corner in which ,wu was waiting4 ,wu smiled and a moment later followed by his slave in crime entered the curio shop and passed through with great dignity into the room in the rear4 ,as the two entered1 the ,tong men bowed with great respect4 ,let us be enemies no more1 began ,wu briefly4 ,let us rather help each other as brothers4 ,he extended his right hand1 palm down1 as he spoke4 ,for a moment the ,tong leader parleyed with the others1 then stepped forward and laid his own hand1 palm down1 over that of ,wu4 ,one by one the others did the same1 including ,long ,sin1 the aggrieved4 ,peace was restored4 ,wu had risen to go1 and the ,tong men were bowing a respectful farewell4 ,he turned and saw a large vase4 ,for a moment he paused before it4 ,it was an enormous affair and was apparently composed of a mosaic of rare ,chinese enamels1 cunningly put together by the deft and patient fingers of the oriental craftsmen4 ,extending from the widely curving bowl below was an extremely long1 narrow1 tapering neck4 ,wu looked at it intently2 then an idea seemed to strike him4 ,he called the ,tong leader and the others about him4 ,quickly he outlined the details of a plan4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,have you received any word yet8 asked ,aunt ,josephine anxiously1 when ,jennings had ushered us into the ,dodge library4 ,kennedy shook his head sadly4 ,there was no need to repeat the question to ,aunt ,josephine4 ,the tears in her eyes told only too plainly that she herself had heard nothing1 either4 ,craig bent over and placed his hand on her shoulder4 ,for the moment1 none of us could control our emotions4 ,a few minutes later1 ,jennings entered the room softly again4 ,the expressmen are outside1 ma'am1 with a large package1 he said4 ,a package8 inquired ,aunt ,josephine1 looking up1 surprised4 ,for me--are you sure8 ,jennings bowed and repeated his remark4 ,aunt ,josephine followed him out into the hall4 ,there1 already1 the delivery men had set down a huge oriental vase with a remarkably long and narrow neck4 ,it was1 as befitted such a really beautiful object of art1 most carefully crated4 ,but to ,aunt ,josephine it came as a complete surprise4 ,i can't imagine who could have sent it1 she temporized4 ,are you quite sure it is for me8 ,the expressman1 with a book1 looked up from the list of names down which he was running his finger4 ,this is ,mrs4 ,dodge1 isn't it8 he asked1 pointing with his pencil to the entry with the address following it4 ,there seemed to be no name of a shipper4 ,yes1 she replied dubiously1 but ,i don't understand it4 ,wait just a moment4 ,she went to the library door4 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 she said1 may ,i trouble you and ,mr4 ,jameson a moment8 ,we followed her into the hall and there stood gazing at the mysterious gift while she related its recent history4 ,why not set it up in the library8 ,i suggested1 seeing that the expressmen were getting restive at the delay4 ,if there is any mistake1 they will send for it soon4 ,no one ever gets anything for nothing4 ,aunt ,josephine turned to the expressmen and nodded4 ,with the aid of ,jennings they carried the vase into the library and there it was uncrated1 while ,kennedy continued to question the man with the book1 without eliciting any further information than that he thought it had been reconsigned from another express company4 ,he knew nothing more than that it had been placed on his wagon1 properly marked and prepaid4 ,when ,kennedy rejoined us1 the vase had been completely uncrated1 ,aunt ,josephine signed for it1 and1 grumbling a bit1 the expressmen left4 ,there we stood1 nonplussed by the curious gift4 ,craig walked around the vase1 looking at it critically4 ,i had a feeling of being watched1 one of those sensations which psychologists tell us are utterly baseless and unfounded4 ,i was glad ,i had not said anything about it when he tapped the vase with his cane1 then stuck it down the long narrow neck1 working it around as well as he could4 ,the neck was so long and narrow1 however1 that his stick could not fully explore the inside of the vase1 but it seemed to me to be quite empty4 ,well1 there's nothing in it1 anyhow1 ,i ventured4 ,i had spoken too soon4 ,kennedy withdrew his cane and on the ferrule1 adhering as though by some sticky substance1 was a note4 ,kennedy pulled it off and unfolded it1 while we gathered about him4 ,maybe it's from ,elaine1 cried ,aunt ,josephine1 grasping at a straw4 ,we read3 ,,dear ,,aunt ,,josephine1 ,this is a token that ,i am unharmed4 ,have ,mr4 ,kennedy give the ring to the man at the corner of ,williams and ,brownlee ,avenues at midnight to-night1 and they will surrender me to him4--,,elaine4 ,p4 ,s4 ,have him come alone or my life will be in danger4 ,we looked at each other in amazement4 ,i thought something like this would happen1 remarked ,craig at length4 ,oh1 cried ,aunt ,josephine1 it's too good to be true4 ,we'll do it1 exclaimed ,kennedy quickly1 only this is the ring that we'll give them4 ,he drew from his pocket the replica of the ring which he had made and showed it to ,aunt ,josephine4 ,then he drew from another pocket the real ring1 replacing the replica4 ,here's the real one1 he said in a low tone4 ,guard it as you would guard your life4 ,she took the ring1 almost fearfully4 ,it seemed as if nothing but misfortune had followed it4 ,still1 she realized that it was necessary that she should take care of it1 if the plan was to work4 ,and1 oh1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 she implored1 as we rose to go1 please get back my little girl for me4 ,craig clasped her hand4 ,i'll try my best1 he replied fervently1 patting her shoulder to cheer her up1 as she sank into a chair4 ,aunt ,josephine was worn out with the sleepless nights of worry since ,elaine's disappearance4 ,after we had gone1 she tried to eat dinner1 but found that she had no appetite4 ,all the evening she sat in the library1 with a book at which she stared1 though she scarcely read a page4 ,however1 as the hours lengthened1 she found herself nodding through sheer exhaustion4 ,it was getting late and her thoughts were still on ,elaine1 ,at the desk in the library1 she was examining the curious ring1 which she had taken from her jewel case1 thinking of the terrible train of events that had followed it4 ,although she had intended to sit up until she received some word from ,kennedy that night1 the long strain had told on her and in spite of her worry about ,elaine1 she decided1 at length1 to retire4 ,she replaced the ring in the case1 locked the case1 and turned out the lights4 ,good night1 ,jennings1 she said1 as she passed the faithful old butler in the hall4 ,good night1 ma'am1 he replied1 pausing on his rounds to see that the doors and windows were locked4 ,aunt ,josephine1 clasping the jewel case tightly1 mounted the stairs and entered her room4 ,she locked the door carefully and put the jewelry case under her pillow4 ,then she switched off the light4 ,the moment ,jennings's footsteps ceased down-stairs in the library1 a small piece of the vase seemed to break away from the rest of the mosaic1 as though it were knocked out from the inside4 ,then a large piece fell out1 and another4 ,at last from the strange hiding-place a lithe figure1 as shiny as though bathed in oil1 naked except for a loin-cloth1 seemed to squirm forth like a serpent4 ,it was ,wu ,fang--the watchful eye which1 literally as well as figuratively1 had been leveled at us in one form or another ever since the kidnapping of ,elaine4 ,silently he tiptoed to the doorway and listened4 ,there was not a sound4 ,just as noiselessly then he went back to the library table and muffling the telephone bell1 took down the receiver4 ,he whispered a number1 waited1 then whispered some directions4 ,a moment later he wormed his way out of the library and into the drawing-room4 ,on he went cautiously1 snake-like1 up the stairs until he came to the door of ,aunt ,josephine's room4 ,he bent down and listened4 ,there was no sound except ,aunt ,josephine's breathing4 ,silently he drew from a fold in the loin-cloth a screwdriver and removed the screws from the hinges of the door4 ,quietly he pushed the bedroom door open1 pivoting it on the lock1 just far enough open so that he could slip through4 ,creeping along the floor1 like a reptile whose sign he had assumed1 he came nearer and nearer ,aunt ,josephine's bed4 ,as he paused for a moment his quick eye seemed to catch sight of the bulging lump under her pillow4 ,his long thin hand reached out for it4 ,aunt ,josephine moved restlessly in her sleep4 ,instantly he seized a murderous-looking ,chinese dirk fastened to his side and raised it above her head ready to strike on the slightest outcry4 ,she moved slightly1 and relapsed into sound sleep again4 ,holding the knife above her1 ,wu slowly and quietly removed the jewel-case from under her pillow4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in a country road-house ,long ,sin was waiting patiently4 ,the telephone rang and the proprietor answered4 ,long ,sin was at his side almost before he could hand over the receiver4 ,it was ,long ,sin's master1 ,wu4 ,beware1 came the whispered message over the wire4 ,kennedy has made a false ring4 ,i'll get the real one4 ,by the great ,devil of ,gobi1 you must cut him off4 ,it is done1 returned ,long ,sin1 hanging up the receiver in great excitement4 ,he hurried out of the room and left the road-house4 ,down the road in an automobile1 bound between two ,chinamen1 one at her head and the other at her feet1 was ,elaine1 wrapped around in blankets1 not even her face visible4 ,the guards looked up startled as ,long ,sin streaked out of the shadow to the car4 ,quick6 he ordered4 ,the master will get the ring himself4 ,i will take care of ,kennedy4 ,an instant and they were gone1 while ,long ,sin slunk back into the shadows from which he had come4 ,through the underbrush the wily ,chinaman made his way to an old barn1 which stood back some distance from the road1 and entered the front door4 ,there was another door in the rear1 and one quite large window4 ,in the dim light of a lantern hanging from a rafter could be seen several large barrels in a corner4 ,without a moment's hesitation1 ,long ,sin seized a bucket and placed it under the spiggot of one of the barrels4 ,the liquid poured forth into the bucket and he emptied the contents on the floor1 filling the bucket again and again and swinging it right and left in every direction until the barrel had finally run dry4 ,then he moved over to the window1 which he examined carefully4 ,satisfied with what he had done1 he drew a slip of paper from his pocket and hastily wrote a note1 resting the paper on an old box4 ,when he had finished writing1 he folded up the note and thrust it into a little hollow carved ,chinese figure which he took also from his pocket4 ,these were1 apparently1 his emergency preparations which he was ready to execute in case he received such a message from his master as he had actually received4 ,with a final hasty glance about he extinguished the lantern1 letting the moonlight stream fitfully through the single window4 ,then he left the barn1 with both front and rear doors open4 ,taking advantage of every bit of shelter1 he made his way across the field in the direction of the crossroads1 finally dropping down behind a huge rock some yards from the finger post that pointed each way to ,williams and ,brownlee ,avenues4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,late that night1 ,kennedy left his apartment prepared to follow the instructions in the note which had been so strangely delivered in the vase4 ,as he climbed into a roadster1 he tucked the robe most carefully into a corner under the leather seat4 ,for heaven's sake1 ,craig1 ,i gasped from under the robe1 let me have a little air4 ,i had taken my place under the robe before the car was driven up before the apartment1 lest some emissary of ,wu ,fang might be watching to see that there was no such trick4 ,you'll get air enough when we get started1 ,walter1 he laughed back under his breath1 apparently addressing the engine4 ,kennedy was a hard driver when he wanted to be and enough was at stake to-night to make him drive hard4 ,he whizzed along in the roadster1 and ,i was indeed glad enough to huddle up under the robe4 ,we had reached a point in the suburbs which was deserted and ,i did not recognize a thing when he pulled up by the side of the road with a jerk4 ,i peered through a crease in the corner of the robe1 and saw him slide out from under the wheel and stand by the side of the car1 looking up and down4 ,ahead of us the road curved sharply and ,i had no idea what was there1 though ,kennedy seemed to know the place4 ,a moment later he pulled the robe partly off me1 and bent down as though examining the batteries on the side of the car4 ,get out on the other side in the shadow of the car1 ,walter1 he whispered hoarsely4 ,go down the road a bit--only cut in and keep under cover4 ,this is ,williams ,avenue4 ,you'll see a big rock4 ,hide behind it4 ,ahead you'll see ,brownlee ,avenue4 ,be prepared for anything4 ,i shall have to trust the rest to you4 ,i don't know myself what's going to happen4 ,i slid out and went along the edge of the road1 as ,craig had directed1 and finally crouched behind a huge rock1 feeling on as much tension as if ,i had been a boy playing at ,wild ,west4 ,only this might at any moment develop into the reality of a ,wild ,far ,east4 ,after a moment to give me a chance1 ,craig himself left the car pulled up close by the side of the road and went ahead on foot4 ,at last he came to the cross-roads just around the bend1 where in the moonlight he could read the sign3 ,williams ,avenue and ,brownlee ,avenue4 ,he stood there a moment1 then glanced at his watch which registered both hands approaching the hour of twelve4 ,he gazed about at the deserted country4 ,had the appointment been a hoax1 after all1 a scheme to get him away from the city for some purpose8 ,suddenly1 at his feet in the dust of the road something heavy seemed to drop4 ,he looked about quickly4 ,no one was in sight4 ,he reached down and picked up a little ,chinese figure4 ,tapping it with his knuckle1 he examined it curiously4 ,it was hollow4 ,from the inside he drew out a piece of paper4 ,he strained his eyes in the moonlight and managed to make out3 ,the ,serpent is all-wise1 and his fang is fatal4 ,you have signed the white girl's death warrant4 ,beneath this sinister warning was stamped the serpent sign of ,wu ,fang4 ,it was not a hoax1 and ,kennedy stood there a moment gazing about in tense anxiety4 ,had that uncanny watching eye observed his every action8 ,was it staring at him now in the blackness8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile1 ,i had made my way stealthily1 peering into the bushes and careful not even to step on anything that would make a noise and was now1 as ,i have said1 crouched behind the big rock to which ,craig had directed me4 ,i heard him go along the road and looked about cautiously1 but could hear and see nothing else4 ,i had begun to wonder whether ,kennedy might not have made a mistake when1 suddenly1 from behind the shadow of another rock1 ahead of me1 but toward ,brownlee ,avenue1 ,i saw a tall1 gaunt figure of a man rise in the moonlight1 almost as if it had sprung from the very earth4 ,my heart gave a leap1 as he quickly raised his right arm and hurled something as far as he could in the direction that ,kennedy had taken4 ,if it had been a bomb1 followed by an explosion1 ,i would not have been surprised4 ,but no sound followed as the figure dropped back as if it had been a wraith4 ,i stole out from my own hiding-place in the shadow of my rock and darted quickly to the shelter of a bush1 nearer the figure4 ,the figure was no wraith4 ,it turned to steal away4 ,i remembered ,kennedy's parting words4 ,if the man ever gained the darkness of a clump of woods1 just beyond us1 he was as good as safe4 ,this was the time to act4 ,i leaped at him and we went down1 rolling over and over in the underbrush and stubble4 ,we fought fiercely1 but ,i could not seem to get a glimpse of his face which was muffled4 ,he was powerful and stronger than ,i and after a tough tussle he broke loose4 ,but ,i had succeeded1 nevertheless4 ,i had delayed him just long enough4 ,kennedy heard the sound of the struggle and was now crashing through the hedge at the cross-roads in our direction4 ,i managed to pick myself up1 just as ,kennedy reached my side and1 together1 we followed the retreating figure1 as it made its way among the shadows4 ,across the open space before us we followed him and at last saw him dive into an old barn4 ,a moment later we followed hot-foot into the barn4 ,as we entered1 we could hear a peculiar grating noise1 as though a door was swung on its rusty hinges4 ,the front door was open4 ,evidently the man had gone through and closed the back door4 ,we threw ourselves against the back door4 ,but it did not yield4 ,there was no time to waste and we turned to rush out again by the way we had come1 just as the front door was slammed shut4 ,the man had trapped us4 ,he had left both doors open1 had run through1 braced the back door1 then had rushed around outside just in time to brace the front door also4 ,we could hear his feet crunching the dry leaves and twigs as he went around the side of the barn again4 ,together we threw ourselves against the front door1 but1 although it yielded a little he had barred it so that it would resist our united strength for some time4 ,again and again we threw ourselves against it4 ,it was horribly dark in there1 except for an oblong spot where the moonlight streamed in through a window4 ,suddenly the pale silver of the moonlight on the floor reddened4 ,the man had struck a match and thrown it into a mass of oil-soaked straw and gunpowder which protruded through one of the weather-beaten boards1 near the floor4 ,it was only a matter of a second or so now when the fire swept into the barn itself4 ,there was no beating it out4 ,some one had literally soaked the straw and the floor with oil4 ,it seemed as though the whole place burst into a sudden blaze of tinder4 ,outside1 we could hear footsteps rapidly retreating toward the shelter of the clump of woods4 ,for a second ,i looked dismayed at the rapidly-mounting flames4 ,a very pretty situation1 ,i forced with a laugh4 ,but ,i hope he doesn't think we'll stay here and burn1 with a perfectly good window in full view4 ,i took a step toward the window1 but before ,i could take another1 ,kennedy yanked me back4 ,don't think for a moment that he overlooked that1 he shouted4 ,craig looked around hastily4 ,in a corner1 just back of us was a long pole4 ,he snatched it up and moved cautiously toward the window1 keeping the pole as level as possible as he endeavored to get a leverage on the sash4 ,the flames were mounting faster and higher1 licking up everything4 ,keep back1 ,walter1 he muttered1 just as far as you can4 ,he had scarcely raised the window a fraction of an inch when an old rusty1 heavy anvil and a bent worn plowshare crashed down to the floor directly over the spot where ,i should have been if he had not dragged me away4 ,i started back1 aghast4 ,nothing had been overlooked to finish us off4 ,i think you may try it safely now1 all right1 smiled ,kennedy coolly4 ,we climbed out of the window1 not an instant too soon from the raging inferno about us4 ,having gained the clump of woods1 the gaunt figure had paused long enough to gloat over his clever scheme4 ,instead1 he saw us making good our escape4 ,with a gesture of intense fury he turned4 ,there was nothing more for him to do but to zigzag his way to safety across country4 ,the barn was now burning fiercely and it was almost as light as day about us4 ,kennedy paused only long enough to look down at the ground where the fire had been started4 ,see1 ,walter1 he exclaimed pointing to a square indention in the soft soil4 ,no white man ever made a footprint like that4 ,i bent over4 ,the prints had the squareness of those paper-layered soles of a ,chinaman4 ,long ,sin1 came the name involuntarily to my lips1 for ,i knew that ,wu would delegate just such a job to his faithful slave4 ,kennedy did not pause an instant longer1 but in the light of the burning barn1 as best he could1 started to follow the trail in a desperate endeavor either to overtake ,long ,sin1 or at least to find the final direction in which he would go4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,at the entrance of the passageway which led to the little underground chamber in which we had sought the treasure hidden by the ,clutching ,hand1 ,wu ,fang was seated on a rock waiting impatiently1 though now and then indulging in a sinister smile at the subtle trick by which he had recovered the ring4 ,the sound of approaching footsteps disturbed him4 ,he was far too clever to leave anything to chance and1 like a serpent1 he wriggled behind another rock and waited4 ,it was only a glance1 however1 that he needed to allay his suspicions4 ,it was ,long ,sin1 breathless4 ,wu stepped out beside him so quietly that even the acute ,long ,sin did not hear4 ,well8 he said in a guttural tone4 ,long ,sin drew back in fear4 ,i have failed1 oh master1 he replied in an imploring tone4 ,even now they follow my tracks4 ,it was bad enough to confess defeat without the fear of capture4 ,wu frowned4 ,we must work quickly1 then1 he muttered4 ,he picked up a dark lantern near-by1 indicating another to ,long ,sin4 ,they entered the cave1 flashing the lights ahead of them4 ,be careful1 ordered ,wu1 proceeding gingerly from one stepping-stone to another4 ,we shall be followed no further than this4 ,he paused a moment and pointed his finger at the earth4 ,everywhere1 except here and there where a stone projected1 was a sticky1 slimy substance4 ,it was an old trick of primitive races4 ,bird lime1 hissed ,wu1 pointing at the viscid substance made of the juice of the holly bark1 extracted by boiling1 and mixed with a third part of nut oil and grease4 ,they passed on from stone to stone until they came to the subterranean chamber itself4 ,without a moment's hesitation1 ,wu made his way toward the rock in which they had found the slot with its cryptic inscription4 ,long ,sin watched his master in silent admiration as1 at last1 he drew forth the mystic ring for which they had dared all4 ,without a word1 ,wu dropped it in the slot4 ,it tinkled down the runway1 a protuberance hit a trigger and pushed it a hair's breadth4 ,a noise behind them caused the two to turn startled4 ,even ,wu had not expected it4 ,on the other side of the chamber1 a great rock in the ground slowly turned1 as though on a pivot4 ,they watched1 fascinated4 ,even then ,wu did not forget the precious ring1 but as the rock turned1 reached down quickly and recovered it from the cup at the floor4 ,inch by inch the pivoted rock moved on its axis4 ,they flashed their lanterns full on it and1 as it moved1 they could see disclosed huge piles of gold and silver in coins and bars and ornaments1 a chest literally filled with brilliants1 set and unset1 rubies1 emeralds1 precious stones of every conceivable variety1 a cave that would have staggered even ,aladdin--the rich reward of the countless marauding operations of ,bennett's other personality4 ,for a moment they could merely stand in avaricious exultation4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,painfully and slowly1 we managed to trail ,long ,sin's footprints1 until we came to a road where they were lost in the hard macadam4 ,there was no time to stop4 ,we must follow the road on the chance that he had taken it4 ,but which way8 ,kennedy chose the most likely direction1 for the trail had been at an angle to the road and ,long ,sin was not likely to double back4 ,we had not gone many rods before ,kennedy paused a minute and looked about in the moonlight4 ,it's right1 ,walter1 he cried4 ,do you recognize it8 ,i looked about4 ,then it flashed over me4 ,this was the back road that led past the entrance to the treasure vault at ,aunt ,tabby's4 ,we went on now more quickly1 listening carefully to catch any sounds1 but heard nothing4 ,at last ,kennedy stopped1 then plunged among the rocks and bushes beside the road4 ,we were at the cave4 ,you go in this way1 ,walter1 he directed4 ,i'll go around and down where it caved in4 ,i groped my way along through the darkness4 ,i had gone only a yard or two1 when it seemed as though something had grasped my foot4 ,with a great wrench ,i managed to pull it loose4 ,but the weight on my other foot had imbedded it deeper4 ,i struggled to free this foot and got the other caught4 ,my revolver1 which ,i had drawn1 was jarred from my hand and in the effort to recover it1 ,i lost my balance4 ,unable to move a foot in time to catch myself1 ,i fell forward4 ,my hands were now covered by the slimy1 sticky stuff1 and the more ,i struggled1 the worse ,i seemed to get entangled4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,wu and ,long ,sin paused only a minute in astonishment4 ,then they literally fell upon the wealth that lay before them1 gloating over the gold1 stuffing their hands into the jewels1 lifting them up and letting the priceless gems run through their fingers4 ,suddenly they paused4 ,there was the slight tinkle of a ,chinese bell4 ,kennedy had reached ,aunt ,tabby's garden1 outside the roof of the subterranean chamber where it had given way1 had gone down carefully over the earth and rock1 and in doing so had broken a string stretched across the passageway4 ,the tinkle of a bell attached to it aroused his attention and he stopped short1 a second1 to look about4 ,wu ,fang had arranged a primitive alarm4 ,quickly1 ,wu and ,long ,sin blew out their lanterns while ,wu gave the rock a push4 ,slowly1 as it had opened1 it now closed and they stood there listening4 ,i was still struggling in the bird lime1 getting myself more and more covered with it1 when the reverberation of revolver shots reached me4 ,wu and ,long ,sin had opened fire on ,kennedy1 and ,kennedy was replying in kind4 ,in the cavern it sounded like a veritable bombardment4 ,as they retreated1 they came nearer and nearer to me and ,i could see the revolvers spitting fire in the darkness4 ,so intent were they on ,kennedy that they forgot me4 ,i watched them fearfully as they hopped deftly from one stone to another to avoid the lime--and were gone4 ,craig6 ,craig6 ,i managed to cry feebly4 ,be careful4 ,keep to the stones4 ,he strained his eyes toward the ground in the darkness1 at the sound of my voice4 ,then he struck a match and instantly took in the situation which1 to me1 under any other circumstances1 would have been ludicrous4 ,stepping from stone to stone1 he followed the retreating ,chinamen4 ,but they had already reached the mouth of the cave and were making their way rapidly down the road to a bend1 in the opposite direction from which we had come4 ,there1 ,wu's automobile was waiting4 ,they leaped into it and the driver1 without a word1 shot the car off into the darkness of early dawn4 ,a moment later1 ,kennedy appeared1 but they had made their getaway4 ,baffled1 he turned and retraced his steps to the cave4 ,i don't think that ,i ever welcomed him more sincerely than ,i did as1 finally1 ,i crawled slowly out from the bird lime1 exhausted by the effort that ,i had made to free myself from the sticky mess4 ,they got away1 ,walter1 he said1 lighting a lantern they had dropped4 ,by ,george1 he added1 ,i think a little vexed that ,i had not been able to stop them1 you are a sight6 ,he was about to laugh1 when ,i fainted4 ,i can remember nothing until ,i woke up over by the wall of the chamber where he dragged me4 ,kennedy had been working hard to revive me1 and1 as ,i opened my eyes1 he straightened up4 ,his eye suddenly caught something on the rock beside him4 ,there was a little slot carved in it1 and above the slot was a peculiar inscription4 ,for several minutes1 ,kennedy puzzled over it1 as ,wu had done4 ,then he discovered the little cup near the ground4 ,the ring6 he suddenly cried out4 ,i was too muddled to appreciate at once what he meant1 but ,i saw him reach into his fob pocket and draw forth the replica of the trinket which had caused so much disaster1 as if it had been cursed by the ,clutching ,hand himself4 ,he dropped it into the slot4 ,struggling to my feet1 ,i saw across from me the very rock itself moving4 ,was it an hallucination1 born of my nervous condition8 ,look1 ,craig6 ,i cried involuntarily1 pointing4 ,he turned4 ,no1 it was not a vision4 ,it actually moved4 ,together we watched4 ,slowly the rock turned on a pivot4 ,there were disclosed to our astonished eyes the hidden millions of the ,clutching ,hand4 ,i looked from the gold and jewels to ,kennedy1 in speechless amazement4 ,we have beaten them1 anyhow1 ,i cried4 ,slowly ,craig shook his head sadly4 ,yes1 he murmured1 we have found the ,clutching ,hand's millions1 but we have lost ,elaine4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,the ,,vengeance ,,of ,,wu ,,fang ,elaine was still in the power of ,wu ,fang4 ,kennedy had thwarted the ,chinese master criminal in his search for the millions amassed by the ,clutching ,hand4 ,but any joy that we might have derived from this success was completely obscured by the fear that ,wu might wreak some diabolical vengeance on ,elaine4 ,it was a ticklish situation4 ,in fact1 ,i doubt whether ,craig would have discovered the treasure at all1 if our pursuit of ,wu and ,long ,sin the night before had not literally forced us into doing so4 ,nor were ,kennedy's fears unfounded4 ,wu and ,long ,sin had scarcely reached the secret apartment back of the deceptive exterior of the ,chinatown tenement1 when the subtle ,chinaman began to contemplate his revenge4 ,long ,sin was smoking a ,chinese pipe1 resting after their hurried flight1 while ,wu1 the tireless1 was seated at a table at the other end of the room4 ,at last ,wu ,fang took up a long ,chinese dirk from the table before him1 looked at it1 turned it over1 felt its edge4 ,it was keen and the point was sharp4 ,he rose and deliberately walked across to a door leading into a back room4 ,on a couch lay ,elaine and with her1 as a guardian1 was ,weepy ,mary whom the ,clutching ,hand had used to lure her to the church where the faked record of her father's marriage was supposed to be4 ,indeed1 though ,wu had lost the ,clutching ,hand's millions1 he had seen his chance and had fallen heir to what was left of ,bennett's criminal organization4 ,as ,wu1 the ,serpent1 entered and advanced slowly towards ,elaine1 she crouched back from him in deadly fear4 ,he stopped before her without a word and his menacing eye seemed to read her very thoughts4 ,slowly he drew from under his robe the ,chinese dirk4 ,he felt the edge of it again and gazed significantly at ,elaine4 ,she shrank back even further1 as far as the divan would permit4 ,it was a critical moment4 ,just then ,long ,sin entered4 ,one of the five millions waits outside1 he reported simply1 with a bow4 ,wu understood4 ,it had been a pleasant fiction of his that although he did not1 of course1 absolutely control such a stupendous organization he could1 by his subtle power1 force almost unlimited allegiance from the simple coolies in that district of ,china from which he came4 ,out in the front room1 just a moment before1 a knock at the door had disturbed ,long ,sin1 and a ,chinese servant had announced a visitor4 ,long ,sin had waved to the servant to usher him in and a poorly clad coolie had entered4 ,he bowed as ,long ,sin faced him4 ,where is the master8 he had asked4 ,long ,sin had not deigned to speak4 ,with a mere wave of his hand1 he indicated that he would be the bearer of the message1 and had followed ,wu through the door of the back room4 ,so1 almost by chance1 ,wu was interrupted in the brutal vengeance which had first come to his mind4 ,he sheathed the knife and1 still without a word1 went back into the main room1 giving a nod to ,weepy ,mary to guard ,elaine closely4 ,wu eyed the coolie until the newcomer could almost feel the master's penetrating gaze1 although his head was bowed in awe4 ,quickly the coolie thrust his hand under his blouse and drew forth a package4 ,with another bow1 he advanced4 ,for your enemies1 oh master1 he said1 handing the package over to ,wu4 ,for the first time since the loss of the treasure1 ,wu ,fang seemed to take an interest in something besides revenge4 ,the coolie started to open the package1 removed the paper wrapper1 and then a silk wrapping inside4 ,finally he came to a box1 from which he drew a leather pouch1 each operation conducted with greater care as it became evident that the contents were especially precious in some way4 ,then he took from the pouch a small vial4 ,what is it8 demanded ,wu ,fang1 as the coolie displayed it4 ,the coolie drew forth now a magnifying glass and a glass slide4 ,opening the vial with great care he shook something out on the slide1 then placed it under the lens4 ,look6 he said simply4 ,wu bent over and looked4 ,under the lens what had formerly seemed to be merely a black speck of dirt became now one of the most weird and uncanny little creatures to be found in all the realm of nature4 ,it seemed to be all legs and feelers moving at once4 ,a normal person would have looked at the creature only with the greatest repugnance4 ,wu regarded it with a sort of unholy fascination4 ,and it is8 he queried4 ,what the white man calls the ,african tick which carries the recurrent fever1 answered the coolie deferentially4 ,a flash of intense exultation seemed to darken ,wu ,fang's sinister face4 ,several times he paced up and down the room1 as he contemplated the sight which he had just seen4 ,then he came to a sudden determination4 ,wait1 he said to the coolie1 as he moved slowly again into the back room4 ,long ,sin had remained there4 ,with ,weepy ,mary he was guarding ,elaine when ,wu ,fang reentered4 ,elaine was thoroughly aroused by this time4 ,even the fact that ,wu no longer held the murderous dirk did not serve to reassure her1 for the look on his face was even more terrible than before4 ,he smiled cunningly to himself4 ,suffering is a state of mind1 he said in a low tone1 and ,i have decided that it would be poor revenge for me to harm you4 ,you are free4 ,nothing could have come as a greater surprise to ,elaine4 ,even ,long ,sin had not expected any such speech as this4 ,elaine1 however1 was wonder-stricken4 ,do you--do you really mean it8 she asked1 scarcely able to believe what her ears heard4 ,wu merely nodded1 and with a wave of his hand to ,long ,sin indicated that ,elaine was to be released4 ,long ,sin1 the slave1 did not stop to question his master1 but merely moved over to a closet and took out the hat and wraps which ,elaine had worn when she had been kidnapped in the up-town apartment4 ,he handed them over to her and she put them on with trembling hands4 ,no one stopped her and she nerved herself to take several steps toward the door4 ,she had scarcely crossed half the room4 ,wait6 ordered ,wu sharply4 ,was he merely torturing her1 as a cat might torture a mouse8 ,she stopped obediently1 afraid to look at him4 ,this will be the vengeance of ,wu ,fang1 he went on impressively4 ,slowly1 one by one1 your friends will weaken and die1 then your family1 until finally only you are left4 ,then will come your turn4 ,he stopped again and raised his long lean forefinger4 ,go1 he hissed4 ,i wish you much joy4 ,he turned to ,long ,sin and whispered a word to him4 ,a moment later1 ,long ,sin drew forth a large silken handkerchief and tied it tightly over ,elaine's eyes4 ,then he took her hand and led her out4 ,there was to be no chance by which she could lead a raiding party back to the den in which she had been held4 ,i don't think that in all our friendship ,i have ever seen ,kennedy so utterly depressed as he was when we returned after the discovery of the vast fortune which ,bennett had cleverly secreted4 ,i came upon him in the laboratory the next morning while he was trying to read4 ,he had laid aside his scientific work1 and now he had even laid aside his book4 ,there seemed to be absolutely nothing to do until some new clue turned up4 ,i placed my hand on his shoulder1 but the words that would encourage him died on my lips4 ,several times ,i started to speak1 but each time ,i checked myself4 ,there did not seem to be anything that would be appropriate for such an occasion4 ,a sharp ring at the telephone made both of us fairly jump1 so nervous had we become4 ,kennedy reached over instantly for the instrument in the vague hope that at last there was some news4 ,as ,i watched his face1 it changed first from despair to wonder1 and finally it seemed to light up with the most remarkable look of relief and happiness that one could imagine4 ,i shall be right over1 he cried1 jamming the receiver down on the hook1 and in the same motion reaching for his hat and coat4 ,walter1 he cried1 it is ,elaine6 ,they have let her go6 ,i seized my own hat and coat in time to follow him and we dashed out of the laboratory4 ,the suspense under which ,aunt ,josephine had been living had told on her4 ,her niece1 ,elaine's cousin1 ,mary ,brown1 who lived at ,rockledge1 had come into the city to comfort ,aunt ,josephine and they had been sitting1 that morning1 in the library4 ,marie1 the maid was busy about the room1 while ,aunt ,josephine talked sadly over ,elaine's strange disappearance4 ,she was on the verge of tears4 ,suddenly a startled cry from ,jennings out in the hall caused both ladies to jump to their feet4 ,they could scarcely believe what they heard as the faithful old butler cried out the name4 ,why--,miss ,elaine6 he gasped4 ,an instant later ,elaine herself burst into the room and flung herself into ,aunt ,josephine's arms4 ,all talking and half crying from joy at once1 they crowded about her4 ,breathlessly she answered the questions that flew thick and fast4 ,in the excitement ,aunt ,josephine had seized the telephone and called our number4 ,she did not even wait to break the good news1 but handed the telephone to ,elaine herself4 ,we left the laboratory on the run1 too fast to notice that just around the building line at the corner stood a limousine with shades drawn4 ,even if we had paused to glance back1 we could not have seen ,wu ,fang and ,long ,sin inside1 gazing out through the corner of the curtains4 ,they were in ,european dress now and had evidently come prepared for just what they knew was likely to happen4 ,in all the strange series of events1 ,i doubt whether we had ever made better time from the laboratory over to the ,dodge house than we did now4 ,we were admitted by the faithful ,jennings and almost ran into the library4 ,oh1 ,craig6 cried ,elaine1 as ,kennedy1 almost speechless1 seized her by both hands4 ,for a few seconds none of us could speak4 ,then followed a veritable flood of eager conversation4 ,i watched ,elaine carefully1 in fact we all did1 for she seemed1 in spite of the excitement of her return1 to be almost a complete nervous wreck from the terrible experiences she had undergone4 ,won't you come and stay with me a few days up in the country1 dear8 urged ,mary at last4 ,elaine thought a moment1 then turned to ,aunt ,josephine4 ,yes1 considered her aunt1 ,i think it would do you good4 ,still she hesitated2 then shyly looked at ,kennedy and laughed4 ,you1 too1 ,craig1 must be fagged out1 she said frankly4 ,come up there with us and take a rest4 ,kennedy smiled4 ,i shall be delighted1 he accepted promptly4 ,you1 too1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 she added1 turning to me4 ,i hesitated a moment and ,kennedy tried to catch my eye4 ,i was just about to speak when he brought his heel down sharply on my toe4 ,i looked at him again and caught just the trace of a nod of his head4 ,i saw that ,i was de trop4 ,no1 thank you1 ,i replied4 ,i'm afraid ,i'd better not go4 ,really1 ,i have too much work staring at me4 ,i can't get away--but it's very kind of you to think of asking me4 ,we chatted1 then left a few moments later so that ,kennedy could pack4 ,around the corner from the laboratory1 as we dashed out1 had been1 as ,i have said1 ,wu ,fang and ,long ,sin looking out from the limousine4 ,no sooner had we disappeared across the campus than their driver started up the car and they sped around to our apartment4 ,cautiously they alighted and walked down the street4 ,then making sure they were not observed1 they entered and mounted the stairs to our doorway4 ,long ,sin was stationed down the hall on guard while ,wu ,fang drew from his pocket a blank key1 a file and a candle4 ,he lighted the candle and held the key in its flame until it was covered with soot4 ,then he inserted the key in the keyhole1 turned it and took the key out4 ,working quickly now1 he examined the key sharply4 ,in the soot were slight scratches indicating where it struck and prevented the turning of the lock4 ,he filed the key1 trying it again and again4 ,finally he finished1 and opened the door4 ,beckoning ,long ,sin1 he entered our rooms4 ,as they stood there1 ,wu ,fang gazed about our living-room1 keenly4 ,he was evidently considering where to place something1 for1 one after another1 he picked up several articles on the desk and examined them4 ,each time that he laid one down he shook his head4 ,finally his eye rested on the telephone4 ,it seemed to suggest an idea to him and he crossed over to it4 ,carefully holding down the receiver on the hook1 he unscrewed the case which holds the diaphragm1 while with his clever fingers he held the rest of the instrument intact4 ,then he removed from his pocket the vial which the coolie had given him and placed its contents on the diaphragm itself4 ,quickly now he replaced the receiver1 and1 having finished their work1 ,long ,sin and ,wu ,fang stealthily crept out4 ,a second time1 as we approached our apartment after the visit to ,elaine1 we were too excited to notice the limousine in which were ,wu and ,long ,sin4 ,but no sooner had we entered than ,long ,sin left the car with a final word of instruction from his master4 ,up-stairs1 in the apartment1 ,kennedy began hurriedly to pack1 and ,i helped him as well as ,i could4 ,we were in the midst of it when the telephone rang and ,i answered it4 ,hello6 ,i called4 ,there was no response4 ,hello1 ,hello6 ,i repeated1 raising my voice4 ,still there was no answer4 ,i worked the hook up and down but could get no reply4 ,finally1 disgusted1 ,i hung up4 ,a moment later1 ,i recall now1 it seemed to me as though some one had stuck a pin into the lobe of my ear4 ,still1 ,i thought nothing of it in the excitement of ,kennedy's departure1 and went to work again to help him pack4 ,we had scarcely got back to work1 when the telephone bell jangled again1 and a second time ,i answered it4 ,is ,mr4 ,kennedy there8 came back a strange voice4 ,i handed the instrument to ,craig4 ,hello1 he called4 ,who is this8 ,no response4 ,hello1 hello1 he shouted1 working the hook as ,i had done and1 as in my case1 there was still no answer4 ,some crank1 he exclaimed1 jamming down the receiver in disgust and returning to his packing4 ,neither of us thought anything of it at the time1 but now ,i recall that ,i did see ,kennedy once or twice press the lobe of his ear as though something had hurt it4 ,we did not know until later that in a pay station down the street our arch enemy1 ,long ,sin1 had been calling us up and then1 with a wicked smile1 refusing to speak to us4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was about a week later that ,i came home late one night from the ,star1 feeling pretty done up4 ,whatever it was1 a violent fever seemed to have come on me suddenly4 ,i thought nothing of it1 at first1 because ,i soon grew better4 ,but while it lasted1 ,i had the most intense shivering1 excruciating pains in my limbs1 and delirious headache4 ,i recall1 too1 that ,i felt a peculiar soreness on the ear4 ,it was all like nothing ,i had ever had before4 ,indeed the next morning when ,i woke up1 ,i felt a lassitude that made it quite hard enough even to lounge about in my bath-robe4 ,finally1 feeling no better1 ,i decided to see a doctor4 ,i put on my clothes with a decided effort and went out4 ,the nearest doctor was about half a block away and we scarcely knew him1 for neither ,kennedy nor ,i were exactly sickly4 ,well1 asked the doctor1 as he closed the door of his office and turned to me4 ,what seems to be the matter8 ,i tried to smile4 ,i feel as though ,i had been celebrating not wisely but too well1 ,i replied1 trying to cheer up1 but as a matter of fact ,i have been leading the simple life4 ,he sounded me and pounded me1 looked at my tongue and my eyes1 listened to my heart and lungs1 though ,i don't think he treated my symptoms very seriously4 ,in fact1 ,i might have known what he would do4 ,he talked a little while on generalities1 diet and exercise then walked over to a cabinet1 and emptied out a few pills into a little paper box4 ,take one every hour1 he said1 handing them to me1 and carefully returning the bottle to the cabinet so that ,i could not see what was on the label4 ,cut your cigarettes to three a day1 and don't drink coffee4 ,four dollars1 please4 ,i suppose ,i ought to have been cured1 and in fact ,i was cured--of going to that doctor4 ,i paid him and went back to the apartment1 my head soon in a whirl from a new onset of the fever4 ,i managed to get back into my bath-robe1 and threw myself down on the divan1 propped up with pillows4 ,i had taken the pills but they had no more effect than sugar of milk4 ,by this time1 ,i was much more delirious and was crying out4 ,i saw faces about me1 but ,i did not see the faces which were actually out by our hall door4 ,wu ,fang and ,long ,sin had waited patiently for their revenge4 ,now that they thought sufficient time had elapsed1 they had stolen stealthily to the apartment door4 ,while ,long ,sin watched1 ,wu listened4 ,the white devil has it1 whispered ,wu ,fang1 as he rejoined his fellow conspirator4 ,how long ,i should have remained in this state1 and in fact how long ,i did remain1 ,i don't know4 ,vaguely1 ,i recall that our acquaintance1 ,johnson1 who had the apartment across the hall1 at last heard my cries and came out to his own door4 ,he needed only a moment to listen at ours to know that something was wrong4 ,why1 what's the matter1 ,jameson8 he asked1 poking his head in and looking anxiously at me4 ,i could only rave some reply1 and he tried his best to quiet me4 ,what's the matter1 old man8 he repeated4 ,tell me4 ,shall ,i send for a doctor8 ,somehow or other ,i knew the state ,i was in4 ,i knew it was ,johnson1 yet it all seemed unreal to me4 ,with a great effort ,i gathered all my scattered wits and managed to shout out1 ,telegraph ,kennedy--,rockledge4 ,by this time ,johnson himself was thoroughly alarmed4 ,he did not lose a second in dictating a telegram over the telephone4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,at about the same time1 up at ,rockledge1 ,kennedy and ,elaine1 with her cousin ,mary ,brown1 were starting out for a horseback ride through the hills4 ,they were chatting gaily1 but ,kennedy was forcing himself to do so4 ,in fact1 they had scarcely gone half a mile when ,kennedy1 who was riding between the two and fighting off by sheer nerve the illness he felt1 suddenly fell over in half a faint on the horse's neck4 ,elaine and ,mary reined up their horses4 ,why1 ,craig1 cried ,elaine1 startled1 what's the matter8 ,the sound of her voice seemed to arouse him4 ,he braced up4 ,oh1 nothing1 ,i guess1 he said with a forced smile4 ,i'm all right4 ,it was no use1 however4 ,they had to cut short the ride1 and ,kennedy returned to the house1 glad to drop down in an easy chair on the porch1 while ,elaine hovered about him solicitously4 ,his head buzzed1 his skin was hot and dry1 his eyes had an unnatural look4 ,every now and then he would place his hand to his ear as though he felt some pain4 ,they had already summoned the country doctor1 but it took him some time to get out to the house4 ,suddenly a messenger boy rode up on his bicycle and mounted the porch steps4 ,telegram for ,mr4 ,kennedy1 he announced1 looking about and picking out ,craig naturally as the person he wanted4 ,kennedy nodded and took the yellow envelope while ,elaine signed for it4 ,listlessly he tore it open4 ,it read3 ,,craig ,,kennedy1 c_/o ,wellington ,brown1 ,rockledge1 ,n4 ,j4 ,jameson very ill4 ,wants you4 ,better come4 ,,johnson4 ,the message seemed to rouse ,kennedy in spite of his fever4 ,his face showed keen alarm1 which he endeavored to conceal from ,elaine4 ,but her quick eye had caught the look4 ,i must see ,walter1 he exclaimed1 rising rather weakly and going into the house4 ,how he ever did it is still1 ,i think1 a mystery to him1 but he managed to pack up and1 in spite of the alternating fever and chills1 made the journey back to the city4 ,when at last ,craig arrived at our apartment1 it must have seemed to him that he found me almost at death's door4 ,i was terribly ill and weak by that time1 but had refused to see the doctor again and ,johnson had managed to get me into bed4 ,ill himself1 ,kennedy threw himself down for a moment exhausted4 ,when did this thing come on ,walter8 he asked of ,johnson4 ,yesterday1 ,i think1 at least as nearly as ,i can find out1 replied our friend4 ,craig was decidedly worried4 ,there's only one person in ,new ,york to call on1 he murmured1 pulling himself out of bed and getting into the living-room as best he could4 ,is that you1 ,godowski8 he asked over the telephone4 ,well1 doctor1 this is ,kennedy4 ,come over to my apartment1 quick4 ,i've a case--two cases for you4 ,godowski was a world-famous scientist in his line and had specialized in bacteriology1 mainly in tropical diseases4 ,as ,kennedy hung up the receiver1 he made his way back again to the bedroom1 scratching his ear4 ,he noticed that ,i was doing the same in my delirium4 ,has ,walter been scratching his ear8 he asked of ,johnson4 ,johnson nodded4 ,that's strange1 considered ,craig thoughtfully4 ,i've been doing the same4 ,he turned back into the living-room and for a moment looked about4 ,finally his eye happened to fall on the telephone and an idea seemed to occur to him4 ,he went over to the instrument and unscrewed the receiver4 ,carefully he looked inside4 ,then he looked closer4 ,there was something peculiar about it and he picked up a blank sheet of white paper1 dusting off the diaphragm on it4 ,there1 on the paper1 were innumerable little black specks4 ,just then1 outside1 ,dr4 ,godowski's car drew up and he jumped out1 swinging his black bag4 ,not being acquainted with what we were going through1 ,godowski did not notice the almond-eyed ,chinaman who was watching down the street4 ,how do you do1 doctor1 greeted ,craig faintly1 at the door4 ,what seems to be the difficulty8 inquired the doctor eagerly4 ,i don't know1 returned ,craig1 but ,i have my suspicions4 ,i'm too ill to verify them myself4 ,so ,i've called on you4 ,look at ,jameson first1 he added4 ,while ,godowski was examining me1 ,craig managed to get out his microscope and was looking through it at the strange black specks on the paper4 ,there1 under the lens1 he could see the most remarkable1 almost microscopic creature1 all legs and feelers1 a most vicious object4 ,weak though he was1 he could not help an exclamation of exultation at his discovery1 just as ,godowski had finished with me4 ,look6 he cried1 calling