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Show JUAB COUNTY TIMES.. NEfPHI, UTAH The Exploits of Elaine A Detective Novel and a Motion Picture Drama II r By ARTHUR B. REEVE Tha Wtll-Knaw- Creator cf II Novlltt mni Iht n Of "Craig KmntJy" Starlet Presented to CoIUbontioa With the Path Players and the Eclectic Film Compaay All foreign Right Reeerred by the Star Company Copyright, 8YNOPSI3. After the finding of Wu Fang's body disappearance a submarine nil Kennedy ppeara the following morning on tha buy. A man plungee overboard from It and awlina ashore. It la tha entrance of Mar-clDel Mar Into America, At tha Dodge tioma ona of Wu Fang's men la try Ins: to obtain Information of Kennedy and tha loat torpedo. Ilia plan la blocked by Del Mar's arrival, who also succeeds In winning Klalne's confident's, loiter she Is warned by a little old man to ba careful. Del Mar's mission at the Dodge house whs to locate and recover the torpedo. He would have been successful had it nut been for Elaine's dos;. Rusty, who due; It from flower pot, while Del Mar and Elulne the were talking only a few feet away.' ltuutv carried the torpedo to tha attic. The little Id man meets I l Mar at the Dodse home. They draw Runs together, leases from the exploded shells of the old man's revolver overcome Iel Mar and Elaine, and the old man of mystery escapes. TWENTY-SIXT- EPISODE H THE MASQUERADE BALL. . So confident was Elaine that Kennedy was atlll alive that she would not admit to herself what to the rent of us seemed obvious. 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 bouse and opened her country bouse on the shore of Connecticut It was shortly after the strange appearance of the fussy old gentleman that I dropped In one afternoon to find Elaine addressing Invitations, while Aunt Josephine helped her. As we chatted, I picked up one of the pile and mechanically contemplated the address: "M. Del Mar. Motel La Costa, New York City." "I don't like that fellow." I remarked, shaking my head dubiously, "Oh, you're Jealous, Walter," laughed Elaine, taking the envelope away from me and piling it again with the others. Thus It was that In the morning's mall, Del Mar, along with the rest of we. received a neatly engraved little Invitation: Miss Elaine Dodge Requests the Pleasure of Your Presence . at the as I did a couple of comedy steps before the mirror. Out I was not really ao I could not help thinking of what this night might have been If Kennedy bad been alive. Indeed, I was glad to take up my .white mask, throw a long coat over my outlandish costume and hurry oft In my waiting car In order to forget everything that reminded me of blm In the apartment. Already a continuous stream of guests was trickling In from carriages at the curb to the Dodge door, while a gaping crowd surrounded the canopy on the sidewalk. As I entered the ballroom it was really a brilliant and picturesque Of course I recognized Elaine In spite of ber mask, almost Immediately. Characteristically, she was talking to the one most striking figure on the floor, a tall man In red a veritably Mephistophcles. As the music started, Elaine and his Satanic majesty laughoff, but were not lost ingly to me In the throng. I soon found myself talking to a young lady In spotted domino. Shu seemed to have a peculiar fascination for me, yet she did not monopolize all my attention. As we trotted past the door, I could see down the hall. Jennings was still admitting late arrivals, and I caught a glimpse of one costumed as a gray friar, bis cowl over his head and his' eyes masked. Chatting, we had circled about to the conservatory. A number of couples were there and, through the palms, I saw Elaine and Mephlsto laughingly make tbelr way. As my spotted domino partner and 1 swung around again, I happened to catch another glimpse of the gray friar. He was not dancing, but walking, or rather stalking, about the edge of the room, gazing about as if searching for someone. In the conservatory, Elaine and Mephlsto had seated themselves in the breeze of an open window, somewhat In the shadow. "Ton are Miss Dodge," be said earnestly. "Ton knew me?" she laughed, "And light-hearte- d your He raised bis mask, disclosing the handsome face and fascinating eyes of to Be Del Mar. Given at Her Residence on Friday "I hone you don't think I'm here In Evening. June 1st. he laughed easily, as she character." "Good!" be exclaimed, reaching for started a bit the