Under Sealed Orders

Under Sealed Orders

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Title: Under Sealed Orders
Author: H. A. Cody

Release Date: September 17, 2005 [eBook #16714]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER
SEALED ORDERS***
E-text prepared by Al Haines

UNDER SEALED ORDERS
by
H. A. CODY

Author of The Frontiersman, The Long Patrol, The Chief of the Ranges,
etc.
NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS GEORGE H.
DORAN COMPANY
1917

To all "Spuds," successful or unsuccessful; to all "Fools," wise or
unwise; and to all of "The Devil's Poor," not forgetting authors, this
book is sympathetically dedicated.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.
THE LURE OF FALLING WATER II. TO THE LOWEST BIDDER
III. ONE, AT LEAST, RINGS TRUE IV. A LITTLE CABIN V.
UNMASKED VI. OUT OF BONDAGE VII. AT THE CLOSE OF A
DAY VIII. THE SHADOW OF MYSTERY IX. UNITED FORCES X.
WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE XI. CURIOSITY AND ANXIETY
XII. PYRAMID ROCK XIII. THE DISTURBING LETTER XIV.
SUBTLE INFLUENCE XV. THE "CUT OFF" XVI. CHRISTMAS
EVE XVII. THE NIGHT SUMMONS XVIII. THE WILD
NOR'EASTER XIX. DEVELOPMENTS XX. BUSINESS DETAILS
XXI. HARNESSED POWER XXII. IN THE PATH OF
DESTRUCTION XXIII. RESCUED XXIV. GATHERING CLOUDS
XXV. MYSTERY XXVI. UNDER SUSPICION XXVII. IN THE
TOILS XXVIII. LIGHT BREAKS XXIX. LOIS GOES TO THE CITY
XXX. A STRANGE COMMISSION XXXI. PAPER NUMBER TWO
XXXII. THE TABLES TURNED XXXIII. THE REAL HAVEN

UNDER SEALED ORDERS
CHAPTER I
THE LURE OF FALLING WATER
It was evening and a late April wind was whipping down the valley. It
swayed the tops of the tall pine and spruce trees as they shouldered up
from the swift brook below. It tossed into driving spray the water of
Break Neck Falls where it leaped one hundred feet below with a
thundering roar and swirl. It tossed as well the thin grey hair, long
beard, and thread-bare clothes of an old man standing upon a large rock
which towered high above the stream.
The entire scene was wild and made weird by the approach of night.
But the old man did not seem to notice anything except the falling of
the waters. His eyes glowed with an intense light as he kept them fixed
upon the leaping and swirling columns below. His face was like the
face of a lover turned toward the object of his affection.
For some time the man stood there drinking in the scene before him.
Then he took a step forward which brought him perilously near the
edge of the steep rock. His lips moved though no sound could be heard
for the tumult of the falls which was rending the air. What connection
had such a man with his surroundings? No boor or clown was he, for
the simple dignity of face and manner marked him as one of Nature's
true gentlemen.
It was almost dark when he at last reluctantly left the rock and entered
the thick woods where a trail led away from the falls. Along this he
moved with the unerring instinct of one who had travelled it often and
was sure of his bearings. But ever and anon he paused to listen to the
sound of the falling waters which followed him like the voice of a
loved one urging him to return.
"Yes, you want me," he at length cried, as he once more paused. "I hear
your voice calling, and I know its meaning. Others need you, too, but
they do not know it. You have been calling to them for years, but they

have not understood your language. It was left for me to listen and take
heed. They will some day, and then you will show your power. I can
see what you will do, beautiful falls, and the changes which will come
to this fair land when your luring voice is heeded."
He stood for awhile as if entranced after uttering these mystic words.
Then he continued on his way and night wrapped more closely about
him her dark mantle. He had to walk very cautiously now for the trail
was rough, and there were sharp stones and roots ready to strike his feet
and trip him up.
At length the trail ended and he reached the smooth surface of the
broad highway. Along this he sped with the quick elastic step of one
who has seen a vision. The fire of a great idea was burning fiercely
within him which caused him to take no heed to