the doctor4 ,i know what the trouble is1 ,godowski4 ,he had started to tell1 but the excitement of the journey and the exertion were so great that he could hardly mumble4 ,here--look--on this paper1 he cried4 ,from the telephone-- ,he had risen and was handing the paper to the scientist when his weakness overcame him4 ,he fell flat on his face on the floor and dropped the paper1 spilling the contents4 ,godowski1 now thoroughly alarmed1 bent over ,craig4 ,but the delirium had overcome ,kennedy1 too4 ,unable to make any sense out of ,craig's broken wanderings1 ,godowski lost no time in taking samples of our blood4 ,then he hurried away to his laboratory in his car4 ,as he did so1 however1 ,long ,sin leaped into a taxicab which was waiting and followed4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in ,godowski's laboratory1 where he was studying tropical diseases1 the bacteriologist set to work at once to confirm his own growing suspicions4 ,from a monkey which he had there for experimental purposes1 he drew off some blood samples4 ,then1 with the aid of his assistant1 he took the blood samples he had obtained from us4 ,the monkey's blood1 under the microscope1 seemed full of rather elongated wriggling germs of a peculiar species4 ,in and out they made their way among the blood corpuscles each like a dart aimed at life itself4 ,then he took the samples of our blood4 ,in them were the same germs--carried by that gruesome tick6 ,the spirillum6 he muttered4 ,they are infected with ,african recurrent fever4 ,the only remedy is atoxyl1 administered intravenously1 after the manner of ,professor ,ehrlich's famous '#fjf'4 ,godowski had rung the call box hastily for a messenger1 when ,long ,sin1 who had managed stealthily to creep up to the doctor's laboratory window1 scowled1 through at the action--then moved away4 ,while his assistant gathered the apparatus1 the doctor wrote3 ,,miss ,,anne ,,septix1 #cja ,w4 --th ,st4 ,please go at once to the apartment of ,craig ,kennedy1--,claremont ,ave4 ,surgical case4 ,,godowski1 ,m4 ,d4 ,the boy arrived finally and the doctor gave him a generous tip to hurry with the note4 ,he had not turned the corner1 however1 when ,long ,sin appeared4 ,subtly he played on the boy's cupidity to get him to deliver a note of his own1 even offered to deliver the boy's note for him4 ,the flash of a five dollar bill made the rest easy4 ,as the boy disappeared on a fake errand1 ,long ,sin1 with the real note hurried down-town1 smiling wickedly4 ,they have discovered the fever1 ,master1 he reported in the den4 ,wu was beside himself with rage4 ,before he could speak1 however1 ,long ,sin spread out ,godowski's message4 ,but ,i have this1 he added4 ,it took merely a glance to suggest to ,wu a new plan of action4 ,he rose and moved quickly into the back room4 ,come1 he ordered ,weepy ,mary4 ,you must dress up as a nurse--immediately4 ,quickly she donned one of the numerous disguises while ,wu planned his campaign4 ,here1 he directed when she was ready1 handing her a little vial4 ,you must infect every instrument the doctor uses on ,kennedy and ,jameson1--see8 ,she nodded and a moment later was on her way uptown4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile ,godowski himself had arrived at our apartment1 much to the relief of our friend ,johnson1 and was unpacking his instruments4 ,quickly he improvised two operating tables1 and placed one of us on each4 ,then1 with his assistant1 he put on his white robes1 mask1 gloves and other precautions for asepsis1 setting out the apparatus for the intravenous administration of the drug that would kill the spirillum4 ,godowski was busy with the atoxyl1 mixing it in a normal salt solution4 ,he would drop in a few drops of an acid1 then a few drops of an alkaline solution1 so as to keep the mixture neutral4 ,finally1 he poured the solution into a container1 to the bottom of which was attached a long tube4 ,this container he raised high over our heads1 clamping the tube4 ,then he fastened a tiny needle to the end of the tube1 so that it could be inserted in our arms1 catching skillfully a vein--a very difficult piece of work in which he excelled4 ,the liquid would then flow by the force of gravity from the container down through the tube1 through the hollow needle and into the vein where it would act on the germs of the fever4 ,they had finished their preparations and were waiting for ,miss ,septix4 ,she ought to be here1 now1 muttered ,godowski impatiently1 looking at his watch4 ,just then a cab drove up outside4 ,perhaps that is she1 he exclaimed4 ,it must be4 ,a few moments later the door of the apartment opened4 ,his face showed his disappointment4 ,it was a stranger4 ,miss ,septix is ill1 she introduced1 and sent me to take her place4 ,the doctor looked about4 ,very well1 then1 he said briskly1 seeing his preparations4 ,are you ready to go ahead8 ,she nodded and threw off her coat that covered her immaculate white uniform4 ,the specialist plunged whole-heartedly into his work of saving us now4 ,hand me that needle1 please1 he directed the false nurse4 ,she moved over to the table near-by and took it up1 pausing only long enough to dip it secretly into a vial she carried with her4 ,please hurry1 repeated the doctor4 ,she turned from the table and handed it to him4 ,he adjusted it and already held it poised for the thrust which was not to cure but to poison us further4 ,weepy ,mary6 cried a frightened voice at our door4 ,elaine had been deeply alarmed by the sudden illness of ,kennedy and the message from ,jameson4 ,no sooner had ,kennedy gone1 than it flashed over her that ,wu ,fang had predicted something like this4 ,the threat6 she exclaimed1 seeking her cousin4 ,mary1 ,i must go to the city--right away4 ,on the next train1 then1 she had been speeding back to ,new ,york1 and1 arriving at the station1 she realized that there was not a moment to lose4 ,she called a cab1 drove directly to our apartment1 and hurried in1 without even ringing the bell4 ,one glance at the improvised hospital was enough to alarm her4 ,but the sight that had transfixed her was of a woman whose face she remembered only too well1 though ,kennedy and ,i had never seen her4 ,please1 ,miss1 began ,godowski's assistant1 trying to quiet ,elaine1 while ,godowski turned in vexation to his work4 ,no1 no6 repeated ,elaine4 ,this woman is no nurse4 ,she is a criminal6 ,godowski paused4 ,it was true he did not know the woman4 ,he gazed from ,elaine to ,weepy ,mary in doubt4 ,the game was up4 ,weepy ,mary dropped a piece of gauze which she had soaked in the solution from the vial which ,wu had given her and bolted for the door4 ,so sudden was her flight that no one was quick enough to stop her4 ,she managed to reach the hall and slam the door4 ,down she rushed to the street1 ,godowski's assistant after her4 ,there1 awaiting1 was ,long ,sin's car4 ,she leaped in and was off in a moment4 ,the assistant had just time to dive at the running-board4 ,but his grip was poor and ,long ,sin easily threw him off4 ,you--you fool6 he hissed at ,mary1 as soon as the danger of pursuit was over and the assistant had gone back into the apartment4 ,oh1 sir1 she begged1 it was not my fault4 ,miss ,dodge came in--unexpectedly--she recognized me4 ,if ,i had not fled1 they would have caught me--perhaps you1 too4 ,long ,sin was furious4 ,he threatened her and she cowered back4 ,however1 there was nothing to be gained by that and he subsided and drove quickly down-town4 ,the excitement more than ever alarmed ,elaine now4 ,tell me1 she appealed to ,dr4 ,godowski1 what is the matter8 ,in some way1 he replied quickly1 they have become infected by the bite of an ,african tick which carries spirillum fever4 ,she got away1 in a cab1 panted the assistant1 returning4 ,godowski raised his hands in despair4 ,i was just about to start1 he cried4 ,everything is ready4 ,i can't send for another nurse4 ,every minute counts4 ,elaine had thrown off her coat and hat4 ,her sleeves were up in a moment and before the doctor knew what she was about she was scrubbing her hands in the antiseptic wash4 ,only--show me--what to do1 she cried4 ,i will be the nurse6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,several days later1 when we had recovered sufficiently from the diabolical attack that had been made upon us1 ,kennedy was again at work in the laboratory1 while ,i was writing4 ,we still felt rather weak1 but ,godowski's skill had pulled us out all right4 ,our speaking-tube sounded and ,i knew that it was ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine4 ,how do you feel8 inquired ,elaine anxiously1 as she almost ran across the laboratory to ,craig4 ,fine6 he exaggerated1 brightly4 ,really8 she repeated anxiously4 ,look6 he said1 turning to his microscope4 ,he took some blood from a test tube in our electric incubator and placed a drop on a slide4 ,it was some of the blood infected by the germs carried by the tick4 ,that is how our blood looked--before the new nurse arrived1 he smiled1 while ,elaine looked at it in horror4 ,then he pricked his arm and let a drop smear on another slide4 ,now look at that--perfectly normal1 he added4 ,oh--,i'm so glad1 she exclaimed radiantly4 ,normal--thanks to you4 ,you saved us4 ,you were just in time1 cried ,craig taking both her hands in his4 ,he was about to kiss her1 when she broke away4 ,craig1 she whispered1 blushing and looking hastily at us4 ,aunt ,josephine and ,i could only smile at the disgusted glance ,craig gave us1 as he thrust his hands in his pockets and wished us a thousand miles away at that moment4 ,,chapter ,v ,,shadows ,,of ,,war ,for a long time ,kennedy had1 ,i knew1 been at work at odd moments in the laboratory secretly4 ,what it was that he was working on1 even ,i was unable to guess1 so closely had he guarded his secret4 ,but that it was something momentous1 ,i was assured4 ,long ,sin had already been arrested and it was a day or two after the escape of ,wu himself who had come just in time to prevent the confession by one of his emissaries of the whereabouts of his secret den4 ,kennedy had ,chase and another detective whom he frequently employed on routine matters at work over the clues developed by his use of the sphygmograph4 ,elaine1 anxious for news1 had dropped in on us at the laboratory just as ,kennedy was hastily opening his mail4 ,craig came to a large letter with an official look1 slit open the envelope1 and unfolded the letter4 ,hurrah6 he cried1 jumping up and thrusting the letter before us4 ,read that4 ,across the top of the paper were embossed in blue the formidable words3 ,united ,states ,navy ,department1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,the letter was most interesting3 ,,professor ,,craig ,,kennedy1 ,the ,university1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,,dear ,,sir1 ,your telautomatic torpedo model was tested yesterday and ,i take great pleasure in stating that it was entirely successful4 ,there is no doubt that the ,united ,states is safe from attack as long as we retain its secret4 ,very sincerely yours1 ,,daniel ,,waters1 ,ass't ,sec'y4 ,oh1 ,craig1 congratulated ,elaine1 as she handed back the note4 ,i'm so glad for your sake4 ,how famous you will be6 ,when are we going to see the wonderful invention1 ,craig8 ,i added as ,i grasped his hand and1 in return1 he almost broke the bones in mine wringing it4 ,as soon as you wish1 he replied1 moving over to the safe near-by and opening it4 ,here's the only other model in existence besides the model ,i sent to ,washington4 ,he held up before us a cigar-shaped affair of steel1 about eight inches long1 with a tiny propeller and rudder of a size to correspond4 ,above was a series of wires1 four or five inches in length1 which1 he explained1 were the aerials by which the torpedo was controlled4 ,the principle of the thing1 he went on proudly1 is that ,i use wireless waves to actuate relays on the torpedo4 ,the power is in the torpedo2 the relay releases it4 ,that is1 ,i send a child with a message2 the grown man1 through the relay1 does the work4 ,so1 you see1 ,i can sit miles away in safety and send my little ,david out anywhere to strike down a huge ,goliath4 ,it was not difficult to catch his enthusiasm over the marvellous invention1 though we could not follow him through the mazes of explanation about radio-combinators1 telecommutators and the rest of the technicalities4 ,i may say1 however1 that on his radio-combinator he had a series of keys marked ,forward1 ,back1 ,start1 ,stop1 ,rudder ,right1 ,rudder ,left1 and so on4 ,he had scarcely finished his brief description when there came a knock at the door4 ,i answered it4 ,it was ,chase and his assistant1 whom ,kennedy had employed in the affair4 ,we've found the place on ,pell ,street that we think is ,wu ,fang's1 they reported excitedly4 ,it's in number fourteen1 as you thought4 ,we've left an operative disguised as a blind beggar to watch the place4 ,oh1 good6 exclaimed ,elaine1 as ,craig and ,i hurried out after ,chase and his man with her4 ,may ,i go with you8 ,really1 ,elaine1 objected ,craig1 ,i don't think it's safe4 ,there's no telling what may happen4 ,in fact1 ,i think ,walter and ,i had better not be seen there even with ,chase4 ,she pouted and pleaded1 but ,craig was obdurate4 ,finally she consented to wait for us at home provided we brought her the news at the earliest moment and demonstrated the wonderful torpedo as well4 ,craig was only too glad to promise and we waved good-bye as her car whisked her off4 ,half an hour later we turned into ,chinatown from the shadow of the elevated railroad on ,chatham ,square1 doing our best to affect a ,bowery slouch4 ,we had not gone far before we came to the blind beggar4 ,he was sitting by number fourteen with a sign on his breast1 grinding industriously at a small barrel organ before him on which rested a tin cup4 ,we passed him and ,kennedy took out a coin from his pocket and dropped it into the cup4 ,as he did so1 he thrust his hand into the cup and quickly took out a piece of paper which he palmed4 ,the blind beggar thanked and blessed us1 and we dodged into a doorway where ,kennedy opened the paper3 ,wu ,fang gone out4 ,what shall we do8 ,i asked4 ,go in anyhow1 decided ,kennedy quickly4 ,we left the shelter of the doorway and walked boldly up to the door4 ,deftly ,kennedy forced it and we entered4 ,we had scarcely mounted the stairs to the den of the ,serpent1 when a servant in a back room1 hearing a noise1 stuck his head in the door4 ,kennedy and ,i made a dash at him and quickly overpowered him1 snapping the bracelets on his wrists4 ,watch him1 ,walter1 directed ,craig as he made his way into the back room4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in the devious plots and schemes of ,wu ,fang1 his nefarious work had brought him into contact not only with criminals of the lowest order but with those high up in financial and diplomatic circles4 ,thus it happened that at such a crisis as ,kennedy had brought about for him ,wu had suddenly been called out of the city and had received an order from a group of powerful foreign agents known secretly as the ,intelligence ,office to meet an emissary at a certain rocky promontory on the ,connecticut shore of ,long ,island ,sound the very day after ,kennedy's little affair with him in the laboratory and the day before the letter from ,washington arrived4 ,though he was mortally afraid of ,kennedy's pursuit1 there was nothing to do but obey this imperative summons4 ,quietly he slipped out of town1 the more readily when he realized that the summons would take him not far from the millionaire cottage colony where ,elaine had her summer home1 which1 however1 she had not yet opened4 ,there1 on the rocky shore1 he sat gazing out at the waves1 waiting1 when suddenly1 from around the promontory1 came a boat rowed by two stalwart sailors4 ,it carried as passengers two dark-complexioned1 dark-haired men1 foreigners evidently1 though carefully dressed so as to conceal both their identity and nationality4 ,as the boat came up to a strip of sandy beach among the rocks1 the sailors held it while their two passengers jumped out4 ,then they rowed away as quickly as they had come4 ,the two mysterious strangers saluted ,wu4 ,we are under orders from the ,intelligence ,office1 introduced one who seemed to be the leader1 to get this ,american1 ,kennedy4 ,a subtle smile overspread ,wu's face4 ,he said nothing but this adventure promised to serve more than one end4 ,information has just come to us1 the stranger went on1 that ,kennedy has invented a new wireless automatic torpedo4 ,already a letter is on its way informing him that it has been accepted by the ,navy4 ,the other man who had been drawing a cigar-shaped outline on the wet sand looked up4 ,we must get those models1 he put in1 adding1 both of them--the one he has and that the government has4 ,can it be done8 ,i can get them1 answered ,wu sinisterly4 ,and so1 while ,kennedy was drawing together the net about ,wu1 that wily criminal had already planned an attack on him in an unexpected quarter4 ,down in ,washington the very morning that our pursuit of ,wu came to a head1 the officials of the navy department1 both naval and civil1 were having the final conference at which they were to accept officially ,kennedy's marvellous invention which1 it was confidently believed1 would ultimately make war impossible4 ,seated about a long table in one of the board rooms were not only the officers but the officials of the department whose sanction was necessary for the final step4 ,by a window sat a stenographer who was transcribing1 as they were taken1 the notes of the momentous meeting4 ,they had just completed the examination of the torpedo and laid it on the end of the table scarcely an arm's length from the stenographer4 ,as he finished a page of notes he glanced quickly at his watch4 ,it was exactly three o'clock4 ,hastily he reached over for the torpedo and with one swift1 silent movement tossed it out of the window4 ,down below1 in a clump of rhododendrons1 for several moments had been crouching one of the men who had borne the orders to ,wu ,fang at the strange meeting on the promontory4 ,his eyes seemed riveted at the window above him4 ,suddenly the supreme moment for which this dastardly plot had been timed came4 ,as the torpedo model dropped from the window1 he darted forward1 caught it1 turned1 and in an instant he was gone4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,wu ,fang himself had returned after setting in motion the forces which he found necessary to call to aid the foreign agents in their plots against ,kennedy's torpedo4 ,as ,wu approached the door of his den and was about to enter1 his eye fell on our outpost1 the blind beggar4 ,instantly his suspicions were aroused4 ,he looked the beggar over with a frown1 thought a moment1 then turned and instead of entering went up the street4 ,he made the circuit of the block and now came to an alley on the next street that led back of the building in which he had his den4 ,still frowning1 he gazed about1 saw that he was not followed1 and entered a doorway4 ,up the stairs he made his way until he came to an empty loft4 ,quickly he went over to the blank wall and began feeling cautiously about as if for a secret spring hidden in the plaster4 ,no one in the back room1 said ,kennedy rejoining me in the den itself with the prisoner4 ,he's out1 all right4 ,before ,craig was a mirror4 ,as he looked into it1 at an angle1 he could see a part of the decorations of the wall behind him actually open out4 ,for an instant the evil face of ,wu ,fang appeared4 ,without a word1 ,craig walked into the back room4 ,as he did so1 ,wu ,fang1 knife in hand1 stealthily opened the sliding panel its full length and noiselessly entered the room behind me4 ,with knife upraised for instant action he moved closer and closer to me4 ,he had almost reached me and paused to gloat as he poised the knife ready to strike1 when ,i heard a shout from ,kennedy1 and a scuffle4 ,craig had leaped out from behind a screen near the doorway to the back room where he had hidden to lure ,wu on4 ,with a powerful grasp1 he twisted the knife from ,wu's hand and it fell with a clatter on the floor4 ,i was at ,wu myself an instant later4 ,he was a powerful fighter1 but we managed to snap the handcuffs on him finally1 also4 ,walter1 panted ,kennedy straightening himself out after the fracas1 ,i'll stay here with the prisoners4 ,go get the police4 ,i hurried out and rushed down the street seeking an officer4 ,up in the den1 ,wu ,fang1 silent1 stood with his back to the wall1 scowling sullenly4 ,close beside him hung a sort of bell-cord1 just out of reach4 ,kennedy1 revolver in hand1 was examining the writing-table to discover whatever evidence he could4 ,slowly1 imperceptibly1 inch by inch1 ,wu moved toward the bell-cord4 ,he was reaching out with his manacled hands to seize it when ,kennedy1 alert1 turned1 saw him1 and instantly shot4 ,wu literally crumpled up and dropped to the floor as ,craig bounded over to him4 ,by this time ,i had found a policeman and he had summoned the wagon from the ,elizabeth ,street station1 a few blocks away4 ,as we drove up before the den1 ,i leaped out and the police followed4 ,imagine my surprise at seeing ,wu stretched on the floor4 ,kennedy had tried to staunch the flow of blood from a wound on ,wu's shoulder with a handkerchief and now was making a temporary bandage which he bound on him4 ,how are you1 sergeant8 nodded ,kennedy4 ,well1 ,i guess you'll admit ,i made good this time4 ,the sergeant smiled1 recalling a previous occasion when the slippery ,wu had squirmed through our fingers4 ,kennedy's restless eye fell on the bell-rope which had caused the trouble4 ,somehow1 he seemed to have an irresistible desire to pull that rope4 ,he gazed about the room4 ,walter1 you and the sergeant take the prisoners into the next room1 he said4 ,i want to see what this thing really is4 ,we moved ,wu and his servant and stood in the doorway4 ,craig gave the rope a yank4 ,instantly there was an explosion4 ,a concealed shotgun in the wall fired1 scattering shot all over the front of ,wu's table1 just where we had been standing1 knocking over and breaking vases1 scattering papers and in general wrecking everything before it4 ,so1 that's it1 whistled ,craig4 ,you fellows can come back now4 ,two of you men ,i'm going to leave here to watch the place and make other arrests if you can4 ,come on4 ,with ,kennedy ,i left the tenement while the sergeant marched the prisoners out1 and we drove off with them4 ,quite a crowd had collected outside by the time we came out4 ,among them1 naturally1 were many ,chinamen1 and we could not see two of them hiding behind the rest on the outskirts1 jabbering in low tones together and making hasty plans4 ,as we clanged away down the street they followed more slowly on foot4 ,common humanity dictated that we take ,wu first of all to a hospital and get him fixed up and to a hospital we went4 ,kennedy and ,i entered with our prisoners1 closely guarded by the police4 ,craig handed ,wu over to two young doctors and a nurse4 ,by this time ,wu was very weak from loss of blood4 ,still he had his iron nerve and that was carrying him through4 ,the two young doctors and the nurse had scarcely begun to take off ,craig's rude bandage to replace it properly1 when a noise outside told us that a weeping and gesticulating delegation of ,chinese had arrived4 ,keep 'em back1 called one of the doctors to an attendant4 ,the attendant tried to drive them away1 but nothing could force them back more than an inch or two as1 in broken ,english1 they sought to find out how ,wu was4 ,their importunity proved too much for only one attendant4 ,still gibbering and gesticulating1 the crowd brushed past him as if he had been a mere reed4 ,the attendant raged about until he lost his head4 ,but it was no use4 ,there was nothing for him to do but to follow them in4 ,kennedy by this time had finished talking to the doctors and handing ,wu over to them4 ,they had taken him into a room in the dispensary4 ,just then the chattering crowd pushed in1 some asking questions1 others bewailing the fate of the great ,wu ,fang4 ,they were so insistent that at last one of the doctors was forced to demand that the police drive them out4 ,they started to push them back4 ,in the melee1 one of their number managed to get away from the rest and reach the doorway to the emergency room4 ,he was1 as we found out later1 dressed almost precisely like ,wu1 although he had on a somewhat different cap4 ,in build and size as well as features he was a veritable ,dromio4 ,the other ,chinaman drew back behind the screen which hid the doorway to the emergency room and concealed himself4 ,meanwhile1 ,kennedy and ,i were laughing at the truly ludicrous antics of the astounded ,celestials1 thunderstruck at the capture of the peerless leader1 while the police forced them back4 ,well1 good-bye1 nodded ,craig to the first doctor and nurse who had attended ,wu ,fang outside4 ,good-bye4 ,we'll fix him up and take good care that he doesn't cheat the law1 they said1 with a nod to the sergeant4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in the emergency room1 ,wu was placed on an operating table and there was bound up properly1 though he was terribly weak now4 ,back of the screen1 however1 the other ,chinaman was hiding1 able to get an occasional glance at what was going on4 ,there happened to be a table near him on which were gauze1 cotton and other things4 ,he reached over and took the gauze and quickly made it into a bandage1 keeping one eye on the bandaging of ,wu4 ,then he placed the bandage over his own shoulder and arm in the same way that he saw the doctors doing with ,wu4 ,they had finished with ,wu and one of the doctors moved over to the doorway to call the sergeant4 ,for the moment the rest had left ,wu alone1 his eyes apparently half closed through weakness4 ,each was busy about his own especial task4 ,from behind the screen which was only a few feet from the operating table1 the secreted ,chinaman stepped out4 ,quickly he placed his own hat on ,wu and took ,wu's1 then took ,wu's place on the table while ,wu slipped behind the screen4 ,the doctor turned to the supposed ,wu4 ,come now1 he ordered1 handing him over to the police4 ,here he is at last4 ,the sergeant started to lead the prisoner out4 ,as he did so1 he looked sharply at him4 ,he could scarcely believe his eyes4 ,there was something wrong4 ,all ,chinaman might look alike to some people but not to him4 ,that's not ,wu ,fang6 he exclaimed4 ,instantly there was the greatest excitement4 ,the doctors were astounded as all rushed into the emergency room again4 ,one of them looked behind the screen4 ,there was an open window4 ,that's how he got away1 he cried4 ,meanwhile1 several blocks from the hospital1 ,wu1 still weak but more than ever nerved up1 came out of his place of concealment1 gazed up and down the street1 and1 seeing no one following1 hurried away from the hospital as fast as his shaky legs would bear him4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,confident that at last our arch enemy was safely landed in the hands of the police1 ,kennedy and ,i had left the hospital and were hastening to ,elaine with the news4 ,we stopped at the laboratory only long enough to get the torpedo from the safe and at a toy store where ,craig bought a fine little clockwork battleship4 ,we found ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine in the conservatory and quickly ,kennedy related how we had captured ,wu4 ,but1 like all inventors1 his pet was the torpedo and soon we were absorbed in his description of it4 ,as he unwrapped it1 ,elaine drew back1 timidly1 from the fearful engine of destruction4 ,kennedy smiled4 ,no1 it isn't dangerous1 he said reassuringly4 ,i've removed its charge and put in a percussion cap4 ,let me show you1 on a small scale1 how it works1 he added1 winding up the battleship and placing it in the fountain4 ,next he placed the torpedo in the water at the other end of the tank4 ,come over here1 he said1 indicating to us to follow him into the palms4 ,there he had placed the strange wireless apparatus which controlled the torpedo4 ,he pressed a lever4 ,we peered out through the fronds of the palms4 ,that uncanny little cigar-shaped thing actually started to move over the surface of the water4 ,of course ,i could make it dive1 explained ,craig1 but ,i want you to see it work4 ,around the tank it went1 turned1 cut a figure eight1 as ,kennedy manipulated the levers4 ,then it headed straight toward the battleship4 ,it struck4 ,there was a loud report1 a spurt of water4 ,one of the skeleton masts fell over4 ,the battleship heeled over1 and slowly sank1 bow first4 ,wonderful6 exclaimed ,elaine4 ,that was very realistic4 ,we brushed our way out through the thick palms1 congratulating ,kennedy on the perfect success of his demonstration4 ,so astonished were we that we did not hear the doorbell ring4 ,jennings answered it and admitted two men4 ,is ,professor ,kennedy here8 asked one4 ,we have been to his apartment and to the laboratory4 ,i'll see1 said ,jennings discretely1 taking the card of one of them and leaving them in the drawing-room4 ,two gentlemen to see you1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 ,jennings interrupted our congratulations1 handing ,craig a card4 ,shall ,i tell them you are here1 sir8 ,craig glanced at the card4 ,i wonder what that can be8 he said1 turning the card toward us4 ,it was engraved3 ,w4 ,r4 ,barnes ,u4 ,s4 ,secret ,service4 ,yes1 ,i'll see them1 he said1 then to us1 ,please excuse me8 ,elaine1 ,aunt ,josephine and ,i strolled off in the palms toward the ,fifth ,avenue side1 while ,jennings went out toward the back of the house4 ,well1 gentlemen1 greeted ,kennedy as he met the two detectives1 what can ,i do for you8 ,the leader looked about1 then leaned over and whispered1 ,we've just had word1 ,professor1 that your model of the torpedo has been stolen from the ,navy ,department in ,washington4 ,stolen8 repeated ,kennedy1 staring aghast4 ,yes4 ,we fear that an agent of a foreign government has found a traitor in the department4 ,rapidly ,kennedy's mind pictured what might be done with the deadly weapon in the hands of an enemy4 ,and1 added the ,secret ,service man1 we have reason to believe that this foreign agent is using a ,chinaman1 ,wu ,fang4 ,but ,wu has been arrested1 replied ,craig4 ,i arrested him myself4 ,the police have him now4 ,then you don't know of his escape8 ,kennedy could only stare as they told the story4 ,suddenly1 down the hall1 came cries of1 ,help6 ,help6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,while ,craig was showing us the torpedo1 the criminal machinery which ,wu had set in motion at orders from the foreign agents was working rapidly4 ,outside the ,dodge house1 a man had shadowed us4 ,he waited until we went in1 then slunk in himself by the back way and climbed through an open window into the cellar4 ,quietly he made his way up through the cellar until finally he reached the library4 ,listening carefully he could hear us talking in the conservatory4 ,stealthily he moved out of the library4 ,we had left the conservatory when he entered1 peering through the palms4 ,on he stole till he came to the fountain4 ,he looked about4 ,there1 bobbing up and down1 was the model of the torpedo for which he had dared so much4 ,he picked it up and looked at it1 gloating4 ,the crook was about to move back toward the library1 hugging the precious model close to himself when he heard ,jennings coming4 ,he started back to the conservatory4 ,jennings entered just in time to catch a fleeting glimpse of some one4 ,his suspicions were roused and he followed4 ,the crook reached the conservatory and opened a glass window leading out into the little garden beside the house4 ,he was about to step out when the sound of voices in the garden arrested him4 ,elaine1 ,aunt ,josephine and ,i had gone out and ,elaine was showing me a new rose which had just been sent her4 ,the crook fell back and dropped down behind the palms4 ,jennings looked about1 but saw no one and stood there puzzled4 ,then the crook1 fearing that he might be captured at any moment1 looked about to see where he might hide the torpedo4 ,there did not seem to be any place4 ,quickly he began to dig out the earth in one of the palm pots4 ,he dropped the torpedo1 wrapped still in the handkerchief1 into the hole and covered it up4 ,jennings was clearly puzzled4 ,he had seen some one rush in1 but the conservatory was apparently empty4 ,he had just turned to go out when he saw a palm move4 ,there was a face6 ,he made a dive for it and in a moment both he and the crook were rolling over and over4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,kennedy and the ,secret ,service men were talking earnestly when they heard the cry for help and the scuffle4 ,they rushed out and into the conservatory in time to see the crook1 who had broken away1 knock out ,jennings4 ,he sprang to his feet and darted away4 ,kennedy's mind was working rapidly4 ,had the man been after the other model8 ,the detectives went after him4 ,but ,craig went for the torpedo4 ,as he looked in the tank1 it was gone6 ,he turned and followed the crook4 ,i was still in the garden with ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine when ,i heard sounds of a struggle and a moment later a man emerged through the window of the conservatory followed by two other men4 ,i went for him1 but he managed to elude me and dashed for the wall in the back of the garden4 ,the ,secret ,service men fired at him but he kept on4 ,a moment later ,craig came through the window4 ,did any of you take the torpedo8 he asked4 ,no1 replied ,elaine1 we left it just as you had it4 ,kennedy seemed wild with anxiety4 ,then both models have been stolen6 he cried1 dashing after the ,secret ,service men with me close behind4 ,the crook by this time had reached the top of the wall4 ,just as he was about to let himself down safely on the other side1 a shot struck him4 ,he pitched over and we ran forward4 ,but he had just enough of a start4 ,in spite of the shock and the wound he managed to pick himself up and with the help of a confederate hobbled into a waiting car1 which sped away just as we came over the wall4 ,we dropped to the ground just as another car approached4 ,craig commandeered it from its astonished driver1 the ,secret ,service men and ,i piled in and we were off in a few seconds in hot pursuit4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,down at the terminal where trains came in from ,washington1 ,wu1 much better now1 was waiting4 ,he had pulled a long coat over his ,chinese clothes and wore a slouch hat4 ,as he looked at the incoming passengers he spied the man he was waiting for1 the young crook who had been waiting in the shrubbery outside the ,navy ,building when the torpedo model was thrown out4 ,the man had the model carefully wrapped up1 under his arm4 ,as his eye travelled over the crowd he recognized ,wu but did not betray it4 ,he walked by and1 as he passed1 hastily handed ,wu the package containing the model4 ,wu slipped it under his coat4 ,then each went his way1 in opposite directions4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was a close race between the car bearing the two crooks and that which ,kennedy had impressed into service1 but we kept on up through the city and out across the country1 into ,connecticut4 ,time and again they almost got away until it became a question of following tire tracks4 ,once we came to a cross-road and ,kennedy stopped and leaped out4 ,deeply planted in the mud1 he could see the tracks of the car ahead leading out by the left road4 ,close beside the tire tracks were the footprints of two men going up the right hand road toward the ,sound4 ,you follow the car and the driver1 decided ,craig1 hastily indicating the road by which it had gone4 ,i'll follow the footprints4 ,the ,secret ,service men jumped back into the car and ,kennedy and ,i went along the shore road following the two crooks4 ,already the wounded crook1 supported by his pal1 had made his way down to the water and had come to a long wharf4 ,there1 near the land-end1 they had a secret hiding-place into which they went4 ,the other crook drew forth a smoke signal and began to prepare it4 ,kennedy and ,i were able1 now1 to move faster than they4 ,as we came in sight of the wharf1 ,kennedy paused4 ,there they are1 two of them1 he indicated4 ,i could just make them out in their hiding-place4 ,the fellow who had stolen the torpedo was by this time so weak from loss of blood that he could hardly hold his head up1 while the other hurried to fix-the smoke signal4 ,he happened to glance up1 and saw us4 ,come1 ,red1 brace up1 he muttered4 ,they're on our trail4 ,the wounded man was almost too weak to answer4 ,i--,i can't1 he gasped weakly1 ,you--go4 ,then1 with a great effort1 remembering the mission on which he had been sent1 he whispered hoarsely1 ,i hid the second torpedo model in the ,dodge house in the bottom of-- ,he tried hard to finish1 but he was too weak4 ,he fell back1 dead4 ,his pal had waited as long as he dared to learn the secret4 ,he jumped up and ran out just as we burst into the hiding-place4 ,kennedy dropped down by the dead man and searched him1 while ,i dashed after the other fellow4 ,but ,i was not so well acquainted with the lay of the land as he and1 before ,i knew it1 he had darted into another of his numerous hiding-places4 ,i hunted about1 but ,i had lost the track4 ,when ,i returned1 ,i found ,kennedy writing a hasty note4 ,i couldn't follow him1 ,craig1 ,i confessed4 ,too bad1 frowned ,craig evidently greatly worried by what had happened1 as he folded the note4 ,walter1 he added seriously1 ,i want you to go find the fellow4 ,he handed me the note4 ,and if anything separates us to-day--give this note to ,elaine4 ,i did not pay much attention to the tone he assumed1 but often afterward ,i pondered over it and the serious and troubled look on his face4 ,i was too chagrined at losing my man to think much of it then4 ,i took the note and hurried out again after him4 ,meanwhile1 as nearly as ,i can now make out1 ,kennedy searched the dead man again4 ,there was certainly no clue to his identity on him1 nor had he the torpedo model4 ,craig looked about4 ,suddenly1 he fell flat on his stomach4 ,there was ,wu ,fang himself1 coming to the wharf1 carrying the model of the torpedo which had been stolen in ,washington and brought up to him by his emissary4 ,kennedy1 crouching down and taking advantage of every object that sheltered him1 crawled cautiously into an angle4 ,unsuspecting1 ,wu came to the land-end of the wharf4 ,there he saw his lieutenant1 dead--and the smoke signal still beside him1 unlighted4 ,he bent over in amazement and examined the man4 ,from his hiding-place ,kennedy crept stealthily4 ,he had scarcely got within reach of ,wu when the alert ,chinaman seemed to sense his presence4 ,he rose quickly and swung around4 ,the two arch enemies gazed at each other a moment silently4 ,each knew it was the final1 fatal encounter4 ,slowly ,wu drew a long knife and leaped at ,kennedy who grappled with him4 ,they struggled mercilessly4 ,in the struggle1 ,craig managed to tear the torpedo out of ,wu's hands1 just as they rolled over4 ,it fell on a rock4 ,instantly an explosion tore a hole in the sand1 scattering the gravel all about4 ,relentlessly the combat raged4 ,out on the wharf itself they went1 right up to the edge4 ,then both went over into the water1 locked in each other's vice-like grip4 ,even in the water1 they struggled1 frantically4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,my search for the escaped crook was unsuccessful4 ,somehow1 however1 it led me across country to a road4 ,as ,i approached1 ,i heard a car and looked up4 ,there were the ,secret ,service men4 ,i called them and stepped out of the bushes4 ,they stopped and jumped out of the car and ,i ran to them4 ,come back with me1 ,i urged4 ,we found two of them4 ,one is dead4 ,craig sent me to trace the other4 ,i've lost the trail4 ,perhaps you can find it for me4 ,we crashed through the brush quickly4 ,suddenly ,i heard something that caused me to start4 ,it sounded like an explosion4 ,there's the place--over there1 ,i pointed1 pausing and indicating the direction of the wharf whence had come the explosion4 ,what was it8 ,we did not stop a moment1 but hurried in that direction4 ,we reached the shore where we saw marks of the explosion and of a fight4 ,out on the pier ,i ran breathlessly4 ,i rushed to the very edge and gazed over1 then climbed down the slippery piling and peered into the black water beneath4 ,a few bubbles seemed to ooze up from below4 ,was that all8 ,no1 as ,i gazed down ,i saw that some dark object was there4 ,slowly ,wu ,fang's body floated to the surface and lay there1 rocked by the waves4 ,deep in his breast stuck his own knife with its handle of the ,sign of the ,serpent6 ,i reached down and seized him1 as ,i peered about for ,kennedy4 ,there was nothing more there4 ,craig6 ,i called desperately1 ,craig6 ,there was no answer4 ,the silence1 the echo of the lapping water under the wharf was appalling1 mocking4 ,i managed to call the ,secret ,service men and they got ,wu ,fang's body up on the wharf4 ,but ,i could not leave the spot4 ,where was ,craig8 ,there was not a sign of him4 ,i could not realize it1 even when the men brought grappling irons and began to search the black water4 ,it was all a hideous dream4 ,i saw and heard1 in a daze4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was not until late that night that ,i returned to the ,dodge house4 ,i had delayed my return as long as ,i could1 but ,i knew that ,i must see ,elaine some time4 ,as ,i entered even ,jennings must have seen that something was wrong4 ,elaine1 who was sitting in the library with ,aunt ,josephine1 rose as she saw me4 ,did you get them8 she asked eagerly4 ,i could not speak4 ,she seemed to read the tragic look on my haggard face and stopped4 ,why1 she gasped1 clutching at the desk1 what is the matter8 ,as gently as ,i could1 ,i told her of the chase1 of leaving ,craig1 of the explosion1 of the marks of the struggle and of the finding of ,wu ,fang4 ,as ,i finished1 ,i thought she would faint4 ,and you--you went over everything about the wharf8 ,everything4 ,the men even dragged for the-- ,i checked myself over the fateful word4 ,elaine looked at me wildly4 ,i thought that she would lose her reason4 ,she did not cry4 ,the shock was too great for that4 ,suddenly ,i remembered the note4 ,before ,i left him--the last time1 ,i blurted out1 he wrote a note--to you4 ,i pulled the crumpled paper from my pocket and ,elaine almost tore it from me--the last word from him--and read3 ,,dearest3 ,i may not return until the case is settled and ,i have found the stolen torpedo4 ,matters involving millions of lives and billions of dollars hang on the plot back of it4 ,no matter what happens1 have no fear4 ,trust me4 ,lovingly1 ,,craig4 ,she finished reading the note and slowly laid it down4 ,then she picked it up and read it again4 ,slowly she turned to me4 ,i think ,i have never seen so sublime a look of faith on any one's face before4 ,if ,i had not seen and heard what ,i had1 it might have shaken my own convictions4 ,he told me to trust him and to have no fear1 she said simply1 gripping herself mentally and physically by main force1 then with an air of defiance she looked at me4 ,i do not believe that he is dead6 ,i tried to comfort her4 ,i wanted to do so4 ,but ,i could do nothing but shake my head sadly4 ,my own heart was full to overflowing4 ,an intimacy such as had been ours could not be broken except with a shock that tore my soul4 ,i knew that the poor girl had not seen what ,i had seen4 ,yet ,i could not find it in my heart to contradict her4 ,she saw my look1 read my mind4 ,no1 she cried1 still defiant1 no--a thousand times1 no6 ,i tell you--he is not dead6 ,,chapter ,,vi ,,the ,,lost ,,torpedo ,from the rocks of a promontory that jutted out not far from the wharf where ,wu ,fang's body was found and ,kennedy had disappeared1 opened up a beautiful panorama of a bay on one side and the ,sound on the other4 ,it was a deserted bit of coast4 ,but any one who had been standing near the promontory the next day might have seen a thin line as if the water1 sparkling in the sunlight1 had been cut by a huge knife4 ,gradually a thin steel rod seemed to rise from the water itself1 still moving ahead1 though slowly now as it pushed its way above the surface4 ,after it came a round cylinder of steel1 studded with bolts4 ,it was the hatch of a submarine and the rod was the periscope4 ,as the submarine lay there at rest1 the waves almost breaking over it1 the hatch slowly opened and a hand appeared groping for a hold4 ,then appeared a face with a tangle of curly black hair and keen forceful eyes4 ,after it the body of a man rose out of the hatch1 a tall1 slender1 striking person4 ,he reached down into the hold of the boat and drew forth a life preserver4 ,all right1 he called down in an accent slightly foreign1 as he buckled on the belt4 ,i shall communicate with you as soon as ,i have something to report4 ,then he deliberately plunged overboard and struck out for the shore4 ,hand over hand1 he churned his way through the water toward the beach until at last his feet touched bottom and he waded out1 shaking the water from himself like a huge animal4 ,the coming of the stranger had not been entirely unheralded4 ,along the shore road by which ,kennedy and ,i had followed the crooks whom we thought had the torpedo1 on that last chase1 was waiting now a powerful limousine with its motor purring4 ,a chauffeur was sitting at the wheel and inside1 at the door1 sat a man peering out along the road to the beach4 ,suddenly the man in the machine signalled to the driver4 ,he comes1 he cried eagerly4 ,drive down the road1 closer1 and meet him4 ,the chauffeur shot his car ahead4 ,as the swimmer strode shivering up the roadway1 the car approached him4 ,the assistant swung open the door and ran forward with a thick1 warm coat and hat4 ,neither the master nor the servant spoke as they met1 but the man wrapped the coat about him1 hurried into the car1 the driver turned and quickly they sped toward the city4 ,secret though the entrance of the stranger had been planned1 however1 it was not unobserved4 ,along the beach1 on a boulder1 gazing thoughtfully out to sea and smoking an old briar pipe sat a bent fisherman clad in an oilskin coat and hat and heavy1 ungainly boots4 ,about his neck was a long woolen muffler which concealed the lower part of his face quite as effectually as his scraggly1 grizzled whiskers4 ,suddenly1 he seemed to discover something that interested him1 slowly rose1 then turned and almost ran up the shore4 ,quickly he dropped behind a large rock and waited1 peering out4 ,as the limousine bearing the stranger1 on whom the fisherman had kept his eyes riveted1 turned and drove away1 the old salt rose from behind his rock1 gazed after the car as if to fix every line of it in his memory and then he1 too1 quickly disappeared up the road4 ,the stranger's car had scarcely disappeared when the fisherman turned from the shore road into a clump of stunted trees and made his way to a hut4 ,not far away stood a small1 unpretentious closed car1 also with a driver4 ,i shall be ready in a minute1 the fisherman nodded almost running into the hut1 as the driver moved his car up closer to the door4 ,the larger motor had disappeared far down the bend of the road when the fisherman reappeared4 ,in an almost incredible time he had changed his oilskins and muffler for a dark coat and silk hat4 ,he was no longer a fisherman1 but a rather fussy-looking old gentleman1 bewhiskered still1 with eyes looking out keenly from a pair of gold-rimmed glasses4 ,follow that car--at any cost1 he ordered simply as he let himself into the little motor1 and the driver shot ahead down a bit of side road and out into the main shore road again1 urging the car forward to overtake the one ahead4 ,such was the entrance of the stranger--,marcius ,del ,mar--into ,america4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,how ,i managed to pass the time during the first days after the strange disappearance of ,kennedy1 ,i don't know4 ,it was all like a dream--the apartment empty1 the laboratory empty1 my own work on the ,star uninteresting1 ,elaine broken-hearted1 life itself a burden4 ,hoping against hope the next day ,i decided to drop around at the ,dodge house4 ,as ,i entered the library unannounced1 ,i saw that ,elaine1 with a faith for which ,i envied her1 was sitting at a table1 her back toward the door4 ,she was gazing sadly at a photograph4 ,though ,i could not see it1 ,i needed not to be told whose it was4 ,she did not hear me come in1 so engrossed was she in her thoughts4 ,nor did she notice me at first as ,i stood just behind her4 ,finally ,i put my hand on her shoulder as if ,i had been an elder brother4 ,she looked up into my face4 ,have you heard from him yet8 she asked anxiously4 ,i could only shake my head sadly4 ,she sighed4 ,involuntarily she rose and together we moved toward the garden1 the last place we had seen him about the house4 ,we had been pacing up and down the garden talking earnestly only a short time when a man made his way in from the ,fifth ,avenue gate4 ,is this ,miss ,dodge8 he asked4 ,yes1 she replied eagerly4 ,neither ,elaine nor ,i knew him at the time1 though ,i think she thought he might be the bearer of some message from ,craig4 ,as a matter of fact he was the emissary to whom the stenographer had thrown the torpedo model from the ,navy ,building in ,washington4 ,his visit was only a part of a deep-laid scheme4 ,only a few minutes before1 three crooks--among them our visitor--had stopped just below the house on a side street4 ,to him the others had given final instructions and a note1 and he had gone on1 leaving the two standing there4 ,i have a note for you1 he said1 bowing and handing an envelope to ,elaine1 which she tore open and read4 ,,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,,miss ,,elaine ,,dodge1 ,fifth ,avenue1 ,new ,york4 ,,my ,,dear ,,miss ,,dodge1 ,the bearer1 ,mr4 ,bailey1 of the ,secret ,service1 would like to question you regarding the disappearance of ,mr4 ,kennedy and the model of his torpedo4 ,,morgan ,,bertrand1 ,u4 ,s4 ,secret ,service4 ,even as we were talking the other two crooks had already moved up and had made their way around back of the stone wall that cut off the ,dodge garden back of the house4 ,there they stood1 whispering eagerly and gazing furtively over the wall as their man talked to ,elaine4 ,after a moment ,i stepped aside1 while ,elaine read the note1 and as he asked her a few questions1 ,i could not help feeling that the affair had a very suspicious look4 ,the more ,i thought of it1 the less ,i liked it4 ,finally ,i could stand it no longer4 ,i beg your pardon1 ,i excused myself to the alleged ,mr4 ,bailey1 but may ,i speak to ,miss ,dodge alone just a minute8 ,he bowed1 rather ungraciously ,i thought1 and ,elaine followed me aside while ,i told her my fears4 ,i don't like the looks of it myself1 she agreed4 ,yes1 ,i'll be very careful what ,i say4 ,while we were talking ,i could see out of the corner of my eye that the fellow was looking at us askance and frowning4 ,but if ,i had had an ,x-ray eye1 ,i might have seen his two companions on the other side of