telephone, "I'll go." "I I well. I didn't think It was you," she blurted out. In a restaurant In the while light "Ah then there is someone else district two of those who bad been en- you csre more to dance wlthT" gaged In the preliminary plot to ateal "No no one no." Kennedy's wireless torpedo model, the "I may hope, then?" young woman stenographer who had He had moved closer and almost betrayed her trust and the man to touched her hand. The pointed hood whom she had passed the model out of the gray friar In the showed of the window In Washington, were that at last he saw whatpalms be sought. a table. seated at "No no. Please excuse me," she So secret bad been the relations of murmured rising and hurrying back all those In the plot that one group to the ballroom. did not know the other, and the A subtle smile over the strangest methods of communication gray friar's masked spread face. bad been adopted. Of course I bsd known Elaine. The man removed a cover from a Whether she knew me at once I don't dish. Underneath, perhaps without know or whether It was an accident, even the waiters knowledge, was a but she approached me as I paused In note. "Her are the orders at last," be the dance a moment with my domino whispered to the girt, unfolding and "From the sublime to the ridicureading the note. "Look. The model lous," she cried excitedly. of the torpedo is somewhere In ber My partner gave ber a sharp glance. bouse. Go tonight to the ball as a "Too will excuse me?" she said, and, masquerader and search for It." I "Oh. splendid!" et claimed the glrL as bowed, almost ran off to the leaving Elaine to dance off "I'm crazy for a tittle society after this grind. Pay the check and let's with me. get out and choose our costumes." Del Mar, quite surprised at the sud The man paid the check and they left hurriedly. Half an hour later den flight of Elaine from bis side, fol tbey were at a cos turner's shop choos- lowed more slowly through the palms. As he did so he passed a Mexican ing their disguise, both careful to get the fullest masks that would not ex- attired in brilliant native costume. At a sign from Mar he paused and cite suspicion. received a small package which Del It was the night of the masque- Mar slipped to blm, then passed on as though nothing bad happened. The rade. During the afternoon Elaine had keen eyes of the gray friar, however, been thinking more than ever of Ken- bad caught the little action and he nedy. It all seemed unreal to ber. quietly slipped out after the Mexican More than once she stopped to look bolero. Just then the domino girl hurried at bis photograph. Several times she Into the conservatory. checked herself on the point of tears. "What's do"No," she said to herself with a ing?" she asked eagerly. sort of grim determination. "No be "Keep close to me," whispered Del Is alive. He will come back to me Mar, as she nodded and they left the be win." conservatory, not apparently In comAnd yet she bad a feeling of ter- pany. rific loneliness which even her most Upstairs, sway from the rarefy of powerful efforts could not throw off. the ballroom, the bolero made bis Who was determine! to go through way until be came to Elaine's room, with the ball, now that she had surf- dimly lighted. With a quick glance ed It, but she was really glad when about, he entered cautiously, closed it came time to dress, for even that the door, and approached a closet took her mind from her brooding. wh'rh he opened. There was a safe As Marie finished helping her put built Into the wall. on a very effective and conspicuous As he stooped over, the man uncostume. Aunt Josephine entered ber wrapped the package Del Mar had handed blm and took out a curious litdressing room. "Are you ready, my deer?" she tle Instrument. Inside was a dry batasked, adjusting the mask which she tery and a most peculiar Instrument, carried so tnat no one would recognize something like a little flat leiephone her as Martha Washington, transmitter, yet a'tarhed by wires to 'In Just a minute, auntie," answered ear pieces that fitted over the head Klafne, trying hard to pot out of ber after the manner of those of a wireftiind how Craig would hav liked her less detector. dross. He adjusted the headpiece end held rW.mowhat erfer. In my own apartthe flat Instrument against the safe, I had t.eofi arraying myself as close to the combination which he bement, Doum-Bouand modestly admiring gan to tarn slowly. It was a burthe