Part 61 (1/2)

It was worded cryptically:

A. A. L. N. Y.

Closely watched. Must act soon or all will be discovered.--M.

Smith read the note, nodded, and put it into his pocket, as he started to the door.

”No, no,” shouted Del Mar, calling him back. ”This thing means that you'll have to be careful in your getaway. You'd better go out through my secret pa.s.sage,” he added, pointing to the panel in the library wall.

He pressed the b.u.t.ton on the desk and Smith left through the hidden pa.s.sage. Down it he groped and at the other end emerged. Seeing no one around, he made his way to the road. There seemed to be no one who looked at all suspicious on the road, either, and Smith congratulated himself on his easy escape.

On a bridge over a creek, however, as Smith approached, was one inoffensive-looking person who might have been a minister or a professor. He was leaning on the rail in deep thought, gazing at the creek that ran beneath him, and now and then flas.h.i.+ng a sharp glance about.

Suddenly he saw something approaching. Instantly he dodged to the farther end of the bridge and took refuge behind a tree. Smith walked on over the bridge, oblivious to the fact that he was watched. No sooner had he disappeared than the inquisitive stranger emerged again from behind the tree.

It was the mysterious Professor Arnold who many times had shown a peculiar interest in the welfare of Elaine and myself.

Evidently he had recognized Del Mar's messenger, for after watching him a moment he turned and followed.

At the railroad station, just before the train for New York pulled in, the waiting crowd was increased by one stranger. Smith had come in and taken his place unostentatiously among them.

But if he thought he was to be lost in the little crowd, he was much mistaken. Arnold had followed, but not so quickly that he had not had time to pick up the two policemen that the town boasted, both of whom were down at the station at the time.

”There he is,” indicated Arnold, ”the fellow with the slight limp.

Bring him to my room in the St. Germain Hotel.”

”All right, sir,” replied the officers, edging their way to the platform as Arnold retreated back of the station and disappeared up the street.

Just then the train pulled into the station and the pa.s.sengers crowded forward to mount the steps. Smith was just about to push his way on with them, when the officers elbowed through the crowd.

”You're wanted,” hissed one of them, seizing his shoulder.

But Smith, in spite of his deformity, was not one to submit to arrest without a struggle. He fought them off and broke away, running toward the baggage-room.

As he rushed in, they followed. One of them was gaining on him and took a flying football tackle. The other almost fell over the twisted ma.s.s of arms and legs. The struggle now was short and sharp and ended in the officers slipping the bracelets over the wrists of Smith. While the pa.s.sengers and bystanders crowded about to watch the excitement, they led him off quickly.

In his rooms at the St. Germain, cluttered with test tubes and other paraphernalia which indicated his scientific tendencies, Professor Arnold entered and threw off his hat, lighting a cigarette and waiting impatiently.

He had not as long to wait as he had expected. A knock sounded at the door and he opened it. There was Smith handcuffed and forced in by the two policemen.

”Good work,” commended Arnold, at once setting to work to search the prisoner who fumed but could not resist.

”What have we here?” drawled Arnold in mock courtesy and surprise as he found and drew forth from Smith's pocket a bundle of papers, which he hastily ran through.

”Ah!” he muttered, coming to Del Mar's note, which he opened and read.

”What's this? 'A. A. L. N. Y. Closely watched. Must act soon or all will be discovered. M.' Now, what's all that?”

Arnold pondered the text deeply. ”You may take him away, now,” he concluded, glancing up from the note to the officers. ”Thank you.”