the wall1 peering over as they had been before and showing every evidence of annoyance at my interference4 ,the man resumed his questioning of ,elaine regarding the torpedo and she replied guardedly1 as in fact she could not do otherwise4 ,suddenly we heard shouts on the other side of the wall1 as though some one were attacking some one else4 ,there seemed to be several of them1 for a man quickly flung himself over the wall and ran to us4 ,they're after us1 he shouted to ,bailey4 ,instantly our visitor drew a gun and followed the newcomer as he ran to get out of the garden in the opposite direction4 ,just then a tall1 well-dressed1 striking man came over the wall1 accompanied by another dressed as a policeman1 and rushed toward us4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,the car bearing the mysterious stranger1 ,del ,mar1 kept on until it reached ,new ,york1 then made its way through the city until it came to the ,hotel ,la ,coste4 ,del ,mar jumped out of the car1 his wet clothes covered completely by the long coat4 ,he registered and rode up in the elevator to rooms which had already been engaged for him4 ,in his suite a valet was already unpacking some trunks and laying out clothes when ,del ,mar and his assistant entered4 ,with an exclamation of satisfaction at his unostentatious entry into the city1 ,del ,mar threw off his heavy coat4 ,the valet hastened to assist him in removing the clothes still wet and wrinkled from his plunge into the sea4 ,scarcely had ,del ,mar changed his clothes than he received two visitors4 ,strangely enough they were men dressed in the uniform of policemen4 ,first of all we must convince them of our honesty1 he said looking fixedly at the two men4 ,orders have been given to the men employed by ,wu ,fang to be about in half an hour4 ,we must pretend to arrest them on sight4 ,you understand8 ,yes1 sir1 they nodded4 ,very well1 come on1 ,del ,mar ordered taking up his hat and preceding them from the room4 ,outside the ,la ,coste1 ,del ,mar and his two policemen entered the car which had driven ,del ,mar from the sea coast and were quickly whisked away1 up-town1 until they came near the ,dodge house4 ,del ,mar leaped from the car followed by his two policemen4 ,there they are1 already1 he whispered1 pointing up the avenue4 ,all three hastened up the avenue now where1 beside a wall1 they could see two men looking through intently as though very angry at something going on inside4 ,arrest them6 shouted ,del ,mar as his own men ran forward4 ,the fight was short and sharp1 with every evidence of being genuine4 ,one of the men managed to break away and jump the garden wall1 with ,del ,mar and one of the policemen after him1 while the other only reached the wall to be dragged down by the other policeman4 ,elaine and ,i had been1 as ,i have said1 talking with the man named ,bailey who posed as a ,secret ,service man1 when the rumpus began4 ,as the man came over the fence1 warning ,bailey1 it was evident that neither of them had time to escape4 ,with his club the policeman struck the newcomer of the two flat while the tall1 athletic gentleman leaped upon ,bailey and before we knew it had him disarmed4 ,in a most clean-cut and professional way he snapped the bracelets on the man4 ,elaine was astounded at the kaleidoscopic turn of affairs1 too astounded even to make an outcry4 ,as for me1 it was all so sudden that ,i had no chance to take part in it4 ,besides ,i should not have known quite on which side to fight4 ,so ,i did nothing4 ,but as it was over so quickly1 ,i took a step forward to our latest arrival4 ,beg pardon1 old man1 ,i began1 but don't you think this is just a little raw8 ,what's it all about8 ,the newest comer eyed me for a moment1 then with quiet dignity drew from his pocket and handed me his card which read simply3 ,m4 ,del ,mar1 ,private ,investigator4 ,as ,i looked up1 ,i saw ,del ,mar's other policeman bringing in another manacled man4 ,these are crooks--foreign agents1 replied ,del ,mar pointing to the prisoners4 ,the government has employed me to run them down4 ,what of this8 asked ,elaine holding up the note from ,bertrand4 ,a fake1 a forgery1 reiterated ,del ,mar1 looking at it a moment critically4 ,then to the men uniformed as police he ordered1 ,you can take them to jail4 ,they're the fellows1 all right4 ,as the prisoners were led off1 ,del ,mar turned to ,elaine4 ,would you mind answering a few questions about these men8 ,why--no1 she hesitated4 ,but ,i think we'd better go into the house1 after such a thing as this4 ,it makes me feel nervous4 ,with ,del ,mar ,i followed ,elaine in through the conservatory4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,del ,mar had scarcely registered at the ,la ,coste when the smaller car which had been waiting at the fisherman's hut drew up before the hotel entrance4 ,from it alighted the fussy old gentleman who bore such a remarkable resemblance to the fisherman1 hastily paid his driver and entered the hotel4 ,he went directly to the desk and with well-manicured finger1 scarcely reminiscent of a fisherman1 began tracing the names down the list until he stopped before one which read3 ,marcius ,del ,mar and valet4 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,room #ebj4 ,with a quick glance about1 he made a note of it1 and turned away1 leaving the ,la ,coste to take up quarters of his own in the ,prince ,henry down the street4 ,not until ,del ,mar had left with his two policemen did the fussy old gentleman reappear in the ,la ,coste4 ,then he rode up to ,del ,mar's room and rapped at the door4 ,is ,mr4 ,del ,mar in8 he inquired of the valet4 ,no1 sir1 replied that functionary4 ,the little old man appeared to consider1 standing a moment dandling his silk hat4 ,absent-mindedly he dropped it4 ,as the valet stooped to pick it up1 the old gentleman exhibited an agility and strength scarcely to be expected of his years4 ,he seized the valet1 while with one foot he kicked the door shut4 ,before the surprised servant knew what was going on1 his assailant had whipped from his pocket a handkerchief in which was concealed a thin tube of anesthetic4 ,then leaving the valet prone in a corner with the handkerchief over his face1 he proceeded to make a systematic search of the rooms1 opening all drawers1 trunks and bags4 ,he turned pretty nearly everything upside down1 then started on the desk4 ,suddenly he paused4 ,there was a paper4 ,he read it1 then with an air of extreme elation shoved it into his pocket4 ,as he was going out he stopped beside the valet1 removed the handkerchief from his face and bound him with a cord from the portieres4 ,then1 still immaculate in spite of his encounter1 he descended in the elevator1 reentered a waiting car and drove off4 ,quite evidently1 however1 he wanted to cover his tracks for he had not gone a half dozen blocks before he stopped1 paid and tipped the driver generously1 and disappeared into the theatre crowd4 ,back again in the ,prince ,henry1 whither the fussy little old man made his way as quickly as he could through a side street1 he went quietly up to his room4 ,his door was now locked4 ,he did not have to deny himself to visitors1 for he had none4 ,still1 his room was cluttered by a vast amount of paraphernalia and he was seated before a table deep in work4 ,first of all he tied a handkerchief over his nose and mouth4 ,then he took up a cartridge from the table and carefully extracted the bullet4 ,into the space occupied by the bullet he poured a white powder and added a wad of paper1 like a blank cartridge1 placing the cartridge in the chamber of a revolver and repeating the operation until he had it fully loaded4 ,it was his own invention of an asphyxiating bullet4 ,perhaps half an hour later1 the old gentleman1 his room cleaned up and his immaculate appearance restored1 sauntered forth from the hotel down the street like a veritable ,turveydrop1 to show himself4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine seemed quite impressed with our new friend1 ,del ,mar1 as we made our way to the library1 though ,i am not sure but that it was a pose on her part4 ,at any rate he seemed quite eager to help us4 ,what do you suppose has become of ,mr4 ,kennedy8 asked ,elaine4 ,del ,mar looked at her earnestly4 ,i should be glad to search for him1 he returned quickly4 ,he was the greatest man in our profession4 ,but first ,i must execute the commission of the ,secret ,service4 ,we must find his torpedo model before it falls into foreign hands4 ,we talked for a few moments1 then ,del ,mar with a glance at his watch excused himself4 ,we accompanied him to the door1 for he was indeed a charming man4 ,i felt that1 if in fact he were assigned to the case1 ,i ought to know him better4 ,if you're going down-town1 ,i ventured1 ,i might accompany you part of the way4 ,delighted1 agreed ,del ,mar4 ,elaine gave him her hand and he took it in such a deferential way that one could not help liking him4 ,elaine was much impressed4 ,as ,del ,mar and ,i walked down the avenue1 he kept up a running fire of conversation until at last we came near the ,la ,coste4 ,charmed to have met you1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 he said1 pausing4 ,we shall see a great deal of each other ,i hope4 ,i had not yet had time to say good-bye myself when a slight exclamation at my side startled me4 ,turning suddenly1 ,i saw a very brisk1 fussy old gentleman who had evidently been hurrying through the crowd4 ,he had slipped on something on the sidewalk and lost his balance1 falling near us4 ,we bent over and assisted him to his feet4 ,as ,i took hold of his hand1 ,i felt a peculiar pressure from him4 ,he had placed something in my hand4 ,my mind worked quickly4 ,i checked my first impulse to speak and1 more from curiosity than anything else1 kept the thing he had passed to me surreptitiously4 ,thank you1 gentlemen1 he puffed1 straightening himself out4 ,one of the infirmities of age4 ,thank you1 thank you4 ,in a moment he had bustled off quite comically4 ,again ,del ,mar said good-bye and ,i did not urge him to stay4 ,he had scarcely gone when ,i looked at the thing the old man had placed in my hand4 ,it was a little folded piece of paper4 ,i opened it slowly4 ,inside was printed in pencil1 disguised3 ,,be ,,careful4 ,,watch ,,him4 ,i read it in amazement4 ,what did it mean8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,at the ,la ,coste1 ,del ,mar was met by two of his men in the lobby and they rode up to his room4 ,imagine their surprise when they opened the door and found the valet lying bound on the floor4 ,who the deuce did this8 demanded ,del ,mar as they loosened him4 ,the valet rose weakly to his feet4 ,a little old man with gray whiskers1 he managed to gasp4 ,del ,mar looked at him in surprise4 ,instantly his active mind recalled the little old man who had fallen before us on the street4 ,who--what was he8 ,come1 he said quickly1 beckoning his two companions who had come in with him4 ,some time later1 ,del ,mar's car stopped just below the ,dodge house4 ,you men go around back of the house and watch1 ordered ,del ,mar4 ,as they disappeared he turned and went up the ,dodge steps4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,i walked back after my strange experience with the fussy little old gentleman1 feeling more than ever1 now that ,craig was gone1 that both ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine needed me4 ,as we sat talking in the library1 ,rusty1 released from the chain on which ,jennings kept him1 bounded with a rush into the library4 ,good old fellow1 encouraged ,elaine1 patting him4 ,just then ,jennings entered and a moment later was followed by ,del ,mar1 who bowed as we welcomed him4 ,do you know1 he began1 ,i believe that the lost torpedo model is somewhere in this house and ,i have reason to anticipate another attempt of foreign agents to find it4 ,if you'll pardon me1 ,i've taken the liberty of surrounding the place with some men we can trust4 ,while ,del ,mar was speaking1 ,elaine picked up a ribbon from the table and started to tie it about ,rusty's neck4 ,as ,del ,mar proceeded she paused1 still holding the ribbon4 ,rusty1 who hated ribbons1 saw his chance and quietly sidled out1 seeking refuge in the conservatory4 ,alone in the conservatory1 ,rusty quickly forgot about the ribbon and began nosing about the palms4 ,at last he came to the pot in which the torpedo model had been buried in the soft earth by the thief the night it had been stolen from the fountain4 ,quickly ,elaine recalled herself and1 seeing the ribbon in her hand and ,rusty gone1 called him4 ,there was no answer1 and she excused herself1 for it was against the rules for ,rusty to wander about4 ,in his haste the thief had left just a corner of the handkerchief sticking out of the dirt4 ,what none of us had noticed1 ,rusty's keen eyes and nose discovered and his instinct told him to dig for it4 ,in a moment he uncovered the torpedo and handkerchief and sniffed4 ,just then he heard his mistress calling him4 ,rusty had been whipped for digging in the conservatory and now1 with his tail between his legs1 he seized the torpedo in his mouth and bolted for the door of the drawing-room1 for he had heard voices in the library4 ,as he did so he dropped the handkerchief and the little propeller1 loosened by his teeth1 fell off4 ,elaine entered the conservatory1 still calling4 ,rusty was not there4 ,he had reached the stairs1 scurrying up to the attic1 still holding the torpedo model in his mouth4 ,he pushed open the attic door and ran in4 ,rusty's last refuge in time of trouble was back of a number of trunks1 among which were two of almost the same size and appearance4 ,behind one of them1 he had hidden a miscellaneous collection of bones1 pieces of biscuit and things dear to his heart4 ,he dropped the torpedo among these treasures4 ,del ,mar1 meanwhile1 had followed ,elaine through the hall and into the conservatory4 ,as he entered he could see her stooping down to look through the palms for ,rusty4 ,she straightened up and went on out4 ,del ,mar followed4 ,beside the palm pot where ,rusty had found the torpedo1 he happened to see the old handkerchief soiled with dirt4 ,near-by lay the little propeller4 ,he picked them up4 ,she has found it6 he exclaimed in wonder1 following ,elaine4 ,by this time ,rusty had responded to ,elaine's calls and came tearing down-stairs again4 ,naughty ,rusty1 chided ,elaine1 tying the ribbon on him4 ,so--you have found him at last8 remarked ,del ,mar looking quickly at ,elaine to see if she would get a double meaning4 ,yes4 ,he's had a fine time running away1 she replied4 ,del ,mar was scarcely able to conceal his suspicion of her4 ,was she a clever actress1 hiding her discovery1 he wondered8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,outside1 on the lawn1 ,del ,mar's men had been looking about1 but had discovered nothing4 ,they paused a moment to speak4 ,look out6 whispered one of them4 ,there's some one coming4 ,they dropped down in the shadow4 ,there in the light of the street lamps was the fussy old gentleman coming across the lawn4 ,he stole up to the door of the conservatory and looked through4 ,del ,mar's men crawled a few feet closer4 ,the little old man entered the conservatory and looked about again stealthily4 ,the two men followed him in noiselessly and watched as he bent over the palm pot from which the dog had dug up the torpedo4 ,he looked at the hole curiously4 ,just then he heard sounds behind him and sprang to his feet4 ,hands up6 ordered one of the men covering him with a gun4 ,the little old man threw up his hands1 raising his cane still in his right hand4 ,the man with the gun took a step closer4 ,as he did so1 the little old man brought down his cane with a quick blow and knocked the gun out of his hand4 ,the second man seized the cane4 ,the old man jerked the cane back and was standing there with a thin tough steel rapier4 ,it was a sword-cane4 ,del ,mar's man held the sheath4 ,as the man attacked with the sheath1 the little old man parried1 sent it flying from his grasp1 and wounded him4 ,the wounded man sank down1 while the little old man ran off through the palms1 followed by the other of ,del ,mar's men4 ,around the hall1 he ran1 and back into the conservatory where he picked up a heavy chair and threw it through the glass1 dropping himself behind a convenient hiding-place near-by4 ,del ,mar's man1 close after him1 mistaking the crash of glass for the escape of the man he was pursuing1 went on through the broken exit4 ,then the little old man doubled on his tracks and made for the front of the house4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,with ,aunt ,josephine ,i had remained in the library4 ,what's that8 ,i exclaimed at the first sounds4 ,a fight8 ,together we rushed for the conservatory4 ,the fight followed so quickly by the crash of glass also alarmed ,elaine and ,del ,mar in the hallway and they hurried toward the library1 which we had just left1 by another door4 ,as they entered1 they saw a little old gentleman rushing in from the conservatory and locking the door behind him4 ,he whirled about1 and he and ,del ,mar recognized each other at once4 ,they drew guns together1 but the little old man fired first4 ,his bullet struck the wall back of ,del ,mar and a cloud of vapor was instantly formed1 enveloping ,del ,mar and even ,elaine4 ,del ,mar fell1 overcome1 while ,elaine sank more slowly4 ,the little old man ran forward4 ,in the conservatory1 ,aunt ,josephine and ,i heard the shooting1 just as one of ,del ,mar's men ran in again4 ,with him we ran back toward the library4 ,by this time the whole house was aroused4 ,jennings and ,marie were hurrying down-stairs1 crying for help and making their way to the library also4 ,in the library1 the little old man bent over ,del ,mar and ,elaine4 ,but it was only a moment later that he heard the whole house aroused4 ,quickly he shut and locked the folding-doors to the drawing-room1 as1 with ,del ,mar's man1 ,i was beating at the rear library door4 ,i'll go around1 ,i suggested1 hurrying off1 while ,del ,mar's man tried to beat in the door4 ,inside the little old man who had been listening saw that there was no means of escape4 ,he pulled off his coat and vest and turned them inside out4 ,on the inside he had prepared an exact copy of ,jennings' livery4 ,it was only a matter of seconds before he had completed his change4 ,for a moment he paused and looked at the two prostrate figures before him4 ,then he took a rose from a vase on the table and placed it in ,elaine's hand4 ,finally1 with his whiskers and wig off he moved to the rear door where ,del ,mar's man was beating and opened it4 ,look1 he cried pointing in an agitated way at ,del ,mar and ,elaine4 ,what shall we do8 ,del ,mar's man1 who had never seen ,jennings1 ran to his master and the little old man1 in his new disguise1 slipped quietly into the hall and out the front door1 where he had a taxicab waiting for him1 down the street4 ,a moment later ,i burst open the other library door and ,aunt ,josephine followed me in1 just as ,jennings himself and ,marie entered from the drawing-room4 ,it was only a moment before we had ,del ,mar1 who was most in need of care1 on the sofa and ,elaine1 already regaining consciousness1 lay back in a deep easy chair4 ,as ,del ,mar moved1 ,i turned again to ,elaine who was now nearly recovered4 ,how do you feel8 ,i asked anxiously4 ,her throat was parched by the asphyxiating fumes1 but she smiled brightly1 though weakly4 ,wh-where did ,i get that8 she managed to gasp finally1 catching sight of the rose in her hand4 ,did you put it there8 ,i shook my head and she gazed at the rose1 wondering4 ,whoever the little man was1 he was gone4 ,i longed for ,craig4 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,the ,,gray ,,friar ,so confident was ,elaine that ,kennedy was still alive that she would not admit to herself what to the rest of us seemed obvious4 ,she even refused to accept ,aunt ,josephine's hints and decided to give a masquerade ball which she had planned as the last event of the season before she closed the ,dodge town house and opened her country house on the shore of ,connecticut4 ,it was shortly after the strange appearance of the fussy old gentleman that ,i dropped in one afternoon to find ,elaine addressing invitations1 while ,aunt ,josephine helped her4 ,as we chatted1 ,i picked up one from the pile and mechanically contemplated the address3 ,m4 ,del ,mar1 ,hotel ,la ,coste1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,i don't like that fellow1 ,i remarked1 shaking my head dubiously4 ,oh1 you're--jealous1 ,walter1 laughed ,elaine1 taking the envelope away from me and piling it again with the others4 ,thus it was that in the morning's mail1 ,del ,mar1 along with the rest of us1 received a neatly engraved little invitation3 ,miss ,elaine ,dodge requests the pleasure of your presence at the masquerade ball to be given at her residence on ,friday evening ,june #ast4 ,good6 he exclaimed1 reaching for the telephone1 ,i'll go4 ,in a restaurant in the white light district two of those who had been engaged in the preliminary plot to steal ,kennedy's wireless torpedo model1 the young woman stenographer who had betrayed her trust and the man to whom she had passed the model out of the window in ,washington1 were seated at a table4 ,so secret had been the relations of all those in the plot that one group did not know the other and the strangest methods of communication had been adopted4 ,the man removed a cover from a dish4 ,underneath1 perhaps without even the waiter's knowledge1 was a note4 ,here are the orders at last1 he whispered to the girl1 unfolding and reading the note4 ,look4 ,the model of the torpedo is somewhere in her house4 ,go to-night to the ball as a masquerader and search for it4 ,oh1 splendid6 exclaimed the girl4 ,i'm crazy for a little society after this grind4 ,pay the check and let's get out and choose our costumes4 ,the man paid the check and they left hurriedly4 ,half an hour later they were at a costumer's shop choosing their disguises1 both careful to get the fullest masks that would not excite suspicion4 ,it was the night of the masquerade4 ,during the afternoon ,elaine had been thinking more than ever of ,kennedy4 ,it all seemed unreal to her4 ,more than once she stopped to look at his photograph4 ,several times she checked herself on the point of tears4 ,no1 she said to herself with a sort of grim determination4 ,no--he ,,is alive4 ,he will come back to me--he ,,will4 ,and yet she had a feeling of terrific loneliness which even her most powerful efforts could not throw off4 ,she was determined to go through with the ball1 now that she had started it1 but she was really glad when it came time to dress1 for even that took her mind from her brooding4 ,as ,marie finished helping her put on a very effective and conspicuous costume1 ,aunt ,josephine entered her dressing-room4 ,are you ready1 my dear8 she asked1 adjusting the mask which she carried so that no one would recognize her as ,martha ,washington4 ,in just a minute1 ,auntie1 answered ,elaine1 trying hard to put out of her mind how ,craig would have liked her dress4 ,somewhat earlier1 in my own apartment1 ,i had been arraying myself as ,boum-,boum and modestly admiring the imitation ,i made of a circus clown as ,i did a couple of comedy steps before the mirror4 ,but ,i was not really so light-hearted4 ,i could not help thinking of what this night might have been if ,kennedy had been alive4 ,indeed1 ,i was glad to take up my white mask1 throw a long coat over my outlandish costume and hurry off in my waiting car in order to forget everything that reminded me of him in the apartment4 ,already a continuous stream of guests was trickling in through the canopy from the curb to the ,dodge door1 carriages and automobiles arriving and leaving amid great gaping from the crowd on the sidewalk4 ,as ,i entered the ballroom it was really a brilliant and picturesque assemblage4 ,of course ,i recognized ,elaine in spite of her mask1 almost immediately4 ,characteristically1 she was talking to the one most striking figure on the floor1 a tall man in red--a veritable ,mephistopheles4 ,as the music started1 ,elaine and his ,satanic ,majesty laughingly fox-trotted off but were not lost to me in the throng4 ,i soon found myself talking to a young lady in a spotted domino4 ,she seemed to have a peculiar fascination for me1 yet she did not monopolize all my attention4 ,as we trotted past the door1 ,i could see down the hall4 ,jennings was still admitting late arrivals1 and ,i caught a glimpse of one costumed as a gray friar1 his cowl over his head and his eyes masked4 ,chatting1 we had circled about to the conservatory4 ,a number of couples were there and1 through the palms1 ,i saw ,elaine and ,mephisto laughingly make their way4 ,as my spotted domino partner and ,i swung around again1 ,i happened to catch another glimpse of the gray friar4 ,he was not dancing1 but walking1 or rather stalking1 about the edge of the room1 gazing about as if searching for some one4 ,in the conservatory1 ,elaine and ,mephisto had seated themselves in the breeze of an open window1 somewhat in the shadow4 ,you are ,miss ,dodge1 he said earnestly4 ,you knew me8 she laughed4 ,and you8 ,he raised his mask1 disclosing the handsome face and fascinating eyes of ,del ,mar4 ,i hope you don't think ,i'm here in character1 he laughed easily1 as she started a bit4 ,i--,i--well1 ,i didn't think it was you1 she blurted out4 ,ah--then there is some one else you care more to dance with8 ,no--no one--no4 ,i may hope1 then8 ,he had moved closer and almost touched her hand4 ,the pointed hood of the gray friar in the palms showed that at last he saw what he sought4 ,no--no4 ,please--excuse me1 she murmured rising and hurrying back to the ballroom4 ,a subtle smile spread over the gray friar's masked face4 ,of course ,i had known ,elaine4 ,whether she knew me at once ,i don't know or whether it was an accident1 but she approached me as ,i paused in the dance a moment with my domino girl4 ,from the--sublime--to the ridiculous1 she cried excitedly4 ,my partner gave her a sharp glance4 ,you will excuse me8 she said1 and1 as ,i bowed1 almost ran off to the conservatory1 leaving ,elaine to dance off with me4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,del ,mar1 quite surprised at the sudden flight of ,elaine from his side1 followed more slowly through the palms4 ,as he did so he passed a ,mexican attired in brilliant native costume4 ,at a sign from ,del ,mar he paused and received a small package which ,del ,mar slipped to him1 then passed on as though nothing had happened4 ,the keen eyes of the gray friar1 however1 had caught the little action and he quietly slipped out after the ,mexican bolero4 ,just then the domino girl hurried into the conservatory4 ,what's doing8 she asked eagerly4 ,keep close to me1 whispered ,del ,mar1 as she nodded and they left the conservatory1 not apparently together4 ,up-stairs1 away from the gayety of the ballroom1 the bolero made his way until he came to ,elaine's room1 dimly lighted4 ,with a quick glance about1 he entered cautiously1 closed the door1 and approached a closet which he opened4 ,there was a safe built into the wall4 ,as he stooped over1 the man unwrapped the package ,del ,mar had handed him and took out a curious little instrument4 ,inside was a dry battery and a most peculiar instrument1 something like a little flat telephone transmitter1 yet attached by wires to ear-pieces that fitted over the head after the manner of those of a wireless detector4 ,he adjusted the head-piece and held the flat instrument against the safe1 close to the combination which he began to turn slowly4 ,it was a burglar's microphone1 used for picking combination locks4 ,as the combination turned1 a slight sound was made when the proper number came opposite the working point4 ,imperceptible ordinarily to even the most sensitive ear1 to an ear trained it was comparatively easy to recognize the fall of the tumblers over this microphone4 ,as he worked1 the door behind him opened softly and the gray friar entered1 closing it and moving noiselessly over back of the shelter of a big mahogany high-boy1 around which he could watch4 ,at last the safe was opened4 ,rapidly the man went through its contents4 ,confound it6 he muttered4 ,she didn't put it here--anyhow4 ,the bolero started to close the safe when he heard a noise in the room and looked cautiously back of him4 ,del ,mar himself1 followed by the domino girl1 entered4 ,i've opened it1 whispered the emissary stepping out of the closet and meeting them1 but ,i can't find the-- ,hands up--all of you6 ,they turned in time to see the gray friar's gun yawning at them4 ,most politely he lined them up4 ,still holding his gun ready1 he lifted up the mask of the domino girl4 ,so--it's you1 he grunted4 ,he was about to lift the mask of the ,mexican1 when the bolero leaped at him4 ,del ,mar piled in4 ,but sounds down-stairs alarmed them and the emissary1 released1 fled quickly with the girl4 ,the gray friar1 however1 kept his hold on ,mephistopheles1 as if he had been wrestling with a veritable devil4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,down in the hall1 ,i had again met my domino girl1 a few minutes after ,i had resigned ,elaine to another of her numerous admirers4 ,i thought you deserted me1 ,i said1 somewhat piqued4 ,you deserted me1 she parried1 nervously4 ,however1 ,i'll forgive you if you'll get me an ice4 ,i hastened to do so4 ,but no sooner had ,i gone than ,del ,mar stalked through the hall and went up-stairs4 ,my domino girl was watching for him1 and followed4 ,when ,i returned with the ice1 ,i looked about1 but she was gone4 ,it was scarcely a moment later1 however1 that ,i saw her hurry down-stairs1 accompanied by the ,mexican bolero4 ,i stepped forward to speak to her1 but she almost ran past me without a word4 ,a nut1 ,i remarked under my breath1 pushing back my mask4 ,i started to eat the ice myself1 when1 a moment later1 ,elaine passed through the hall with a ,spanish cavalier4 ,oh1 ,walter1 here you are1 she laughed4 ,i've been looking all over for you4 ,thank you very much1 sire1 she bowed with mock civility to the cavalier4 ,it was only one dance1 you know4 ,please let me talk to ,boum-,boum4 ,the cavalier bowed reluctantly and left us4 ,what are you doing here alone8 she asked1 taking off her own mask4 ,how warm it is4 ,before ,i could reply1 ,i heard some one coming down-stairs back of me1 but not in time to turn4 ,elaine's dressing-table1 a voice whispered in my ear4 ,i turned suddenly4 ,it was the gray friar4 ,before ,i could even reach out to grasp his robe1 he was gone4 ,another nut6 ,i exclaimed involuntarily4 ,why1 what did he say8 asked ,elaine4 ,something about your dressing-table4 ,my dressing-table8 she repeated4 ,we ran quickly up the steps4 ,elaine's room showed every evidence of having been the scene of a struggle1 as she went over to the table4 ,there she picked up a rose and under it a piece of paper on which were some words printed with pencil roughly4 ,look1 she cried1 as ,i read with her3 ,do honest assistants search safes8 ,let no one see this but ,jameson4 ,what does it mean8 ,i asked4 ,my safe6 she cried moving to a closet4 ,as she opened the door1 imagine our surprise at seeing ,del ,mar lying on the floor1 bound and gagged before the open safe4 ,get my scissors on the dresser1 cried ,elaine4 ,i did so1 hastily cutting the cords that bound ,del ,mar4 ,what does it all mean8 asked ,elaine as he rose and stretched himself4 ,still clutching his throat1 as if it hurt1 ,del ,mar choked1 ,i found a man1 a foreign agent1 searching the safe4 ,but he overcame me and escaped4 ,oh--then that is what the-- ,elaine checked herself4 ,she had been about to hand the note to ,del ,mar when an idea seemed to come to her4 ,instead1 she crumpled it up and thrust it into her bosom4 ,on the street the bolero and the domino girl were hurrying away as fast as they could4 ,meanwhile1 the gray friar had overcome ,del ,mar1 had bound and gagged him1 and trust him into the closet4 ,then he wrote the note and laid it1 with a rose from a vase1 on ,elaine's dressing-table before he1 too1 followed4 ,more than ever ,i was at a loss to make it out4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was the day after the masquerade ball that a taxicab drove up to the ,dodge house and a very trim but not over-dressed young lady was announced as ,miss ,bertholdi4 ,miss ,dodge8 she inquired as ,jennings held open the portieres and she entered the library where ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine were4 ,if ,elaine had only known1 it was the domino girl of the night before who handed her a note and sat down1 looking about so demurely1 while ,elaine read3 ,,my ,,dear ,,miss ,,dodge1 ,the bearer1 ,miss ,bertholdi1 is an operative of mine4 ,i would appreciate it if you would employ her in some capacity in your house1 as ,i have reason to believe that certain foreign agents will soon make another attempt to find ,kennedy's lost torpedo model4 ,sincerely1 ,m4 ,,del ,,mar4 ,elaine looked up from reading the note4 ,miss ,bertholdi was good to look at1 and ,elaine liked pretty girls about her4 ,jennings1 she ordered1 call ,marie4 ,to the butler and her maid1 ,elaine gave the most careful instructions regarding ,miss ,bertholdi4 ,she can help you finish the packing1 first1 she concluded4 ,the girl thanked her and went out with ,jennings and ,marie1 asking ,jennings to pay her taxicab driver with money she gave him1 which he did1 bringing her grip into the house4 ,later in the day1 ,elaine had both ,marie and ,bertholdi carrying armsful of her dresses from the closets in her room up to the attic where the last of her trunks were being packed4 ,on one of the many trips1 ,bertholdi came alone into the attic1 her arms full as usual4 ,before her were two trunks1 very much alike1 open and nearly packed4 ,she laid her armful of clothes on a chair near-by and pulled one of the trunks forward4 ,on the floor lay the trays of both trunks already packed4 ,bertholdi began packing her burden in one trunk which was marked in big white letters1 ,e4 ,dodge4 ,down in ,elaine's room at the time ,jennings entered4 ,the expressman for the trunks is here1 ,miss ,elaine1 he announced4 ,is he8 ,i wonder whether they are all ready1 ,elaine replied hurrying out of the room4 ,tell him to wait4 ,in the attic1 ,bertholdi was still at work1 keeping her eyes open to execute the mission on which ,del ,mar had sent her4 ,rusty1 forgotten in the excitement by ,jennings1 had roamed at will through the house and seemed quite interested4 ,for this was the trunk behind which he had his cache of treasures4 ,as ,bertholdi started to move behind the trunk1 ,rusty could stand it no longer4 ,he darted ahead of her into his hiding-place4 ,among the dog biscuit and bones was the torpedo model which he had dug up from the palm pot in the conservatory4 ,he seized it in his mouth and turned to carry it off4 ,there1 in his path1 was his enemy1 the new girl4 ,quick as a flash1 she saw what it was ,rusty had1 and grabbed at it4 ,get out6 she ordered1 looking at her prize in triumph and turning it over and over in her hands4 ,at that moment she heard ,elaine on the stairs4 ,what should she do8 ,she must hide it4 ,she looked about4 ,there was the tray1 packed and lying on the floor near the trunk marked1 ,e4 ,dodge4 ,she thrust it hastily into the tray pulling a garment over it4 ,nearly through8 panted ,elaine4 ,yes1 ,miss ,dodge4 ,then please tell the expressman to come up4 ,bertholdi hesitated1 chagrined4 ,yet there was nothing to do but obey4 ,she looked at the trunk by the tray to fix it in her mind1 then went down-stairs4 ,as she left the room1 ,elaine lifted the tray into the trunk and tried to close the lid4 ,but the tray was too high4 ,she looked puzzled4 ,on the floor was another tray almost identical4 ,the wrong trunk1 she smiled to herself1 lifting the tray out and putting the other one in1 while she placed the first tray with the torpedo concealed in the other1 unmarked1 trunk where it belonged4 ,then she closed the first trunk4 ,a moment later the expressman entered1 with ,bertholdi4 ,you may take that one1 indicated ,elaine4 ,miss ,dodge1 here's something else to go in1 said ,bertholdi in desperation1 picking up a dress4 ,never mind4 ,put it in the other trunk4 ,bertholdi was baffled1 but she managed to control herself4 ,she must get word to ,del ,mar about that trunk marked ,e4 ,dodge4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,late that afternoon1 before a cheap restaurant might have been seen our old friend who had posed as ,bailey and as the ,mexican4 ,he entered the restaurant and made his way to the first of a row of booths on one side4 ,hello1 he nodded to a girl in the booth4 ,bertholdi nodded back and he took his seat4 ,she had begged an hour or two off on some pretext4 ,outside the restaurant1 a heavily-bearded man had been standing looking intently at nothing in particular when ,bertholdi entered4 ,as ,bailey came along1 he followed and took the next booth1 his hat pulled over his eyes4 ,in a moment he was listening1 his ear close up to the partition4 ,well1 what luck8 asked ,bailey4 ,did you get a clue8 ,i had the torpedo model in my hands1 she replied1 excitedly telling the story4 ,it is in a trunk marked ',e4 ,dodge4' ,all this and more the bearded stranger drank in eagerly4 ,a moment later ,bailey and ,bertholdi left the booth and went out of the restaurant followed cautiously by the stranger4 ,on the street the two emissaries of ,del ,mar stopped a moment to talk4 ,all right1 ,i'll telephone him1 she said as they parted in opposite directions4 ,the stranger took an instant to make up his mind1 then followed the girl4 ,she continued down the street until she came to a store with telephone booths4 ,the bearded stranger followed still1 into the next booth but did not call a number4 ,he had his ear to the wall4 ,he could hear her call ,del ,mar1 and although he could not hear ,del ,mar's answers1 she repeated enough for him to catch the drift4 ,finally1 she came out1 and the stranger1 instead of following her further1 took the other direction hurriedly4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,del ,mar himself received the news with keen excitement4 ,quickly he gave instructions and prepared to leave his rooms4 ,a short time later his car pulled up before the ,la ,coste and1 in a long duster and cap1 ,del ,mar jumped in1 and was off4 ,scarcely had his car swung up the avenue when1 from an alleyway down the street from the hotel1 the chug-chug of a motor-cycle sounded4 ,a bearded man1 his face further hidden by a pair of goggles1 ran out with his machine1 climbed on and followed4 ,on out into the country ,del ,mar's car sped4 ,at every turn the motor-cycle dropped back a bit1 observed the turn1 then crept up and took it1 too4 ,so they went for some time4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,on the level of the ,grand ,central where the trains left for the ,connecticut shore where ,elaine's summer home was located1 ,bailey was now edging his way through the late crowd down the platform4 ,he paused before the baggage-car just as one of the baggage motor trucks rolled up loaded high with trunks and bags4 ,he stepped back as the men loaded the luggage on the car1 watching carefully4 ,as they tossed on one trunk marked ,e4 ,dodge1 he turned with a subtle look and walked away4 ,finally he squirmed around to the other platform4 ,no one was looking and he mounted the rear of the baggage-car and opened the door4 ,there was the baggageman sitting by the side door1 his back to ,bailey4 ,bailey closed the door softly and squeezed behind a pile of trunks and bags4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,finally ,del ,mar reached a spot on the railroad where there were both a curve and a grade ahead4 ,he stopped his car and got out4 ,down the road the bearded and goggled motorcyclist stopped just in time to avoid observation4 ,to make sure1 he drew a pocket field-glass and leveled it ahead4 ,wait here1 ordered ,del ,mar4 ,i'll call when ,i want you4 ,back on the road the bearded cyclist could see ,del ,mar move down the track though he could not hear the directions4 ,it was not necessary1 however4 ,he dragged his machine into the bushes1 hid it1 and hurried down the road on foot4 ,del ,mar's chauffeur was waiting idly at the wheel when suddenly the cold nose of a revolver was stuck under his chin4 ,not a word--and hands up--or ,i'll let the moonlight through you1 growled out a harsh voice4 ,nevertheless1 the chauffeur managed to lurch out of the car and the bearded stranger1 whose revolver it was1 found that he would have to shoot4 ,del ,mar was not far enough away to risk it4 ,the chauffeur flung himself on him and they struggled fiercely1 rolling over and over in the dust of the road4 ,but the bearded stranger had a grip of steel and managed to get his fingers about the chauffeur's throat as an added insurance against a cry for help4 ,he choked him literally into insensibility4 ,then1 with a strength that he did not seem to possess1 he picked up the limp1 blue-faced body and carried it off the road and around the car4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in the baggage-car1 the baggageman was smoking a surreptitious pipe of powerful tobacco between stations and contemplating the scenery thoughtfully through the open door4 ,as the engine slowed up to take a curve and a grade1 ,bailey who had now and then taken a peep out of a little grated window above him1 crept out from his hiding-place4 ,already he had slipped a dark silk mask over his face4 ,as he made his way among the trunks and boxes1 the train lurched and the baggageman who had his back to ,bailey heard him catch himself4 ,he turned and leaped to his feet4 ,bailey closed with him instantly4 ,over and over they rolled4 ,bailey had already drawn his revolver before he left his hiding-place4 ,a shot1 however1 would have been fatal to his part in the plans and was only a last resort for it would have brought the trainmen4 ,finally ,bailey rolled his man over and getting his right arm free1 dealt the baggageman a fierce blow with the butt of the gun4 ,the train was now pulling slowly up the grade4 ,more time had been spent in overcoming the baggageman than he expected and ,bailey had to work quickly4 ,he dragged the trunk marked ,e4 ,dodge from the pile to the door and glanced out4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,just around the curve in the railroad1 ,del ,mar was waiting1 straining his eyes down the track4 ,there was the train1 puffing up the grade4 ,as it approached he rose and waved his arms4 ,it was the signal and he waited anxiously4 ,had his plans been carried out8 ,the train passed4 ,from the baggage-car came a trunk catapulted out by a strong arm4 ,it hurtled through the air and landed with its own and the train's momentum4 ,over it rolled in the bushes1 then stopped--unbroken1 for ,elaine had had it designed to resist even the most violent baggage-smasher4 ,del ,mar ran to it4 ,as the tail light of the train disappeared he turned around in the direction from which he had come1 placed his two hands to his mouth and shouted4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,from the side of the road by ,del ,mar's car the bearded motor-cyclist had just emerged1 buttoning the chauffeur's clothes and adjusting his goggles to his own face4 ,as he approached the car1 he heard a shout4 ,quickly he tore off the black beard which had been his disguise and tossed it into the grass4 ,then he drew the coat high up about his neck4 ,all right6 he shouted back1 starting along the road4 ,together he and ,del ,mar managed to scramble up the embankment to the road and1 one at each handle of the trunk1 they carried it back to the car1 piling it in the back4 ,the improvised chauffeur started to take his place at the wheel and ,del ,mar had his foot on the running-board to get beside him1 when the now unbearded stranger suddenly swung about and struck ,del ,mar full in the face4 ,it sent him reeling back into the dust4 ,the engine of the car had been running and before ,del ,mar could recover consciousness1 the stranger had shot the car ahead1 leaving ,del ,mar prone in the roadway4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,the train1 with ,bailey on it1 had not gained much speed1 yet it was a perilous undertaking to leap4 ,still1 it was more so now to remain4 ,the baggageman stirred4 ,it was now a case of murder or a getaway4 ,bailey jumped4 ,scratched and bruised and shaken1 he scrambled to his feet in the briars along the track4 ,he staggered up to the road1 pulled himself together1 then hurried back as fast as his barked shins would let him4 ,he came to the spot which he recognized as that where he had thrown off the trunk4 ,he saw the trampled and broken bushes and made for the road4 ,he had not gone far when he saw1 far down1 ,del ,mar suddenly attacked and thrown down1 apparently by his own chauffeur4 ,bailey ran forward1 but it was too late4 ,the car was gone4 ,as he came up to ,del ,mar lying outstretched in the road1 ,del ,mar was just recovering consciousness4 ,what was the matter8 he asked4 ,was he a traitor8 ,he caught sight of the real chauffeur on the ground1 stripped4 ,del ,mar was furious4 ,no1 he swore1 it was that confounded gray friar again1 ,i think4 ,and he has the trunk1 too6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,speeding up the road the former masquerader and motor-cyclist stopped at last4 ,eagerly he leaped out of ,del ,mar's car and dragged the trunk over the side regardless of the enamel4 ,it was the work of only a moment for him to break the lock with a pocket jimmy4 ,one after another he pulled out and shook the clothes until frocks and gowns and lingerie lay strewn all about4 ,but there was not a thing in the trunk that even remotely resembled the torpedo model4 ,the stranger scowled4 ,where was it8 ,,chapter ,,viii ,,the ,,vanishing ,,man ,del ,mar had evidently1 by this time1 come to the conclusion that ,elaine was the storm centre of the peculiar train of events that followed the disappearance of ,kennedy and his wireless torpedo4 ,at any rate1 as soon as he learned that ,elaine was going to her country home for the summer1 he took a bungalow some distance from ,dodge ,hall4 ,in fact1 it was more than a bungalow1 for it was a pretentious place surrounded by a wide lawn and beautiful shade trees4 ,there1 on the day that ,elaine decided to motor in from the city1 ,del ,mar arrived with his valet4 ,evidently he lost no time in getting to work on his own affairs1 whatever they might be4 ,inside his study1 which was the largest room in the house1 a combination of both library and laboratory1 he gave an order or two to his valet1 then immediately sat down to his new desk4 ,he opened a drawer and took out a long hollow cylinder1 closed at each end by air-tight caps1 on one of which was a hook4 ,quickly he wrote a note and read it over3 ,install submarine bell in place of these clumsy tubes4 ,am having harbor and bridges mined as per instructions from ,government4 ,d4 ,he unscrewed the cap at one end of the tube1 inserted the note and closed it4 ,then he pushed a button on his desk4 ,a panel in the wall opened and one of the men who had played policeman once for him stepped out and saluted4 ,here's a message to send below1 said ,del ,mar briefly4 ,the man bowed and went back through the panel1 closing it4 ,del ,mar cleaned up his desk and then went out to look his new quarters over1 to see whether everything had been prepared according to his instructions4 ,from the concealed entrance to a cave on a hillside1 ,del ,mar's man who had gone through the panel in the bungalow appeared a few minutes later and hurried down to the shore4 ,it was a rocky coast with stretches of cliffs and now and then a ravine and bit of sandy beach4 ,gingerly he climbed down the rocks to the water4 ,he took from his pocket the metal tube which ,del ,mar had given him and to the hook on one end attached a weight of lead4 ,a moment he looked about cautiously4 ,then he threw the tube into the water and it sank quickly4 ,he did not wait1 but hurried back into the cave entrance4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine1 ,aunt ,josephine and ,i motored down to ,dodge ,hall from the city4 ,elaine's country house was on a fine estate near the ,long ,island ,sound and after the long run we were glad to pull up before the big house and get out of the car4 ,as we approached the door1 ,i happened to look down the road4 ,well1 that's the country1 all right1 ,i exclaimed1 pointing down the road4 ,look4 ,lumbering along was a huge heavy hay rack on top of which perched a farmer chewing a straw4 ,following along after him was a dog of a peculiar shepherd breed which ,i did not recognize4 ,atop of the hay the old fellow had piled a trunk and a basket4 ,to our surprise the hay rack stopped before the house4 ,miss ,dodge8 drawled the farmer nasally4 ,why1 what do you suppose he can want8 asked ,elaine moving out toward the wagon while we followed4 ,yes8 ,here's a trunk1 ,miss ,dodge1 with your name on it1 he went on dragging it down4 ,i found it down by the railroad track4 ,it was the trunk marked ,e4 ,dodge which had been thrown off the train1 taken by ,del ,mar and rifled by the motor-cyclist4 ,how do you suppose it ever got here8 cried ,elaine in wonder4 ,must have fallen off the train1 ,i suggested4 ,you might have collected the insurance under this new baggage law6 ,jennings1 called ,elaine4 ,get ,patrick and carry the trunk in4 ,together the butler and the gardener dragged it off4 ,thank you1 said ,elaine1 endeavoring to pay the farmer4 ,no1 no1 ,miss1 he demurred as he clucked to his horses4 ,we waved to the old fellow4 ,as he started to drive away1 he reached down into the basket and drew out some yellow harvest apples4 ,one at a time he tossed them to us as he lumbered off4 ,truly rural1 remarked a voice behind us4 ,it was ,del ,mar1 all togged up and carrying a magazine in his hand4 ,we chatted a moment1 then ,elaine started to go into the house with ,aunt ,josephine4 ,with ,del ,mar ,i followed4 ,as she went ,elaine took a bite of the apple4 ,to her surprise it separated neatly into two hollow halves4 ,she looked inside4 ,there was a note4 ,carefully she unfolded it and read4 ,like the others1 it was not written but printed in pencil3 ,be careful to unpack all your trunks yourself4 ,destroy this note4--,a ,,friend4 ,what did these mysterious warnings mean1 she asked herself in amazement4 ,somehow so far they had worked out all right4 ,she tore up the note and threw the pieces away4 ,del ,mar and ,i stopped for a moment to talk4 ,i did not notice that he was not listening to me1 but was surreptitiously watching ,elaine4 ,elaine went into the house and we followed4 ,del ,mar1 however1 dropped just a bit behind and1 as he came to the place where ,elaine had thrown the pieces of paper1 dropped his magazine4 ,he stooped to pick it up and gathered the pieces1 then rejoined us4 ,i hope you'll excuse me1 said ,elaine brightly4 ,we've just arrived and ,i haven't a thing unpacked4 ,del ,mar bowed and ,elaine left us4 ,aunt ,josephine followed shortly4 ,del ,mar and ,i sat down at a table4 ,as he talked he placed the magazine in his lap beneath the table1 on his knees4 ,i could not see1 but he was in reality secretly