Imitation I made of a circus clown glar's microphone, used fof picking combination locks. As the combination turned, a alight sound was made when the proper number came opposite the working point. Imperceptible ordinarily to even the most sensitive ear, to an ear trained it was comparatively easy to recognize the fall of the tumblers over this sensitive little instrument. As be worked, the door behind him opened softly and the gray friar entered, closing It and moving noiselessly over back of the shelter of a big mahogany highboy, around which be could watch. At last the safe was opened. Rapidly the man went through Its contents. "Confound it!" he muttered. "She didn't put it here anyhow." The bolero started to close the safe when be beard a noise in the room and looked curlouBly back of him. Del Mar himself, followed by the domino girl, entered. "I've opened It," whispered the emissary stepping out of the closet and meeting them, "but I can't find the " "Hands up all of you!" They turned In time to see the gray friar's gun yawning at them. Most Still politely be lined them up. holding his gun ready, he lifted up the mask of the domino girl. "So It's you?" he grunted. He was about to lift the mask of the Mexican, when the bolero leaped at him. Del Mar piled in. Dut sounds downstairs alarmed them and the emissary, released, fled quickly with the girl. The gray friar, however, kept his hold on Mephlutophelcs, as if be hud been wrestling with a veritable devil. a e a a e a Down In the hall, I had again met my domino girl, a few minutes after I had resigned Elaine to another of ber numerous admirers. "I thought you deserted me," I said, somewhat piqued. "You deserted me," she parried, nervously. "However, I'll forgive you if you'll get me an Ice." I hastened to do so. . But no sooner had I gone than Del Mar stalked through the hall and went' upstairs. My domino girl was watching for him and followed. When I returned with the ice, I looked about, but she was gone. It was scarcely a moment later, however, that I saw ber hurry downstairs, accompanied by the Mexican bolero. I stepped forward to speak to ber, but she almost ran past me without a word. . "A nut," I remarked under my breath, pushing back my mask. I started to eat the Ice myself, when, a moment later Elaine passed through the ball with a Spanish cavalier. "Oh, Walter, here you are," she laughed. "I've been looking all over for you. Thank you very much, sire," she bowed with mock civility to the cavalier. "It was only one dance, you "Oh then that Is what the " Elaine checked herself. She had been about to hand the note to Del Mar when an idea seemed to come to her. Instead, Bhe crumpled it up and thrust It into her bosom. On the Btreet the bolero and the domino girl were hurrying away aa fast as they could. Meanwhile, the gray friar had over-com- e Del Mar, had bound and gagged him and thrust him into the closet. Then he wrote the note and laid it. with a rose from a vase, on Elulne'a dressing table before he, too, left the place. More than ever I was at a loss to make it out. It was the day after the masquerade ball that a taxlcab drove up to the Dodge bouse and a very trim but not overdressed young lady was announced as "Miss Bertholdl." "Miss Dodge?" she inquired as Jennings held open the portieres and she entered the library where Elaine and Aunt Josephine were. If Elaine had only known, it was the domino' girl of the night before who banded her a note and sat down, looking about ao demurely, while Elaine read: My Dear Miss Dode: The bearer. Miss Herlholdl, Is an operative of mine. 1 would apprei'iutn It If votf would ecploy her In aoine capacity In your house, its I have reuson to believe that certain foreign ati'-niwill soon make another attempt to nnd Kennedy's lost model. torpedo Sincerely, M. DEL MAIL ' Elaine looked up from reading the note. Miss BerthoUU was good to look at, and Elaine liked pretty girls about her. she ordered, "call "Jennings," Marie." To the butler and her maid, Elaine gave the most careful instructions regarding Miss Uertholdl. "She can help you finish the packing, first," she concluded. The girl thanked ber and went out with Jennings and Marie, asking Jennings to pay her taxlcab driver with money she gave him, which he did, bringing her grip into the house. Later in the day, Elaine bad both Marie and Uertholdl carrying armfuls of ber dresses from the closets in her room up to the attic, where the last of ber trunks were being packed. On one of the many trips, Uertholdl came alone into the attic, ber arms full as usuaL Before ber were two trunks, very much alike, open and nearly packed. She laid ber armful of clothes on a chair near by and pulled one of the trunks forward. On the door lay the trays of both trunks already packed. Bertholdl began packing ber burden In one trunk which was marked In big white letters, "E. Dodge." Down in Elaine's room at the time Jennings entered. "The expressmaa . Masquerade Ball It ' 'M -.- -l I- - ' 'V f close the lid. But the tray was too On the high. She looked puzzled. floor was another tray almost identical. "The wrong trunk," she smiled to herself, lifting the tray out and putting the other one In, while ahe placed the first tray with the torpedo concealed in the other, unmarked, trunk where it belonged. Then she closed the first trunk. A moment later the expressman entered, with Bertholdl. "You may take that one," indicated Elaine. "Miss Dodge, here's something else to go In," said Bertholdl In desperation, picking up her dress. "Never mind. Put It in the other trunk." Bertholdl was baffled, but she managed to control herself. She muot get word to Del Mar about that trunk marked "B. Dodge." that afternoon, before a cheap restaurant, might have been seen old old friend who had posed as Batley and as the Mexican. He entered the restaurant and made his way to the first of a row of booths on one side. "Hello," he nodded to a girl in the of steel and managed to get his fingers about the chauffeur's throat as an added insurance against a cry for help. He choked him literally Into Insensi- bility. Then, with a strength that he did not seem to possess, he picked up the limp, blue-facebody and carried. It off the road and around the car. d In the baggage car, the baggage man was smoking a surreptitious pipe of powerful tobacco between stations and the scenery contemplating thoughtfully through the open door. As the engine slowed up to take a curve and a grade. Bailey, who bad now and then taken a peep out of a little grated window above htm, crept out from bla biding place. Already he had slipped a dark silk mask over his face. As he made Ms way among the trunka and boxes, the train lurched and the baggage man, who had bis back to Bailey, heard him catch himself. He turned and leaped to his feet. Bailey closed with him Instantly. Over and over they rolled. Bailey had already drawn bis revolver before he left hla hiding place. A shot, bow-evebooth. would have been fatal to bis part . Bertholdl nodded back and he took in the plans and was only a last resort, his seat She bad begged an hour for It would have brought tbe trainor two off ou somo pretexL men. Outside the restaurant, a heavily Finally Bailey rolled his man over bearded man had been standing look- and getting his right arm free, dealt ing Intently at nothing in particular the baggage man a fierce blow with when Bartholdl entered. As Bailey the butt of the gun. came along, be followed and took the The train was now pulling slowly up next booth, his hat pulled over his the grade. More time had been spent a In eyes. moment he was listening, In overcoming the baggage man than bis ear close up to the partition. he expected and Bailey had to work "Well, what luck?" asked Bailey. quickly. He dragged the trunk marked "Did you get a clue?" "E. Dodge" from the pile to tbe door "I had the torpedo model In my and glanced ouL hands," she replied excitedly telling the story. "It is in a trunk marked Just around the curve in the rail"E. Dodge." road Del Mar was waiting, straining All this and more the bearded bis eyes down the track. drank In eagerly. There was the train, puffing up the A moment later Bailey and Bar- grade. As It approached he rose and tholdl left the booth and went out of waved his arms. It was tbe signal the restaurant, followed cautiously by and he waited anxiously. Had bis the stranger. On the street the two plans been carried out? emissaries of Del Mar stopped a moTbe train passed. From the baggage ment to talk. car came a trunk catapulted out by a "All right, I'll telephone him," she strong arm. It hurtled through the said as they parted In opposite direc- air and landed with its own and the tions. train's momentum. The stranger took an Instant to Over It rolled in the bushes, then make up bis mind, then followed the stopped unbroken, for Elaine bad bad glrL She continued