putting together the torn note which the farmer had thrown to ,elaine4 ,finally he managed to fit all the pieces4 ,a glance down was enough4 ,but his face betrayed nothing4 ,still under the table1 he swept the pieces into his pocket and rose4 ,i'll drop in when you are more settled1 he excused himself1 strolling leisurely out again4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,up in the bedroom ,elaine's maid1 ,marie1 had been unpacking4 ,well1 what do you know about that8 she exclaimed as ,jennings and ,patrick came dragging in the banged-up trunk4 ,very queer1 remarked ,jennings1 detailing the little he had seen1 while ,patrick left4 ,the entrance of ,elaine put an end to the interesting gossip and ,marie started to open the trunk4 ,no1 ,marie1 said ,elaine4 ,i'll unpack them my self4 ,you can put the things away later4 ,you and ,jennings may go4 ,quickly she took the things out of the battered trunk4 ,then she started on the other trunk which was like it but not marked4 ,she threw out a couple of garments1 then paused1 startled4 ,there was the lost torpedo--where ,bertholdi had stuck it in her haste6 ,elaine picked it up and looked at it in wonder as it recalled all those last days before ,kennedy was lost4 ,for the moment she did not know quite what to make of it4 ,what should she do8 ,finally she decided to lock it up in the bureau drawer and tell me4 ,not only did she lock the drawer but1 as she left her room1 she took the key of the door from the lock inside and locked it outside4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,del ,mar did not go far from the house1 however4 ,he scarcely reached the edge of the grounds where he was sure he was not observed when he placed his fingers to his lips and whistled4 ,an instant later two of his men appeared from behind a hedge4 ,you must get into her room1 he ordered4 ,that torpedo is in her luggage somewhere1 after all4 ,they bowed and disappeared again into the shrubbery while ,del ,mar turned and retraced his steps to the house4 ,in the rear of the house the two emissaries of ,del ,mar stole out of the shelter of some bushes and stood for a moment looking4 ,elaine's windows were high above them1 too high to reach4 ,there seemed to be no way to get to them and there was no ladder in sight4 ,we'll have to use the ,dutch house-man's method1 decided one4 ,together they went around the house toward the laundry4 ,it was only a few minutes later that they returned4 ,no one was about4 ,quickly one of them took off his coat4 ,around his waist he had wound a coil of rope4 ,deftly he began to climb a tree whose upper branches fell over the roof4 ,cat-like he made his way out along a branch and managed to reach the roof4 ,he made his way along the ridge pole to a chimney which was directly back of and in line with ,elaine's windows4 ,then he uncoiled the rope and made one end fast to the chimney4 ,letting the other end fall free down the roof1 he carefully lowered himself over the edge4 ,thus it was not difficult to get into ,elaine's room by stepping on the window-sill and going through the open window4 ,the man began a rapid search of the room1 turning up and pawing everything that ,elaine had unpacked4 ,then he began on the little writing-desk1 the dresser and the bureau drawers4 ,a subtle smile flashed over his face as he came to one drawer that was locked4 ,he pulled a sectional jimmy from his coat and forced it open4 ,there lay the precious torpedo4 ,the man clutched at it with a look of exultation4 ,without another glance at the room he rushed to the window1 seized the rope and pulled himself to the roof1 going as he had come4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it did not take me long to unpack the few things ,i had brought and ,i was soon back again in the living-room1 where ,aunt ,josephine joined me in a few minutes4 ,just as ,elaine came hurriedly down the stairway and started toward me1 ,del ,mar entered from the porch4 ,she stopped4 ,del ,mar watched her closely4 ,had she found anything8 ,he was sure of it4 ,her hesitation was only for a moment1 however4 ,walter1 she said1 may ,i speak to you a moment8 ,excuse us1 please8 ,aunt ,josephine went out toward the back of the house to see how the servants were getting on1 while ,i followed ,elaine up-stairs4 ,del ,mar with a bow seated himself and opened his magazine4 ,no sooner had we gone1 however1 than he laid it down and cautiously followed us4 ,elaine was evidently very much excited as she entered her dainty little room and closed the door4 ,walter1 she cried1 ,i've found the torpedo6 ,we looked about at the general disorder4 ,why1 she exclaimed nervously1 some one has been here--and ,i locked the door1 too4 ,she almost ran over to her bureau drawer4 ,it had been jimmied open in the few minutes while she was down-stairs4 ,the torpedo was gone4 ,we looked at each other1 aghast4 ,behind us1 however1 we did not see the keen and watchful eyes of ,del ,mar1 opening the door and peering in4 ,as he saw us1 he closed the door softly1 went down-stairs and out of the house4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,perhaps half a mile down the road1 the farmer abandoned his hay rack and now1 followed by his peculiar dog1 walked back4 ,he stopped at a point in the road where he could see the ,dodge house in the distance1 sat on the rail fence and lighted a blackened corn-cob pipe4 ,there he sat for some time apparently engrossed in his own thoughts about the weather1 the dog lying at his feet4 ,now and then he looked fixedly toward ,dodge ,hall4 ,suddenly his vagrant attention seemed to be riveted on the house4 ,he drew a field-glass from his pocket and levelled it4 ,sure enough1 there was a man coming out of a window1 pulling himself up to the roof by a rope and going across the roof tree4 ,he lowered the glasses quickly and climbed off the fence with a hitherto unwonted energy4 ,come1 ,searchlight1 he called to the dog1 as together they moved off quickly in the direction he had been looking4 ,del ,mar's men were coming through the hedge that surrounded the ,dodge estate just as the farmer and his dog stepped out in front of them from behind a thicket4 ,just a minute1 he called4 ,i want to speak to you4 ,he enforced his words with a vicious looking gun4 ,it was two to one and they closed with him4 ,before he could shoot1 they had knocked the gun out of his hand4 ,then they tried to break away and run4 ,but the farmer seized one of them and held him4 ,meanwhile the dog developed traits all his own4 ,he ran in and out between the legs of the other man until he threw him4 ,there he stood1 over him4 ,the man attempted to rise4 ,again the dog threw him and kept him down4 ,he was a trained ,belgian sheep hound1 a splendid police dog4 ,confound the brute1 growled the man1 reaching for his gun4 ,as he drew it1 the dog seized his wrist and with a cry the man dropped the gun4 ,that1 too1 was part of the dog's training4 ,while the farmer and the other man struggled on the ground1 the torpedo worked its way half from the man's pocket4 ,the farmer seized it4 ,the man fell back1 limp1 and the farmer1 with the torpedo in one hand1 grasped at the gun on the ground and straightened up4 ,he had no sooner risen than the man was at him again4 ,his unconsciousness had been merely feigned4 ,the struggle was renewed4 ,at that point1 the hedge down the road parted and ,del ,mar stepped out4 ,a glance was enough to tell him what was going on4 ,he drew his gun and ran swiftly toward the combatants4 ,as ,del ,mar approached1 his man succeeded in knocking the torpedo from the farmer's hand4 ,there it lay1 several feet away4 ,there seemed to be no chance for either man to get it4 ,quickly the farmer bent his wrist1 aiming the gun deliberately at the precious torpedo4 ,as fast as he could he pulled the trigger4 ,five of the six shots penetrated the little model4 ,so surprised was his antagonist that the farmer was able to knock him out with the butt of his gun4 ,he broke away and fled1 whistling on a police whistle for the dog just as ,del ,mar ran up4 ,a couple of shots from ,del ,mar flew wild as the farmer and his dog disappeared4 ,del ,mar stopped and picked up the model4 ,it had been shot into an unrecognizable mass of scrap4 ,in a fury1 ,del ,mar dashed it on the ground1 cursing his men as he did so4 ,the strange disappearance of the torpedo model from ,elaine's room worried both of us4 ,doubtless if ,kennedy had been there he would have known just what to do4 ,but we could not decide4 ,really1 considered ,elaine1 ,i think we had better take ,mr4 ,del ,mar into our confidence4 ,still1 we've had a great many warnings1 ,i objected4 ,i know that1 she persisted1 but they have all come from very unreliable sources4 ,very well1 ,i agreed finally1 then let's drive over to his bungalow4 ,elaine ordered her little runabout and a few moments later we climbed into it and ,elaine shot the car away4 ,as we rode along1 the country seemed so quiet that no one would ever have suspected that foreign agents lurked all about4 ,but it was just under such a cover that the nefarious bridge and harbor-mining work ordered by ,del ,mar's superiors was going ahead quietly4 ,as our car climbed a hill on the other side of which1 in the valley1 was a bridge1 we could not see one of ,del ,mar's men in hiding at the top4 ,he saw us1 however1 and immediately wigwagged with his handkerchief to several others down at the bridge where they were attaching a pair of wires to the planking4 ,some one coming1 muttered one who was evidently a lookout4 ,the men stopped work immediately and hid in the brush4 ,our car passed over the bridge and we saw nothing wrong4 ,but no sooner had we gone than the men crept out and resumed work which had progressed to the point where they were ready to carry the wires of an electric connection through the grass1 concealing them as they went4 ,in the study of his bungalow1 all this time1 ,del ,mar was striding angrily up and down1 while his men waited in silence4 ,finally he paused and turned to one of them4 ,see that the coast is clear and kept clear1 he ordered4 ,i want to go down4 ,the man saluted and went out through the panel4 ,a moment later ,del ,mar gave some orders to the other man who also saluted and left the house by the front door1 just as our car pulled up4 ,del ,mar1 the moment the man was gone1 put on his hat and moved toward the panel in the wall4 ,he was about to enter when he heard some one coming down the hall to the study and stepped back1 closing the panel4 ,it was the butler announcing us4 ,we had entered ,del ,mar's bungalow and now were conducted to his library4 ,there ,elaine told him the whole story1 much to his apparent surprise1 for ,del ,mar was a wonderful actor4 ,you see1 he said as she finished telling of the finding and the losing of the torpedo1 just what ,i had feared would happen has happened4 ,doubtless the foreign agents have the deadly weapon1 now4 ,however1 ,i'll not quit4 ,perhaps we may run them down yet4 ,he reassured us and we thanked him as we said good-bye4 ,outside1 ,elaine and ,i got into the car again and a moment later spun off1 making a little detour first through the country before hitting the shore road back again to ,dodge ,hall4 ,on the rocky shore of the promontory1 several men were engaged in sinking a peculiar heavy disk which they submerged about ten or twelve feet4 ,it seemed to be held by a cable and to it wires were attached1 apparently so that when a key was pressed a circuit was closed4 ,it was an oscillator1 a new system for the employment of sound for submarine signalling1 using water instead of air as a medium to transmit sound waves4 ,it was composed of a ring magnet1 a copper tube lying in an air-gap in a magnetic field and a stationary central armature4 ,the tube was attached to a steel diaphragm4 ,really it was a submarine bell which could be used for telegraphing or telephoning both ways through water4 ,the men finished executing the directions of ,del ,mar and left1 carefully concealing the land connections and key of the bell1 while we were still at ,del ,mar's4 ,we had no sooner left1 however1 than one of the men who had been engaged in installing the submarine bell entered the library4 ,well8 demanded ,del ,mar4 ,the bell is installed1 sir1 he said4 ,it will be working soon4 ,good1 nodded ,del ,mar4 ,he went to a drawer and from it took a peculiar looking helmet to which was attached a sort of harness fitting over the shoulders and carrying a tank of oxygen4 ,the head-piece was a most weird contrivance1 with what looked like a huge glass eye in front4 ,it was in reality a submarine life-saving apparatus4 ,del ,mar put it on1 all except the helmet which he carried with him1 and then1 with his assistant1 went out through the panel in the wall4 ,through the underground passage the two groped their way1 lighted by an electric torch1 until at last they came to the entrance hidden in the underbrush1 near the shore4 ,del ,mar went over to the concealed station from which the submarine bell was sounded and pressed the key as a signal4 ,then he adjusted the submarine helmet to his head and deliberately waded out into the water1 further and further1 up to his head1 then deeper still4 ,as he disappeared into the water1 his emissary turned and went back toward the shore road4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,the ride around through the country and back to the shore1 road from ,del ,mar's was pleasant4 ,in fact it was always pleasant to be with ,elaine1 especially in a car4 ,we were spinning along at a fast clip when we came to a rocky part of the coast4 ,as we made a turn a sharp breeze took off my hat and whirled it far off the road and among the rocks of the shore4 ,elaine shut down the engine1 with a laugh at me1 and we left the car by the road while we climbed down the rocks after the hat4 ,it had been carried into the water1 close to shore and1 still laughing1 we clambered over the rocks4 ,elaine insisted on getting it herself and in fact did get it4 ,she was just about to hand it to me1 when something bobbed up in the water just in front of us4 ,she reached for it and fished it out4 ,it was a cylinder with air-tight caps on both ends1 in one of which was a hook4 ,what do you suppose it is8 she asked1 looking it over as we made our way up the rocks again to the car4 ,where did it come from8 ,we did not see a man standing by our car1 but he saw us4 ,it was ,del ,mar's man who had paused on his way to watch us4 ,as we approached he hid on the other side of the road4 ,by this time we had reached the car and opened the cylinder4 ,inside was a note which read3 ,chief arrived safely4 ,keep watch4 ,what does it mean8 repeated ,elaine1 mystified4 ,neither of us could guess and ,i doubt whether we would have understood any better if we had seen a sinister face peering at us from behind a rock near-by1 although doubtless the man knew what was in the tube and what it meant4 ,we climbed into the car and started again4 ,as we disappeared1 the man came from behind the rocks and ran quickly up to the top of the hill4 ,there1 from the bushes1 he pulled out a peculiar instrument composed of a strange series of lenses and mirrors set up on a tripod4 ,eagerly he placed the tripod1 adjusting the lenses and mirrors in the sunlight4 ,then he began working them1 and it was apparent that he was flashing light beams1 using a ,morse code4 ,it was a heliograph4 ,down the shore on the top of the next hill sat the man who had already given the signal with the handkerchief to those in the valley who were working on the mining of the bridge4 ,as he sat there1 his eye caught the flash of the heliograph signal4 ,he sprang up and watched intently4 ,rapidly he jotted down the message that was being flashed in the sunlight3 ,dodge girl has message from below4 ,coming in car4 ,blow first bridge she crosses4 ,down the valley the lookout made his way as fast as he could4 ,as he approached the two men who had been mining the bridge1 he whistled sharply4 ,they answered and hurried to meet him4 ,just got a heliograph1 he panted4 ,the ,dodge girl must have picked up one of the messages that came from below4 ,she's coming over the hill now in a car4 ,we've got to blow up the bridge as she crosses4 ,the men were hurrying now toward the bridge which they had mined4 ,not a moment was to be lost1 for already they could see us coming over the crest of the hill4 ,in a few seconds they reached the hidden plunger firing-box which had been arranged to explode the charge under the bridge4 ,there they crouched in the brush ready to press the plunger the moment our car touched the planking4 ,one of the men crept out a little nearer the road4 ,they're coming6 he called back1 dropping down again4 ,get ready6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,del ,mar's emissaries had not reckoned1 however1 that any one else might be about to whom the heliograph was an open book4 ,but1 further over on the hill1 hiding among the trees1 the old farmer and his dog were sitting quietly4 ,the old man was sweeping the ,sound with his glasses1 as if he expected to see something any moment4 ,to his surprise1 however1 he caught a flash of the heliograph from the land4 ,quickly he turned and jotted down the signals4 ,as he did so1 he seemed greatly excited1 for the message read3 ,dodge girl has message from below4 ,coming in car4 ,blow first bridge she crosses4 ,quickly he turned his glasses down the road4 ,there he could see our car rapidly approaching4 ,he put up his glasses and hurried down the hill toward the bridge4 ,then he broke into a run1 the dog scouting ahead4 ,we were going along the road nicely now1 coasting down the hill4 ,as we approached the bridge1 ,elaine slowed up a bit1 to cross1 for the planking was loose4 ,just then the farmer who had been running down the hill saw us4 ,stop6 he shouted4 ,but we did not hear4 ,he ran after us1 but such a chase was hopeless4 ,he stopped1 in despair4 ,with a gesture of vexation he took a step or two mechanically off the road4 ,elaine and ,i were coming fast to the bridge now4 ,in their hiding-place1 ,del ,mar's men were watching breathlessly4 ,the leader was just about to press the plunger when all of a sudden a branch in the thicket beside him crackled4 ,there stood the farmer and his dog6 ,instantly the farmer seemed to take in the situation4 ,with a cry he threw himself at the man who had the plunger4 ,another man leaped at the farmer4 ,the dog settled him4 ,the others piled in and a terrific struggle followed4 ,it was all so rapid that1 to all1 seconds seemed like hours4 ,we were just starting to cross the bridge4 ,one of the men broke away and crawled toward the plunger box4 ,our car was now in the middle of the bridge4 ,over and over rolled the men1 the dog doing his best to help his master4 ,the man who had broken away reached toward the plunger4 ,with a shout he pushed it down4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,our car had just cleared the bridge when we were startled by a terrific roar behind us4 ,it was as though a thousand tires had blown out at once4 ,elaine shut off the engine automatically and we looked back4 ,the whole bridge had been blown up4 ,a second before we had been in the middle of it4 ,as the explosion came1 the men who had been struggling in the thicket1 paused1 startled1 and stared out4 ,at that instant the old farmer saw his chance4 ,it was all over and he bolted1 calling the dog4 ,along the road to the bridge he ran1 two of the men after him4 ,come back1 growled the leader4 ,let him go4 ,do you want us all to get caught8 ,as the farmer ran up to the bridge1 he saw it in ruins4 ,but down the road he could see ,elaine and myself1 sitting in the car1 staring back at the peril which we had so narrowly escaped4 ,his face lighted up in as great joy as a few moments before it had showed despair4 ,what can that have been8 asked ,elaine1 starting to get out of the car4 ,what caused it8 ,i don't know1 ,i returned1 taking her arm firmly4 ,but enough has happened to-day4 ,if it was intended for us1 we'd better not stop4 ,some one might take a shot at us4 ,come4 ,we have the car4 ,we can get out before any one does anything more4 ,let's do it4 ,things are going on about us of which we know nothing4 ,the safest thing is to get away4 ,elaine looked at the bridge in ruins and shuddered4 ,it was the closest we could have been to death and have escaped4 ,then she turned to the wheel quickly and the little car fairly jumped ahead4 ,oh1 if ,craig were only here1 she murmured4 ,he would know what to do4 ,as we disappeared over the crest of the next hill1 safe1 the old farmer and his dog looked hard at us4 ,the silence after the explosion was ominous4 ,he glanced about4 ,no one was pursuing him4 ,that seemed ominous1 too4 ,but if they did pursue he was prepared to elude them4 ,they must never recognize the old farmer4 ,as he turned1 he deliberately pulled off his beard1 then plunged again into the woods and was lost4 ,,chapter ,,ix ,,the ,,submarine ,,harbor ,it was not long after the almost miraculous escape of ,elaine and myself from the blowing up of the bridge on the shore road that ,del ,mar returned from his mysterious mission which had1 apparently1 taken him actually down to the bottom of the sea4 ,the panel in the wall of his library opened and in the still dripping submarine suit1 holding under his arm the weird helmet1 ,del ,mar entered4 ,no sooner had he begun to remove his wet diving-suit than the man who had signalled with the heliograph that we had found ,del ,mar's message from below1 whatever that might mean1 entered the house and was announced by the valet4 ,let him come in immediately1 ordered ,del ,mar1 placing his suit in a closet4 ,then to the man1 as he entered1 he said1 ,well1 what's new8 ,quite a bit1 returned the man1 frowning still over ,elaine's accidental discovery of the under-water communication4 ,the ,dodge girl happened to pick up one of the tubes with a message just after you went down4 ,i tried to get her by blowing up the bridge1 but it didn't work1 somehow4 ,we'll have to silence her1 remarked ,del ,mar angrily with a sinister frown4 ,you stay here and wait for orders4 ,a moment later he made his way down to a private dock on his grounds and jumped aboard a trim little speed boat moored there4 ,he started the motor and off the boat feathered in a cloud of spray4 ,it was only a moment by water before he reached the ,dodge dock4 ,there he tied his boat and hurried up the dock4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine and ,i arrived home without any further experiences after our hairbreadth escape from the explosion at the bridge4 ,we were in doubt at first1 however1 just what to do about the mysterious message which we had picked up in the harbor4 ,really1 ,walter1 remarked ,elaine1 after we had considered the matter for some time1 ,i think we ought to send that message to the government at ,washington4 ,already she had seated herself at her desk and began to write1 while ,i examined the metal tube and the note again4 ,there1 she said at length1 handing me the note she had written4 ,how does that sound8 ,i read it while she addressed the envelope4 ,very good1 ,i replied1 handing it back4 ,she folded it and shoved it into the envelope on which she had written3 ,chief1 ,secret ,service1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,i was studying the address1 wondering whether this was just the thing to do1 when ,elaine decided the matter by energetically ringing the bell for ,jennings4 ,post that1 ,jennings1 please1 she directed4 ,the butler bowed just as the door-bell rang4 ,he turned to go4 ,just a minute1 ,i interrupted4 ,i think perhaps ,i'd better mail it myself1 after all4 ,he handed me the letter and went out4 ,yes1 ,walter1 agreed ,elaine1 that would be better4 ,register it1 too4 ,how do you do8 greeted a suave voice4 ,it was ,del ,mar4 ,as he passed me to speak to ,elaine1 apparently by accident1 he knocked the letter from my hand4 ,i beg your pardon1 he apologized1 quickly stooping and picking it up4 ,though he managed to read the address1 he maintained his composure and handed the letter back to me4 ,i started to go out1 when ,elaine called to me4 ,excuse me just a moment1 ,mr4 ,del ,mar8 she queried1 accompanying me out on the porch4 ,already a saddle horse had been brought around for me4 ,perhaps you'd better put a special delivery stamp on it1 too1 ,walter1 she added1 walking along with me4 ,and be very careful4 ,i will1 ,i promised1 as ,i rode off4 ,del ,mar1 alone1 seized the opportunity to go over quietly to the telephone4 ,it was the work of only a moment to call up his bungalow where the emissary who had placed the submarine bell was waiting for orders4 ,quickly ,del ,mar whispered his instructions which the man took1 and hung up the receiver4 ,i hope you'll pardon me1 said ,elaine1 entering just as ,del ,mar left the telephone4 ,mr4 ,jameson was going into town and ,i had a number of little things ,i wanted him to do4 ,won't you sit down8 ,they chatted for a few moments1 but ,del ,mar did not stay very long4 ,he excused himself shortly and ,elaine bade him good-bye at the door as he walked off1 apparently1 down the road ,i had taken4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,del ,mar's emissary hurried from the bungalow and almost ran down the road until he came to a spot where two men were hiding4 ,jameson is coming with a letter which the ,dodge girl has written to the ,secret ,service1 he cried pointing excitedly up the road4 ,you've got to get it1 see8 ,i was cantering along nicely down the road by the shore1 when suddenly1 from behind some rocks and bushes1 three men leaped out at me4 ,one of them seized the horse's bridle1 while the other two quickly dragged me out of the saddle4 ,it was very unexpected1 but ,i had time enough to draw my gun and fire once4 ,i hit one of the men1 too1 in the arm1 and he staggered back1 the blood spurting all over the road4 ,but before ,i could fire at the others1 they knocked the gun from my hand4 ,frightened1 the horse turned and bolted1 riderless4 ,together1 they dragged me off the road and into the thicket where ,i was tied and gagged and laid on the ground while one of them bound up the wounded arm of the man ,i had hit4 ,it was not long before one of them began searching me4 ,aha6 he growled1 pulling the letter from my pocket and looking at it with satisfaction4 ,here it is4 ,he tore the letter open1 throwing the envelope on the ground1 and read it4 ,there1 confound you1 he muttered4 ,the government 'll never get that4 ,come on1 men4 ,bring him this way4 ,he shoved the letter into his pocket and led the way through the underbrush1 while the others half-dragged1 half-pushed me along4 ,we had not gone very far before one of the three men1 who appeared to be the leader1 paused4 ,take him to the hang-out1 he ordered gruffly4 ,i'll have to report to the ,chief4 ,he disappeared down toward the shore of the harbor while the others prodded me along4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,down near the ,dodge dock1 along the shore1 walked a man wearing a broad-brimmed hat and a plain suit of duck4 ,his prim collar and tie comported well with his smoked glasses4 ,instinctively one would have called him ,professor1 though whether naturalist1 geologist1 or plain bugologist1 one would have had difficulty in determining4 ,he seemed1 as a matter-of-fact1 to be a naturalist1 for he was engrossed in picking up specimens4 ,but he was not so much engrossed as to fail to hear the approach of footsteps down the gravel walk from ,dodge ,hall to the dock4 ,he looked up in time to see ,del ,mar coming1 and quietly slipped into the shrubbery up on the shore4 ,on the dock1 ,del ,mar stood for some minutes1 waiting4 ,finally1 along the shore came another figure4 ,it was the emissary to whom ,del ,mar had telephoned and who had searched me4 ,the naturalist drew back into his hiding-place1 peering out keenly4 ,well8 demanded ,del ,mar4 ,what luck8 ,we've got him1 returned the man with brief satisfaction4 ,here's the letter she was sending to the ,secret ,service4 ,del ,mar seized the note which the man handed to him and read it eagerly4 ,good1 he exclaimed4 ,that would have put an end to the whole operations about here4 ,come on4 ,get into the boat4 ,for some reason best known to himself1 the naturalist seemed to have lost all interest in his specimens and to have a sudden curiosity about ,del ,mar's affairs4 ,as the motor-boat sped off1 he came slowly and cautiously out of his hiding-place and gazed fixedly at ,del ,mar4 ,no sooner had ,del ,mar's boat got a little distance out into the harbor than the naturalist hurried down the ,dodge dock4 ,there was tied ,elaine's own fast little runabout4 ,he jumped into it and started the engine1 following quickly in ,del ,mar's wake4 ,look1 called the emissary to ,del ,mar1 spying the ,dodge boat with the naturalist in it1 skimming rapidly after them4 ,del ,mar strained his eyes back through his glass at the pursuing boat4 ,but the naturalist1 in spite of his smoked glasses1 seemed not to have impaired his eyesight by his studies4 ,he caught the glint of the sun on the lens at ,del ,mar's eye and dropped down into the bottom of his own boat where he was at least safe from scrutiny1 if his boat were not4 ,del ,mar lowered his glass4 ,that's the ,dodge boat1 he said thoughtfully4 ,i don't like the looks of that fellow4 ,give her more speed4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,del ,mar had not been gone long before ,elaine decided to take a ride herself4 ,she ordered her horse around from the stables while she donned her neat little riding-habit4 ,a few minutes later1 as the groom held the horse1 she mounted and rode away1 choosing the road by which ,i had gone1 expecting to meet me on the return from town4 ,she was galloping along at a good clip when suddenly her horse shied at something4 ,whoa1 ,buster1 pacified ,elaine4 ,but it was of no use4 ,buster still reared up4 ,why1 what is the matter8 she asked4 ,what do you see8 ,she looked down at the ground4 ,there was a spot of blood in the dust4 ,buster was one of those horses to whom the sight of blood is terrifying4 ,elaine pulled up beside the road4 ,there was a revolver lying in the grass4 ,she dismounted and picked it up4 ,no sooner had she looked at it than she discovered the initials ,w4 ,j4 carved on the butt4 ,walter ,jameson6 she exclaimed1 realizing suddenly that it was mine4 ,it's been fired1 too6 ,her eye fell again on the blood spots4 ,blood and--footprints--into the brush6 she gasped in horror1 following the trail4 ,what could have happened to ,walter8 ,with the revolver1 ,elaine followed where the bushes were trampled down until she came to the place where ,i had been bound4 ,there she spied some pieces of paper lying on the ground and picked them up4 ,she put them together4 ,they were pieces of the envelope of the letter which we had decided to send to ,washington4 ,which way did they take him8 she asked1 looking all about but discovering no trail4 ,she was plainly at a loss what course to pursue4 ,what would ,craig do8 she asked herself4 ,finding no answer1 she stood thinking a moment1 slowly tearing the envelope to pieces4 ,if she were to do anything at all1 it must be done quickly4 ,suddenly an idea seemed to occur to her4 ,she threw the pieces of paper into the air and let them blow away4 ,it was unscientific detection1 perhaps1 but the wind actually took them and carried them in the direction in which the men had forced me to walk4 ,that's it6 cried ,elaine to herself4 ,i'll follow that direction4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile1 the men had hurried me off along a trail that led to the foot of a cliff4 ,then the trail wound up the cliff4 ,we climbed it until we reached the top4 ,there in the rock was a rude stairway4 ,i drew back4 ,but one man drew a gun and the other preceded me down4 ,along the steep stone steps cut out in the face of the rock1 they forced me4 ,below1 in a rift in the very wall of the cliff1 was a cave in which already were two more of ,del ,mar's men1 talking in low tones1 in the dim light4 ,as we made our way down the breakneck stairway1 the foremost of my captors stepped on a large flat rock4 ,as he did so1 it gave way slightly under his foot4 ,a light in the cave flashed up4 ,under the rock was a secret electric connection which operated a lamp4 ,some one coming1 muttered the two men1 on guard instantly4 ,it was a somewhat precarious footing as we descended and for the moment ,i was more concerned for my safety from a fall than anything else4 ,once my foot did slip and a shower of pebbles and small pieces of rock started down the face of the cliff4 ,as we passed down1 the man behind me1 still keeping me covered1 raised the flat stone on the top step4 ,carefully1 he reset the connection of the alarm rock1 a series of metal points that bent under the weight of a person and made a contact which signalled down in the cavern the approach of any one who did not know the secret4 ,as he did so1 the light in the cavern went out4 ,it's all right1 said one of the men down there1 with a look of relief4 ,we now went down the perilous stairway until we came to the cave4 ,i've got a prisoner--orders of the ,chief1 growled one of my captors1 thrusting me in roughly4 ,they forced me into a corner where they tied me again1 hand and foot4 ,then they began debating in low1 sinister tones1 what was to be done with me next4 ,once in a while ,i could catch a word4 ,fear made my senses hypersensitive4 ,they were arguing whether they should make away with me now or later6 ,finally the leader rose4 ,it's three to one1 ,i heard him mutter4 ,he dies now4 ,he turned and took a menacing step toward me4 ,hands up6 ,it was a shrill1 firm voice that rang out at the mouth of the cave as a figure cut off what little light there was4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine passed along1 hunting for the trail4 ,suddenly a shower of pebbles came falling down from a cliff above her4 ,some of them hit her and she looked up quickly4 ,there she could see me being led along by my captors4 ,she hid in the brush and watched4 ,during all the operations of the descent of the rock stairway and the resetting of the alarm1 she continued to watch1 straining her eyes to see what they were doing4 ,as we entered the cave1 she stepped out from her concealment and looked sharply up at us1 as we disappeared4 ,then she climbed the path up the cliff until she came to the flight of stone steps leading downward again4 ,already she had seen the man behind me doing something with the stone that formed the top step4 ,she stooped down and examined the stone4 ,carefully she raised it and looked underneath before stepping on it4 ,there she could see the electric connection4 ,she set the stone aside and looked again down the dangerous stairway4 ,it made her shudder4 ,i must get him1 she murmured to herself4 ,yes1 ,i must4 ,even now it may be too late4 ,with a supreme effort of determination she got herself together1 drew my gun which she had picked up1 and started down the cliff1 stepping noiselessly4 ,at last ,elaine came to the cave4 ,she stood just aside from the door1 gun in hand1 and listened1 aghast4 ,inside she could hear voices of four men1 and they were arguing whether they should kill me or not4 ,it was four against one woman1 but she did not falter4 ,they had just decided to make away with me immediately and the leader had turned toward me with the threat still on his lips4 ,it was now or never4 ,resolutely she took a step forward and into the cave4 ,hands up6 she demanded1 firmly4 ,the thing was so unexpected in the security of their secret hiding-place protected by the rock alarm that1 before they knew it1 ,elaine had them all lined up against the wall4 ,keeping them carefully covered1 she moved over toward me4 ,she picked up a knife that lay near-by and started to cut the ropes which held me4 ,as she did so1 one of the men1 with an oath1 leaped forward to rush her4 ,but ,elaine was not to be caught off her guard4 ,instantly she fired4 ,the man staggered back1 and fell4 ,that cooled the ardor of the other three considerably1 especially now as ,i was free1 too4 ,while she held them up still1 with their hands in the air1 ,i went through their pockets1 taking out their weapons4 ,then1 still keeping them covered1 we backed out of the cave4 ,backward we made our way up the dangerous flight of steps again with guns levelled at the cave entrance1 ,elaine going up first4 ,once a head stuck itself out of the cave entrance4 ,i fired instantly and it jerked itself back in again just in time4 ,that was the only trouble we had1 apparently4 ,cautiously and slowly we made our way toward the top of the cliff4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,one look backward from his motor-boat was enough for ,del ,mar4 ,he must evade that inquisitive naturalist4 ,he turned to his man4 ,get out that apparatus1 he ordered4 ,the man opened a locker and brought out the curious submarine rescue helmet and suit4 ,del ,mar took them up and began to put the suit on1 stooping down in the shelter of the boat so that his actions could not be seen by the naturalist in the pursuing boat4 ,the naturalist was all this time peering ahead keenly at ,del ,mar's boat1 trying to make it out4 ,he bent over and adjusted the engine to get up more speed and the boat shot ahead faster4 ,by this time1 ,del ,mar had put on the submarine apparatus1 all except the helmet1 and was crouching low in the boat4 ,hastily1 he rolled a piece of canvas into the semblance of a body1 put his coat and hat on it and set it on the seat which he had occupied before4 ,just then ,del ,mar's boat ran around the promontory where ,wu ,fang had met the submarine that had brought ,del ,mar into the country and landed him so strangely4 ,the boat slowed down under shelter of the rocks and ,del ,mar added a pair of heavy lead-soled shoes to his outfit in order to weight himself down4 ,finally he put on the helmet1 let himself over the side of the boat1 and disappeared into the water4 ,his aide started the motor and the boat shot ahead again1 with the dummy still occupying ,del ,mar's seat4 ,as the boat swung out and made a wide sweeping curve away from the point at which ,del ,mar had gone overboard1 the naturalist in the ,dodge boat came around the promontory and saw it1 changing his course accordingly1 and gaining somewhat4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,del ,mar sank1 upright and rapidly1 down in the shallow water to the bottom4 ,once having his feet on something approaching firm ground1 he gazed about through the window-like eye of the helmet until he got his bearings4 ,then he began to walk heavily along the bottom of the harbor1 over sand and rocks4 ,it was a strange walk that he took1 half stumbling1 slowly and cumbersomely groping his way like a queer under-water animal4 ,if any one could have seen him1 he would have noted that ,del ,mar was going toward the base of a huge rocky cliff that jutted far out into the harbor1 where the water was deep1 a dangerous point1 avoided by craft of all kinds4 ,far over his head the waves beat on the rocks angrily4 ,but down there1 concealed beneath the surface of the harbor1 was a sort of huge arch of stone1 through which a comparatively rapid current ran as the tide ebbed and flowed4 ,del ,mar let himself be carried along with the current which was now running in and thus with comparative ease made his way1 still groping1 through the arch4 ,once under it and a few feet beyond1 he deliberately kicked off the leaden-soled shoes and1 thus lightened1 rose rapidly to the surface of the water4 ,as he bobbed up1 a strange sight met his eyes--not strange however1 to ,del ,mar4 ,above1 the rocks formed a huge dome over the water which the tides forced in and out through the secret entrance through which he came4 ,no other entrance1 apparently1 except that from the waters of the harbor led to this peculiar den4 ,lying quietly moored to the rocky piers lay three submarine boats4 ,further back1 on a ledge of rocks1 blasted out1 stood a little building1 a sort of office or headquarters4 ,near-by was a shed where were kept gas and oil1 supplies and ammunition1 in fact everything that a submarine might need4 ,this was the reason for ,del ,mar's presence in the neighborhood4 ,it was the secret submarine harbor of the foreign agents who were operating in ,america6 ,already a sentry1 pacing up and down1 had seen the bubbles in the water that indicated that some one had come through the archway and was down below1 as ,del ,mar and his men called it4 ,gazing down the sentry saw the queer helmeted figure float up from the bottom of the pool4 ,he reached out and helped the figure clamber up out of the water to the ledge on which he stood4 ,del ,mar saluted1 and the sentry returned the secret salute1 helping him remove the dripping helmet and suit4 ,a moment later1 in the queer little submarine office1 ,del ,mar had evidently planned to take up the nefarious secret work on which he was engaged4 ,several men of a naval and military bearing were seated about a table1 already1 studying maps and plans and documents of all descriptions4 ,they did not seem to belong to any nation in particular4 ,in fact their uniforms1 if such they might be called1 were of a character to disguise their nationality4 ,but that they were hostile to the country under which they literally had their hidden retreat1 of that there could be no doubt4 ,how high ,del ,mar stood in their counsels could have been seen at a glance from the instant deference exhibited at the mere mention of his name by the sentry who entered with the submarine suit while ,del ,mar got himself together after his remarkable trip4 ,the men at the council table rose and saluted as ,del ,mar himself entered4 ,he returned the salute and quietly made his way to the head of the table where he took a seat1 naturally4 ,this is the area in which we must work first of all1 he began1 drawing toward him a book and opening it4 ,and we must strike quickly1 for if they heed the advice in this book1 it may be too late for us to take advantage of their foolish unpreparedness4 ,it was a book entitled ,defenseless ,america1 written by a great ,american inventor1 ,hudson ,maxim4 ,del ,mar turned the pages until he came to and pointed out a map4 ,the others gathered about him1 leaning forward eagerly as he talked to them4 ,there1 on the map1 with a radius of some one hundred and seventy miles1 was drawn a big segment of a circle1 with ,peekskill1 ,new ,york1 as a centre4 ,that is the heart of ,america1 said ,del ,mar1 earnestly4 ,it embraces ,new ,york1 ,boston1 ,philadelphia4 ,but that is not the point4 ,here are the great majority of the gun and armor factories1 the powder and cartridge works1 together with the principal coal fields of ,pennsylvania4 ,he brought his fist down decisively on the table4 ,if we hold this section1 he declared1 we practically hold ,america6 ,eagerly the other emissaries listened as ,del ,mar laid before them the detailed facts which he was collecting1 the greater mission than the mere capture of ,kennedy's wireless torpedo which had brought him into the country4 ,detail after detail of their plans they discussed as they worked out the gigantic scheme4 ,it was a war council of a secret advance guard of the enemies of ,america6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,meanwhile1 ,del ,mar's man in his boat1 cutting a wide circle and avoiding the ,dodge boat carrying the naturalist1 made his way across the harbor until he came to the shore4 ,there he landed and proceeded up the beach to the foot of a rocky cliff1 where he turned and followed a trail up it to the top4 ,it was the same path already travelled by my captors with me and later followed by ,elaine4 ,as he came stealthily out from under cover1 ,del ,mar's man gazed down the stairway4 ,he drew back at what he saw4 ,slowly he pulled a gun from his pocket1 watching down the steps with tense interest4 ,there he could see ,elaine and myself wearily climbing toward the top1 our backs toward him1 as we covered the men in the cave4 ,so surprised was he at what he saw that he forgot that his boat below had been followed by the mysterious naturalist1 who1 the moment ,del ,mar's man had landed1 put on the last burst of speed and ran the ,dodge boat close to the spot where the aide had left ,del ,mar's4 ,a glance into the boat sufficed to tell the naturalist that the figure in it was only a dummy4 ,he did not pause1 but followed the trail up the hill1 until he was close after the emissary ahead1 going more slowly4 ,only a few feet further along the cliff1 the naturalist paused1 too1 keeping well under cover1 for the man was now just ahead of him4 ,he looked fixedly at him and saw him gaze down the cliff4 ,then he saw him slowly draw a gun4 ,who could be below8 ,quickly the naturalist's mind seemed to work4 ,he crouched down1 as if ready to spring4 ,the emissary slowly raised his revolver and took careful aim at the backs of ,elaine and myself1 as we came up the steps4 ,but before he could pull the trigger1 the naturalist1 more like one of the wild animals which he studied than like a human being1 sprang from his concealment in the bushes and pounced on the man from behind1 seizing him firmly4 ,over and over they rolled1 struggling almost to the brink of the precipice4 ,elaine and ,i had got almost to the top of the flight of steps1 when suddenly we heard a shout above us and sounds of a terrific struggle4 ,we turned1 to see two men1 neither of whom we knew1 fighting4 ,one seemed to be a professor of natural history from his dress and general appearance4 ,the other had a sinister nondescript look4 ,nearer and nearer the edge of the cliff they rolled4 ,we crouched closer to the rocky wall1 gazing up at the death grapple of the two4 ,who they were we did not know but that one was fighting for and the other against us we could readily see4 ,the more vicious of the two seemed to be forcing the naturalist slowly back1 when1 with a superhuman effort1 the naturalist braced himself4 ,his foot was actually on a small ledge of rock directly at the edge of the cliff4 ,he swung around quickly and struck the other man4 ,the vicious looking man pitched headlong over the cliff4 ,we shrank back closer to the rock as the man hurtled through the air only a few feet from us4 ,down below1 we could hear him land with a sickening thud4 ,far over the edge ,elaine leaned in a sort of fascination at the awful sight4 ,for a moment1 ,i thought the very imp of the perverse had got possession of her and that she herself would fall over4 ,she brushed her hand unsteadily over her eyes and staggered4 ,i caught her just in time4 ,it was only an instant before the brave girl recovered control of herself4 ,then1 together1 we started again to climb up4 ,as we did so the naturalist looked down and caught sight of us approaching4 ,hastily he hid in the bushes4 ,we reached the top of the stairway and gazed about for the victor in the contest4 ,to our surprise he was gone4 ,come1 ,i urged4 ,we had better get away1 quickly4 ,as ,elaine and ,i disappeared1 the naturalist slowly emerged again from the bushes and looked after us4 ,then he gave a hasty glance over the edge of the cliff at the man1 twisted and motionless1 far below4 ,if we had looked back we might have seen the naturalist shake his head in a manner strangely reminiscent as he turned and gazed again after us4 ,,chapter ,x ,,the ,,conspirators ,you remember ,lieutenant ,woodward1 the inventor of trodite8 ,i asked ,elaine one day after ,i had been out for a ride through the country4 ,very well indeed1 she nodded with a look of wistfulness as the mention of his name recalled ,kennedy4 ,why8 ,he's stationed at ,fort ,dale1 not very far from here1 at the entrance of the ,sound1 ,i answered4 ,then let's have him over at my garden party to-night1 she exclaimed1 sitting down and writing4 ,,dear ,,lieutenant1 ,i have just learned that you are stationed at ,fort ,dale and would like to have you meet some of my friends at a little garden party ,i am holding to-night4 ,sincerely1 ,,elaine ,,dodge4 ,thus it was that a few hours afterward1 in the officers' quarters at the ,fort1 an orderly entered with the mail and handed a letter to ,lieutenant ,woodward4 ,he opened it and read the invitation with pleasure4 ,he had scarcely finished reading and was hastening to write a reply when the orderly entered again and saluted4 ,a ,professor ,arnold to see you1 ,lieutenant1 he announced4 ,professor ,arnold8 repeated ,woodward4 ,i don't know any ,professor ,arnold4 ,well1 show him in1 anyhow4 ,the orderly ushered in a well-dressed man with a dark1 heavy beard and large horn spectacles4 ,woodward eyed him curiously and a bit suspiciously1 as the stranger seated himself and made a few remarks4 ,the moment the orderly left the room1 however1 the professor lowered his voice to a whisper4 ,woodward listened in amazement1 looked at him more closely1 then laughed and shook hands cordially4 ,the professor leaned over again4 ,whatever it was that he said1 it made a great impression on the ,lieutenant4 ,you know this fellow ,del ,mar8 asked ,professor ,arnold finally4 ,no1 replied ,woodward4 ,well1 he's hanging around ,miss ,dodge all the time1 went on ,arnold4 ,there's something queer about his presence here at this time4 ,i've an invitation to a garden party at her house to-night1 remarked ,woodward4 ,accept1 urged the professor1 and tell her you are bringing a friend4 ,woodward resumed writing and when he had finished handed the note to the stranger1 who read3 ,,dear ,,miss ,,dodge1 ,i shall be charmed to be with you to-night and with your permission will bring my friend1 ,professor ,arnold4 ,truly yours1 ,,edward ,,woodward4 ,good1 nodded the professor1 handing the note back4 ,woodward summoned an orderly4 ,see that that is delivered at ,dodge ,hall to ,miss ,dodge herself as soon as possible1 he directed1 as the orderly took the note and saluted4 ,elaine1 ,aunt ,josephine and ,i were in the garden when ,lieut4 ,woodward's orderly rode up and delivered the letter4 ,elaine opened it and read4 ,that's all right1 she thanked the orderly4 ,oh1 ,walter1 he's coming to the garden party1 and is going to bring a friend of his1 a ,professor ,arnold4 ,we chatted a few moments about the party4 ,oh1 exclaimed ,elaine suddenly1 ,i have an idea4 ,what is it8 we asked1 smiling at her enthusiasm4 ,we'll have a fortune teller1 she cried4 ,aunt ,josephine1 you shall play the part4 ,all right1 if you really want me1 consented ,aunt ,josephine smiling indulgently as we urged her4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,down in the submarine harbor that afternoon1 ,del ,mar and his men were seated about the conference table4 ,i've traced out the course and the landing points of the great ,atlantic cable1 he said4 ,we must cut it4 ,del ,mar turned to one of the men4 ,take these plans to the captain of the steamer and tell him to get ready1 he went on4 ,find out and send me word when the cutting can be done best4 ,the man saluted and went out4 ,leaving the submarine harbor in the usual manner1 he made his way to a dock on the shore around the promontory and near the village4 ,tied to it was a small tramp steamer4 ,the man walked down the dock and climbed aboard the boat4 ,there several rough looking sailors were lolling and standing about4 ,the emissary selected the