down the street it designed to resist even tha most until she came to a store with tele- violent baggage smasher. phone booths. The bearded stranger Del Mar ran to IL As tbe tail light followed still. Into the next booth, but did not call a number. He bad bis of the train disappeared be turned around In the direction from which he ear to the walL . He could bear her call Del Mar, had come, placed bis two bands to his and although bo could not hear Del mouth and shouted. Mar's answers, she repeated enough From the side of the road by Del for htm to catch the drift. Finally, she came out, and the stranger. Instead Mar's car the bearded motorcyclist had of following her further, took the oth- Just emerged, buttoning the chauffeur's clothes and adjusting bis goger direction hurriedly. e a a e gles to his own face. As be approached the car, be beard Del Mar himself received the news with keen excitement. Quickly he a sbouL Quickly he tcre off tbe black gave instructions and prepared to beard which bad been bis disguise and tossed it Into the grsss. Then be drew leave bis rooms. A short time later bis car pulled up the coat high up about his neck. "All right!" be shouted back, startbefore the La Costa and. In a long duster and cap. Del Mar Jumped in ing along the road. and was off. Together he and Del Mar managed Scarcely had bis car swung up the to scramble up the embankment to the avenue when, from an alleyway down road and, one at each handle of the the street from the hotel, the chug-chu- trunk, tbey carried It back to the car, A piling it in the back. of a motorcycls sounded. The Improvised chauffeur started to bearded man, bis face further bidden by a pair of goggles, ran out with bis take bis place at tbe wheel and Del Mar bad bis foot on the running board machine, climbed on and followed. On out Into the country Del Mar's to get beside him, when the now uncar sped. At every turn the motorcy- bearded stranger suddenly swung cle dropped back a bit, observed the about and struck Del Mar full In the turn, then crept up and took It, too. face. It sent blm reeling back into the dusL So tbey went for some time, s e a e a e e e The engine of the car bad been runOn the level of the Grand Central ning and before Del Mar could recover consciousness tbe stranger bad shot where the trains left for the Connecticut shoro where Elaine's summer home tbe car ahead, leaving Det Mar prone was located. Bailey was now edging In the roadway. e e e a e a his way through the late crowd down the platform. He paused before the Tbe train, with Bailey on IL bad not baggage car Just as one of the bag- gained much speed, yet It wss a perilgage motor trucks rolled up loaded ous undertaking to lesp. Still. It wss high with trunks and bags. He stepped more so now to remain. Tbe baggage back as the men loaded the baggage man stirred. It was now a case of on the car, watching carefully. murder or a getaway. As they tossed on one trunk marked Bailey Jumped. Scratched and bruised and shaken, "E. Dodge," be turned with a subtle look and walked away. Finally be he scrambled to bis feet in the briers squirmed around to the other plat- along tbe track. He staggered up the form. No one was looking and be road, pulled himself together, then mounted the rear of the baggage car hurried back as fast as bis barked and opened the door. There was the shins would let him. He came to the spot which be recogbaggage man sitting by the side door, his back to Bailey. Bailey closed the nized as that where be bad thrown eff door softly and squeezed behind a pile tbe trunk. Ho saw the tramped and of trunks and bags. broken bushes and made for tbe road. Mr bad not gone far when be saw, Finally Del Mar reached a spot on tar down, Del Mar suddenly attacked the railroad where there were both a and thrown down, apparently by his curve and a grade ahead. He stopped own chauffeur. Bailey ran forward, but It was too late. Tbe car was gone. his car and got ouL Down the road the bearded and gogAs be came up to Del Mar lying outgled motorcyclist stopped Just In time stretched In the road, Del Mar was to avoid observation. To make sure, Just recovering consciousness. he drew a pocket field glass and lev"What was the matter?" be asked. eled It ahead. "Was he a traitor?" "Wait here," ordered Del Mar. "I ll Be caught sight of the real chaufcall when I want you." feur on the ground, stripped. Back on the road the bearded cyDel Mar was furious. "No." bo