captain1 a more than ordinarily tough looking individual4 ,mr4 ,del ,mar sends you the location of the ,atlantic cable and the place where he thinks it best to pick it up and cut it1 he said4 ,the captain nodded4 ,i understand1 he replied4 ,i'll send him word later when it can be done best4 ,a few minutes after dispatching his messenger1 ,del ,mar left the submarine harbor himself and entered his bungalow by way of the secret entrance4 ,there he went immediately to his desk and picked up the mail that had accumulated in his absence4 ,one letter he read3 ,,dear ,,mr4 ,,del ,,mar1 ,we shall be pleased to see you at a little garden party we are holding to-night4 ,sincerely1 ,,elaine ,,dodge4 ,as he finished reading1 he pushed the letter carelessly aside as though he had no time for such frivolity4 ,then an idea seemed to occur to him4 ,he picked it up again and read it over4 ,i'll go1 he said to himself1 simply4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,that night ,dodge ,hall was a blaze of lights and life1 overflowing to the wide verandas and the garden4 ,guests in evening clothes were arriving from all parts of the summer colony and were being received by ,elaine4 ,already some of them were dancing on the veranda4 ,among the late arrivals were ,woodward and his friend1 ,professor ,arnold4 ,i'm so glad to know that you are stationed at ,fort ,dale1 greeted ,elaine4 ,i hope it will be for all summer4 ,i can't say how long it will be1 but ,i shall make every effort to make it all summer1 he replied gallantly4 ,let me present my friend1 ,professor ,arnold4 ,the professor bowed low and unprofessionally over ,elaine's hand and a moment later followed ,woodward out into the next room as the other guests arrived to be greeted by ,elaine4 ,for a moment1 however1 she looked after him curiously4 ,once she started to follow as though to speak to him4 ,just then1 however1 ,del ,mar entered4 ,good evening1 he interrupted1 suavely4 ,he stood for a moment with ,elaine and talked4 ,one doorway in the house was draped and a tent had been erected in the room4 ,over the door was a sign which read3 ,the past and the future are an open book to ,ancient ,anna4 ,there ,aunt ,josephine held forth in a most effective disguise as a fortune teller4 ,aunt ,josephine had always had a curious desire to play the old hag in amateur dramatics and now she had gratified her desire to the utmost4 ,probably none of the guests knew that ,ancient ,anna was in reality ,elaine's guardian4 ,elaine being otherwise occupied1 ,i had selected one of the prettiest of the girls and we were strolling through the house1 seeking a quiet spot for a chat4 ,why don't you have your fortune told by ,ancient ,anna8 laughed my companion as we approached the tent4 ,do you tell a good fortune reasonably8 ,i joked1 entering4 ,only the true fortunes1 young man1 returned ,ancient ,anna severely1 starting in to read my palm4 ,you are very much in love1 she went on1 but the lady is not in this tent4 ,very much embarrassed1 ,i pulled my hand away4 ,how shocking6 mocked my companion1 making believe to be very much annoyed4 ,i don't think ,i'll have my fortune told1 she decided as we left the room4 ,we sauntered along to the veranda where another friend claimed my companion for a dance which she had promised4 ,as ,i strolled on alone1 ,del ,mar and ,elaine were already finishing a dance4 ,he left her a moment later and ,i hurried over1 glad of the opportunity to see her at last4 ,del ,mar made his way alone among the guests and passed ,aunt ,josephine disguised as the old hag seated before her tent4 ,just then a waiter came through with a tray of ices4 ,as he passed1 ,del ,mar stopped him1 reached out and took an ice4 ,under the ice1 as he had known1 was a note4 ,he took the note surreptitiously1 turned and presented the ice to ,ancient ,anna with a bow4 ,thank you1 kind sir1 she curtsied1 taking it4 ,del ,mar stepped aside and glanced at the little slip of paper4 ,then he crumpled it up and threw it aside1 walking away4 ,no sooner had he gone than ,aunt ,josephine reached out and picked up the paper4 ,she straightened it and looked at it4 ,there was nothing on the paper but a crude drawing of a sunrise on the ocean4 ,what's that8 asked ,aunt ,josephine1 in surprise4 ,just then ,elaine and ,lieutenant ,woodward came in and stopped before the tent4 ,aunt ,josephine motioned to ,elaine to come in and ,elaine followed4 ,lieutenant ,woodward started after her4 ,no1 no1 young man1 laughed ,ancient ,anna1 shaking her forefinger at him1 ,i don't want you4 ,it's the pretty young lady ,i want4 ,woodward stood outside1 though he did not know quite what it was all about4 ,while he was standing there1 ,professor ,arnold came up4 ,he had not exactly made a hit with the guests4 ,at least1 he seemed to make little effort to do so4 ,he and ,woodward walked away1 talking earnestly4 ,in the tent ,aunt ,josephine handed ,elaine the piece of paper she had picked up4 ,what does it mean8 asked ,elaine1 studying the curious drawing in surprise4 ,i'm sure ,i don't know1 confessed ,aunt ,josephine4 ,nor ,i4 ,meanwhile ,lieutenant ,woodward and his friend had moved to a corner of the veranda and stood looking intently into the moonlight4 ,there was ,del ,mar deep in conversation with a man who had slipped out1 at a quiet signal1 from his hiding-place in the shrubbery4 ,that fellow is up to something1 mark my words1 muttered ,arnold under his breath4 ,i'd like to make an arrest1 but ,i've got to have some proof4 ,they continued watching ,del ,mar but1 so far at least1 he did nothing that would have furnished them any evidence of anything4 ,so the party went on1 most merrily until1 long after the guests had left1 ,elaine sat in her dressing-gown up in her room1 about to retire4 ,her maid had left her and she picked up the slip of paper from her dresser1 looking at it thoughtfully4 ,what can a crude drawing of a sunrise on the sea mean8 she asked herself4 ,for a long time she studied the paper1 thinking it over4 ,at last an idea came to her4 ,i'll bet ,i have it1 she exclaimed to herself4 ,something is going to happen on the water at sunrise4 ,she took a pretty little alarm clock from the table1 set it1 and placed it near her bed4 ,returning from the party to his library1 ,del ,mar entered4 ,except for the moonlight streaming in through the windows the room was dark4 ,he turned on the lights and crossed to the panel in the wall4 ,as he touched a button the panel opened4 ,del ,mar switched off the lights and went through the panel1 closing it4 ,outside1 at the other end of the passageway1 was one of his men1 waiting in the shadows as ,del ,mar came up4 ,for a moment they talked4 ,i'll be there1 at sunrise1 agreed ,del ,mar1 as the man left and he reentered the secret passage4 ,while he was conferring1 at the library window appeared a face4 ,it was ,professor ,arnold's4 ,cautiously he opened the window and listened4 ,then he entered4 ,first he went over to the door and set a chair under the knob4 ,next he drew an electric pocket bull's-eye and flashed it about the room4 ,he glanced about and finally went over to ,del ,mar's desk where he examined a batch of letters1 his back to the secret panel4 ,arnold was running rapidly through the papers on the desk1 as he flashed his electric bull's-eye on them1 when the panel in the wall opened slowly and ,del ,mar stepped into the room noiselessly4 ,to his surprise he saw a round spot of light from an electric flashlight focussed on his desk4 ,some one was there6 ,he drew a gun4 ,arnold started suddenly4 ,he heard the cocking of a revolver4 ,but he did not look around4 ,he merely thought an instant1 quicker than lightning1 then pulled out a spool of black thread with one hand1 while with the other he switched off the light1 and dived down on his stomach on the floor in the shadow4 ,who's that8 demanded ,del ,mar4 ,confound it6 ,i should have fired at sight4 ,the room was so dark now that it was impossible to see ,arnold4 ,del ,mar gazed intently4 ,suddenly ,arnold's electric torch glowed forth in a spot across the room4 ,del ,mar blazed at it1 firing every chamber of his revolver1 then switched on the lights4 ,no one was in the room4 ,but the door was open4 ,del ,mar gazed about1 vexed1 then ran to the open door4 ,for a second or two he peered out in rage1 finally turning back into the empty room4 ,on the mantlepiece lay the torch of the intruder4 ,it was one in which the connection is made by a ring falling on a piece of metal4 ,the ring had been left up by ,arnold4 ,connection had been made as he was leaving the room by pulling the thread which he had fastened to the ring4 ,del ,mar followed the thread as it led around the room to the doorway4 ,curse him6 swore ,del ,mar1 smashing down the innocent torch on the floor in fury1 as he rushed to the desk and saw his papers all disturbed4 ,outside1 ,arnold had made good his escape4 ,he paused in the moonlight and listened4 ,no one was pursuing4 ,he drew out two or three of the letters which he had taken from ,del ,mar's desk1 and hastily ran through them4 ,not a thing in them1 he exclaimed1 tearing them up in disgust and hurrying away4 ,at the first break of dawn the little alarm dock awakened ,elaine4 ,she started up and rubbed her eyes at the suddenness of the awakening1 then quickly reached out and stopped the bell so that it would not disturb others in the house4 ,she jumped out of bed hurriedly and dressed4 ,armed with a spy glass1 ,elaine let herself out of the house quietly4 ,directly to the shore she went1 walking along the beach4 ,suddenly she paused4 ,there were three men4 ,before she could level her glass at them1 however1 they disappeared4 ,that's strange1 she said to herself1 looking through the glass4 ,there's a steamer at the dock that seems to be getting ready for something4 ,i wonder what it can be doing so early4 ,she moved along in the direction of the dock4 ,at the dock the disreputable steamer to which ,del ,mar had dispatched his emissary was still tied1 the sailors now working under the gruff orders of the rough captain4 ,about a capstan were wound the turns of a long wire rope at the end of which was a three-pronged drag-hook4 ,you see1 the captain was explaining1 we'll lower this hook and drag it along the bottom4 ,when it catches anything we'll just pull it up4 ,i have the location of the cable4 ,it ought to be easy to grapple4 ,already1 on the shore1 at an old deserted shack of a fisherman1 two of ,del ,mar's men had been waiting since before sun-up1 having come in a dirty1 dingy fishing smack anchored offshore4 ,is everything ready8 asked ,del ,mar1 coming up4 ,everything1 sir1 returned the two1 following him along the shore4 ,who's that8 cautioned one of the men1 looking ahead4 ,they hid hastily1 for there was ,elaine4 ,she had seen the three and was about to level her glass in their direction as they hid4 ,finally she turned and discovered the steamer4 ,as she moved toward it1 ,del ,mar and the others came out from behind a rock and stole after her4 ,elaine wandered on until she came to the dock4 ,no one paid any attention to her1 apparently1 and she made her way along the dock and even aboard the boat without being observed4 ,no sooner had she got on the boat1 however1 than ,del ,mar and his men appeared on the dock and also boarded the steamer4 ,the captain was still explaining to the men just how the drag-hook worked when ,elaine came up quietly on the deck4 ,she stood spellbound as she heard him outline the details of the plot4 ,scarcely knowing what she did1 she crouched back of a deckhouse and listened4 ,behind her1 ,del ,mar and his men came along1 cat-like4 ,a glance was sufficient to tell them that she had overheard what the captain was saying4 ,confound that girl6 ground out ,del ,mar4 ,will she always cross my path8 ,we'll get her this time6 ,the men scattered as he directed them4 ,sneaking up quietly1 they made a sudden rush and seized her4 ,as she struggled and screamed1 they dragged her off1 thrusting her into the captain's cabin and locking the door4 ,cast off6 ordered ,del ,mar4 ,a few moments later1 out in the harbor1 ,del ,mar was busy directing the dragging for the ,atlantic cable at a spot where it was known to run4 ,they let the drag-hook down over the side and pulled it along slowly on the bottom4 ,in the cabin1 ,elaine beat on the door and shouted in vain for help4 ,i had decided to do some early morning fishing the day after the party1 and knowing that ,elaine and the others were usually late risers1 ,i said nothing about it1 determined to try my luck alone4 ,so it happened that only a few minutes after ,elaine let herself out quietly1 ,i did the same1 carrying my fishing-tackle4 ,i made my way toward the shore1 undecided whether to fish from a dock or boat4 ,finally ,i determined to do some casting from the shore4 ,i had cast once or twice before ,i was aware that ,i was not alone in the immediate neighborhood4 ,some distance away ,i saw a little steamer at a wharf4 ,a couple of men ran along the deck1 apparently cautioning the captain against something4 ,then ,i saw them run to one side and drag out a girl1 screaming and struggling as they hurried her below4 ,i could scarcely believe my eyes4 ,it was ,elaine6 ,only a second ,i looked4 ,they were certainly too many for me4 ,i dropped my rod and line and ran toward the dock1 however4 ,as ,i came down it1 ,i saw that ,i was too late4 ,the little steamer had cast off and was now some distance from the dock4 ,i looked about for a motor-boat in desperation--anything to follow them in4 ,but there was nothing1 absolutely nothing1 not even a rowboat4 ,i ran back along the dock as ,i had come and struck out down the shore4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,out at the parade grounds at ,fort ,dale1 in spite of the early hour1 there was some activity1 for the army is composed of early risers4 ,lieutenant ,woodward and ,professor ,arnold left the house in which the ,lieutenant was quartered1 where he had invited ,arnold to spend the night4 ,already an orderly had brought around two horses4 ,they mounted for an early morning ride through the country4 ,off they clattered1 naturally bending their course toward the shore4 ,they came soon to a point in the road where it emerged from the hills and gave them a panoramic view of the harbor and sound4 ,wait a minute1 called the professor4 ,woodward reined up and they gazed off over the water4 ,what's that--an oyster boat8 asked ,woodward1 looking in the direction ,arnold indicated4 ,i don't think so1 so early1 replied ,arnold1 pulling out his pocket glass and looking carefully4 ,through it he could see that something like a hook was being cast over the steamer's side and drawn back again4 ,they're dragging for something1 he remarked as they brought up an object dark and covered with seagrowth1 then threw it overboard as though it was not what they wanted4 ,by ,george--the ,atlantic cable lands here--they're going to cut it6 ,woodward took the glasses himself and looked in in surprise4 ,that's right1 he cried1 his surprise changed to alarm in an instant4 ,here1 take the glass again and watch4 ,i must get back to the ,fort4 ,he swung his horse about and galloped off1 leaving ,arnold sitting in the saddle gazing at the strange boat through his glass4 ,by the time ,woodward reached the parade ground again1 a field-gun and its company were at drill4 ,he dashed furiously across the field4 ,what's the trouble8 demanded the officer in charge of the gun4 ,woodward blurted out what he had just seen4 ,we must stop it--at any cost1 he added1 breathlessly4 ,the officer turned to the company4 ,a moment later the order to follow ,woodward rang out1 the horses were wheeled about1 and off the party galloped4 ,on they went1 along the road which ,woodward and ,arnold had already traversed4 ,arnold was still gazing1 impatiently now1 through the glass4 ,he could see the fore-deck of the ship where ,del ,mar1 muffled up1 and his men had succeeded in dragging the cable to the proper position on the deck4 ,they laid it down and ,del ,mar was directing the preparations for cutting it4 ,arnold lowered his glass and looked about helplessly4 ,just then ,lieutenant ,woodward dashed up with the officer and company and the field-gun4 ,they wheeled it about and began pointing it and finding the range4 ,would they never get it8 ,arnold was almost beside himself4 ,one of ,del ,mar's men seized an axe and was about to deliver the fatal blow4 ,he swung it and for a moment held it poised over his head4 ,suddenly a low1 deep rumble of a reverberation echoed and reechoed from the hills over the water4 ,the field-gun had bellowed defiance4 ,a solid shot crashed through the cabin1 smashing the door4 ,astounded1 the men jumped back4 ,as they did so1 in their fear1 the cable1 released1 slipped back over the rail in a great splash of safety into the water and sank4 ,the deuce take you--you fools1 swore ,del ,mar1 springing forward in rage1 and looking furiously toward the shore4 ,two of the men had been hit by splinters4 ,it was impossible to drag again4 ,besides1 again the gun crew loaded and fired4 ,the first shot had dismantled the doorway of the cabin4 ,elaine crouched fearfully in the furthest corner1 not knowing what to expect next4 ,suddenly another shot tore through just beside the door1 smashing the woodwork terrifically4 ,she shrank back further1 in fright4 ,anything was better than this hidden terror4 ,nerved up1 she ran through the broken door4 ,arnold was gazing through his glass at the effect of the shots4 ,he could now see ,del ,mar and the others leaping into a swift little motor-boat alongside the steamer which they had been using to help them in dragging for the cable4 ,just then he saw ,elaine run1 screaming1 out from the cabin and leap overboard4 ,stop6 shouted ,arnold in a fever of excitement1 lowering his glass4 ,there's a girl--by ,jove--it's ,miss ,dodge6 ,impossible6 exclaimed ,woodward4 ,i tell you1 it is1 reiterated ,arnold1 thrusting the glass into the ,lieutenant's hand4 ,the motor-boat had started when ,del ,mar saw ,elaine in the water4 ,look1 he growled1 pointing1 ,there's the ,dodge girl4 ,elaine was swimming frantically away from the boat4 ,get her1 he ordered1 shielding his face so that she could not see it4 ,they turned the boat and headed toward her4 ,she struck out harder than ever for the shore4 ,on came the motor-boat4 ,arnold and ,woodward looked at each other in despair4 ,what could they do8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,somehow1 by a sort of instinct1 ,i suppose1 ,i made my way as quickly as ,i could along the shore toward ,fort ,dale1 thinking perhaps of ,lieutenant ,woodward4 ,as ,i came upon the part of the grounds of the ,fort that sloped down to the beach1 ,i saw a group of young officers standing about a peculiar affair on the shore in the shallow water--half bird1 half boat4 ,as ,i came closer1 ,i recognized it as a ,thomas hydroaeroplane4 ,it suggested an idea and ,i hurried1 shouting4 ,one of the men1 seated in it1 was evidently explaining its working to the others4 ,wait1 he said1 as he saw me running down the shore1 waving and shouting at them4 ,let's see what this fellow wants4 ,it was1 as ,i soon learned1 the famous ,captain ,burnside1 of the ,united ,states ,aerial ,corps4 ,breathless1 ,i told him what ,i had seen and that we were all friends of ,woodward's4 ,burnside thought a moment1 and quickly made up his mind4 ,come--quick--jump up here with me1 he called4 ,then to the other men1 ,i'll be back soon4 ,wait here4 ,let her go6 ,i had jumped up and they spun the propeller4 ,the hydroaeroplane feathered along the water1 throwing a cloud of white spray1 then slowly rose in the air4 ,the sensation of flying was delightful1 as the fresh morning wind cut our faces4 ,we seemed to be hardly moving4 ,it was the earth or rather the water that rushed past under us4 ,but ,i forgot all about my sensations in my anxiety for ,elaine4 ,as we rose we could see over the curve in the shore4 ,look6 ,i exclaimed1 straining my eyes4 ,she's overboard4 ,there's a motor-boat after her4 ,faster--over that way6 ,yes1 yes1 shouted ,burnside above the roar of the engine which almost made conversation impossible4 ,he shifted the planes a bit and crowded on more speed4 ,the men in the boat saw us4 ,one figure1 tall1 muffled1 had a familiar look1 but ,i could not place it and in the excitement of the chase had no chance to try4 ,but ,i could see that he saw us and was angry4 ,apparently the man gave orders to turn1 for the boat swung around just as we swooped down and ran along the water4 ,elaine was exhausted4 ,would we be in time8 ,we planed along the water1 while the motor-boat sped off with its baffled passengers4 ,finally we stopped1 in a cloud of spray4 ,together1 ,burnside and ,i reached down and caught ,elaine1 not a moment too soon1 dragging her into the boat of the hydroaeroplane4 ,if we had not had all we could do1 we might have heard a shout of encouragement and relief from the hill where ,woodward and ,arnold and the rest were watching anxiously4 ,i threw my coat about her1 as the brave girl heroically clung to us1 half conscious4 ,oh--,walter1 she murmured1 you were just in time4 ,i wish ,i could have been sooner1 ,i apologized4 ,they--they didn't cut the cable--did they8 she asked1 as we rose from the water again1 bearing her now to safety4 ,i did my best4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,,the ,,wireless ,,detective ,del ,mar made his way cautiously along the bank of a little river at the mouth of which he left the boat after escaping from the little steamer4 ,quite evidently he was worried by the failure to cut the great ,atlantic cable and he was eager to see whether any leak had occurred in the organization which1 as secret foreign agent1 he had so carefully built up in ,america4 ,as he skirted the shore of the river1 he came to a falls4 ,here he moved even more cautiously than before1 looking about to make certain that no one had followed him4 ,it was a beautiful sheet of water that tumbled with a roar over the ledge of rock1 then raced away swiftly to the sea in a cloud of spray4 ,assured that he was alone1 he approached a crevice in the rocks1 near the falls4 ,with another hasty look about1 he reached in and pulled a lever4 ,instantly a most marvellous change took place1 incredible almost beyond belief4 ,the volume of water that came over the falls actually and rapidly decreased until it almost stopped1 dripping slowly in a thin veil4 ,there was the entrance of a cave--literally hidden behind the falls6 ,del ,mar walked in4 ,inside was the entrance to another1 inner cave1 higher up in the sheer stone of the wall that the waters had eroded4 ,from the floor to this entrance led a ladder4 ,del ,mar climbed it1 then stopped just inside the entrance to the inner cave4 ,for a moment he paused4 ,then he pressed another lever4 ,almost immediately the thin trickle of water grew until at last the roaring falls completely covered the cave entrance4 ,it was a clever concealment1 contrived by damming the river above and arranging a new outlet controlled by flood-gates4 ,there ,del ,mar stood1 in the inner cave4 ,a man sat at a table1 a curious gear fastened over his head and covering his ears4 ,before him was a huge apparatus from which flared a big bluish-green spark1 snapping and crackling above the thunder of the waves4 ,from the apparatus ran wires apparently up through cables that penetrated the rocky roof of the cavern and the river above4 ,it was ,del ,mar's secret wireless station1 close to the hidden submarine harbor which had been established beneath the innocent rocks of the promontory up the coast4 ,far overhead1 on the cliff over the falls1 were the antennae of the wireless4 ,how is she working8 asked ,del ,mar4 ,pretty well1 answered the man4 ,no interference8 queried ,del ,mar1 adjusting the apparatus4 ,the man shook his head in the negative4 ,we must get a quenched spark apparatus1 went on ,del ,mar1 pleased that nothing was wrong here4 ,this rotary gap affair is out of date4 ,by the way1 ,i want you to be ready to send a message1 to be relayed across to our people4 ,i've got to consult the board below in the harbor1 first1 however4 ,i'll send a messenger to you4 ,very well1 sir1 returned the man1 saluting as ,del ,mar went out4 ,out at ,fort ,dale1 ,lieutenant ,woodward was still entertaining his new friend1 ,professor ,arnold1 and had introduced him to ,colonel ,swift1 the commanding officer at the ,fort4 ,they were discussing the strange events of the early morning1 when an orderly entered1 saluted ,colonel ,swift and handed him a telegram4 ,the ,colonel tore it open and read it1 his face growing grave4 ,then he handed it to ,woodward1 who read3 ,,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,radio station using illegal wave length in your vicinity4 ,investigate and report4 ,,brandon1 ,radio ,bureau4 ,professor ,arnold shook his head slowly1 as he handed the telegram back4 ,there's a wireless apparatus of my own on my yacht1 he remarked slowly4 ,i have an instrument there which ,i think can help you greatly4 ,let's see what we can do4 ,all right1 nodded ,colonel ,swift to ,woodward4 ,try4 ,the two went out and a few minutes later1 on the shore1 jumped into ,arnold's fast little motor-boat and sped out across the water until they swung around alongside the trim yacht which ,arnold was using4 ,it was a compact and comfortable little craft with lines that indicated both gracefulness and speed4 ,on one of the masts1 as they approached1 ,woodward noticed the wireless aerial4 ,they climbed up the ladder over the side and made their way directly to the wireless room1 where ,arnold sat down and at once began to adjust the apparatus4 ,woodward seemed keenly interested in inspecting the plant which was of a curious type and not exactly like any that he had seen before4 ,wireless apparatus1 explained ,arnold1 still at work1 as you know1 is divided into three parts1 the source of power1 the making and sending of wireless waves1 including the key1 spark1 condenser and tuning coil1 and the receiving apparatus--head telephones1 antennae1 ground and detector4 ,this is a very compact system with facilities for a quick change from one wave length to another4 ,it has a spark gap1 quenched type1 break system relay--operator can hear any interference while transmitting--transformation by a single throw of a six-point switch which tunes the oscillating and open circuits to resonance4 ,woodward watched him keenly1 following his explanation carefully1 as ,arnold concluded4 ,you might call it a radio detective1 he added4 ,even the startling experience of the morning when she was carried off and finally jumped from the little tramp steamer that had attempted to cut the cable did not dampen ,elaine's ardor4 ,she missed the guiding hand of ,kennedy1 yet felt impelled to follow up and investigate the strange things that had been happening in the neighborhood of her summer home since his disappearance4 ,i succeeded in getting her safely home after ,burnside and ,i rescued her in the hydroaeroplane1 but no sooner had she changed her clothes for dry ones than she disappeared herself4 ,at least ,i could not find her1 though1 later1 ,i found that she had stolen away to town and there had purchased a complete outfit of men's clothes from a second hand dealer4 ,cautiously1 with the large bundle under her arm1 she returned to ,dodge ,hall and almost sneaked into her own home and up-stairs to her room4 ,she locked the door and hastily unwrapped the bundle taking out a tattered suit and the other things1 holding them up and laughing gleefully as she took off her own pretty clothes and donned these hideous garments4 ,quickly she completed her change of costume and outward character4 ,as she surveyed herself in the dainty mirror of her dressing-table she laughed again at the incongruity of her pretty boudoir and the rough men's clothes she was wearing4 ,deftly she arranged her hair so that her hat would cover it4 ,she picked a black mustache from the table and stuck it on her soft upper lip4 ,it tickled and she made a wry face over it4 ,then she hunted up a cigarette from the bundle which she had brought in1 lighted it and stuck it in the corner of her mouth1 letting it droop jauntily4 ,it made her cough tremendously and she threw it away4 ,finally she went to the door and down-stairs4 ,no one was about4 ,she opened the door and gazed around4 ,all was quiet4 ,it was a new role for her1 but1 with a bold front1 she went out and passed down to the gate of the grounds1 pulling her hat down over her eyes and assuming a tough swagger4 ,only a few minutes before1 down in the submarine harbor1 the officers of the board of foreign agents had been grouped about ,del ,mar1 who had entered and taken his place at their head1 very angry over the failure to cut the cable4 ,as they concluded their hasty conference1 he wrote a message on a slip of paper4 ,take this to our wireless station1 he ordered1 handing it to one of the men4 ,the man took it1 rose1 and went to a wardrobe from which he extracted one of the submarine suits4 ,with the message in his hand1 he went out of the room1 buckling on the suit4 ,a few minutes later the messenger in the submarine suit bobbed up out of the water1 near the promontory1 and climbed slowly over the rocks toward a crevice1 where he began to take off the diving outfit4 ,having finished1 he hid the suit among the rocks and then went along to the little river1 carefully skirting its banks into the ravine in which were the falls and the wireless cave4 ,in her disguise1 ,elaine had made her way by a sort of instinct along the shore to the rocky promontory where we had discovered the message in the tin tube in the water4 ,something1 she knew not what1 was going on about there1 and she reasoned that it was not all over yet4 ,she was right4 ,as she looked about keenly she did see something1 and she hid among the rocks4 ,it was a man1 all dripping1 in an outlandish helmet and suit4 ,she saw him slink into a crevice and take off the suit1 then1 as he moved toward the river ravine1 she stole up after him4 ,suddenly she stopped stark still1 surprised1 and stared4 ,the man had actually gone up to the very waterfall4 ,he had pressed what looked like a lever and the water over the falls seemed to stop4 ,then he walked directly through into a cave4 ,in the greatest wonder1 ,elaine crept along toward the falls4 ,inside the cave ,del ,mar's emissary started to climb a ladder to an inner cave4 ,as he reached the top1 he glanced out and saw ,elaine by the entrance4 ,with an oath he jumped into the inner entrance4 ,his hand reached eagerly for a lever in the rocks and as he found and held it1 he peered out carefully4 ,elaine cautiously came from behind a rock where she had hidden herself and seeing no one apparently watching1 now1 advanced until she stood directly under the trickle of water which had once been the falls4 ,she gazed into the cave1 curiously uncertain whether she dared to go in alone or not4 ,the emissary jerked fiercely at the lever as he saw ,elaine4 ,above the falls a dam had been built and by a system of levers the gates could be operated so that the water could be thrown over the falls or diverted away1 at will4 ,as the man pressed the lever1 the flood gates worked quickly4 ,elaine stood gazing eagerly into the blackness of the cave4 ,just then a great volume of water from above crashed down on her1 with almost crushing weight4 ,how she lived through it she never knew4 ,but1 fortunately1 she had not gone quite far enough to get the full force of the water4 ,still1 the terrific flood easily overcame her4 ,she was swept1 screaming1 down the stream4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,rather alarmed at the strange disappearance of ,elaine after ,i brought her home1 ,i had started out along the road to the shore to look for her1 thinking that she might perhaps have returned there4 ,as ,i walked along a young tough--at least at the time ,i thought it was a young tough1 so good was the disguise she had assumed and so well did she carry it off--slouched past me4 ,what such a character could be doing in the neighborhood ,i could not see4 ,but he was so noticeably tough that ,i turned and looked4 ,he kept his eyes averted as if afraid of being recognized4 ,great ,caesar1 ,i muttered to myself1 that's a roughneck4 ,this place is sure getting to be a hang-out for gunmen4 ,i shrugged my shoulders and continued my walk4 ,it was no business of mine4 ,finding no trace of ,elaine1 ,i returned to the house4 ,aunt ,josephine was in the library1 alone4 ,where's ,elaine8 ,i asked anxiously4 ,i don't know1 she replied4 ,i don't think she's at home4 ,well1 ,i can't find her anywhere1 ,i frowned wandering out at a loss what to do1 and thrusting my hands deep in my pockets as an aid to thought4 ,somehow1 ,i felt1 ,i didn't seem to get on well as a detective without ,kennedy4 ,yet1 so far1 a kind providence seemed to have watched over us4 ,was it because we were children--or--,i rejected that alternative4 ,walking along leisurely ,i made my way down to the shore4 ,at a bridge that crossed a rather turbulent stream as it tumbled its way toward the sea1 ,i paused and looked at the water reflectively4 ,suddenly my vagrant interest was aroused4 ,up the stream ,i saw some one struggling in the water and shouting for help as the current carried her along1 screaming4 ,it was ,elaine4 ,the hat and mustache of her disguise were gone and her beautiful ,titian hair was spread out on the water as it carried her now this way1 now that1 while she struck out with all her strength to keep afloat4 ,i did not stop to think how or why she was there4 ,i swung over the bridge rail1 stripping off my coat1 ready to dive4 ,on she came with the swift current to the bridge4 ,as she approached ,i dived4 ,it was not a minute too soon4 ,in her struggles she had become thoroughly exhausted4 ,she was a good swimmer but the fight with nature was unequal4 ,i reached her in a second or so and took her hand4 ,half pulling1 half shoving her1 ,i struck out for the shore4 ,we managed to make it together where the current was not quite so strong and climbed safely up a rock4 ,elaine sank down1 choking and gasping1 not unconscious but pretty much all in and exhausted4 ,i looked at her in amazement4 ,she was the tough character ,i had just seen4 ,why1 where in the world did you get those togs8 ,i queried4 ,never mind my clothes1 ,walter1 she gasped4 ,take me home for some dry ones4 ,i have a clue4 ,she rose1 determined to shake off the effects of her recent plunge and went toward the house4 ,as ,i helped her she related breathlessly what she has just seen4 ,meanwhile1 back of that wall of water1 the wireless operator in the cave was sending the messages which ,del ,mar's emissary dictated to him1 one after another4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,with the high resistance receiving apparatus over his head1 ,arnold was listening to the wireless signals that came over his radio detective on the yacht1 moving the slider back and forth on a sort of tuning coil1 as he listened4 ,woodward stood close beside him4 ,as you know1 ,arnold remarked1 by the use of an aerial1 messages may be easily received from any number of stations4 ,laws1 rules1 and regulations may be adopted by the government to shut out interlopers and to plug busybody ears1 but the greater part of whatever is transmitted by the ,hertzian waves can be snatched down by this wireless detective of mine4 ,here ,i can sit in my wireless room with this ear-phone clamped over my head drinking in news1 plucking the secrets of others from the sky--in other words1 this is eavesdropping by a wireless wire-tapper4 ,are you getting anything now8 asked ,woodward4 ,arnold nodded1 as he seized a pencil and started to write4 ,the lieutenant bent forward in tense interest4 ,finally ,arnold read what he had written and with a peculiar1 quiet smile handed it over4 ,woodward read4 ,it was a senseless jumble of dots and dashes of the ,morse code but1 although he was familiar with the code1 he could make nothing out of it4 ,it's the ,morse code all right1 he said1 handing it back with a puzzled look1 but it doesn't make any sense4 ,arnold smiled again1 took the paper1 and without a word wrote on it some more4 ,then he handed it back to ,woodward4 ,an old trick1 he said4 ,reverse the dots and dashes and see what you get4 ,woodward looked at it1 as ,arnold had reversed it and his face lighted up4 ,harbor successfully mined1 he quoted in surprise4 ,i'll show you another thing about this radio detective of mine1 went on ,arnold energetically4 ,it's not only a wave length measurer1 but by a process of my own ,i can determine approximately the distance between the sending and the receiving points of a message4 ,he attached another1 smaller machine to the wireless detector4 ,in the face was a moving finger which swung over a dial marked off in miles from one upward4 ,as ,arnold adjusted the new detector1 the hand began to move slowly4 ,woodward looked eagerly4 ,it did not move far1 but came to rest above the figure #b4 ,not so very far away1 you see1 ,lieutenant1 remarked ,arnold1 pointing at the dial face4 ,he seized his glass and hurried to the deck1 levelling it at the shore1 leaning far over the rail in his eagerness4 ,as he swept the shore1 he stopped suddenly4 ,there was a house-roof among the trees with a wireless aerial fastened to the chimney1 but not quite concealed by the dense foliage4 ,look1 he cried to ,woodward1 with an exclamation of satisfaction1 handing over the glass4 ,woodward looked4 ,a secret wireless station1 all right1 he agreed1 lowering the glass after a long look4 ,we'd better get over there right away1 planned ,arnold1 leading the way to the ladder over the side of the yacht and calling to the sailor who had managed the little motor-boat to follow him4 ,quickly they skimmed across to the shore4 ,i think we'd better send to the ,fort for some men1 considered ,arnold as they landed4 ,we may need reinforcements before we get through4 ,woodward nodded and ,arnold hastily wrote a note on a rather large scrap of paper which he happened to have in his pocket4 ,take this to ,colonel ,swift at ,fort ,dale1 he directed the sailor4 ,and hurry6 ,the sailor loped off1 half on a run1 as ,arnold and ,woodward left down the shore1 proceeding carefully4 ,at top speed1 ,arnold's sailor made his way to ,fort ,dale and was directed by the sentry to ,colonel ,swift who was standing before the headquarters with several officers4 ,a message from ,lieutenant ,woodward and ,professor ,arnold1 he announced1 approaching the commanding officer and handing him the note4 ,colonel ,swift tore it open and read3 ,have located radio aerial in the woods along shore4 ,please send squad of men with bearer4--,,arnold4 ,you just left them8 queried the ,colonel4 ,yes sir1 replied the sailor4 ,we came ashore in his boat4 ,i don't know exactly where they went but ,i know the direction and we can catch up with them easily if we hurry1 sir4 ,the colonel handed the note quickly to a cavalry officer beside him who read it1 saluted at the orders that followed1 turned and strode off1 hastily stuffing the paper in his belt1 as the sailor went1 too4 ,meanwhile1 ,del ,mar's valet was leaving the bungalow and walking down the road on an errand for his master4 ,up the road he heard the clatter of hoofs4 ,he stepped back off the road and from his covert he could see a squad of cavalry headed by the captain and a sailor cantering past4 ,the captain turned in the saddle to speak to the sailor1 who rode like a horse marine1 and as he did so1 the turning of his body loosened a paper which he had stuffed quickly into his belt4 ,it fell to the ground4 ,in their hurry the troop1 close behind1 rode over it4 ,but it did not escape the quick eye of ,del ,mar's valet4 ,they had scarcely disappeared around a bend in the road when he stepped out and pounced on the paper1 reading it eagerly4 ,every line of his face showed fear as he turned and ran back to the bungalow4 ,see what ,i found1 he cried breathlessly bursting in on ,del ,mar who was seated at his desk1 having returned from the harbor4 ,del ,mar read it with a scowl of fury4 ,then he seized his hat1 and a short hunter's axe1 and disappeared through the panel into the subterranean passage which took him by the shortest cut through the very hill to the shore4 ,slowly ,arnold and ,woodward made their way along the shore1 carefully searching for the spot where they had seen the house with the aerial4 ,at last they came to a place where they could see the deserted house1 far up on the side of a ravine above a river and a waterfalls4 ,they dived into the thick underbrush for cover and went up the hill4 ,some distance off from the house1 they parted the bushes and gazed off across an open space at the ramshackle building4 ,as they looked they could see a man hurry across from the opposite direction and into the house4 ,as ,i live1 ,i think that's ,del ,mar1 muttered ,arnold4 ,woodward nodded1 doubtfully1 though4 ,in the house1 ,del ,mar hurried to a wall where he found and pressed a concealed spring4 ,a small cabinet in the plaster opened and he took out a little telephone which he rang and through which he spoke hastily4 ,pull in the wires1 he shouted4 ,we're discovered1 ,i think4 ,down in the wireless station in the cave1 the operator at his instrument heard the signal of the telephone and quickly answered it4 ,all right1 sir1 he returned with a look of great excitement and anxiety4 ,cut the wires and ,i'll pull them in4 ,putting back the telephone1 ,del ,mar ran to the window and looked out between the broken slats of the closed blinds4 ,confound them6 he muttered angrily4 ,he could see ,arnold and ,woodward cautiously approaching4 ,a moment later he stepped back and pulled a silk mask over his upper face1 leaving only his eyes visible4 ,then he seized his hunter's axe and dashed up the stairs4 ,through the scuttle of the roof he came1 making his way over to the chimney to which the wireless antennae were fastened4 ,hastily he cut the wires which ran through the roof from the aerial4 ,as he did so he saw them disappear through the roof4 ,below1 in the cave1 down in the ravine back of the falls1 the operator was hastily hauling in the wire ,del ,mar had cut4 ,viciously next1 ,del ,mar fell upon the wooden aerial itself1 chopping it right and left with powerful blows4 ,he broke it off and threw it over the roof4 ,below1 ,arnold and ,woodward1 taking advantage of every tree and shrub for concealment1 had almost reached the house when the broken aerial fell with a bang almost on them4 ,in surprise they dropped back of a tree and looked up4 ,but from their position they could see nothing4 ,together they drew their guns and advanced more cautiously at the house4 ,del ,mar made his way back quickly over the roof1 back through the scuttle and down the stairs again4 ,should he go out8 ,he looked out of the window4 ,then he went to the door4 ,an instant he paused thinking and listening1 his axe raised1 ready for a blow4 ,arnold and ,woodward1 by this time1 had reached the door which swung open on its rusty hinges4 ,woodward was about to go in when he felt a hand on his arm4 ,wait1 cautioned ,arnold4 ,he took off his hat and jammed it on the end of a stick4 ,slowly he shoved the door open1 then thrust the hat and stick just a fraction of a foot forward4 ,del ,mar1 waiting1 alert1 saw the door open and a hat4 ,he struck at it hard with the axe and merely the hat and stick fell to the floor4 ,now1 come on1 shouted ,arnold to ,woodward4 ,in the other hand1 ,del ,mar held a chair4 ,as ,woodward dashed in with ,arnold beside him1 ,del ,mar shied the chair at their feet4 ,woodward fell over it in a heap and as he did so the delay was all that ,del ,mar had hoped to gain4 ,without a second's hesitation he dived through an open window1 just as ,arnold ran forward1 avoiding ,woodward and the chair4 ,it was spectacular1 but it worked4 ,arnold fired1 but even that was not quick enough4 ,he turned and with ,woodward who had picked himself up in spite of his barked shins and they ran back through the door by which they had entered4 ,recovering himself1 ,del ,mar dashed for the woods just as ,arnold and ,woodward ran around the side of the house1 still blazing away after him1 as they followed1 rapidly gaining4 ,elaine changed her clothes quickly4 ,meanwhile she had ordered horses for both of us and a groom brought them around from the stables4 ,it took me only a short time to jump into some dry things and ,i waited impatiently4 ,she was ready very soon1 however1 and we mounted and cantered off1 again in the direction of the shore where she had seen the remarkable waterfall1 of which she had told me4 ,we had not gone far when we heard sounds1 as if an army were bearing down on us4 ,what's that8 ,i asked4 ,elaine turned and looked4 ,it was a squad of cavalry4 ,why1 it's ,lieutenant ,woodward's friend1 ,captain ,price1 she exclaimed1 waving to the captain at the head of the squad4 ,a moment later ,captain ,price pulled up and bowed4 ,quickly we told him of what ,elaine had just discovered4 ,that's strange1 he said4 ,this man-- indicating the sailor--has just told me that ,lieutenant ,woodward and ,professor ,arnold are investigating a wireless outfit over near there4 ,perhaps there's some connection4 ,may we join you8 she asked4 ,by all means1 he returned4 ,i was about to suggest it myself4 ,we fell in behind with the rest and were off again4 ,under the direction of the sailor we came at last to the ravine where we looked about searchingly for some trace of ,arnold and ,woodward4 ,what's that noise8 exclaimed one of the cavalrymen4 ,we could hear shots1 above us4 ,they may need us1 cried ,elaine1 impatiently4 ,it was impossible to ride up the sheer height above4 ,dismount1 ordered ,captain ,price4 ,his men jumped down and we followed him4 ,elaine struggled up1 now helped by me1 now helping me4 ,further down the hill from the deserted house which we could see above us at the top was an underground passage which had been built to divert part of the water above the falls for power4 ,through it the water surged and over this boiling stream ran a board walk1 the length of the tunnel4 ,into this tunnel we could see that a masked man had made his way4 ,as he did so1 he turned for just a moment and fired a volley of shots4 ,elaine screamed4 ,there were ,arnold and ,woodward1 his targets1 coming on boldly1 as yet unhit4 ,they rushed in after him1 in spite of his running fire1 returning his shots and darting toward the tunnel entrance through which he still blazed back at them4 ,from our end of the ravine1 we could see precisely what was going on4 ,come--the other end of the tunnel1 shouted ,price1 who had evidently been over the ground and knew it4 ,we made our way quickly to it and it seemed as if we had our man trapped1 like a rat in a hole4 ,in the tunnel the man was firing back at his pursuers as he ran along the board walk for our end4 ,he looked up just in time as he approached us4 ,there he could see ,price and his cavalry waiting1 cutting off retreat4 ,we were too many for him4 ,he turned and took a step back4 ,there were ,arnold and ,woodward with levelled guns peering in as though they could not see very clearly4 ,in a moment their eyes would become accustomed as his to the darkness4 ,what should he do8 ,there was not a second to waste4 ,he looked down at the planks beneath him and the black water slipping past on its way to the power station4 ,it was a desperate chance4 ,but it was all that was left4 ,he dropped down and let himself without even a splash into the water4 ,arnold and ,woodward took a step into the darkness1 scarcely knowing what to expect1 their eyes a bit better accustomed to the dusk4 ,but if they had been there an hour1 in all probability they could not have seen what was at their very feet4 ,del ,mar had sunk and was swimming under water in the swift black current sweeping under them4 ,as they entered1 he passed out1 nerved up to desperation4 ,down the stream1 just before it took its final plunge to the power wheel1 ,del ,mar managed by a superhuman effort to reach out and grasp a wooden support of the flooring again and pull himself out of the stream4 ,smiling grimly to himself1 he hurried up the bank4 ,some one's coming1 whispered ,price4 ,get ready4 ,we levelled our guns4 ,i was about to fire4 ,look out6 ,don't shoot6 warned a voice sharply4 ,it was ,elaine4 ,her keen eyes and quick perception had recognized ,arnold1 leading ,woodward4 ,we lowered our guns4 ,did you see a man1 masked1 come out here8 cried ,woodward4 ,no--he must have gone your way1 we called4 ,no1 he couldn't4 ,arnold was eagerly questioning the captain as ,elaine and ,i approached4 ,dropped into the water--risked almost certain death1 he muttered1 half turning and seeing us4 ,i want to congratulate you on your nerve for going in there1 began ,elaine1 advancing toward the professor4 ,apparently he neither heard nor saw us1 for he turned as soon as he had finished with ,price and went into the cave as though he were too busy to pay any attention to anything else4 ,elaine looked up at me1 in blank astonishment4 ,what an impolite man1 she murmured1 gazing at the figure all stooped over as it disappeared in the darkness of the tunnel4 ,,chapter ,,xii ,,the ,,death ,,cloud ,off a lonely wharf in a deserted part of the coast some miles from the promontory which afforded ,del ,mar his secret submarine harbor1 a ship was riding at anchor4 ,on the wharf a group of men1 husky lascars1 were straining their eyes at the mysterious craft4 ,here she comes1 muttered one of the men1 at last4 ,from the ship a large yawl had put out4 ,as she approached the wharf it could be seen that she was loaded to the gunwales with cases and boxes4 ,she drew up close to the wharf and the men fell to unloading her1 lifting up the boxes as though they were weighted with feathers instead of metal and explosives4 ,down the shore1 at the same time1 behind a huge rock1 crouched a rough looking tramp4 ,his interest in the yawl and its cargo was even keener than that of the lascars4 ,supplies1 he muttered1 moving back cautiously and up the bluff4 ,i wonder where they are taking them8 ,marcus ,del ,mar had chosen an old and ruined hotel not far from the shore as his storehouse and arsenal4 ,already he was there1 pacing up and down the rotted veranda which shook under his weight4 ,come1 hurry up1 he called impatiently as the first of the men carrying a huge box on his back made his appearance up the hill4 ,one after another they trooped in and ,del ,mar led them to the hotel1 unlocking the door4 ,inside1 the old hostelry was quite as ramshackle as outside4 ,what had once been the dining-room now held nothing but a long1 rickety table and several chairs4 ,put them there1 ordered ,del ,mar1 directing the disposal of the cases4 ,then you can begin work4 ,i shall be back soon4 ,he went out and as he did so1 two men seized guns from a corner near-by and followed him4 ,on the veranda he paused and turned to the men4 ,if any one approaches the house--any one1 you understand--make him a prisoner and send for me1 he ordered4 ,if he resists1 shoot4 ,yes1 sir1 they replied1 moving over and stationing themselves one at each angle of the narrow paths that ran before the old house4 ,del ,mar turned and plunged deliberately into the bushes1 as if for a cross country walk1 unobserved4 ,meanwhile1 by another path up the bluff1 the tramp had made his way parallel to the line taken by the men4 ,he paused at the top of the bluff where some bushes overhung and parted them4 ,their headquarters1 he remarked to himself1 under his breath4 ,elaine1 ,aunt ,josephine and ,i were on the lawn that forenoon when a groom in resplendent livery came up to us4 ,miss ,elaine ,dodge8 he bowed4 ,elaine took the note he offered and he departed with another bow4 ,oh1 isn't that delightful1 she cried with pleasure1 handing the note to me4 ,i read it3 ,the ,wilkeshire ,country ,club will be honored if ,miss ,dodge and her friends will join the paper chase this afternoon4 ,l4,h4 ,brown1 ,secretary4 ,i suppose a preparation for the fox or drag hunting season8 ,i queried4 ,yes1 she replied4 ,will you go8 ,i don't ride very well1 ,i answered1 but ,i'll go4 ,oh1 and here's ,mr4 ,del ,mar1 she added1 turning4 ,you'll join us at the ,wilkeshire hunt in a paper chase this afternoon1 surely1 ,mr4 ,del ,mar8 ,charmed1 ,i'm sure1 he agreed gracefully4 ,for several minutes we chatted1 planning1 then he withdrew4 ,i shall meet you on the way to the ,club1 he promised4 ,it was not long before ,elaine was ready1 and from the stable a groom led three of the best trained cross-country horses in the neighborhood1 for old ,taylor ,dodge1 ,elaine's father1 had been passionately fond of hunting1 as had been both ,elaine and ,aunt ,josephine4 ,we met on the porch and a few minutes later mounted and cantered away4 ,on the road ,del ,mar joined us and we galloped along to the ,hunt ,club1 careful1 however1 to save the horses as much as possible for the dash over the fields4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,for some time the uncouth tramp continued gazing fixedly out of the bushes at the deserted hotel4 ,suddenly1 he heard a noise and dropped flat on the ground1 looking keenly about4 ,through the trees he could see one of ,del ,mar's men stationed on sentry duty4 ,he was leaning against a tree1 on the alert4 ,the tramp rose cautiously and moved off in another direction to that in which he had been making his way1 endeavoring to flank the sentry4 ,further along1 however1 another of ,del ,mar's men was standing in the same attentive manner near a path that led from the woods4 ,as the tramp approached1 the sentry heard a crackle of the brush and stepped forward4 ,before the tramp knew it1 he was covered by a rifle from the sentry in an unexpected quarter4 ,any one but the sentry1 with half an eye1 might have seen that the fear he showed was cleverly feigned4 ,he threw his hands above his head even before he was ordered and in general was the most tractable captive imaginable4 ,the sentry blew a whistle1 whereat the other sentry ran in4 ,what shall we do with him1 asked the captor4 ,master's orders to take any one to the rendezvous1 responded the other firmly1 and lock him up4 ,together they forced the tramp to march double quick toward the old hotel4 ,one sentry dropped back at the door and the other drove the tramp before him into the hotel1 avoiding the big room on the side where the men were at work and forcing him up-stairs to the attic which had once been the servant's quarters4 ,there was no window in the room and it was empty4 ,the only light came in through a skylight in the roof4 ,the sentry thrust the tramp into this room and tried a door leading to the next room4 ,it was locked4 ,at the point of his gun the sentry frisked the tramp for weapons1 but found none4 ,as he did so the tramp trembled mightily4 ,but no sooner had the sentry gone than the tramp smiled quietly to himself4 ,he tried both doors4 ,they were locked4 ,then he looked at the skylight and meditated4 ,down below1 although he did not know it1 in the bare dining-room which had been arranged into a sort of chemical laboratory1 ,del ,mar's men were engaged in manufacturing gas bombs much like those used in the war in ,europe4 ,before them was a formidable array of bottles and retorts4 ,the containers for the bombs were large and very brittle globes of hard rubber4 ,as the men made the gas and forced it under tremendous pressure into tubes1 they protected themselves by wearing goggles for the eyes and large masks of cloth and saturated cotton over their mouths and noses4 ,satisfied with the safety of his captive1 the sentry made his way down-stairs and out again to report to ,del ,mar4 ,at the bungalow1 ,del ,mar's valet was setting the library in order when he heard a signal in the secret passage4 ,he pressed the button on the desk and opened the panel4 ,from it the sentry entered4 ,where is ,mr4 ,del ,mar8 he asked hurriedly1 looking around4 ,we've been followed to the headquarters by a tramp whom ,i've captured1 and ,i don't know what to do with him4 ,he is not here1 answered the valet4 ,he has gone to the ,country ,club4 ,confound it1 returned the sentry1 vexed at the enforced waste of time4 ,do you think you can reach him8 ,if ,i hurry1 ,i may1 nodded the valet4 ,then do so1 directed the sentry4 ,he moved back into the panel and disappeared while the valet closed it4 ,a moment later he1 too1 picked up his hat and hurried out4 ,at the ,wilkeshire ,club a large number of hunters had arrived for the imitation meet4 ,elaine1 ,aunt ,josephine1 ,del ,mar and myself rode up and were greeted by them as the ,master of ,fox ,hounds assembled us4 ,off a bit1 a splendid pack of hounds was held by the huntsman while they debated whether to hold a paper chase or to try a drag hunt4 ,you start your cross-country riding early1 commented ,del ,mar4 ,yes1 answered ,elaine4 ,you see we can hardly wait until autumn and the weather is so fine and cool1 we feel that we ought to get into trim during the summer4 ,so we have paper chases and drag hunts as soon as we can1 mainly to please the younger set4 ,the chase was just about to start1 when the valet came up4 ,del ,mar caught his eye and excused himself to us4 ,what he said1 we could not hear1 but ,del ,mar frowned1 nodded and dismissed him4 ,just then the horn sounded and we went off1 dashing across the road into a field in full chase after the hounds1 taking the fences and settling down to a good half hour's run over the most beautiful country ,i have ever seen4 ,the hounds had struck the trail1 which of course1 as was finally decided1 was nothing but that laid by an anise-seed bag dragged over the ground4 ,it was none the less1 in fact perhaps more interesting for that4 ,the huntsman winded his horn and mirthful shouts of ,gone away6 sounded in imitation of a real hunt4 ,the blast of the horn once heard is never forgotten1 thrilling the blood and urging one on4 ,the ,m4 ,f4 ,h4 seemed to be everywhere at once1 restraining those who were too eager and saving the hounds often from being ridden down by those new to the hunt who pressed them4 ,elaine was one of the foremost4 ,her hunter was one carefully trained1 and she knew all the tricks of the game4 ,somehow1 ,i got separated1 at first1 from the rest and followed1 until finally ,i caught up1 and then kept behind one of the best riders4 ,del ,mar also got separated1 but1 as ,i afterward learned1 by intention1 for he deliberately rode out of the course at the first opportunity he had and let ,elaine and the rest of us pass without seeing him4 ,elaine's blood was up1 but somehow1 in spite of herself1 she went astray1 for the hounds had distanced the fleetest riders and she1 in an attempt at a short cut over the country which she thought she knew so well1 went a mile or so out of the way4 ,she pulled up in a ravine and looked about4 ,intently she listened4 ,there was no sign of the hunt4 ,she was hot and tired and thirsty and1 at a loss just to join the field again1 she took this chance to dismount and drink from a clear stream fed by mountain springs4 ,as she did so1 floating over the peaceful woodland air came the faint strains of the huntsman's horn1 far1 far off4 ,she looked about1 straining her eyes and ears to catch the direction of sound4 ,just then her horse caught the winding of the horn4 ,his ears went erect and without waiting he instantly galloped off1 leaving her4 ,elaine called and ran after him1 but it was too late4 ,she stopped and looked dejectedly as he disappeared4 ,then she made her way up the side of the ravine1 slowly4 ,on she climbed until1 to her surprise1 she came to the ruins of an old hotel4 ,she remembered1 as a child1 when it had been famous as a health resort1 but it was all changed now--a wreck4 ,she looked at it a moment1 then1 as she had nothing better to do1 approached it4 ,she advanced toward a window of the dining-room and looked in4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,del ,mar waited only until the last straggler had passed4 ,then he dashed off as fast as his horse would carry him straight toward the deserted hotel which served him as headquarters for the supplies he was accumulating4 ,as he rode up1 one of his sentries appeared1 as if from nowhere1 and1 seeing who it was1 saluted4 ,here1 take care of this horse1 ordered ,del ,mar1 dismounting and turning the animal over to the man1 who led him to the rear of the building as ,del ,mar entered the front door1 after giving a secret signal4 ,there were his men in goggles and masks at the work1 which his knock had interrupted4 ,give me a mask before ,i enter the room1 he ordered of the man who had answered his signal4 ,the man handed the mask and goggles to him1 as well as a coat1 which he put on quickly4 ,then he entered the room and looked at the rapid progress of the work4 ,where's the prisoner8 asked ,del ,mar a moment later1 satisfied at the progress of his men4 ,in the attic room1 one of his lieutenants indicated4 ,i'd like to take a look at him1 added ,del ,mar1 just about to turn and leave the room4 ,as he did so1 he happened to glance at one of the windows4 ,there1 peering through the broken shutters1 was a face--a girl's face--,elaine6 ,just what ,i wanted guarded against1 he cried angrily1 pointing at the window4 ,now--get her6 ,the men had sprung up at his alarm4 ,they could all see her and with one accord dashed for the door4 ,elaine sprang back and they ran as they saw that she was warned4 ,in genuine fear now she too ran from the window4 ,but it was too late4 ,for just then the sentry who had taken ,del ,mar's horse came from behind the building cutting off her retreat4 ,he seized her just as the other men ran out4 ,elaine stared4 ,she could make nothing of them4 ,even ,del ,mar1 in his goggles and breathing mask was unrecognizable4 ,take her inside1 he ordered disguising his voice4 ,then to the sentry he added1 ,get on guard again and don't let any one through4 ,elaine was hustled into the big deserted hallway of the hotel1 just as the tramp had been4 ,you may go back to work1 ,del ,mar signed to the other men1 who went on1 leaving one short but athletic looking fellow with ,del ,mar and ,elaine4 ,lock her up1 ,shorty1 ordered ,del ,mar1 and bring the other prisoner to me down here4 ,none too gently the man forced ,elaine up-stairs ahead of him4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in the attic1 the tramp1 pacing up and down1 heard footsteps approach on the stairs and enter the next room4 ,quickly he ran to the doorway and peered through the keyhole4 ,there he could see ,elaine and the small man enter4 ,he locked the door to the hall1 then quickly took a step toward the door into the tramp's room4 ,there was just time enough for the tramp to see his approach4 ,he ran swiftly and softly over to the further corner and dropped down as if sound asleep4 ,the key turned in the lock and the small man entered1 careful to lock the door to ,elaine's room4 ,he moved over to where the tramp was feigning sleep4 ,get up1 he growled1 kicking him4 ,the tramp sat up1 yawning and rubbing his eyes4 ,come now1 be reasonable1 demanded the man4 ,follow me4 ,he started toward the door into the hall4 ,he never reached it4 ,scarcely was his hand on the knob when the tramp seized him and dragged him to the floor4 ,one hand on the man's throat and his knees on his chest1 the tramp tore off the breathing mask and goggles4 ,already he had the man trussed up and gagged4 ,quickly the tramp undressed the man and left him in his underclothes1 still struggling to get loose1 as he took ,shorty's clothes1 including the strange head-gear1 and unlocked the door into the next room with the key he also took from him4 ,elaine was pacing anxiously up and down the little room into which she had been thrown1 greatly frightened4 ,suddenly the door through which her captor had left opened hurriedly again4 ,a most disreputable looking tramp entered and locked the door again4 ,elaine started back in fear4 ,he motioned to her to be quiet4 ,you'll never get out alive1 he whispered1 speaking rapidly and thickly1 as though to disguise his voice4 ,here--take these clothes4 ,do just as ,i say4 ,put them on4 ,put on the mask and goggles4 ,cover up your hair4 ,it is your only chance4 ,he laid the clothes down and went out into the hallway4 ,outside he listened carefully at the head of the stairs and looked about expecting momentarily to be discovered4 ,elaine understood only that suddenly a friend in need had appeared4 ,she changed her clothes quickly1 finding fortunately that they fitted her pretty well4 ,by pulling the hat over her hair and the goggles over her eyes and tying on the breathing mask1 she made a very presentable man4 ,cautiously she pushed open the door into the hallway4 ,there was the tramp4 ,what shall ,i do8 she asked4 ,don't talk1 he whispered close to her ear4 ,go out--and if you meet any one1 just salute and walk past4 ,yes--yes1 ,i understand1 she nodded back1 and--thank you4 ,he gave her no time to say more1 even if it had been safe1 but turned and locked the door of her room4 ,trying to keep the old stairway from creaking and betraying her1 she went down4 ,she managed to reach the lower hallway without seeing anybody or being discovered4 ,quietly she went to the door and out4 ,she had not gone far when she met an armed man1 the sentry1 who had been concealed in the shrubbery4 ,who goes there8 he challenged4 ,elaine did not betray herself by speaking1 but merely saluted and passed on as fast as she could without exciting further suspicion4 ,nonplused1 the man turned and watched her curiously as she moved away down the path4 ,where's ,,he going8 the sentry muttered1 still staring4 ,elaine in her eagerness was not looking as carefully where she was going as she was thinking about getting away in safety4 ,suddenly an overhanging branch of a tree caught her hat and before she knew it pulled it off her head4 ,there was no concealing her golden hair now4 ,stop6 shouted the sentry4 ,elaine did not pause1 but dived into the bushes on the side of the path1 just as the man fired and ran forward1 still shouting for her to halt4 ,she ran as fast as she could1 pulling off the goggles and mask and looking back now and then in terror at her pursuer who was rapidly gaining on her4 ,before she could catch herself she missed her footing and slipped over the edge of a gorge4 ,down she went1 with a rush4 ,it was unfortunate1 dangerous1 but1 after all1 it was the only thing that saved her1 at least for the time4 ,half falling1 half sliding1 scratching herself and tearing her clothes1 she descended4 ,the sentry checked himself just in time at the top of the gorge and leaned as far over the edge as he dared4 ,he raised his gun again and fired4 ,but ,elaine's course was so hidden by the trees and so zigzag that he missed again4 ,a moment he hesitated1 then started and climbed down after her as fast as he could4 ,at the bottom of the hill she picked herself up and dashed again into the woods1 the sentry still after her and gaining again4 ,at the same time1 we who were still in the chase had circled about the country until we were very near where we started4 ,following the dogs over a rail fence1 ,i drew up suddenly1 hearing a scream4 ,there was ,elaine1 on foot1 running as if her life depended on it4 ,i needed no second glance4 ,behind her was a man with a rifle1 almost overtaking her4 ,as luck would have it1 the momentum of my horse carried me right at them4 ,careful to avoid ,elaine1 ,i rode square at the man1 striking at him viciously with my riding crop before he knew what had struck him4 ,the fellow dropped1 stunned4 ,i leaped from my horse and ran to her1 just as the rest of the hunt came up4 ,eagerly questioning us1 they gathered about4 ,having waited until he was sure that ,elaine had got away safely1 the old tramp slowly and carefully followed down the stairs of the ruined hotel4 ,as he went down1 he heard a shot from the woods4 ,could it be one of the sentries8 ,he looked about keenly1 hesitating just what to do4 ,in an instant1 down below1 he heard the scurry of footsteps from the improvised laboratory and shouts4 ,he turned and stealthily ran up-stairs1 just as the door opened4 ,the tramp had not been the only one who had been alarmed by the shot of the sentry4 ,del ,mar was talking again to the men when it rang out4 ,what's that8 he exclaimed4 ,another intruder8 ,the men stared at him blankly1 while ,del ,mar dashed for the door1 followed by them all4 ,in the hall he issued his orders quickly4 ,here1 you fellows1 he called dividing the men1 get outside and see what is doing4 ,you other men follow me4 ,i want you to see if everything's all right up above4 ,meanwhile the tramp had gained the upper hallway and dashed past the room which he occupied4 ,outside1 in the hall1 ,del ,mar and his men rushed up to the door of the room in which ,elaine had been thrown4 ,it was locked and they broke in4 ,she was gone6 ,on into the next room they dashed1 bearing down this door also4 ,there was ,shorty1 trussed up in his underclothes4 ,they hastened to release him4 ,where are they--where's the tramp8 demanded ,del ,mar angrily4 ,i think ,i heard some one on the roof1 replied ,shorty weakly4 ,he was right4 ,the tramp had managed to get through a scuttle on the roof4 ,then he climbed down to the edge and began to let himself hand over hand down the lightning rod4 ,reaching the ground safely1 he scurried about to the back of the building4 ,there1 tied1 was the horse which ,del ,mar had ridden to the hunt4 ,he untied it1 mounted and dashed off down the path through the woods1 taking the shortest cut in the direction of ,fort ,dale4 ,dusty and flecked with foam1 the tramp and his mount1 a strange combination1 were instantly challenged by the sentry at the ,fort4 ,i must see ,lieutenant ,woodward immediately1 urged the tramp4 ,a heated argument followed until finally a corporal of the guards was called and led off the tramp toward the headquarters4 ,it was only a few minutes before ,woodward was convinced of the identity of the tramp with his friend1 ,professor ,arnold4 ,at the head of a squad of cavalry1 ,woodward and the tramp dashed off4 ,already on the qui vive1 ,elaine heard the sound of hoof-beats long before the rest of us crowded around her4 ,for the moment we all stood ready to repel an attack from any quarter4 ,but it was not meant for us4 ,it was ,woodward at the head of a score or so of cavalrymen4 ,with him rode a tramp on a horse which was strangely familiar to me4 ,oh1 cried ,elaine1 there's the man who saved me6 ,as they passed1 the tramp paused a moment and looked at us sharply4 ,although he carefully avoided ,elaine's eyes1 ,i fancied that only when he saw that she was safe was he satisfied to gallop off and rejoin the cavalry4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,around the old hotel1 in every direction1 ,del ,mar's men were searching for the tramp and ,elaine1 while in the hotel another search was in progress4 ,have you discovered anything8 asked ,del ,mar1 entering4 ,no1 sir1 they reported4 ,confound it6 swore ,del ,mar1 going up-stairs again4 ,here also were men searching4 ,find anything8 he asked briefly4 ,no luck1 returned one4 ,del ,mar went on up to the top floor and out through the open scuttle to the roof4 ,that's how he got away1 all right1 he muttered to himself1 then looking up he exclaimed under his breath1 as his eye caught something far off1 ,the deuce--what's that8 ,leaning down to the scuttle1 he called1 ,jenkins--my field-glasses--quick6 ,one of his men handed them to him and he adjusted them1 gazing off intently4 ,there he could see what looked like a squad of cavalry galloping along headed by an officer and a rough looking individual4 ,come--we must get ready for an attack6 he shouted diving down the scuttle again4 ,in the laboratory dining-room1 his men1 recalled1 hastily took his orders4 ,each of them seized one of the huge black rubber newly completed gas bombs and ran out1 making for a grove near-by4 ,quickly as ,del ,mar had acted1 it was not done so fast but that the troop of cavalry as they pulled up on the top of a hill and followed the directing finger of the tramp could see men running to the cover of the grove4 ,forward6 shouted ,woodward4 ,as if all were one machine1 the men and horses shot ahead1 until they came to the grove about the old hotel4 ,there they dismounted and spread out in a semi-circular order1 advancing on the grove4 ,as they did so1 shots rang out from behind the trees4 ,del ,mar's men1 from the shelter were firing at them4 ,but it seemed hopeless for the fugitives4 ,ready6 ordered ,del ,mar as the cavalrymen advanced1 relentless4 ,each of his men picked up one of the big black gas bombs and held it high up over his head4 ,come on6 urged ,woodward4 ,his men broke into a charge on the grove4 ,throw them6 ordered ,del ,mar4 ,as far as he could hurl it1 each of the men sent one of the black globes hurtling through the air4 ,they fell almost simultaneously1 a long line of them1 each breaking into a thousand bits4 ,instantly dense1 greenish-yellow fumes seemed to pour forth1 enveloping everything4 ,the wind which ,del ,mar had carefully noted when he chose the position in the grove1 was blowing from his men toward the only position from which an attack could be made successfully4 ,against ,woodward's men as they charged1 it seemed as if a tremendous1 slow-moving wall of vapor were advancing from the trees4 ,it was only a moment before it completely wrapped them in its stifling1 choking1 suffocating embrace4 ,some fell1 overcome4 ,others tried to run1 clutching frantically at their throats and rubbing their eyes4 ,get back--quick--till it rolls over1 choked ,woodward4 ,those who were able to do so1 picked up their stupefied comrades and retreated1 as best they could1 stumbling blindly back from the fearful death cloud of chlorine4 ,meantime1 under cover of this weird defence1 ,del ,mar and his men1 their own faces covered and unrecognizable in their breathing masks and goggles1 dashed to one side1 with a shout and disappeared walking and running behind and even through the safety of their impregnable gas barrier4 ,more slowly we of the hunt had followed ,woodward's cavalry until1 some distance off1 we stood1 witnessing and wondering at the attack4 ,to our utter amazement we saw them carrying off their wounded and stupefied men4 ,we hurried forward and gathered about1 offering whatever assistance we could to resuscitate them4 ,as ,elaine and ,i helped1 we saw the unkempt figure of the tramp borne in and laid down4 ,he was not completely overcome1 having had presence of mind to tie a handkerchief over his nose and mouth4 ,elaine hurried toward him with an exclamation of sympathy4 ,just recovering full consciousness1 he heard her4 ,with the greatest difficulty1 he seemed to summon some reserve force not yet used4 ,he struggled to his feet and staggered off1 as though he would escape us4 ,what a strange old codger1 mused ,elaine1 looking from me at the retreating figure4 ,he saved my life--yet he won't even let me thank him--or help him6 ,,chapter ,,xiii ,,the ,,searchlight ,,gun ,i don't understand it1 remarked ,elaine one day as1 with ,aunt ,josephine and myself1 she was discussing the strange events that had occurred since the disappearance of ,kennedy1 but1 somehow1 it is as if a strange ,providence seems to be watching over us4 ,nor do ,i1 ,i agreed4 ,it does seem that1 although we do not see it1 a mysterious power for good is about us4 ,it's uncanny4 ,a package for you1 ,miss ,dodge1 announced ,marie1 coming in with a small parcel which had been delivered by a messenger who did not wait for an answer4 ,elaine took it1 looked at it1 turned it over1 and then looked at the written address again4 ,it's not the handwriting of any one which ,i recognize1 she mused4 ,now1 ,i suppose ,i ought to be suspicious of it ,yet1 ,i'm going to open it4 ,she did so4 ,inside1 the paper wrapping covered a pasteboard box4 ,she opened that4 ,there lay a revolver1 which she picked up and turned over4 ,it was a curious looking weapon4 ,i never knew so much about firearms as ,i have learned in the past few weeks1 remarked ,elaine4 ,but what do you suppose this is--and who sent it to me--and why8 ,she held the gun up4 ,from the barrel stuck out a little rolled-up piece of paper4 ,see1 she cried1 reading and handing the paper to me1 there it is again--that mysterious power4 ,aunt ,josephine and ,i read the note3 ,,dear ,,miss ,,dodge3 ,this weapon shoots exactly into the center of the light disc4 ,keep it by you4--,a ,,friend4 ,let me see it1 ,i asked1 taking the gun4 ,sure enough1 along the barrel was a peculiar tube4 ,a searchlight gun1 ,i exclaimed1 puzzled1 though still my suspicions were not entirely at rest4 ,suppose it's sighted wrong1 ,i could not help considering4 ,it might be a plant to save some one from being shot4 ,that's easily settled1 returned ,elaine4 ,let's try it4 ,oh1 mercy no1--not here1 remonstrated ,aunt ,josephine4 ,why not--down cellar8 persisted ,elaine4 ,it can't hurt anything there4 ,i think it would be a good plan1 ,i agreed1 just to make sure that it is all right4 ,accordingly we three went down cellar4 ,there1 ,elaine found the light switch and turned it4 ,eagerly ,i hunted about for a mark4 ,there1 in some rubbish that had not yet been carted away1 was a small china plate4 ,i set it up on a small shelf across the room and took the gun4 ,but ,elaine playfully wrenched it from my hand4 ,no1 she insisted1 it was sent to me4 ,let me try it first4 ,reluctantly ,i consented4 ,switch off the light1 ,walter1 please1 she directed1 standing a few paces from the plate4 ,i did so4 ,in the darkness ,elaine pointed the gun and pulled a little ratchet4 ,instantly a spot of light showed on the wall4 ,she moved the revolver and the spot of light moved with it4 ,as it rested on a little decorative figure in the center of the plate1 she pulled the trigger4 ,the gun exploded with a report1 deafening1 in the confined cellar4 ,i switched on the light and we ran forward4 ,there was the plate--smashed into a hundred bits4 ,the bullet had struck exactly in the centre of the little bull's-eye of light4 ,splendid1 cried ,elaine enthusiastically1 as we looked at each other in surprise4 ,though none of us guessed it1 half an hour before1 in the seclusion of his yacht1 ,woodward's friend1 ,professor ,arnold1 had been standing with the long barrelled gun in his hand1 adjusting the tube which ran beneath the barrel4 ,in one hand he held the gun2 in the other was a piece of paper4 ,as he brought the paper before the muzzle and pressed a ratchet by gripping the revolver handle1 a distinct light appeared on the paper1 thrown out from the tube under the barrel4 ,having adjusted the tube and sighted it1 ,arnold wrote a hasty note on another piece of paper and inserted it into the barrel of the gun1 with the end sticking out just a bit4 ,then he wrapped the whole thing up in a box1 rang a bell1 and handed the package to a servant with explicit instructions as to its delivery to the right person and only to that person4 ,down in the submarine harbor1 ,del ,mar was in conference with his board of strategy and advice1 laying the plan for the attack on ,america4 ,ever since we have been at work1 he remarked1 ,elaine ,dodge has been busy hindering and frustrating us4 ,that girl must go6 ,before him1 on the table1 he placed a square package4 ,it must stop1 he added ominously1 tapping the package4 ,but how8 asked one of the men4 ,we've done our best4 ,this is a bomb1 replied ,del ,mar1 continuing to tap the package4 ,when our man--let me see1 ,x had better do it1--arrives1 have him look in the secret cavern by the landing-place4 ,there ,i will leave it4 ,i want him to put it in her house to-night4 ,he handed the bomb to one of his men who took it gingerly4 ,then with a few more words of admonition1 he took up his diving helmet and left the headquarters1 followed by the man4 ,several minutes later1 ,del ,mar1 alone1 emerged from the water just outside the submarine harbor and took off his helmet4 ,he made his way over the rocks1 carrying the bomb1 until he came to a little fissure in the rocks1 like a cavern4 ,there he hid the bomb carefully4 ,still carrying the helmet1 he hurried along until he came to the cave entrance that led to the secret passage to the panel in his bungalow library4 ,up through the secret passage he went1 reaching the panel and opening it by a spring4 ,in the library ,del ,mar changed his wet clothes and hid them1 then set to work on an accumulation of papers on his desk4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,that afternoon1 ,elaine decided to go for a little ride through the country in her runabout4 ,as she started to leave her room1 dressed for the trip1 it was as though a premonition of danger came to her4 ,she paused1 then turned back and took from the drawer the searchlight gun which had been sent to her4 ,she slipped it into the pocket of her skirt and went out4 ,off she drove at a fast clip1 thoroughly enjoying the ride until1 near a bend in the road1 as it swept down toward the shore1 she stopped and got out1 attracted by some wild flowers4 ,they grew in such profusion that it seemed no time before she had a bunch of them4 ,on she wandered1 down to the rocks1 watching the restless waters of the ,sound4 ,finally she found herself walking alone along the shore1 one arm full of flowers1 while with her free hand she amused herself by skimming flat stones over the water4 ,as she turned to pick up one1 her eye caught something in the rocks and she stared at it4 ,there in a crevice1 as though it had been hidden1 was a strange square package4 ,she reached down and picked it up4 ,what could it be8 ,while she was examining it1 back of her1 another of those strange be-helmeted figures came up out of the water4 ,it watched her for an instant1 then sank back into the water again4 ,elaine1 holding the package in her hand1 walked up the shore1 oblivious to the strange eye that had been fixed on her4 ,i must show this to ,lieutenant ,woodward1 she said to herself4 ,in the car she placed the package1 then jumped in herself carefully and started off4 ,a moment after she had gone1 the diver reappeared1 looking about cautiously4 ,this time the coast was clear and he came all the way out1 taking off his helmet and placed it in the secret hiding-place which ,del ,mar and his men used4 ,then1 with another glance1 now of anger1 in the direction of ,elaine1 he hurried up the shore4 ,meanwhile1 as fast as her light runabout would carry her1 ,elaine whizzed over to ,fort ,dale4 ,as she entered the grounds1 the sentry saluted her1 though that part of the formalities of admission was purely perfunctory1 for every one at the ,fort knew her now4 ,is ,lieutenant ,woodward in8 she inquired4 ,yes ma'am1 returned the sentry4 ,i will send for him4 ,a corporal appeared and took a message for her to ,woodward4 ,it was only a few minutes before ,lieutenant ,woodward himself appeared4 ,what is the trouble1 ,miss ,dodge8 he asked solicitously1 noting the look on her face4 ,i don't know what it is1 she replied dubiously4 ,i've found something among the rocks4 ,perhaps it is a bomb4 ,woodward looked at the package1 studying it4 ,professor ,arnold is investigating this affair for us1 he remarked4 ,perhaps you'd better take the package to him on his yacht4 ,i'm sorry ,i can't go with you1 but just now ,i'm on duty4 ,that's a good idea1 she agreed4 ,only ,i'm sorry you can't go along with me4 ,she started up the car and drove off as ,woodward turned back to the ,fort with a lingering look4 ,del ,mar was hard at work in the library when1 suddenly1 he heard a sound at the panel4 ,he reached over and pressed a button on his desk1 and the panel opened4 ,through it came the diver still wearing his dripping suit and carrying the weird helmet under his arm4 ,that ,dodge girl has crossed us again6 he exclaimed excitedly4 ,how8 demanded ,del ,mar1 with an oath4 ,i saw her on the rocks just now4 ,she happened to stumble on the bomb which you left there to be placed4 ,and then8 demanded ,del ,mar4 ,she took it with her in her car4 ,the deuce6 ejaculated the foreign agent1 furiously4 ,you must get the men out and hunt the country thoroughly4 ,she must not escape now at any cost4 ,the diving man dove back into the panel to escape ,del ,mar's wrath1 while ,del ,mar hurried out1 leaving his valet in the library4 ,quickly1 ,del ,mar made his way to a secret hiding-place in the hills back of the bay4 ,there he found his picked band of men armed with rifles4 ,as briefly as he could he told them of what had happened4 ,we must get her this time--dead or alive1 he ordered4 ,now scatter about the country4 ,keep in touch with each other and when you find her1 close in on her at any cost4 ,the men saluted and left in various directions to scour the country4 ,del ,mar himself picked up a rifle and followed shortly1 passing down a secret trail to the road where he had a car with a chauffeur waiting4 ,still carrying the rifle1 he climbed in and the man shot the car along down the road4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,on the top of a hill one of the men was posted as a sort of lookout4 ,gazing over the country carefully1 his eye was finally arrested by something at which he stared eagerly4 ,far away1 on the road1 he could see a car in which was a girl1 alone4 ,waving in the breeze was a red feather in her hat4 ,he looked more sharply4 ,it was ,elaine ,dodge4 ,the man turned and waved a signal with a handkerchief to another man far off4 ,down the valley another of ,del ,mar's men was waiting and watching4 ,as soon as he saw the signal1 he waved back and ran along the road4 ,as ,del ,mar whizzed along1 he could see one of his men approaching over the road1 waving to him4 ,stop6 he ordered his driver4 ,the man hurried forward4 ,i've got the signal1 he panted4 ,they have seen her car over the hill4 ,good1 exclaimed ,del ,mar1 pulling a black silk mask over his eyes4 ,now1 get off quickly4 ,we've got to catch her4 ,they sped away again in a cloud of dust4 ,but even while ,del ,mar was speeding toward her1 another of his men had discovered her presence1 so vigilant were they4 ,he had been keeping a sharp watch on the road1 when he was suddenly all attention4 ,he saw a car1 through the foliage4 ,quickly1 his rifle went to his shoulder4 ,through the sight he could just cover ,elaine's head1 for her hat1 with a bright red feather in it1 showed plainly just over the bushes4 ,he aimed carefully and fired4 ,i had been out for a tramp over the hills with no destination in particular4 ,as ,i swung along the road1 ,i heard the throbbing of a car coming up the hill1 the cut-out open4 ,i turned1 for cars make walking on country roads somewhat hazardous nowadays4 ,as ,i did so1 some one in the car waved to me4 ,i looked again4 ,it was ,elaine4 ,where are you going8 she called4 ,where are ,,you going8 ,i returned1 laughing4 ,i've just had a very queer experience--found something down on the rocks1 she replied seriously1 pointing to the square package on the floor of the car4 ,i took it to ,lieutenant ,woodward and he advised me to take it to ,professor ,arnold on his yacht4 ,i think it is a bomb4 ,i wish you'd go with me4 ,before ,i could answer1 up the hill a rifle shot cracked4 ,there was a whirr in the air and a bullet sang past us1 cutting the red feather off ,elaine's hat4 ,duck6 ,i cried1 jumping into the car1 ,and drive like the dickens6 ,she turned and we fairly ricocheted down that road back again4 ,behind us1 a man1 a stranger whom we did not pause to observe1 rushed from the bushes and fired after us again4 ,suddenly another rifle shot cracked4 ,it was from another car that had stealthily sneaked up on us--coming fast1 recklessly4 ,there's her car1 pointed one of the occupants to a man who was masked in black4 ,yes1 he nodded4 ,give her a little more gas6' ,crouch down1 ,i muttered1 as low as you can4 ,we did so1 racing for life1 the more powerful motor behind us overhauling us every instant4 ,we were coming to a very narrow part of the road where it turned1 on one side a sheer hill1 on the other a stream several feet down4 ,if we had an accident1 ,i thought1 it might be ticklish for us1 supposing the square package really to be a bomb4 ,what if it should go off8 ,the idea suggested another1 instantly4 ,the car behind was only a few feet off4 ,as we reached the narrow road by the stream1 ,i rose up4 ,as far as ,i could1 back of me1 ,i hurled the infernal machine4 ,it fell4 ,we received a shower of dirt and small stones1 but the cover of the car protected us4 ,where the bomb landed1 however1 it cut a deep hole in the roadway4 ,on came ,del ,mar's car1 the driver frantically tugging at the emergency brake4 ,but it was of no use4 ,there was not room to turn aside4 ,the car crashed into the hole1 like a gigantic plow4 ,it took one header over the side of the road and down several feet into the stream1 just as the masked man and the driver jumped far ahead into the water4 ,safe now in our car which was slackening its terrific speed1 ,i looked back4 ,they've been thrown6 ,i cried4 ,we're all right4 ,on the edge of the water1 just covered by some wreckage1 the chauffeur lay motionless4 ,the masked man crawled from under the wreckage and looked at him a moment4 ,dead6 he exclaimed1 still mechanically gripping a rifle in his hand4 ,angrily he raised it at us and fired4 ,a moment later1 some other men gathered from all directions about him1 each armed4 ,don't mind the wreck1 he cried1 exasperated4 ,fire6 ,a volley was delivered at us4 ,but the distance was now apparently too great4 ,we were just congratulating ourselves on our escape1 when a stray shot whizzed past1 striking a piece directly out of the head of the steering-post1 almost under ,elaine's hands4 ,naturally she lost control1 though fortunately we were not going so fast now4 ,crazily1 our car swerved from side to side of the road1 as she vainly tried to control both its speed and direction4 ,on the very edge of the ditch1 however1 it stopped4 ,we looked back4 ,there we could see a group of men who seemed to spring out of the woods1 as if from nowhere1 at the sound of the shots4 ,a shout went up at the sight of the bullet taking effect1 and they ran forward at us4 ,one of their number1 ,i could see1 masked1 who had been in the wrecked car1 stumbled forward weakly1 until finally he sank down4 ,a couple of the others ran to him4 ,go on1 he must have urged vehemently4 ,one of you is enough to stay with me4 ,i'm going back to the submarine harbor4 ,the rest--go on--report to me there4 ,as the rest ran toward us1 there was nothing for us to do but to abandon the car ourselves and run for it4 ,we left the road and struck into the trackless woods1 followed closely now by two of the men who had outdistanced the rest4 ,through the woods we fled1 taking advantage of such shelter as we could find4 ,look1 here's a cave1 cried ,elaine1 as we plunged1 exhausted and about ready to drop1 down into a ravine4 ,we hurried in and the bushes swung over the cave entrance4 ,inside we stopped short and gazed about4 ,it was dark and gloomy4 ,we looked back4 ,there was no hope there4 ,they had been overtaking us4 ,on down a passageway1 we went4 ,the two men who were pursuing us plunged down the ravine also4 ,as ill-luck would have it1 they saw the cave entrance and dashed in1 then halted4 ,crouching in the shadow we could see their figures silhouetted in the dim light of the entrance of the cavern4 ,one stopped at the entrance while the other advanced4 ,he was a big fellow and powerfully built and the other fellow was equally burly4 ,i made up my mind to fight to the last though ,i knew it was hopeless4 ,it was dark4 ,i could not even see the man advancing now4 ,quickly ,elaine reached into her pocket and drew out something4 ,here1 ,walter1 take this1 she cried4 ,i seized the object4 ,it was the searchlight gun4 ,hastily ,i aimed it1 the spot of light glowing brightly4 ,indeed1 ,i doubt whether ,i could have shot very accurately otherwise4 ,as the man approached cautiously down the passageway the bright disc of light danced about until finally it fell full on his breast4 ,i fired4 ,the man fell forward instantly4 ,again ,i fired1 this time at the man in the cave entrance4 ,he jumped back1 dropping his gun which exploded harmlessly4 ,his hand was wounded4 ,quickly he drew back and disappeared among the trees4 ,we waited in tense silence1 and then cautiously looked out of the mouth of the cave4 ,no one seemed to be about4 ,come--let's make a dash for it1 urged ,elaine4 ,we ran out and hurried on down the ravine1 apparently not followed4 ,back among the trees1 however1 the man had picked up a rifle which he had hidden4 ,while he was binding up his hand with a handkerchief1 he saw us4 ,painfully he tried to aim his gun4 ,but it was too heavy for his weakened arm and the pain was too great4 ,he had to lower it4 ,with a muttered imprecation1 he followed us at a distance4 ,evidently1 to us1 we had eluded the pursuers1 for no one seemed now to be following1 at least as far as we could determine4 ,we kept on1 however1 until we came to the water's edge4 ,there1 down the bay1 we could see ,professor ,arnold's yacht4 ,let us see ,professor ,arnold1 anyhow1 said ,elaine1 leading the way along the shore4 ,we came at last1 without being molested1 to a little dock4 ,a sailor was standing beside it and moored to it was a swift motor-boat4 ,out at anchor was the yacht4 ,you are ,professor ,arnold's man8 asked ,elaine4 ,yes'm1 he replied1 remembering her4 ,is the ,professor out on his boat8 we asked4 ,he nodded4 ,did you want to see him8 ,very much1 answered ,elaine4 ,i'll take you out1 he offered4 ,we jumped into the motor-boat1 he started the engine and we planed out over the water4 ,though we did not see him1 the man whom ,i had wounded was still watching us from the shore1 noting every move4 ,he had followed us at a distance across the woods and fields and down along the shore to the dock1 had seen us talking to ,arnold's man1 and get into the boat4 ,from the shore he continued to watch us skim across the bay and pull up alongside the yacht4 ,as we climbed the ladder1 he turned and hurried back the way he had come4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine and ,i climbed aboard the yacht where we could see the ,professor sitting in a wicker deck chair4 ,why1 how do you do8 he welcomed us1 adjusting his glasses so that his eyes seemed1 if anything1 more opaque than before4 ,i could not help thinking that1 although he was glad to see us1 there was a certain air of restraint about him4 ,quickly ,elaine related the story of finding the bomb in the rocks and the peculiar events and our escape which followed4 ,once1 at the mention of the searchlight gun1 ,professor ,arnold raised his hand and coughed back of it4 ,i felt sure that it was to hide an involuntary expression of satisfaction and that it must be he who had sent the gun to ,elaine4 ,he was listening attentively to her1 while ,i stood by the rail1 now and then looking out over the water4 ,far away ,i noted something moving over the surface1 like a rod1 followed by a thin wake of foam4 ,look6 ,i exclaimed1 ,what's that8 ,elaine turned to me1 as ,arnold seized his glasses4 ,why1 it seems to be moving directly at us1 exclaimed ,elaine4 ,by ,george1 it's the periscope of a submarine1 cried ,arnold a moment later1 lowering his glasses4 ,he did not hesitate an instant4 ,get the yacht under way1 he ordered the captain1 who immediately shouted his orders to the rest4 ,quickly the engine started and we plowed ahead1 that ominous looking periscope following4 ,in the submarine harbor to which he had been taken1 ,del ,mar found that he had been pretty badly shaken up by the accident to his car4 ,his clothes were torn and his face and body scratched4 ,no bones were broken1 however1 though the shock had been great4 ,several of his men were endeavoring to fix him up in the little submarine office1 but he was angry1 very angry4 ,at such a juncture1 a man in a dripping diving-suit entered and pulled off his helmet1 after what had evidently been a hasty trip from the land through the entrance and up again into the harbor4 ,as he approached1 ,del ,mar saw that the man's hand was bound up4 ,what's the matter8 demanded ,del ,mar4 ,how did you get that8 ,that fellow ,jameson and the girl did it1 he replied1 telling what had happened in the cave4 ,some one must have given them one of those new searchlight guns4 ,del ,mar1 already ugly1 was beside himself with rage now4 ,where are they8 he asked4 ,i saw them go out to the yacht of that ,professor ,arnold4 ,he's the fellow that gave her the gun1 almost hissed ,del ,mar4 ,on the yacht1 are they8 ,an evil smile seemed to spread over his face4 ,then we'll get them all1 this time4 ,man the submarine--the ,z#ii4 ,all left the office on the run1 hurrying around the ledge and down into the open hatch of the submarine4 ,del ,mar came along a moment later1 giving orders sharply and quickly4 ,the hatch was closed and the vessel sealed4 ,on all sides were electrical devices and machines to operate the craft and the torpedoes--an intricate system of things which it seemed as if no human mind could possibly understand4 ,del ,mar threw on a switch4 ,the submarine hummed and trembled4 ,slowly she sank in the harbor until she was at the level of the underwater entrance through the rocks4 ,carefully she was guided out through this entrance into the waters of the larger1 real harbor4 ,del ,mar took his place at the periscope1 the eye of the submarine4 ,anxiously he turned it about and bent over the image which it projected4 ,there it is1 he muttered1 picking out ,arnold's yacht and changing the course of the submarine so that it was headed directly at it1 the planes turned so that they kept the boat just under the surface with only the periscope showing above4 ,forward1 about the torpedo discharge tubes men were busy1 testing the doors1 and getting ready the big automobile torpedoes4 ,they must have seen us1 muttered ,del ,mar4 ,they've started the yacht4 ,but we can beat them1 easily4 ,are you ready8 ,yes1 called back the men forward1 pushing a torpedo into the lock-like compartment from which it was launched4 ,let it go1 then1 bellowed ,del ,mar4 ,the torpedo shot out into the water1 travelling under her own power1 straight at the yacht4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine and ,i looked back4 ,the periscope was much nearer than before4 ,can we outdistance the submarine8 ,i asked of ,arnold4 ,arnold shook his head1 his face grave4 ,on came the thin line of foam4 ,i'm afraid we'll have to leave the yacht1 he said warningly4 ,my little motor-boat is much faster4 ,arnold shouted his orders as he led us down the ladder to the motor-boat into which we jumped1 followed by as many of the crew as could get in1 while the others leaped into the water from the rail of the yacht and struck out for the shore which was not very distant4 ,what's that8 cried ,elaine1 horrified1 pointing back4 ,the water seemed to be all churned up4 ,a long cigar-shaped affair was slipping along near enough to the surface so that we could just make it out--murderous1 deadly1 aimed right at the heart of the yacht4 ,a torpedo6 exclaimed ,arnold4 ,cast off6 ,we moved off from the yacht as swiftly as the speedy little open motor-boat would carry us1 not a minute too soon4 ,the torpedo struck the yacht almost exactly amidships4 ,a huge column of water spurted up into the air as though a gigantic whale were blowing off4 ,the yacht itself seemed lifted from the water and literally broken in half like a brittle rod of glass and dropped back into the water4 ,below in the submarine1 ,del ,mar was still at the periscope directing things4 ,a hit6 he cried exultingly4 ,we got the whole bunch this time6 ,he turned to the men to congratulate them1 a smile on his evil face4 ,but as he looked again1 he caught sight of our little motor-boat skimming safely away on the other side of the wreck4 ,the deuce6 he muttered4 ,try another4 ,here's the direction4 ,furiously he swore as the men guided the submarine and loaded another torpedo into a tube4 ,as the tube came into position1 they let the torpedo go4 ,an instant later it was hissing its way at us4 ,see1 there's another6 ,i cried1 catching sight of it4 ,all looked4 ,sure enough1 through the water could be seen another of those murderous messengers dashing at us4 ,arnold ran forward and seized the wheel himself1 swinging the boat around hard to starboard and the land4 ,we turned just in time4 ,the torpedo1 brainless but deadly1 dashed past us harmlessly4 ,as fast as we could now we made for the shore4 ,no one could catch us with such a start1 not even the swiftest torpedo4 ,we had been rescued by ,arnold's quick wit from a most desperate situation4 ,somewhere below the water1 ,i could imagine a man consumed with fury over our escape1 as the periscope disappeared and the submarine made off4 ,we were safe4 ,but1 looking out over the water1 we could not help shuddering at the perils beneath its apparently peaceful surface4 ,,chapter ,,xiv ,,the ,,life ,,chain ,early one morning1 a very handsome woman of the adventuress type arrived with several trunks at the big summer hotel1 just outside the town1 the ,st4 ,germain4 ,among the many fashionable people at the watering-place1 however1 she attracted no great attention and in the forenoon she quietly went out in her motor for a ride4 ,it was ,madame ,larenz1 one of ,del ,mar's secret agents who1 up to this time1 had been engaged in spying on wealthy and impressionable ,american manufacturers4 ,her airing brought her1 finally1 to the bungalow of ,del ,mar and there she was admitted in a manner that showed that ,del ,mar trusted her highly4 ,now1 he instructed1 after a few minutes chat1 ,i want you to get acquainted with ,miss ,dodge4 ,you know how to interest her4 ,she's quite human4 ,pretty gowns appeal to her4 ,get her to the ,st4 ,germain4 ,then ,i'll tell you what to do4 ,a few minutes later the woman left in her car1 so rapidly driven that no one would recognize her4 ,it was early in the afternoon that ,aunt ,josephine was sitting on the veranda1 when an automobile drove up and a very stylishly gowned and bonnetted woman stepped out4 ,good afternoon1 she greeted ,aunt ,josephine ingratiatingly as she approached the house4 ,i am ,madame ,larenz of ,new ,york and ,paris4 ,perhaps you have heard of my shops on ,fifth ,avenue and the ,rue de la ,paix4 ,aunt ,josephine had heard the name1 though she did not know that this woman had assumed it without being in any way connected with the places she mentioned4 ,i'm establishing a new sort of summer service at the better resorts1 the woman explained4 ,you see1 my