clist could see Del Mar move down the swore, "It was that confounded gray track though bo could not bear the friar again, I think. And be has the directions. It was not necessary, bow-eve- trunk, too!" He dragged bis maci,iu into the bushes, hid it, and hurried down Speeding up the road the former the road on foot. masquerader and motorcyclist stopped Del Mar's chauffeur was waiting at lasL Idly at the wheel when suddenly the Eagerly he leaped out f Del Mar's cold nose of a revolver wss stuck car and dragged the trunk over the under his chin. side regardless of the enaneL ' Not a word and bands up or 111 It was the work of a moment let the moonlight through you," for him to break theonly lock with a growled out a harsh voice. pocket Jimmy. Nevertheless the rhauffeur manOne after another be pulled out and car to birch of out the and the shook the clothes until frtx-kaged and bearded stranger, whoe revolver it gowns and lingerie lay strewn sll was, found that he would not dare to about. shoot. Del Mar was not far enough But there was not a thing In the lo rl?k IL trunk that eren remotely resembled aay The chauffeur flung hlmelf on him th torpedo tn'fdel. and they struggled fiercely, rolling The stranger scowled. over and over In the dust of the road. Where was It? But the b' artled stranger had a grip J (TO tiC CONTINUED r, ' st-ang-er eeeeeee' see g Del Mar Wss Lying on the Floor, Bound and Gagged, Before ths Open Safe. Please let me talk to for the trunks Is here. Miss Elaine," bo announced. The cavalier bowed reluctantly and "Is he? I wonder w hether they are left us. all resdy?" Elaine replied hurrying "What are you doing here alone?" out of the room. "Tell blm to walL" she asked, taking off ber own mask. In the attic, nertholdl was still at "How warm It Is." work, keeping her eyes open to exeBefore I could reply, I beard some- cute the mission on which Del Mar one coming downstairs back of me, bad sent ber. but not la time to turn. Rusty, forgotten In the excitement "Elaine's dressing table," a voice by Jennings, had roamed at will whispered In my ear. through the house end seemed quita I turned suddenly. It was the gray Interested. For this was the trunk befriar. Before I could even reach out hind which be bad bis cache of treasto grasp his robe, be was gone, ures. "Another nut!" I exclaimed. InvoAs Bertholdl started to move behind the trunk. Rusty could stand It too luntarily. "Why, what did he say?" asked longer. He darted ahead of ber Into Elaine. . . bis biding place. Among the dog bis"Something about your dressing cuit and bones wss the torpedo model tahle." which he bad dug up from the palm He seized "My dressing table?" she repeated. pot in the conservatory. We ran quickly up the steps. it In bis mouth and turned to carry Elaine's room showed every evidence It off. , of having been the scene of a struggle, There. In his path, was bis enemy, as she went over to the table. There the new girl. Quick as a flash, she she picked up a rose and under It a saw what It was Busty bad, and piece of paper on which were some grabbed St IL words printed w;n pencil roughly. "Get out!" she ordered, looking at "Look!" she cried, as I read with ber prize In triumph and turning it her: over and over In her hands. "Do honest assistant search safes? At that moment she heard Elaine Let no one see this but Jameson." on the stairs. What should she do? "What does It mean?" I ssked. She most bide It. She looked about. "My safe!" she cried, moving to a There a as the tray, packed and lying closet. As she opened the door. Ima- on the floor near the trunk marked "E. gine our surprise St seeing Del Mar Iodge." She thrust It hastily Into the lying on the floor, bound and gagged tray, pulling a garment over It. before the opn safe. "Get my scis"Nearly through?" panted Elaine. " sors on the dresser," cried Elaine. "Tes, Miss I did so. hastily cutting the cords "Thn please tf 11 the expressman to come up." that bound Del Mar. Bertholdl tipsltated. Chagrined. Tet "What does It all mean?" asked Elaine as be rose snd stretched him- there as nothing to do but obey. self. Fhe looked at the trunk by the tray Still flutrhlng Ms throat, as If ft tf fx It In hef mind, then went downhurt, D! Mar choked. "I found a man. stairs. a foreign agent, searching the safe. As she lfft the room, Elaine lifted But be overcame me and escaped." the tray into the trunk and tried to know. Bourn-Bourn- ." Ix-dg- r. s |