people find it annoying to go into the city for gowns4 ,so ,i am bringing the latest ,paris models out to them4 ,is ,miss ,dodge at home8 ,i think she is playing tennis1 returned ,aunt ,josephine4 ,oh1 yes1 ,i see her1 thank you1 the woman murmured1 moving toward the tennis court1 back of the house4 ,elaine and ,i had agreed to play a couple of games and were tossing rackets for position4 ,very well1 laughed ,elaine1 as she won the toss1 take the other court4 ,it was a cool day and ,i felt in good spirits4 ,just to see whether ,i could do it still1 ,i jumped over the net4 ,our game had scarcely started when we were interrupted by the approach of a stunning looking woman4 ,miss ,dodge8 she greeted4 ,will you excuse me a moment8 ,elaine paused in serving the ball and the woman handed her a card from her delicate gold mesh bag4 ,it read simply3 ,mme4 ,larenz ,paris ,gowns ,elaine looked at the card a moment while the woman repeated what she had already told ,aunt ,josephine4 ,you have them here1 then8 queried ,elaine1 interested4 ,yes1 ,i have some very exclusive models which ,i am showing at my suite in the ,st4 ,germain4 ,oh1 how lovely1 exclaimed ,elaine4 ,i must see them4 ,they talked a few minutes1 while ,i waited patiently for ,elaine to start the game again4 ,that game1 however1 was destined never to be finished4 ,more weighty matters were under discussion4 ,i wondered what they were talking about and1 suppressing a yawn1 ,i walked toward them4 ,as ,i approached1 ,i heard scattered remarks about styles and dress fabrics4 ,elaine had completely forgotten tennis and me4 ,she took a couple of steps away from the court with the woman1 as ,i came up4 ,aren't you going to play8 ,i asked4 ,i know you'll excuse me1 ,walter1 smiled ,elaine4 ,my frocks are all so frightfully out of date4 ,and here's a chance to get new ones1 very reasonably1 too4 ,they walked off and ,i could not help scowling at the visitor4 ,on toward the house ,elaine and ,madame ,larenz proceeded and around it to the front porch where ,aunt ,josephine was standing4 ,just think1 ,auntie1 cried ,elaine1 real ,paris gowns down here without the trouble of going to the city--and cheaply1 too4 ,aunt ,josephine was only mildly interested1 but that did not seem to worry ,madame ,larenz4 ,i shall be glad to see you at three1 ,miss ,dodge1 she said as she got into her car again and drove off4 ,by that time1 ,i had caught up with ,elaine again4 ,just one game1 ,i urged4 ,please excuse me1--this time1 ,walter1 she pleaded1 laughing4 ,you don't know how sadly ,i'm in need of new frocks4 ,it was no use of further urging her4 ,tennis was out of her mind for good that day4 ,accordingly1 ,i mounted to my room and there quickly donned my riding clothes4 ,when ,i came down1 ,i found ,aunt ,josephine still on the veranda4 ,in addition to my horse which ,i had telephoned for1 ,elaine's little runabout had been driven to the door4 ,while ,i was talking to ,aunt ,josephine1 ,elaine came down-stairs and walked over to the car4 ,may ,i go with you8 ,i pleaded4 ,no1 ,walter1 she replied laughing merrily4 ,you can't go4 ,i want to try them on4 ,properly squelched1 ,i retreated4 ,elaine drove away and a moment later1 ,i mounted and cantered off leisurely4 ,near ,del ,mar's bungalow might have been seen again the mysterious naturalist1 walking along the road with a butterfly net in his hand and what appeared to be a leather specimen case1 perhaps six inches long1 under his other arm4 ,as ,madame ,larenz whizzed past in her car1 he looked up keenly in spite of his seeming near-sightedness and huge smoked glasses4 ,he watched her closely1 noting the number of the car1 then turned and followed it4 ,madame ,larenz drew up1 a second time1 before ,del ,mar's4 ,as she got out and entered1 the naturalist1 having quickened his pace1 came up and watched her go in4 ,then1 after taking in the situation for a moment1 he made his way around the side of the bungalow4 ,is ,mr4 ,del ,mar at home8 inquired ,madame ,larenz1 as the valet ushered her into the library4 ,no ma'am1 he returned4 ,mr4 ,del ,mar is out4 ,but he left word that if you came before he got back1 you were to leave word4 ,the woman sat down at the desk and wrote hastily4 ,when she had finished the short note1 she read it over and folded it up4 ,tell ,mr4 ,del ,mar ,i've left a note here on his desk1 she said to the valet4 ,a moment later she left the library1 followed by the valet1 who accompanied her to her car and assisted her in4 ,the hotel1 she directed to her driver1 as he started off1 while the valet returned to the bungalow4 ,outside1 the naturalist had come through the shrubbery and had been looking in at the library window1 watching every move of ,madame ,larenz as she wrote4 ,as she went out1 he paused just a second to look about4 ,then he drew a long knife from his pocket1 forced the window catch1 and quickly climbed into the room4 ,directly to the desk he went and hurriedly ran over the papers on it4 ,there was the note4 ,he picked it up and read it eagerly4 ,my apartment--,st4 ,germain--#c ,p4 ,m4 ,,larenz4 ,for a moment he seemed to consider what to do4 ,then he replaced the note4 ,suddenly he heard the sound of footsteps4 ,it was the valet returning4 ,quickly the naturalist ran to the window and jumped out4 ,a moment later1 the valet entered the library again4 ,that's strange1 he exclaimed under his breath1 ,i don't recall opening that window over there to-day4 ,he looked puzzled4 ,but as no one was about1 he went over and shut it4 ,some distance down the road1 the naturalist quietly emerged in safety from the bushes4 ,with scarcely a moment's hesitation1 his mind thoroughly made up to his course1 he hurried along the road4 ,meanwhile1 at the ,st4 ,germain1 ,madame ,larenz entered and passed through the rotunda of the hotel1 followed by many admiring glances of the men4 ,up in her room stood several large trunks1 open4 ,from them had been taken a number of gowns which were scattered about or hung up for exhibition4 ,as she entered1 quickly she selected one of the trunks whose contents were more smart than the rest and laid the gowns out most fetchingly about the room4 ,in the office of the hotel a few moments later1 the naturalist entered4 ,he looked around curiously1 then went to the desk and glanced over the register4 ,at the name ,mme ,larenz1 ,paris1 ,room #bb1 he paused4 ,for some seconds he stood thinking4 ,then he deliberately walked over to a leather chair and took a prominent seat near-by in the lobby4 ,he had discarded his net1 but still had the case which now he had shoved into his pocket4 ,from a table1 he picked up a newspaper4 ,it was not long before ,del ,mar pulled up before the hotel and entered in his usual swagger manner4 ,he had returned to the bungalow1 read the note and hurried over to the ,st4 ,germain4 ,he crossed the lobby1 back to the office4 ,as he did so1 the naturalist had his face hidden deeply in the open newspaper4 ,but no sooner had ,del ,mar passed than the newspaper fell unappreciated and he gazed after him1 as he left the lobby by the back way4 ,it was only a few minutes after she had completed arranging her small stock so that it looked quite impressive1 that ,madame ,larenz heard a knock at the door and recognized ,del ,mar's secret code4 ,she opened the door and he strode in4 ,i got your note1 he said briefly1 coming directly to business and telling her just what he wanted done4 ,let me see1 he concluded1 glancing at his watch4 ,it is after three now4 ,she ought to be here any minute4 ,outside1 ,elaine drove up to the rather garish entrance of the ,st4 ,germain and one of the boys in uniform ran forward to open the door and take charge of the car4 ,she1 too1 crossed the lobby without seeing the old naturalist1 though nothing escaped him4 ,as she passed1 he started to rise and cross toward her1 then appeared to change his mind4 ,elaine went on out through the back of the lobby1 directed by a boy1 and mounted a flight of stairs1 in preference to taking the lift to the second1 or sort of mezzanine floor4 ,down along the corridor she went1 hunting for number twenty-two4 ,at last she found it at the end1 and knocked4 ,del ,mar and ,madame ,larenz were still talking in low tones when they heard a light tap on the door4 ,there she is1 now1 whispered ,larenz4 ,all right4 ,let her in1 answered ,del ,mar1 leaping quietly to a closet4 ,i'll hide here until ,i get the signal4 ,do just as ,i told you4 ,outside1 at the same time1 according to his carefully concocted plans1 ,del ,mar's car had driven up and stopped close to the side of the hotel1 which was on a slight hill that brought the street level here not so far below the second story windows4 ,three of his most trusted men were in the car4 ,madame ,larenz opened the door4 ,oh1 ,i'm so glad you came1 she rattled on to ,elaine4 ,you see1 ,i've got to get started4 ,not a customer yet4 ,but if you'll only take a few gowns1 other people will come to me4 ,i'll let you have them cheaply1 too4 ,just look at this one4 ,she held up one filmy1 creamy creation that looked like a delicate flower4 ,i'd like to try it on1 cried ,elaine1 fingering it rapturously4 ,by all means1 agreed ,madame4 ,we are alone4 ,do so4 ,with deft fingers1 ,larenz helped her take off her own very pretty dress4 ,as ,elaine slipped the soft gown over her head1 with her head and arms engaged in its multitudinous folds1 ,madame ,larenz1 a powerful woman1 seized her4 ,elaine was effectually gagged and bound in the gown itself4 ,instantly1 ,del ,mar flung himself from the closet1 disguising his voice4 ,together1 they wrapped the dress about ,elaine even more tightly to prevent her screaming4 ,madame ',larenz seized a blanket and threw that over ,elaine's head1 also1 while ,del ,mar ran to the window4 ,there were his men in the car1 waiting below4 ,are you ready8 he called softly to them4 ,they looked about carefully4 ,there was no one on that side of the hotel just at the moment4 ,ready1 responded one4 ,quick6 ,together1 ,del ,mar and ,madame ,larenz passed ,elaine1 ineffectually struggling1 out of the window4 ,the men seized her and placed her in the bottom of the car1 which was covered4 ,then they shot away1 taking a back road up the hill4 ,hurriedly the naturalist went through the lobby in the direction ,elaine had gone1 and a moment later reached the corridor above4 ,down it1 he could hear some one coming out of room twenty-two4 ,he slid into an angle and hid4 ,it was ,del ,mar and the woman he had seen at the bungalow4 ,they passed by without discovering him1 nor could he make out anything that they said4 ,what mischief was afoot8 ,where was ,elaine8 ,he ran to the door and tried it4 ,it was locked4 ,quickly1 he took from his pocket a skeleton key and unlocked it4 ,there was ,elaine's hat and dress lying in a heap on the bed4 ,but she was not there4 ,he was now thoroughly alarmed4 ,she could not have passed him in the hall4 ,therefore she must have gone or been taken out through the window4 ,that would never have been voluntary1 especially leaving her things there4 ,the window was still open4 ,he ran to it4 ,one glance out was enough4 ,he leaped to the ground4 ,sure enough1 there were automobile tracks in the dust4 ,del ,mar's car1 he muttered to himself1 studying them4 ,he fairly ran around the side of the hotel4 ,there he came suddenly upon ,elaine's car standing alone1 and recognized it4 ,there was no time for delay4 ,he jumped into it1 and let the swift little racer out as he turned and gathered momentum to shoot up the hill on high speed4 ,meanwhile1 ,i had been jogging along through the country1 lonely and disconsolate4 ,i don't know how it happened1 but ,i suppose it was by some subconscious desire4 ,at any rate ,i found myself at the road that came out across one leading to the ,st4 ,germain and it occurred to me that ,elaine might by this time have purchased enough frocks to clothe her for a year4 ,at any rate ,i quickened my pace in the hope of seeing her4 ,suddenly1 my horse shied and a familiar little car flashed past me4 ,but the driver was not familiar4 ,it was ,elaine's roadster4 ,in it was a stranger--a man who looked like a bugologist1 as nearly as ,i can describe him4 ,was he running off with her car while she was waiting inside the hotel8 ,i galloped after him4 ,del ,mar's automobile1 with ,elaine bound and gagged in it1 drove rapidly by back and unfrequented ways into the country until at last it pulled up before an empty two-story house in a sort of grove of trees4 ,the men leaped out1 lifted ,elaine1 and carried her bodily into the house1 taking her up-stairs and into an upper room4 ,she had fainted when they laid her down and loosened the dress from about her face so that she could breathe4 ,there they left her1 on the floor1 her hands and feet bound1 and went out4 ,how long she lay there1 she never knew1 but at last the air revived her and she regained consciousness and sat up4 ,her muscles were sore and her head ached4 ,but she set her teeth and began struggling with the cords that bound her1 managing at last to pull the dress over herself at least4 ,in ,elaine's car1 the naturalist drove slowly at times1 following the tracks of the automobile ahead4 ,at last1 however1 he came to a place where he saw that the tracks went up a lonely side road4 ,to approach in a car was to warn whoever was there4 ,he ran the cat up alongside the road in the bushes and jumped out leaving it and following the tracks up the side roadway4 ,as he approached a single deserted house1 he left even the narrow road altogether and plunged into the woods1 careful to proceed noiselessly4 ,through the bushes1 near the house1 he peered4 ,there he could see one of ,del ,mar's men in the doorway1 apparently talking to others behind him4 ,stealthily the naturalist crept around1 still hiding1 until he was closer to the house on the other side4 ,at last he worked his way around to the rear door4 ,he tried it4 ,it was bolted and even the skeleton key was unavailing to slide the bolt4 ,seconds were precious4 ,quickly1 he went to the corner of the house4 ,there was a water-leader4 ,he began to climb it1 risking its precarious support4 ,on the roof at last1 the naturalist crawled along1 looking for some way of getting into the house4 ,but he could not seem to find any4 ,carefully1 he crawled to the edge of the roof and looked over4 ,below1 he could hear sounds1 but could make nothing of them4 ,from his pocket1 he took the leather case and opened it4 ,there was a peculiar arrangement1 like some of the collapsible arms on which telephone instruments are often fastened to a desk or wall1 capable of being collapsed into small space or of being extended for some distance4 ,on the thing was arranged a system of mirrors1 which the naturalist adjusted4 ,it was a pocket periscope4 ,he thrust the thing over the edge of the roof and down1 and looked through it4 ,below1 he could see into the room from which came the peculiar sounds4 ,he looked anxiously4 ,there he could see ,elaine endeavoring still to loosen the cords and unable to do so4 ,only for a moment he looked4 ,then he folded up the pocket periscope into the case and shoved it back into his pocket4 ,quickly he crossed the roof again1 and slid back down the rain-pipe4 ,at the door stood three of ,del ,mar's men waiting for ,del ,mar who had told them he would follow immediately4 ,the naturalist had by this time reached the ground and was going along carefully back of the house4 ,he drew his revolver and1 pointing it down1 fired4 ,then he dodged back of an extension and disappeared for the moment4 ,instantly1 the three men sprang up and ran toward the spot where it seemed the shot had been fired4 ,there was no one about the side of the house4 ,but the wind had carried the smoke into some bushes beside the grove and they crashed into the bushes1 beating about4 ,at the same time1 the naturalist1 having first waited until he saw which way the men were going1 dashed about the house in the opposite direction4 ,then he slipped1 unopposed and unobserved1 in through the open front door1 up the stairs and along to the room into which he had just been looking4 ,he unlocked the door1 and entered4 ,elaine was still struggling with the cords when she caught sight of the stranger4 ,not a word1 he cautioned under his breath4 ,she was indeed too frightened to cry out4 ,quickly1 he loosened her1 still holding his finger to his lips to enjoin silence4 ,follow me1 he whispered4 ,she obeyed mechanically1 and they went out into the hall4 ,on down-stairs went the naturalist1 ,elaine still keeping close after him4 ,he looked out through the front door1 then drew back4 ,quickly he went through the lower hall until he came to the back door in the kitchen1 ,elaine following4 ,he unbolted the door and opened it4 ,run1 he said1 simply1 pointing out of the door4 ,they're coming back the other way4 ,i'll hold them4 ,she needed no further urging1 but darted from the house as he closed the door after her4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was just at this point that ,del ,mar came riding along the main road on horseback4 ,he pulled up suddenly as he saw a car run in alongside the road4 ,that's ,elaine's runabout1 he muttered1 as he dismounted and tied his horse4 ,how came it here8 ,he approached the car1 much worried by its unaccountable presence there instead of before the ,st4 ,germain4 ,then he drew his gun and hurried up the side road4 ,he heard a shot and quickened his pace4 ,in the woods unexpectedly he came upon his three men still beating about1 searching with drawn revolvers for the person who had fired the shot4 ,well8 he demanded sharply1 what's all this8 ,some one fired a shot1 they explained1 somewhat crestfallen4 ,it was a trick1 you fools1 he answered testily4 ,get back to your prisoner4 ,without a word they turned and hurried toward the house1 ,del ,mar following4 ,you two go in1 he ordered the foremost4 ,i'll go around the house with ,patrick4 ,as ,del ,mar and the other man ran around the corner1 they could just catch a fleeting glimpse on some one disappearing among the trees4 ,it was ,elaine4 ,the man hurried forward1 blazing away with his gun4 ,running1 breathless1 ,elaine heard the shot behind her which ,del ,mar's man had fired in his eagerness4 ,the bullet struck a tree near her with a ping6 ,she glanced back and saw the man4 ,but she did not stop4 ,instead1 she redoubled her efforts1 running zigzag in among the trees where they were thickest4 ,del ,mar1 a little bit behind his man where she could not recognize him1 urged the man on1 following carefully4 ,on fled ,elaine1 her heart beating fast4 ,suddenly she stopped and almost cried out in vexation4 ,a stream blocked her retreat1 a stream1 swift and deep4 ,she looked back1 terrified4 ,her pursuers were coming ahead fast now in her direction4 ,wildly she gazed around4 ,there was a canoe on the bank4 ,in an instant she jumped in1 untied it1 and seized the paddle4 ,off she went1 striking for the opposite shore4 ,but the current was racing swiftly1 and she was already tired and exhausted4 ,she could scarcely make any headway at all in the fierce eddies4 ,but at least1 she thought hurriedly1 she was getting further and further away from them down-stream4 ,up above1 ,del ,mar and his man came to the edge of the water4 ,there they stood for a moment looking down4 ,there she is1 pointed the man4 ,del ,mar raised his revolver and fired4 ,suddenly a bullet struck ,elaine's paddle and broke it4 ,clutching the useless splintered shaft1 she was now at the mercy of the current1 swept along like a piece of driftwood4 ,she looked about frantically4 ,what was that roaring noise8 ,it was the waterfalls ahead6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in the meantime1 ,del ,mar's other two men had entered the house and had run up-stairs1 knowing well his wrath if anything had happened4 ,as they did so1 the naturalist poked his head cautiously out of the kitchen where he had been hiding1 and saw them4 ,then he followed noiselessly1 his revolver ready4 ,headlong they ran into the room where they had left ,elaine4 ,she was gone6 ,before they could turn1 the naturalist locked the door1 turned and took the steps down1 two at a time4 ,then he ran out of the front door and into the woods at an angle to the direction taken by ,elaine1 turning and going down hill1 where a rapid1 swollen stream curved about through a gorge4 ,as he reached the stream1 he heard a shot above1 and a scream4 ,he looked up4 ,there was ,elaine1 swept down toward him4 ,below he knew the stream tumbled over a tall cataract into the gorge below4 ,what could he do8 ,a sudden crackling of the twigs caused him to turn and catch sight of me1 just coming up4 ,for1 as best ,i could on horseback1 ,i had followed ,elaine's car until at last ,i saw that it had been abandoned4 ,thoroughly alarmed1 ,i rode on1 past a deserted house until suddenly ,i heard a shot and a scream4 ,it seemed to come from below me and ,i leaped off my horse1 making for it as fast as ,i could1 racing toward a stream whose roar ,i could hear4 ,there on the bank ,i came upon a queer old codger1 looking about wildly4 ,was he the automobile thief8 ,i ran forward1 ready to seize him4 ,but as ,i did so1 he whirled about and with a strength remarkable in one so old seized my own wrist before ,i could get his4 ,look6 he cried simply1 pointing up the stream4 ,i did4 ,a girl in a canoe was coming down toward the falls1 screaming1 her paddle broken and useless4 ,my heart leaped into my mouth4 ,it was ,elaine6 ,come1 he panted eagerly to me4 ,i can save her4 ,you must do just as ,i say4 ,he pointed to an overhanging rock near-by and we ran to it4 ,by this time ,elaine was almost upon us1 each second getting nearer the veritable maelstrom above the falls4 ,from the rock overhung also a tree at the very edge of the water4 ,there was nothing to do but obey him4 ,above1 though we did not see them1 ,del ,mar and his man were gloating over the result of their work4 ,but they were gloating too soon4 ,we came to the rock and the tree4 ,here1 cried the new-found friend1 ,i'll get hold of the tree and then hold you4 ,instantly he threw himself on his stomach1 hooking his leg about the tree trunk4 ,i crawled out over the ledge of slippery rock to the very edge and looked over4 ,it was the only chance4 ,the old naturalist seized my legs in his hands4 ,i slid down the rock1 letting myself go4 ,literally1 his presence of mind had invented what was really a life chain1 a human rope4 ,on came the canoe1 ,elaine in it as white as death1 crying out and trying to stop or guide it as1 nearer and nearer through the smooth-worn walls of the chasm1 it whirled to the falls4 ,with a grip of steel1 the naturalist held to the tree which swayed and bent1 while also he held me1 as if in a vise1 head down4 ,on came ,elaine--directly at us4 ,she stood up and balanced herself1 a dangerous feat in a canoe at any time1 but doubly so in those dark1 swirling1 treacherous waters4 ,steady6 ,i encouraged4 ,grab my arms6 ,as the canoe reached us1 she gave a little jump and seized my forearms4 ,her hands slipped1 but ,i grasped her own arms1 and we held each other4 ,the momentum of her body was great4 ,for an instant ,i thought we were all going over4 ,but the naturalist held his grip and slowly began to pull himself and us up the slippery rock4 ,a second later the canoe crashed over the falls in a cloud of spray and pounding water4 ,as we reached the bank above the rock1 ,i almost lifted ,elaine and set her down1 trembling and gasping for breath4 ,before either of us knew it the queer old fellow had plunged into the bushes and was gone without another word4 ,walter1 she cried1 call him back1 ,i must tell him how much ,i owe him--my life6 ,but he had disappeared1 absolutely4 ,we shouted after him4 ,it was of no use4 ,well1 what do you think of that8 cried ,elaine4 ,he saved my life--then didn't wait even to be thanked4 ,who was he8 ,we looked at each other a moment4 ,but neither of us spoke what was in our hearts4 ,,chapter ,,xv ,,the ,,flash ,alone in the doorway before his rude shack on the shore of the promontory sat an old fisherman1 gazing out fixedly at the harbor as though deeply concerned over the weather1 which1 as usual1 was unseasonable4 ,suddenly he started and would have disappeared into his hut but for the fact that1 although he could not himself be seen1 he had already seen the intruder4 ,it was a trooper from ,fort ,dale4 ,he galloped up and1 as though obeying to the letter his instructions1 deliberately dropped an envelope at the feet of the fisherman4 ,then1 without a word1 he galloped away again4 ,the fisherman picked up the envelope and opened it quickly4 ,inside was a photograph and a note4 ,he read3 ,,fort ,,dale ,,professor ,,arnold1 ,j4 ,smith1 clerk in the ,war ,department1 has disappeared4 ,we are not sure1 but fear that he has a copy of the new ,sandy ,hook ,defense ,plans4 ,it is believed he is headed your way4 ,he walks with a slight limp4 ,look out for him4 ,,lieutenant ,,woodward4 ,for a long time the fisherman appeared to study the face on the photograph until he had it indelibly implanted in his memory1 as if by some system such as that of the immortal ,bertillon and his clever portrait parle1 or spoken picture1 for scientific identification and apprehension4 ,it was not a pleasant face and there were features that were not easily forgotten4 ,finally he turned and entered his hut4 ,hastily he took off his stained reefer4 ,from a wooden chest he drew another outfit of clothes4 ,the transformation was complete4 ,when he issued forth from his hut again1 it was no longer the aged disciple of ,izaac ,walton4 ,he was now a trim chauffeur1 bearded and goggled4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in the library of his bungalow1 ,del ,mar was pacing up and down1 now and then scowling to himself1 as though there flashed over his mind stray recollections of how some of his most cherished plans were miscarrying4 ,still1 on the whole1 he had nothing to complain of4 ,for1 a moment later the valet entered with a telegram for which he had evidently been waiting4 ,del ,mar seized it eagerly and tore open the yellow envelope4 ,on the blank was printed in the usual way the following non-committal message3 ,,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 ,august #ab1 #aiae4 ,,mr4 ,,del ,,mar1 ,what you request is coming4 ,answer to sign of the ring4--,,smith4 ,good1 muttered ,del ,mar as he finished reading4 ,strange1 what a little gold will do--when you know how to dispose of it4 ,he smiled cynically to himself at the sentiment4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,at the little railroad station1 they were quite proud of the fact that at least two of the four hacks had been replaced already by taxicabs4 ,it was1 then1 with some surprise and not a little open jealousy that they saw a new taxicab drive up and take its stand by the platform4 ,if the chauffeur1 transformed from the lonely fisherman1 had expected a cordial reception1 he might better have stayed before his hut1 for the glances the other drivers gave him were as black and lowering as the clouds he had been looking at4 ,the new chauffeur got off his seat4 ,instead of trying to brazen it out1 he walked over to the others who were standing in a group waiting for the approaching train whose whistle had already sounded4 ,i'm not going to locate here permanently1 he said1 pulling out a roll of bills as he spoke4 ,leave any fare ,i claim to me1 he added1 passing a bill of a good denomination to each of the four jehus4 ,they looked at him curiously4 ,but what business of theirs was it8 ,the money felt good4 ,all right1 bo1 they agreed4 ,thundering down the platform came the afternoon train1 a great event in the town life4 ,as the baggage was being tossed off1 the passengers alighted and the five hackmen swarmed at them4 ,keb1 sir1 kerridge4 ,taxi1 lady6 ,from the ,pullman alighted a widow1 in deep mourning4 ,as she got off and moved down the platform1 it was apparent that she walked with a pronounced limp4 ,at the end of the platform1 the chauffeurs were still calling1 while the newcomer looked over the crowd hastily4 ,suddenly he caught sight of the face of the widow4 ,he stepped forward1 as she approached4 ,the others held back as they had agreed and paid no attention4 ,it was like forcing a card4 ,he held the door open and she entered the cab1 unsuspecting4 ,mr4 ,del ,mar's1 she directed1 simply4 ,as the new taxicab driver cranked his engine and climbed into the seat1 he was careful to let no action of his1 however small1 betray the intense satisfaction he felt at the working of his scheme4 ,he pulled away from the station4 ,on through the pretty country roads the chauffeur drove the heavily veiled widow until at last they came to ,del ,mar's bungalow4 ,at the gate he stopped and ran around to open the door to assist his fare to alight4 ,wait for me1 she said1 without paying him yet4 ,i shall not be long and ,i want to be driven back to the station to catch the four twenty-nine to ,new ,york4 ,as she limped up the gravel walk1 he watched her closely4 ,she went to the door and rang the bell1 and the valet admitted her4 ,del ,mar was still sitting1 thinking1 in the library4 ,mr4 ,del ,mar8 she inquired4 ,the voice was not exactly soft1 and ,del ,mar eyed her suspiciously4 ,was this the person he expected1 or a plant8 ,yes1 he answered1 guardedly1 ,i am ,mr4 ,del ,mar4 ,and you8 ,the widow1 too1 evidently wished to make no mistake4 ,as she spoke1 she raised her hand4 ,by that simple action she displayed a curious and conspicuous seal ring on her finger4 ,it was the sign of the ring for which ,del ,mar had been waiting4 ,he extended his own left hand4 ,on the ring finger was another ring1 but not similar4 ,as he did so1 the widow took the ring from her own finger and placed it on the little finger of ,del ,mar4 ,good6 he exclaimed4 ,every action of the sign of the ring had been carried out4 ,the woman raised her thick veil1 disclosing the face of--a man6 ,it was the same face1 also1 that had appeared in the photograph sent to the old fisherman by ,woodward4 ,awkwardly1 the man searched in the front of his shirtwaist and drew forth a paper which ,del ,mar almost seized in his eagerness4 ,it was a pen and ink copy of a ,government map1 showing a huge spit of sand in the sea before a harbor1 ,sandy ,hook and ,new ,york4 ,on it were indicated all the defenses1 the positions of guns1 everything4 ,together1 ,del ,mar and ,smith bent over it1 while the renegade clerk explained each mark on the traitorous map4 ,they were too occupied to see a face flattened against the pane of a window near-by4 ,the chauffeur had no intention of remaining inactive outside while he knew that something that interested him was transpiring inside4 ,he had crept up by the side of the house to the window4 ,but he could see little and hear nothing4 ,a moment he strained every sense4 ,it was no use4 ,he must devise some other way4 ,how could he get into that room8 ,slowly he returned to his car1 thinking it over4 ,there he stood for a moment revolving in his mind what to do4 ,he looked up the road4 ,an idea came to him4 ,there he saw a little runabout approaching rapidly4 ,quickly he went around to the front of his car and lifted up the hood4 ,then he bent over and pretended to be tinkering with his engine4 ,as the car was about to pass he deliberately stepped back1 apparently not seeing the runabout1 and was struck and knocked down4 ,the runabout stopped1 the emergency brakes biting hard4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine had asked me to go shopping in the village with her that afternoon4 ,while ,i waited for her in her little car1 she came down at last1 carrying a little handbag4 ,we drove off a moment later4 ,it was a delightful ride1 not too warm1 but sunny4 ,without realizing it1 we found ourselves on the road that led past ,del ,mar's4 ,as we approached1 ,i saw that there was a taxicab standing in front of the gate4 ,the hood was lifted and the driver was apparently tinkering with his engine4 ,let's not stop1 said ,elaine1 who had by this time a peculiar aversion to the man4 ,as we passed the driver1 apparently not seeing us1 stepped out and1 before we could turn out1 we had knocked him down4 ,we stopped and ran back4 ,there he lay on the road1 seemingly unconscious4 ,we lifted him up and ,i looked toward ,del ,mar's house4 ,help6 ,i shouted at the top of my voice4 ,the valet came to the door4 ,hearing me1 the valet ran out down the walk4 ,all right1 he cried4 ,i'll be there in a minute4 ,with his help ,i picked up the taxicab chauffeur and we carried him into the house4 ,del ,mar was talking with a person who looked like a widow1 when they heard our approach up the walk carrying the injured man4 ,so engrossed had they been in discerning what the stolen document contained that1 as we finally entered1 the widow had only time to drop her veil and conceal her identity as the renegade ,smith4 ,del ,mar still held the plan in his hand4 ,the valet and ,i entered with ,elaine and we placed the chauffeur on a couch near ,del ,mar's desk4 ,i remember that there was this strange woman all in black1 heavily veiled1 in the room at the time4 ,i think we ought to telephone for a doctor1 said ,elaine placing her hand-bag on the desk and excitedly telling ,del ,mar how we had accidentally knocked the man down4 ,call up my doctor1 ,henry1 said ,del ,mar1 hastily thrusting the plan into a book lying on the desk4 ,we gathered about the man1 trying to revive him4 ,have you a little stimulant8 ,i asked1 turning from him4 ,del ,mar moved toward a cellarette built into the wall4 ,we were all watching him1 our backs to the chauffeur1 when suddenly he must have regained consciousness very much4 ,like a flash his hand shot out4 ,he seized the plan from between the leaves of the book4 ,he had not time to get away with it himself4 ,perhaps he might be searched4 ,he opened ,elaine's bag1 and thrust it in4 ,the valet by this time had finished telephoning and spoke to ,del ,mar4 ,the doctor will be here shortly1 ,miss ,dodge1 said ,del ,mar4 ,you need not wait1 if you don't care to4 ,i'll take care of him4 ,oh1 thank you--ever so much1 she murmured4 ,of course it wasn't our fault1 but ,i feel sorry for the poor fellow4 ,tell the doctor to send me the bill4 ,she and ,del ,mar shook hands4 ,i thought he held her hand perhaps a little longer and a little tighter than usual4 ,at any rate ,elaine seemed to think so4 ,why1 what a curious ring1 ,mr4 ,del ,mar1 she said1 finally releasing her own hand from his grasp4 ,then she looked quickly at the woman1 half joking1 as if the ring had something to do with the strange woman4 ,she looked back at the ring4 ,del ,mar smiled1 shook his head and laughed easily4 ,then ,elaine picked up her bag and we went out4 ,a moment later we climbed back into the car and were off again4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,having left us at the door1 ,del ,mar hurried back to the library4 ,he went straight to the desk and picked up the book1 eager now to make sure of the safety of the plan4 ,it was gone6 ,did you1 ,smith-- he began hastily1 then checked himself1 knowing that the clerk had not taken the plan4 ,del ,mar walked over to the couch and stood a moment looking at the chauffeur4 ,i wonder who he is1 he said to himself4 ,i don't recall ever seeing him at the station or in the village4 ,he leaned over closer4 ,the deuce6 he exclaimed1 that's a fake beard the fellow has on4 ,del ,mar made a lunge for it4 ,as he did so1 the chauffeur leaped to his feet and drew a gun4 ,hands up6 he shouted4 ,and the first man that moves is a dead one6 ,before the secret agent knew it1 both he and ,smith were covered4 ,the chauffeur took a step toward ,smith and unceremoniously jerked off the widow's weeds1 as well as the wig4 ,at that very moment one of ,del ,mar's men came up to the secret panel that opened from the underground passageway into his library4 ,he was about to open it when he heard a sound on the other side that startled him4 ,he listened a moment1 then slid it just a short distance and looked in4 ,there he saw a chauffeur holding up ,del ,mar and ,smith4 ,having pulled the disguise from ,smith1 he went next around ,del ,mar and took his gun from his pocket1 then passed his hands over the folds of ,smith's dress1 but found no weapon4 ,he stepped back away from them4 ,at that point the man quietly slid the panel all the way open and silently stepped into the room1 behind the chauffeur4 ,cautiously he began sneaking up on him4 ,as he did so1 ,del ,mar and ,smith watched1 fascinated4 ,somehow their faces must have betrayed that something was wrong4 ,for1 as the newcomer leaped at him1 the chauffeur turned suddenly and fired4 ,the shot wounded the man4 ,it was a signal for a free-for-all fight4 ,del ,mar and ,smith leaped at the intruder4 ,over and over they rolled1 breaking furniture1 overturning and smashing bric-a-brac4 ,del ,mar's revolver was knocked out of the chauffeur's hand4 ,with a blow of a chair1 the chauffeur laid out ,smith1 entangled in his unfamiliar garments1 shook himself loose from the two others1 and made a rush at the door4 ,del ,mar paused only long enough to pick up the revolver from the floor4 ,instantly he fired at the retreating form4 ,but the chauffeur had passed out and banged shut the door4 ,down the walk he sped and out to the gate1 into his car1 the engine of which he had left running4 ,hard after him came ,del ,mar and the rest1 joined now by ,henry1 the valet4 ,one shot was left in the chauffeur's revolver and he blazed away as he leaped into the car4 ,he's got me1 groaned ,smith as he stumbled and fell forward4 ,on kept ,del ,mar and the others4 ,they caught up with the car just as it was starting4 ,but the chauffeur knocked the gun from ,del ,mar's hand before he could get a good aim and fire1 at the same time bowling over the man who had come through the panel4 ,off the car went1 now rapidly gaining speed4 ,del ,mar had just time to swing on the rear of it4 ,around the rapidly-driven car1 he climbed1 hanging on for dear life1 over the mud-guard and toward the running-board4 ,on sped the car1 swaying crazily back and forth1 ,del ,mar crouched on the running-board and working his way slowly and perilously to the front seat4 ,the chauffeur felt the weight of some one on that side4 ,just as he turned to see what it was1 ,del ,mar leaped at him4 ,still holding the wheel1 the chauffeur fought him off with his free hand1 ,del ,mar holding on to some spare tires with one hand1 also4 ,handicapped by having the steering-wheel to manage1 nevertheless the chauffeur seemed quite well able to give a good account of himself4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,somehow1 ,elaine and ,i must have been hoodooed that day4 ,we had not been gone five minutes from ,del ,mar's after the accident to the chauffeur1 when we heard a mysterious knock in the engine4 ,more engine trouble1 ,i sighed4 ,pull up along the road and ,i'll see if ,i can fix it4 ,we stopped and both got out4 ,there was no fake about this trouble or about the dirt and grease ,i acquired on my hands and face1 tinkering with that motor4 ,for1 regardless of my immaculate flannels1 ,i had to set to work4 ,a huge spot of grease spattered on me4 ,elaine laughed outright4 ,here1 let me powder your nose1 ,walter1 she cried undismayed at our trouble1 gayly opening her bag4 ,well--of all things--what's this1 and where did it come from8 ,i turned from the engine and looked4 ,she was holding some kind of plan or document in her hand4 ,in blank surprise she examined it4 ,it looked like a fort or a series of forts4 ,but ,i was sure at a glance that it was not ,fort ,dale4 ,what do you think it is1 ,walter8 she asked1 handing it to me4 ,i took it and examined it carefully4 ,incredible as it seemed1 ,i figured out quickly that it must be nothing short of a plan of the new defenses at ,sandy ,hook4 ,i don't know what it all means1 ,i said4 ,but ,i do know that we won't get any dinner till ,i get this engine running again4 ,i fell to work again1 eager to get away with our dangerous prize1 ,elaine now and then advising me4 ,finally ,i turned the engine over4 ,for a wonder it ran smoothly4 ,well1 that's all right1 at last1 ,i sighed1 wiping the grease off my hands on a piece of waste4 ,what's the matter now8 exclaimed ,elaine1 turning quickly and looking up the road along which we had just come4 ,there1 lurching along at full speed was a car4 ,two men were actually fighting on the front of it regardless of speed and safety4 ,as it neared us1 ,i saw it was the taxicab that had been standing before ,del ,mar's4 ,i looked closer at it4 ,to my utter amazement1 who should be driving it but the very chauffeur whom we had left at ,del ,mar's only a few minutes before1 apparently unconscious4 ,he could not have been hurt very badly1 for he was not only able to drive but was fighting off a man clinging on the running-board4 ,on rushed the car1 directly at us4 ,just as it passed us1 the chauffeur seemed to summon all his strength4 ,he struck a powerful blow at the man1 recoiled and straightened out his car just in time4 ,the man fell1 literally at our feet4 ,it was ,del ,mar himself6 ,on sped the taxicab4 ,bruised though he must have been by the fall1 ,del ,mar nevertheless raised himself by the elbow and fired every chamber of his revolver as fast as he could pump the bullets4 ,i must say that ,i admired the man's pluck4 ,elaine and ,i hurried over to him4 ,i still had in my hand the queer paper which she had found so strangely in her hand-bag4 ,why1 what's all this about8 ,i asked eagerly4 ,before ,i could raise him up1 ,del ,mar had regained his feet4 ,just a plain crook1 who attacked me1 he muttered1 brushing off his clothes to cover up the quick recognition of what it was that ,i was holding in my hand1 for he had seen the plan immediately4 ,can't we drive you back8 asked ,elaine1 quite forgetting our fears of ,del ,mar in the ugly predicament in which he just had been4 ,we've had trouble but ,i guess we can get you back4 ,thank you1 he said1 forcing a smile4 ,i think anything would be an improvement on my ride here and ,i'm sure you can do more than you claim4 ,he climbed up and sat on the floor of the roadster1 his feet outside1 and we drove off4 ,at last we pulled up at ,dodge ,hall again4 ,won't you come in8 asked ,elaine as we got out4 ,thank you1 ,i believe ,i will for a few minutes1 consented ,del ,mar1 concealing his real eagerness to follow me4 ,i'm all shaken up4 ,as we entered the living-room1 ,i was thinking about the map4 ,i opened a table drawer1 hastily took the plan from my pocket and locked it in the drawer4 ,elaine1 meanwhile1 was standing with ,del ,mar who was talking1 but in reality watching me closely4 ,a smile of satisfaction seemed to flit over his face as he saw what ,i had done and now knew where the paper was4 ,i turned to him4 ,how are you now8 ,i asked4 ,oh1 ,i'm much better--all right1 he answered4 ,then he looked at his watch4 ,i've a very important appointment4 ,if you'll excuse me1 ,i'll walk over to my place4 ,thank you again1 ,miss ,dodge1 ever so kindly4 ,he bowed low and was gone4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,down the road past where we had turned1 before a pretty little shingle house1 the taxicab chauffeur stopped4 ,one of the bullets had taken effect on him and his shoulder was bleeding4 ,but the worst1 as he seemed to think it1 was that another shot had given him a flat tire4 ,he jumped out and looked up the road whence he had come4 ,no one was following4 ,still1 he was worried4 ,he went around to look at the tire4 ,but he was too weak now from loss of blood4 ,it had been nerve and reserve force that had carried him through4 ,now that the strain was off1 he felt the reaction to the full4 ,just then the doctor and his driver1 whom the valet had already summoned to ,del ,mar's1 came speeding down the road4 ,the doctor saw the chauffeur fall in a half faint1 stopped his car and ran to him4 ,the chauffeur had kept up as long as he could4 ,he had now sunk down beside his machine in the road4 ,a moment later they picked him up and carried him into the house4 ,there was no acting about his hurts now4 ,in the house they laid the man down on a couch and the doctor made a hasty examination4 ,how is he8 asked one of the kind ,samaritans4 ,the wound is not dangerous1 replied the physician1 but he's lost a lot of blood4 ,he cannot be moved for some time yet4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,we talked about nothing else at ,dodge ,hall after dressing for dinner but the strange events over at ,del ,mar's and what had followed4 ,the more ,i thought about it1 the more it seemed to me that we would never be left over night in peaceful possession of the plan which both ,elaine and ,i decided ought on the following day to be sent to ,washington4 ,accordingly ,i cudgelled my brain for some method of protecting both ourselves and it4 ,the only thing ,i could think of was a scheme once adopted by ,kennedy in another case4 ,how ,i longed for him4 ,but ,i had to do my best alone4 ,i had a small quick shutter camera that had belonged to ,craig and just as we were about to retire1 ,i brought it into the living-room with a package ,i had had sent up from the village4 ,what are you going to do8 asked ,elaine curiously4 ,i assumed an air of mystery but did not say1 for ,i was not sure but that even now some one was eavesdropping4 ,it was not late1 but the country air made us all sleepy and ,aunt ,josephine1 looking at the clock1 soon announced that she was going to retire4 ,she had no sooner said good-night than ,elaine began again to question me4 ,but ,i had determined not to tell her what ,i was doing1 for if my imitation of ,kennedy failed1 ,i knew that she would laugh at me4 ,oh1 very well1 she said finally in pique1 then1 if you're going to be so secret about it1 you can sit up alone--there6 ,she flounced off to bed4 ,sure as ,i could be at last that ,i was alone1 ,i opened the package4 ,there were the tools that ,i had ordered1 a coil of wire and some dry cells4 ,then ,i went to the table1 unlocked the drawer and put the plan in my pocket4 ,i had determined that whether the idea worked or not1 no one was to get the plan except by overcoming me4 ,although ,i was no expert at wiring1 ,i started to make the connections under the table with the drawer1 not a very difficult thing to do as long as it was to be only temporary and for the night4 ,from the table ,i ran the wires along the edge of the carpet until ,i came to the book-case4 ,there1 masked by the books1 ,i placed the little quick shutter camera1 and at a distance also concealed the flash-light pan4 ,next ,i aimed the camera carefully and focussed it on a point above the drawer on the writing-table where any one would be likely to stand if he attempted to open it4 ,then ,i connected the shutter of the camera and a little spark coil in the flash-pan with the wires1 using an apparatus to work the shutter such as ,i recalled having seen ,craig use4 ,finally ,i covered the sparking device with the flash-light powder1 gave a last look about and snapped off the light4 ,up in my bedroom1 ,i must say ,i felt like some detective and ,i could not help slapping myself on the chest for the ingenuity with which ,i had duplicated ,craig4 ,then ,i lay down on the bed with my clothes on and picked up a book1 determined to keep awake to see if anything happened4 ,it was a good book1 but ,i was tired and in spite of myself ,i nodded over it1 and then dropped it4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in his bungalow1 now that ,smith had gone back again to ,new ,york and ,washington1 ,del ,mar was preparing to keep the important engagement he had told us about1 another of his nefarious nocturnal expeditions4 ,he drew a cap on his head1 well over his ears and forehead4 ,his eyes and face he concealed as well as he could with a mask to be put on later4 ,to his equipment he added a gun4 ,then with a hasty word or two to his valet1 he went out4 ,by back ways so that even in the glare of automobile headlights he would not be recognized1 he made his way to ,dodge ,hall4 ,as he saw the house looming up in the moonlight he put on his mask and approached cautiously4 ,gaining the house1 he opened a window1 noiselessly turning the catch as deftly as a house-breaker1 and climbed into the living-room4 ,a moment he looked around1 then tiptoed over to the table4 ,he looked at it to be sure that it was the right one and the right drawer4 ,then he bent down to force the drawer open4 ,pouf6 a blinding flash came and a little metallic click of the shutter1 followed by a cloud of smoke4 ,as quick as it happened1 there went through ,del ,mar's head1 the explanation4 ,it was a concealed camera4 ,he sprang back1 clapping his hands over his face4 ,out of range for a moment1 he stood gazing about the room1 trying to locate the thing4 ,suddenly he heard footsteps4 ,he dived through the window that he had opened1 just as some one ran in and switched on the lights4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,half asleep1 ,i heard a muffled explosion1 as if of a flash-light4 ,i started up and listened4 ,surely some one was moving about down-stairs4 ,i pulled my gun from my pocket and ran out of the room4 ,down the steps ,i flung myself1 two at a time4 ,in the living-room1 ,i switched on the lights in time to see some one disappear through an open window4 ,i ran to the window and looked out4 ,there was a man1 half doubled up1 running around the side of the house and into a clump of bushes1 then apparently lost4 ,i shot out of the window and called4 ,my only answer was an imprecation and return volley that shattered the glass above my head4 ,i ducked hastily and fell flat on the floor1 for in the light streaming out1 ,i must have been a good mark4 ,i was not the only one who heard the noise4 ,the shots quickly awakened ,elaine and she leaped out of bed and put on her kimono4 ,then she lighted the lights and ran down-stairs4 ,the intruder had disappeared by this time and ,i had got up and was peering out of the window as she came breathlessly into the living-room4 ,what's the matter1 ,walter8 she asked4 ,some one broke into the house after those plans1 ,i replied4 ,he escaped1 but ,i got his picture1 ,i think1 by this device of ,kennedy's4 ,let's go into a dark room and develop it4 ,there was no use trying to follow the man further4 ,to ,elaine's inquiry of what ,i meant1 ,i replied by merely going over to the spot where ,i had hidden the camera and disconnecting it4 ,we went up-stairs where ,i had rigged up an impromptu dark room for my amateur photographic work some days before4 ,elaine watched me closely4 ,at last ,i found that ,i had developed something4 ,as ,i drew the film through the hypo tray and picked it up1 ,i held it to the red light4 ,elaine leaned over and looked at the film with me4 ,there was a picture of a masked man1 his cap down1 in a startled attitude1 his hands clapped to his face1 completely hiding what the mask and cap did not hide4 ,well1 ,i'll be blowed6 ,i cried in chagrin at the outcome of what ,i thought had been my cleverest coup4 ,a little exclamation of astonishment escaped ,elaine4 ,i turned to her4 ,what is it8 ,i asked4 ,the ring6 she cried4 ,i looked again more closely4 ,on the little finger of the left hand was a peculiar ring4 ,once seen1 ,i think it was not readily forgotten4 ,the ring6 she repeated excitedly4 ,don't you remember--that ring8 ,i saw it on ,mr4 ,del ,mar's hand--at his house--this afternoon6 ,i could only stare4 ,at last we had a real clue6 ,in his bungalow1 ,del ,mar at that moment threw down his hat and tore off his mask furiously4 ,what had he done8 ,for a long time he sat there1 his chin on his hand1 gazing fixedly before him1 planning to protect himself and revenge4 ,,chapter ,,xvi ,,the ,,disappearing ,,helmets ,it was early the following morning that1 very excited1 ,elaine and ,i showed ,aunt ,josephine the photograph which we had snapped and developed by using ,kennedy's trick method4 ,but who is it8 asked ,aunt ,josephine examining the print carefully and seeing nothing but a face masked and with a pair of hands before it1 a seal ring on the little finger of one hand4 ,oh1 ,i forgot that you hadn't seen the ring before1 explained ,elaine4 ,why1 we knew him at once1 in spite of everything1 by that seal ring--,mr4 ,del ,mar6 ,mr4 ,del ,mar8 repeated ,aunt ,josephine1 looking from one to the other of us1 incredulous4 ,i saw the ring at his own bungalow and on his own finger1 reiterated ,elaine positively4 ,but what are you going to do1 now8 asked ,aunt ,josephine4 ,have him arrested1 of course1 ,elaine replied4 ,still talking over the strange experience of the night before1 we went out on the veranda4 ,well1 of all the nerve6 exclaimed ,elaine1 catching sight of a man coming up the gravel walk4 ,if that isn't ,henry1 ,mr4 ,del ,mar's valet6 ,the valet advanced as though nothing had happened and1 indeed1 ,i suppose that as far as he knew nothing had happened or was known to us4 ,he bowed and handed ,elaine a note which she tore open quickly and read4 ,would you go8 she asked1 handing the note over to me4 ,it read3 ,,dear ,,miss ,,dodge1 ,if you and ,mr4 ,jameson will call on me to-day1 ,i will have something of interest to tell you concerning my investigations in the case of the disappearance of ,craig ,kennedy4 ,sincerely1 ,m4 ,,del ,,mar4 ,yes1 ,i asserted1 ,i would go4 ,tell ,mr4 ,del ,mar we shall see him as soon as possible1 nodded ,elaine to the valet who bowed and left quickly4 ,what is it8 inquired ,aunt ,josephine1 rejoining us4 ,a note from ,mr4 ,del ,mar1 replied ,elaine showing it to her4 ,well1 queried ,aunt ,josephine1 what are you going to do8 ,we're going1 of course1 cried ,elaine4 ,you're not1 blurted out ,aunt ,josephine4 ,why1 just think4 ,he's sure to do something4 ,but ,elaine and ,i had made up our minds4 ,i know it1 ,i interjected4 ,he's sure to try something that will show his hand--and then ,i've got him4 ,perhaps ,i threw out my chest a little more than was necessary1 but then ,i figured that ,elaine with her usual intuition had for once agreed with me and that it must be all right4 ,i drew my gun and twirled the cylinder about as ,i spoke4 ,indeed ,i felt1 since the success of the snapshot episode1 that ,i was a match for several ,del ,mar's4 ,yes1 ,walter is right1 agreed ,elaine4 ,aunt ,josephine continued to shake her head sagely in protest4 ,but ,elaine waved all her protestations aside and ran into the house to get ready for the visit4 ,half an hour later1 two saddle horses were brought around to the front of ,dodge ,hall and ,elaine and ,i sallied forth4 ,aunt ,josephine was still protesting against our going to ,del ,mar's1 but we had made up our minds to carry the thing through4 ,you know1 she insisted1 that ,mr4 ,kennedy is not around to protect you two children4 ,something will surely happen to you if you don't keep out of this affair4 ,oh1 ,auntie1 laughed ,elaine1 a bit nervously1 however1 don't be a kill-joy4 ,suppose ,craig isn't about8 ,who's going to do this1 if ,walter and ,i don't8 ,in spite of all1 we mounted and rode away4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,del ,mar1 still continuing his nefarious work of mining ,american harbors and bridges1 had arrived at a scheme as soon as he returned from the attempt to get back from us the ,sandy ,hook plans4 ,smith1 who had stolen the plans from the ,war ,department1 was still at the bungalow4 ,early in the morning1 ,del ,mar had seated himself at his desk and wrote a letter4 ,here1 ,henry1 he directed his valet1 take this to ,miss ,dodge4 ,as the valet went out1 he wrote another note4 ,read that1 he said1 handing it over to ,smith4 ,it's a message ,i want you to take to headquarters right away4 ,it was worded cryptically3 ,a4 ,a4 ,l4 ,n4 ,y4 ,closely watched4 ,must act soon or all will be discovered4--,m4 ,smith read the note1 nodded1 and put it into his pocket1 as he started to the door4 ,no1 no1 shouted ,del ,mar1 calling him back4 ,this thing means that you'll have to be careful in your getaway4 ,you'd better go out through my secret passage1 he added1 pointing to the panel in the library wall4 ,he pressed the button on the desk and ,smith left through the hidden passage4 ,down it he groped and at the other end emerged4 ,seeing no one around1 he made his way to the road4 ,there seemed to be no one who looked at all suspicious on the road1 either1 and ,smith congratulated himself on his easy escape4 ,on a bridge over a creek1 however1 as ,smith approached1 was one inoffensive-looking person who might have been a minister or a professor4 ,he was leaning on the rail in deep thought1 gazing at the creek that ran beneath him1 and now and then flashing a sharp glance about4 ,suddenly he saw something approaching4 ,instantly he dodged to the farther end of the bridge and took refuge behind a tree4 ,smith walked on over the bridge1 oblivious to the fact that he was watched4 ,no sooner had he disappeared than the inquisitive stranger emerged again from behind the tree4 ,it was the mysterious ,professor ,arnold who many times had shown a peculiar interest in the welfare of ,elaine and myself4 ,evidently he had recognized ,del ,mar's messenger1 for after watching him a moment he turned and followed4 ,at the railroad station1 just before the train for ,new ,york pulled in1 the waiting crowd was increased by one stranger4 ,smith had come in and taken his place unostentatiously among them4 ,but if he thought he was to be lost in the little crowd1 he was much mistaken4 ,arnold had followed1 but not so quickly that he had not had time to pick up the two policemen that the town boasted1 both of whom were down at the station at the time4 ,there he is1 indicated ,arnold1 the fellow with the slight limp4 ,bring him to my room in the ,st4 ,germain ,hotel4 ,all right1 sir1 replied the officers1 edging their way to the platform as ,arnold retreated back of the station and disappeared up the street4 ,just then the train pulled into the station and the passengers crowded forward to mount the steps4 ,smith was just about to push his way on with them1 when the officers elbowed through the crowd4 ,you're wanted1 hissed one of them1 seizing his shoulder4 ,but ,smith1 in spite of his deformity1 was not one to submit to arrest without a struggle4 ,he fought them off and broke away1 running toward the baggage-room4 ,as he rushed in1 they followed4 ,one of them was gaining on him and took a flying football tackle4 ,the other almost fell over the twisted mass of arms and legs4 ,the struggle now was short and sharp and ended in the officers slipping the bracelets over the wrists of ,smith4 ,while the passengers and bystanders crowded about to watch the excitement1 they led him off quickly4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in his rooms at the ,st4 ,germain1 cluttered with test tubes and other paraphernalia which indicated his scientific tendencies1 ,professor ,arnold entered and threw off his hat1 lighting a cigarette and waiting impatiently4 ,he had not as long to wait as he had expected4 ,a knock sounded at the door and he opened it4 ,there was ,smith handcuffed and forced in by the two policemen4 ,good work1 commended ,arnold1 at once setting to work to search the prisoner who fumed but could not resist4 ,what have we here8 drawled ,arnold in mock courtesy and surprise as he found and drew forth from ,smith's pocket a bundle of papers1 which he hastily ran through4 ,ah6 he muttered1 coming to ,del ,mar's note1 which he opened and read4 ,what's this8 ',a4 ,a4 ,l4 ,n4 ,y4 ,closely watched4 ,must act soon or all will be discovered4 ,m4' ,now1 what's all that8 ,arnold pondered the text deeply4 ,you may take him away1 now1 he concluded1 glancing up from the note to the officers4 ,thank you4 ,all right1 sir1 they returned1 prodding ,smith along out4 ,still studying the note1 ,arnold sat down at the desk4 ,thoughtfully he picked up a pencil4 ,under the letters ,a4 ,a4 ,l4 he slowly wrote ,anti-,american ,league and under the initial ,m the name1 ,martin4 ,now is the time1 if ever1 to use that new telaphotograph instrument which ,i have installed for the ,war ,department in ,washington and carry around with me1 he said to himself1 rising and going to a closet4 ,he took out a large instrument composed of innumerable coils and a queer battery of selenium cells4 ,it was the receiver of the new instrument by which a photograph could be sent over a telegraph wire4 ,down-stairs1 in the telegraph room of the hotel1 ,arnold secured the services of one of the operators4 ,evidently by the way they obeyed him they had received orders from the company regarding him1 and knew him well there4 ,i wish you'd send this message right away to ,washington1 he said1 handing in a blank he had already written4 ,the clerk checked it over3 ,u4 ,s4 ,,war ,,department1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,wire me immediately photograph and personal history of ,martin arrested two years ago as head of ,anti-,american ,league4--,,arnold4 ,as the message was ticked off1 ,arnold attached his receiving telaphotograph instrument to another wire4 ,it was a matter scarcely of seconds before a message was flashed back to ,arnold from ,washington3 ,martin escaped from ,fort ,leavenworth six months ago4 ,thought to be in ,europe4 ,photograph follows4 ,,edwards4 ,very well1 nodded ,arnold with satisfaction4 ,i think ,i know what is going on here now4 ,let us wait for the photograph4 ,he went over to the new selenium telaphotograph and began adjusting it4 ,far away1 in ,washington1 in a room in the ,war ,department where ,arnold had already installed his system for the secret government service1 a clerk was also working over the sending part of the apparatus4 ,no sooner had the clerk finished his preparations and placed a photograph in the transmitter than the buzzing of the receiver which ,arnold had installed announced to him that the marvellous transmission of a picture over a wire1 one of the very newest triumphs of science1 was in progress4 ,in the little telegraph office of the ,st4 ,germain1 the clerks and operators crowded about ,arnold1 watching breathlessly4 ,by ,jove1 it works6 cried one1 no longer sceptical4 ,slowly a print was being evolved before their eyes as if by a spirit hand4 ,arnold watched the synchronizer apparatus carefully as1 point after point1 the picture developed4 ,he bent over closely1 his attention devoted to every part of the complicated apparatus4 ,at last the transmission of the photograph was completed and the machine came to rest4 ,arnold almost tore the print from the receiver and held it up to examine it4 ,a smile of intense satisfaction crossed his face4 ,at last6 he muttered4 ,there was a photograph of the man who had been identified with the arch conspirators of two years before1 ,martin4 ,only1 now he had changed his name and appeared in a new role4 ,it was ,marcus ,del ,mar6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,already1 in the library of his bungalow1 ,del ,mar had summoned one of his trusted men and was talking to him1 when ,henry1 the valet1 reentered after his trip to see us4 ,they're coming as soon as they can1 he reported4 ,del ,mar smiled a cynical smile4 ,good1 he exclaimed triumphantly1 then1 looking about at the electric fixtures1 added to the man1 ,let us see where to install the thing4 ,he walked over to the door and put his hand on the knob1 then pointed back at the fixtures4 ,that's the idea1 he cried4 ,you can run the line from the brackets to this door-knob and the mat4 ,how's that8 ,very clever1 flattered the man1 putting on a heavy pair of rubber gloves4 ,taking a pair of pliers and other tools from a closet in the library1 he began removing the electric fixture from the wall4 ,as ,del ,mar directed1 the man ran a wire from the fixture along the moulding1 and down the side of a door1 where he made a connection4 ,in the meantime ,del ,mar brought out a wire mat and laid it in front of the door where any one who entered or left would be sure to step on it4 ,the various connections made1 the man placed a switch in the concealment of a heavily-curtained window and replaced everything as he found it4 ,thus it was that ,elaine and ,i came at last to ,del ,mar's bungalow1 ,i must admit1 with some misgivings4 ,but ,i had gone too far to draw back now and ,elaine was more eager even than ,i was4 ,we dismounted1 tethered our horses and went toward the house1 where ,i rang the bell4 ,preparations for our reception had just been completed and ,del ,mar was issuing his final instructions to his man1 when the valet1 ,henry1 ran in hastily4 ,they're here1 sir1 now1 he announced excitedly4 ,all right1 ,i'm ready1 nodded ,del ,mar1 turning to his man again and indicating a place back of the folds of the heavy curtains by the window4 ,you get back there by that switch4 ,don't move--don't even breathe4 ,now1 ,henry1 let them in4 ,as his valet withdrew ,del ,mar gazed about his library to make sure that everything was all right4 ,just then the valet reappeared and ushered us in4 ,good morning1 greeted ,del ,mar pleasantly4 ,i see that you got my note and ,i'm glad you were so prompt4 ,won't you be seated8 ,both ,elaine and ,i were endeavoring to appear at ease4 ,but there was a decided tension in the atmosphere4 ,we sat down1 however4 ,del ,mar did not seem to notice anything wrong4 ,i've something at last to report to you about ,kennedy1 he said a moment later1 clearing his throat4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,aunt ,josephine turned from us as ,elaine and ,i rode off on our horses from ,dodge ,hall considerably worried4 ,then an idea seemed to occur to her and she walked determinedly into the house4 ,jennings1 she called to the butler1 have the limousine brought around from the garage immediately4 ,yes1 ma'am1 acquiesced the faithful ,jennings1 hurrying out4 ,it was only a few minutes later that the car pulled around before the door4 ,aunt ,josephine bustled out and entered4 ,fort ,dale1 she directed the driver1 greatly agitated4 ,ask for ,lieutenant ,woodward4 ,out at ,fort ,dale1 ,woodward was much astonished when an orderly announced that ,aunt ,josephine was waiting in her car to see him on very urgent business4 ,he ordered that she be admitted at once4 ,i hope there's nothing wrong8 he inquired anxiously1 as he noted the excitement and the worried look on her face4 ,i--,i'm afraid there may be1 she replied1 sitting down and explaining what ,elaine and ,i had just done4 ,the ,lieutenant listened gravely4 ,and1 she concluded1 they wouldn't listen to me1 ,lieutenant4 ,can't you follow them and keep them out of trouble8 ,woodward who had been listening to her attentively jumped up as she concluded4 ,yes1 he cried sympathetically1 ,i can4 ,i'll go myself with some of the men from the post4 ,if they get into any scrape1 ,i'll rescue them4 ,almost before she could thank him1 ,woodward had hurried from his office1 followed by her4 ,on the parade grounds were some men4 ,quickly he issued his orders and a number of them sprang up as he detailed them off for the duty4 ,it was only a moment before they returned1 armed4 ,an instant later three large touring cars from the ,fort swept up before the office of ,woodward4 ,into them the armed men piled4 ,hurry--to the ,del ,mar bungalow1 ordered the ,lieutenant1 jumping up with the driver of the first car4 ,we must see that nothing happens to ,miss ,dodge and ,mr4 ,jameson4 ,they shot away in a cloud of dust1 followed hard by the other two cars1 dashing at a breakneck speed over the good roads4 ,in the narrow1 wooded roadway near ,del ,mar's1 ,woodward halted his car and the soldiers all jumped out and gathered about him as hastily he issued his directions4 ,surround the house1 first1 he ordered4 ,then arrest any one who goes in or out4 ,they scattered1 forming a wide circle4 ,as soon as word was passed that the circle was completed1 they advanced cautiously at a signal from ,woodward1 taking advantage of every concealment4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,around in the kitchen back of ,del ,mar's1 ,henry1 the valet1 had retired to visit one of the maids4 ,he was about to leave when he happened to look out of the window4 ,what's that8 he muttered to himself4 ,he stepped back and peered cautiously through the window again4 ,there he could see a soldier1 moving stealthily behind a bush4 ,he drew back further and thought a minute4 ,he must not alarm us4 ,then he wrote a few words on a piece of paper and tore it so that he could hold it in his palm4 ,next he hurried from the kitchen and entered the study4 ,del ,mar had scarcely begun to outline to us a long and circumstantial pseudo-investigation into what he was pleased to hint had been the death of ,kennedy1 when we were interrupted again by the entrance of his valet4 ,excuse me1 sir1 apologized ,henry1 as ,del ,mar frowned1 then noted that something was wrong4 ,as the valet said the words1 he managed surreptitiously to hand to ,del ,mar the paper which he had written1 now folded up into a very small space4 ,i had turned from ,del ,mar when the valet entered1 apparently to speak to ,elaine1 but in reality to throw them off their guard4 ,under that cover ,i was able to watch the precious pair from the tail of my eye1 ,i saw ,del ,mar nod to the valet as though he understood that some warning was about to be conveyed4 ,although nothing was said1 ,del ,mar was indicating by dumb show orders of some kind4 ,i had no idea what it was all about but ,i stood ready to whip out my gun on the slightest suspicious move from either4 ,i hope you'll pardon me1 ,miss ,dodge1 ,del ,mar deprecated1 as the valet retreated toward the door to the kitchen and pantry4 ,but1 you see1 ,i have to be housekeeper here1 too1 it seems4 ,actually1 though he was talking to us1 it was in a way that enabled him by palming something in his hand1 ,i fancied1 to look at it4 ,it was1 though ,i did not know it1 the hastily scrawled warning of the valet4 ,it must have been hard to read1 for ,i managed by a quick shift at last to catch just a fleeting glimpse that it was a piece of paper he held in his hand4 ,what was it1 ,i asked myself1 that he should be so secret about it8 ,clearly1 ,i reasoned1 it must be something that was of interest to ,elaine and myself4 ,if ,i must act ever1 ,i concluded1 now was the time to do so4 ,suddenly ,i reached out and snatched the note from his hand4 ,but before ,i could read it ,del ,mar had sprung to his feet4 ,at the same instant a man leaped out from behind the curtains4 ,but ,i was on my guard4 ,already ,i had drawn my revolver and had them all covered before they could make another move4 ,back into that corner--by the window--all of you1 ,i ordered1 thinking thus to get them together1 more easily covered4 ,then1 handing the note1 with my other hand1 to ,elaine1 ,i said to her1 ,see what it says--quick4 ,eagerly she took it and read aloud1 ,house surrounded by soldiers4 ,woodward1 ,i cried4 ,still keeping them covered1 ,i smiled quietly to myself and took one step after another slowly to the door4 ,elaine followed4 ,i reached the door and ,i remember that ,i had to step on a metal mat to do so4 ,i put my hand behind me and grasped the knob about to open the door4 ,as ,i did so1 the man who had jumped from behind the curtain suddenly threw down his upraised hands4 ,before ,i could fire1 instantaneously in fact1 ,i felt a thrill as though a million needles had been thrust into all parts of my body at once paralyzing every muscle and nerve4 ,the gun fell from my nerveless hand1 clattering to the floor4 ,the man had thrown an electric switch which had completed a circuit from the metal mat to the door-knob through my body and then to the light and power current of high power4 ,there ,i was1 held a prisoner1 by the electric current6 ,at the same instant1 also1 ,del ,mar with an oath leaped forward and seized ,elaine by the arms4 ,i struggled with the door-knob but ,i could no more let go than ,i could move my feet off that mat4 ,it was torture4 ,henry6 called ,del ,mar to the valet4 ,yes1 sir4 ,open the cabinet4 ,give me the helmets and the suits4 ,the valet did so1 bringing out a number of queer looking head-pieces with a single weird eye of glass in the front1 as well as rubber suits of an outlandish design4 ,while he was doing so1 ,del ,mar stuffed a handkerchief into ,elaine's mouth to keep her quiet4 ,by this time1 ,del ,mar1 as well as the man from behind the curtains and the valet were provided with suits1 and one at a time holding ,elaine1 the others put them on4 ,del ,mar moved toward ,elaine1 holding an extra helmet4 ,he strapped it on her1 then started to force her into a suit4 ,i struggled still1 but in vain1 to free myself from the door-knob and mat4 ,it was more than ,i could stand1 and ,i sank down1 half conscious4 ,i revived only long enough to see that ,del ,mar had forced one of the suits on ,elaine finally4 ,then he pressed a button hidden on the side of his desk and a secret panel in the wall opened4 ,picking up ,elaine he and the others hurried through into what looked like a dark passage and the panel closed4 ,they were gone4 ,i put forth all my remaining strength in one last desperate struggle4 ,somehow1 ,i managed to kick the wire mat from under my feet1 breaking the contact4 ,i staggered toward the panel1 but fell to the floor1 unconscious4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,outside1 the iron ring1 as ,woodward had planned it1 of soldiers were looking about1 alert for any noise or movement4 ,suddenly1 two of them who had been watching the grounds attentively signalled to each other that they saw something4 ,from the shrubbery emerged a most curious and uncouth figure1 all in rags1 with long1 unkempt hair and beard1 sallow complexion1 and carrying a long staff4 ,it might have been a tramp or a hermit1 perhaps1 who was making his way toward the house4 ,the two soldiers stole up noiselessly1 close to him4 ,almost before he knew it1 the hermit felt himself seized from behind by four powerful arms4 ,escape was impossible4 ,let me go1 he pleaded4 ,can't you see ,i'm harming no one8 ,but the captors were obdurate4 ,tell it to the ,lieutenant1 they rejoined grimly forcing him to go before them by twisting his arms1 ,our orders were to seize any one entering or leaving4 ,protests were in vain4 ,the hermit was forced to go before ,lieutenant ,woodward who was just in the rear directing the advance4 ,well1 demanded ,woodward1 what's your business8 ,for an instant the hermit stood mute4 ,what should he do8 ,he has reason to know that the situation must be urgent4 ,slowly he raised his beard so that ,woodward could see not only that it was false but what his features looked like4 ,arnold6 gasped ,woodward1 startled4 ,what brings you here8 ,elaine and ,jameson are in the house4 ,we have it surrounded4 ,half an hour before1 in the ,st4 ,germain1 ,arnold had no sooner received the telaphotograph than he hurried up to his room4 ,from a closet he had produced another of his numerous disguises and quickly put it on4 ,with scant white locks falling over his shoulders and long scraggly beard1 he had made himself into a veritable wild man4 ,then he had put on the finishing touches and had made his way toward ,del ,mar's4 ,a look of intense anxiety now flashed over ,arnold's face as he heard ,woodward's words4 ,but1 he cried1 there is an underground passage from the house to the shore4 ,the deuce6 muttered ,woodward1 more alarmed now than ever4 ,come1 men1--to the house1 he shouted out his orders as they passed them around the line4 ,arnold1 lead the way6 ,together the soldier and the strange figure rushed to the front door of the bungalow4 ,all was still inside4 ,heavy as it was1 they broke it down and burst in4 ,walter1 there's ,walter6 cried ,woodward as he saw me lying on the floor of the study when they ran in4 ,they hurried to me and as quickly as they could started to bring me around4 ,where's ,elaine8 asked the strange figure of the hermit4 ,weakly1 ,i was able only to point to the panel4 ,but it was enough4 ,the soldiers understood4 ,they dashed for it1 looking for a button or an opening4 ,finding neither1 they started to bang on it and batter it in with the butts of their guns4 ,it was only seconds before it was splintered to kindling4 ,there was the passage4 ,instantly1 ,woodward1 the hermit1 and the rest plunged into it utterly regardless of danger4 ,on through the tunnel they went until at last they came1 unmolested1 to the end4 ,there they paused to look about4 ,the hermit pointed to the ground4 ,clearly there were footprints1 leading to the shore4 ,they followed them on down to the beach4 ,look6 pointed the hermit4 ,off in the water they could now see the most curious sights4 ,four strangely helmeted creatures were wading out1 each like a huge octopus-head1 without tentacles4 ,only a few seconds before1 ,del ,mar and his companions1 carrying ,elaine had emerged from the secret entrance of the tunnel and had dashed for the shore of the promontory4 ,stopping only an instant to consider what was to be done1 ,del ,mar had seen some one else emerge from the tunnel4 ,come--we must get down there quickly1 he shouted1 hurriedly issuing orders1 as all three1 carrying ,elaine1 waded out into the water4 ,at sight of the strange figures the soldiers raised their guns and a volley of shot rang out4 ,stop6 shouted the hermit1 his hair streaming wildly as he ran before the guns and threw up as many as he could grasp with his outstretched arms4 ,do you want to kill her8 ,her8 repeated ,woodward4 ,all stood there1 wonderingly1 gazing at the queer creatures4 ,what did it mean8 ,slowly1 they disappeared--literally under the water4 ,they were gone--with ,elaine6 ,,chapter ,,xvii ,,the ,,triumph ,,of ,,elaine ,half carrying1 half forcing ,elaine down into the water1 ,del ,mar and his two men1 all four of the party clad in the outlandish submarine suits1 bore the poor girl literally along the bottom of the bay until they reached a point which they knew to be directly under the entrance to the secret submarine harbor4 ,del ,mar's mind was working feverishly4 ,though he now had in his power the girl he both loved and also feared as the stumbling-block in the execution of his nefarious plans against ,america1 he realized that in getting her he had been forced to betray the precious secret of the harbor itself4 ,at the point where he knew that the harbor was above him1 hidden safely beneath the promontory1 he took from under his arm a float which he released4 ,upward it shot through the water4 ,above1 in the harbor1 a number of his men were either on guard or lounging about4 ,a signal from the chief1 cried a sentry1 pointing to the float as it bobbed up4 ,kick off the lead shoes1 signalled ,del ,mar to the others1 under the water4 ,they did so and rose slowly to the surface1 carrying ,elaine up with them4 ,the men at the surface were waiting for them and helped to pull ,del ,mar and his companions out of the water4 ,come into the office1 right away1 beckoned ,del ,mar anxiously1 removing his helmet and leading the way4 ,in the office1 the others removed their helmets1 while ,del ,mar took the head-gear off ,elaine4 ,she stared about her bewildered4 ,where am ,i8 she demanded4 ,a woman6 exclaimed the men in the harbor in surprise4 ,never mind where you are1 growled ,del ,mar1 plainly worried4 ,then to the men1 he added1 ,we can't stay any longer4 ,the harbor is discovered4 ,get ready to leave immediately4 ,murmurs of anger and anxiety rose from the men as ,del ,mar related briefly between orders what had just happened4 ,immediately there was a general scramble to make ready for the escape4 ,in the corner of the office1 ,elaine1 again in her skirt and shirtwaist which the diving-suit had protected1 sat open-eyed watching the preparations of the men for the hasty departure4 ,some had been detailed to get the rifles which they handed around to those as yet unarmed4 ,del ,mar took one as well as a cartridge belt4 ,guard her1 he shouted to one man indicating ,elaine1 and if she gets away this time1 ,i'll shoot you4 ,then he led the others down the ledge until he came to a submarine boat4 ,the rest followed1 still making preparations for a hasty flight4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,woodward along with ,professor ,arnold1 in his disguise as a hermit1 stood for a moment surrounded by the soldiers1 after the disappearance of ,elaine and ,del ,mar in the water4 ,i see it all1 now1 cried the hermit1 the submarine1 the strange disappearances1 the messages in the water4 ,they have a secret harbor under those cliffs1 with an entrance beneath the water line4 ,hastily he wrote a note on a piece of paper4 ,send one of your men to my headquarters with that1 he said1 handing it to ,woodward to read3 ,,rodgers1--,send new submarine telescope by bearer4 ,you will find it in case ,no4 #ag1 closet ,no4 #c4--;,,arnold4 ,right away1 nodded ,woodward1 comprehending and calling a soldier whom he dispatched immediately with hurried instructions4 ,the soldier saluted and left almost on a run4 ,then ,woodward turned and with ,arnold lead the men up the shore1 still conferring on the best means of attacking the harbor4 ,on a wharf along the shore ,woodward1 ,arnold and the soldiers gathered1 waiting for the telescope4 ,already ,woodward had had a fast launch brought up1 ready for use4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,when ,woodward1 ,arnold and the attacking party had discovered me unconscious in ,del ,mar's study1 there had been no time to wait for me to regain full consciousness4 ,they had placed me on a couch and run into the secret passageway after ,elaine4 ,now1 however1 ,i slowly regained my senses and1 looking about1 vaguely began to realize what had happened4 ,my first impulse was to search the study1 looking in all the closets and table drawers4 ,in a corner was a large chest1 ,i opened it4 ,inside were several of the queer helmets and suits which ,i had seen ,del ,mar use and one of which he had placed on ,elaine4 ,for some moments ,i examined them curiously1 wondering what their use could be4 ,somehow it seemed to me1 if ,del ,mar had used them in the escape1 we should need them in the pursuit4 ,then my eye fell on the broken panel4 ,i entered it and groped cautiously down the passageway4 ,at the end ,i gazed about1 trying to discover which way they had all gone4 ,at last1 down on the shore1 before a wharf ,i could see ,woodward1 the strange old hermit and the rest4 ,i ran toward them1 calling4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,by this time the soldier who had been sent for the submarine telescope arrived at last1 with the telescope in sections in several long cases4 ,good6 exclaimed the old hermit1 almost seizing the package which the soldier handed him4 ,he unwrapped it and joined the various sections together4 ,it was1 as ,i have said1 a submarine telescope1 but after a design entirely new1 differing from the ordinary submarine telescope4 ,it had an arm bent at right angles1 with prismatic mirrors so that it was not only possible to see the bottom of the sea but by an adjustment also to see at right angles1 or1 as it were1 around a corner4 ,it was while he was joining this contrivance together that ,i came up from the end of the secret passage down to the wharf4 ,why1 here's ,jameson1 greeted ,woodward4 ,i'm glad you're so much better4 ,where's ,elaine8 ,i interrupted breathlessly4 ,they began to tell me4 ,aren't you going to follow8 ,i cried4 ,follow8 ,how can we follow8 ,excitedly ,i told of my discovery of the helmets4 ,just the thing6 exclaimed the hermit4 ,send some one back to get them4 ,woodward quickly detached several soldiers to go with me and ,i hurried back to the bungalow1 while others carried the submarine telescope to the boat4 ,it was only a few minutes later that in ,del ,mar's own car1 ,i drove up to the wharf again and we unloaded the curious submarine helmets and suits4 ,quickly ,woodward posted several of his men to act as sentries on the beach1 then with the rest we climbed into the launch and slipped off down the shore4 ,the launch which ,woodward had commandeered moved along in the general direction which they had seen ,del ,mar and his men take with ,elaine4 ,with the telescope over the side1 we cruised about slowly in a circle1 ,arnold gazing through the eyepiece4 ,all of us were by this time in the diving-suits which ,i had brought from ,del ,mar's1 except that we had not yet strapped on the helmets4 ,suddenly ,arnold raised his hand and signalled to stop the launch4 ,look6 he cried1 indicating the eyepiece of the submarine telescope which he had let down over the side4 ,woodward gazed into the eyepiece and then ,i did1 also4 ,there we could see the side of a submerged submarine a short distance away1 through the cave-like entrance of what appeared to be a great under-water harbor4 ,what shall we do8 queried ,woodward4 ,attack it now before they are prepared1 replied the hermit decisively4 ,put on the helmets4 ,all of us except those who were running the launch buckled on the head-pieces1 wrapping our guns in waterproof covers which we had found with the suits4 ,as soon as we had finished1 one after another1 we let ourselves over the side of the boat and sank to the bottom4 ,on the bottom we gathered and slowly1 in the heavy unaccustomed helmets and cumbersome suits1 we made our way in a body through the entrance of the harbor4 ,upward through the archway we went1 clinging to rocks1 anything1 but always upward4 ,as we emerged a shot rang out4 ,one of our men threw up his arms and fell back into the water4 ,on we pressed4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,elaine sat in a corner of the office1 mute1 while the man who was guarding her1 heavily armed1 paced up and down4 ,suddenly an overwhelming desire came over her to attempt an escape4 ,but no sooner had she made a motion as though to run through the door than the man seized her and drove her back to her corner4 ,take your positions here1 ordered ,del ,mar to several of the men4 ,if you see anybody come up through the water1 these hand grenades ought to settle them4 ,along the ledge the men were stationed each with a pile of the grenades before him4 ,see6 cried one of them from the ledge as he caught sight of one of our helmets appearing4 ,the others crouched and stared4 ,del ,mar himself hurried forward and gazed in the direction the man indicated4 ,there they could see ,woodward1 ,arnold and the rest of us just beginning to climb up out of the water4 ,del ,mar aimed and fired4 ,one of the men had thrown up his arms with a cry and fallen back into the water4 ,invaders seemed to swarm up now in every direction from the water4 ,on the semi-circular ledge about one side of the harbor1 ,del ,mar's men were now ranged in close order near a submarine1 whose hatch was open to receive them1 ready to repel the attack and if necessary retreat into the under-sea boat4 ,they fired sharply at the figures that rose from the water4 ,many of the men fell back1 hit1 but1 in turn1 a large number managed to gain a foothold on the ledge4 ,led by ,woodward and ,arnold1 they formed quickly and stripped off the waterproof coverings of their weapons1 returning the fire sharply4 ,things were more equal now4 ,several of ,del ,mar's men had fallen4 ,the smoke of battle filled the narrow harbor4 ,in the office ,elaine listened keenly to the shots4 ,what did it all mean8 ,clearly it could be nothing less than assistance coming4 ,the man on guard heard also and his uncontrollable curiosity took him to the door4 ,as he gazed out ,elaine saw her chance4 ,she made a rush at him and seized him1 wresting the rifle from his hands before he knew it4 ,she sprang back just as he drew his revolver and fired at her4 ,the shot just narrowly missed her1 but she did not lose her presence of mind4 ,she fired the rifle in turn and the man fell4 ,a little shudder ran over her4 ,she had killed a man6 ,but the firing outside grew fiercer4 ,she had no time to think4 ,she stepped over the body1 her face averted1 and ran out4 ,there she could see ,del ,mar and his men4 ,many of them by this time had been killed or wounded4 ,we can't beat them2 they are too many for us1 muttered ,del ,mar4 ,we'll have to get away if we can4 ,into the submarine6 he ordered4 ,hastily they began to pile into the open hatch4 ,just as ,del ,mar started to follow them1 he caught sight of ,elaine running out of the office4 ,almost in one leap he was at her side4 ,before she could raise her rifle and fire he had seized it4 ,she managed1 however1 to push him off and get away from him4 ,she looked about for some weapon4 ,there on the ledge lay one of the hand grenades4 ,she picked it up and hurled it at him1 but he dodged and it missed him4 ,on it flew1 landing close to the submarine4 ,as it exploded1 another of ,del ,mar's men toppled over into the water4 ,between volleys1 ,woodward1 ,arnold and the rest pulled off their helmets4 ,elaine6 cried ,arnold1 catching sight of her in the hands of ,del ,mar4 ,quickly1 at the head of such men as he could muster1 the hermit led a charge4 ,in the submarine the last man was waiting for ,del ,mar4 ,as the hermit ran forward with several soldiers between ,del ,mar and the submarine1 it was evident that ,del ,mar would be cut off4 ,the man at the hatch climbed down into the boat4 ,it was useless to wait4 ,he banged shut and clamped the hatch4 ,slowly the submarine began to sink4 ,del ,mar by this time had overcome ,elaine and started to run toward the submarine with her4 ,but then he stopped short4 ,there was a queer figure of a hermit leading some soldiers4 ,he was cut off4 ,back into the office6 he growled1 dragging ,elaine4 ,he banged shut the door just as the hermit and the soldiers made a rush at him4 ,on the door they battered4 ,but it was in vain4 ,the door was locked4 ,in the office ,del ,mar hastily went to a corner1 after barring the door1 and lifted a trap-door in the floor1 known only to himself4 ,elaine did not move or make any attempt to escape1 for ,del ,mar in addition to having a vicious looking automatic in his hand kept a watchful eye on her4 ,outside the office1 the soldiers1 led by the hermit and ,woodward continued to batter at the door4 ,now--go down that stairway--ahead of me1 ordered ,del ,mar4 ,elaine obeyed tensely1 and he followed into his emergency exit1 closing the trap4 ,beat harder1 men1 urged the hermit1 as the soldiers battered at the door4 ,they redoubled their efforts and the door bent and swayed4 ,at last it fell in under the sheer weight of the blows4 ,by ,george--he's gone--with ,elaine1 cried the hermit1 looking at the empty office4 ,feverishly they hunted about for a means of escape but could find none4 ,pound the floor and walls with the butts of your guns1 ordered ,arnold4 ,there must be some place that is hollow4 ,they did so1 going over all inch by inch4 ,meanwhile1 through the passage1 along a rocky stairway1 ,del ,mar continued to drive ,elaine before him1 up and ever up to the level of the land4 ,at last ,elaine1 followed by ,del ,mar1 emerged from the rocky passage in a cleft in the cliffs1 far above the promontory4 ,go on6 he ordered1 forcing her to go ahead of him4 ,they came finally to a small hut on a cliff overlooking the real harbor4 ,enter6 demanded ,del ,mar4 ,still meekly1 she obeyed4 ,del ,mar seized her and before she knew it had her bound and gagged4 ,down in the little office our men continued to search for the secret exit4 ,here's a place that gives an echo1 shouted one of them4 ,as he found the secret trap and threw it open1 the hermit stripped off the cumbersome diving-suit and jumped in1 followed by ,woodward1 myself and the soldiers4 ,upward we climbed until at last we came to the opening4 ,there we paused and looked about4 ,where was ,del ,mar8 ,where was ,elaine8 ,we could see no trace of them4 ,finally1 however1 ,arnold discovered the trail in the grass and we followed him1 slowly picking up the tracks4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,knowing that the submarine would cruise about and wait for him1 ,del ,mar decided to leave ,elaine in the hut while he went out and searched for a boat in which to look for the submarine4 ,coming out of the hut1 he gazed about and moved off cautiously4 ,stealthily he went down to the shore and there looked up and down intently4 ,a short distance away from him was a pier in the process of construction4 ,men were unloading spiles from a cable car that ran out on the pier on a little construction railway1 as well as other material with which to fill in the pier4 ,at the end of the dock lay a power-boat1 moored1 evidently belonging to some one interested in the work on the pier4 ,the workmen had just finished unloading a car full and were climbing back on the empty car1 which looked as if it had once been a trolley4 ,as ,del ,mar looked over the scene of activity1 he caught sight of the powerboat4 ,just what ,i want1 he muttered to himself4 ,i must get ,elaine4 ,i can get away in that4 ,the workmen signalled to the engineer above and the car ran up the wharf and up an incline at the shore-end4 ,the moment the car disappeared1 ,del ,mar hurried away in the direction he had come4 ,at the top of the grade1 he noticed1 was a donkey engine which operated the cable that drew the car up from the dock1 and at the top of the incline was a huge pile of material4 ,the car had been drawn up to the top of the grade by this time4 ,there the engineer who operated the engine stopped it4 ,just then the whistle blew for the noon hour4 ,the men quit work and went to get their dinner pails1 while the engineer started to draw the fire4 ,beside the engine1 he began to chop some wood1 while the car was held at the top of the grade by the cable4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,in our pursuit we came at last in sight of a lonely hut4 ,evidently that must be a rendezvous of ,del ,mar4 ,but was he there8 ,was ,elaine there8 ,we must see first4 ,while we were looking about and debating what was the best thing to do1 who should appear hurrying up the hill but ,del ,mar himself1 going toward the hut4 ,as we caught sight of him1 ,arnold sprang forward4 ,woodward and ,i1 followed by the soldiers also jumped out4 ,del ,mar turned and ran down the hill again with us after him1 in full cry4 ,while we had been waiting1 some of the soldiers had deployed down the hill and now1 hearing our shouts1 turned1 and came up again4 ,beside his engine1 we could see an engineer chopping wood4 ,he paused now in his chopping and was gazing out over the bay4 ,suddenly he had seen something out in the water that had attracted his attention and was staring at it4 ,there it moved1 nothing less than a half-submerged submarine4 ,as the engineer gazed off at it1 ,del ,mar came up1 unseen1 behind him and stood there1 also watching the submarine1 fascinated4 ,just then behind him ,del ,mar heard us pursuing4 ,he looked about as we ran toward him and saw that we had formed a wide circle1 with the men down the hill1 that almost completely surrounded him4 ,there was no chance for escape4 ,it was hopeless4 ,but it was not ,del ,mar's nature to give up4 ,he gave one last glance about4 ,there was the trolley car that had been converted into a cable way4 ,it offered just one chance in a thousand4 ,suddenly his face assumed an air of desperate determination4 ,he sprang toward the engineer and grappled with him1 seeking to wrest the axe from his hand4 ,every second counted4 ,our circle was now narrowing down and closing in on him4 ,del ,mar managed to knock out the engineer1 taken by surprise1 just as our men fired a volley4 ,in the struggle1 ,del ,mar was unharmed4 ,instead he just managed to get the axe4 ,an instant later a leap landed him on the cable car4 ,with a blow of the axe he cut the cable4 ,the car began to move slowly down the hill on the grade4 ,some of the men were down below in its path4 ,but the onrushing cable car was too much for them4 ,they could only leap aside to save themselves4 ,on down the incline1 gathering momentum every second1 the car dashed1 ,del ,mar swaying crazily but keeping his footing4 ,we followed as fast as we could1 but it was useless4 ,out on the wharf it sped at a terrific pace4 ,at the end it literally catapulted itself into the water1 crashing from the end of the pier4 ,as it did so1 ,del ,mar gave a flying leap out into the harbor1 struck the water with a clean dive and disappeared4 ,on down the hill we hurried4 ,there in the water was ,del ,mar swimming rapidly4 ,almost before we knew it1 we saw him raise his hand and signal1 shouting4 ,there only a few yards away was the periscope of a submarine4 ,as we watched1 we could see that it had seen him1 had turned in his direction4 ,would they get him8 ,we watched1 fascinated4 ,some of our men fired1 as accurately as they could at a figure bobbing so uncertainly on the water4 ,meanwhile the submarine approached closer and rose a bit so that the hatchway cleared the waves4 ,it opened4 ,one of the foreign agents assisted ,del ,mar in4 ,he had escaped at last6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was most heart-breaking to have had ,del ,mar so nearly in our grasp and then to have lost him4 ,we looked from one to another1 in despair4 ,only ,arnold1 in his disguise as a hermit1 seemed undiscouraged4 ,suddenly he turned to ,woodward4 ,what time is it8 he asked eagerly4 ,a little past noon4 ,the ,kennedy wireless torpedo6 he exclaimed4 ,it arrived to-day4 ,burnside is trying it out4 ,suddenly there flashed over me the recollection of the marvellous invention that ,kennedy had made for the ,government just before his disappearance1 as well as the memory of the experience ,i had had once with the intrepid ,burnside4 ,woodward's face showed a ray of interest and hope in the overwhelming gloom that had settled on us all4 ,you and ,jameson go to ,fort ,dale1 quick1 directed ,arnold eagerly4 ,i'm not fit4 ,get ,burnside4 ,have him bring the torpedo in the air-boat4 ,we needed no further urging4 ,it was a slender chance4 ,but ,i reflected that the submarine could not run through the bay totally submerged4 ,it must have its periscope in view4 ,we hurried away1 leaving ,arnold1 who slowly mounted the hill again4 ,how we did it1 ,i don't know1 but we managed to get to the ,fort in record time4 ,there near the aeroplane hangar1 sure enough1 was ,burnside with some other men adjusting the first real wireless ,kennedy torpedo1 the last word in scientific warfare1 making an aerial torpedo-boat4 ,we ran up to the hangar calling to ,burnside excitedly4 ,it was only a moment later1 that he began to issue orders in his sharp staccato4 ,his men swarmed forward and took the torpedo from the spot where they had been examining it1 adjusting it now beneath the hydroaeroplane4 ,jameson1 you come with me1 he asked4 ,you went before4 ,we rose quickly from the surface and planed along out over the harbor4 ,far off we could see the ripple from the periscope of the submarine that was bearing ,del ,mar away4 ,would ,kennedy's invention for which ,del ,mar had dared so much in the first place prove his final undoing8 ,we sped ahead4 ,down below in the submersible ,del ,mar was giving hasty orders to his men1 to dip down as soon as all the shipping and the sand bars were cleared4 ,i strained my eyes through the glasses reporting feverishly to ,burnside what ,i saw so that he could steer his course4 ,there it is1 ,i urged4 ,keep on--just to the left4 ,i see it1 returned ,burnside a moment later catching with his naked eye the thin line of foam on the water left by the periscope4 ,would you mind getting that torpedo ready8 he continued4 ,i'll tell you just what to do4 ,they'll try to duck as soon as they see us1 but it won't be any use4 ,they can't get totally submerged fast enough4 ,following ,burnside's directions ,i adjusted the firing apparatus of the torpedo4 ,let it go6 shouted ,burnside4 ,i did so1 as he volplaned down almost to the water4 ,the torpedo fell1 sank1 bobbed up1 then ran along just tinder the surface4 ,already ,i was somewhat familiar with the wireless device that controlled it1 so that while ,burnside steadied the aircraft ,i could direct it1 as he coached me4 ,the submarine saw it coming now4 ,but it was too late4 ,it could not turn2 it could not submerge in time4 ,a terrific explosion followed as the torpedo came in contact with the boat1 throwing a column of water high in the air4 ,a yawning hole was blown in the very side of the submarine4 ,one could see the water rush in4 ,inside1 ,del ,mar and his men were now panic-stricken4 ,some of them desperately tried to plug the hole4 ,but it was hopeless4 ,others fell1 fainting1 from the poisonous gases that were developed4 ,of them all1 ,del ,mar's was the only cool head4 ,he realized that all was over4 ,there was nothing left to do but what other submarine heroes had done in better causes4 ,he seized a piece of paper and hastily wrote3 ,tell my emperor ,i failed only because ,craig ,kennedy was against me4--,,del ,,mar4 ,he had barely time to place the message in a metal float near-by4 ,down the submarine1 now full of water1 sank4 ,with his last strength he flung the message clear of the wreckage as it settled on the mud on the bottom of the bay4 ,burnside and ,i could but stare in grim satisfaction at the end of the enemy of ourselves and our country4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,up the hillside plodded ,professor ,arnold still in his wild disguise as the hermit4 ,now and then he turned and cast an anxious glance out over the bay at the fast disappearing periscope of the submarine4 ,once he paused4 ,that was when he saw the hydroaeroplane with ,burnside and myself carrying the wireless torpedo4 ,again he paused as he plodded up1 this time with a gasp1 of extreme satisfaction4 ,he has seen the water-spout and heard the explosion that marked the debacle of ,del ,mar4 ,the torpedo had worked4 ,the most dangerous foreign agent of the coalition of ,america's enemies was dead1 and his secrets had gone with him to the bottom of the sea4 ,perhaps no one would ever know what the nation had been spared4 ,he did not pause long1 now4 ,more eagerly he plodded up the hill1 until he came to the hut4 ,he pushed open the door4 ,there lay ,elaine1 still bound4 ,quickly he cut the cords and tore the gag from her mouth4 ,as he did so1 his own beard fell off4 ,he was no longer the hermit4 ,nor was he what ,i myself had thought him1 ,arnold4 ,craig6 cried ,elaine in eager surprise4 ,kennedy said not a word as he grasped her two hands4 ,and you were always around us1 protecting ,walter and me1 she half laughed1 half cried hysterically4 ,i knew it--,i knew it6 ,kennedy said nothing4 ,his heart was too happy4 ,yes1 he said simply1 as he gazed deeply into her great eyes1 my work on the case is done4 ,,the ,,end