The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-22

By ARTHUR B. REEVE
The Weii-kno.on Nooelisf and the
Creator Of The Craig Kennedy" Stories

was horribly dark He reached out
and felt piece of cloth. Anxiously he
pulled on 1t. Then he reached further
into the darkness.
There was Elaine, unconscious, ap-
parently dead t
In desperation Craig carried her
down the ladder.
With our prisoner we could only look
helplessly around.
by George, I'm going down after
him." I cried in desperation.
Don't do it." advised the police
man. You'll never get out
One Whit of the horrible gas told me
that he was right.
Listen" said the policeman.
There was, indeed, faint noise from
the black depths below us. A rope
alongside the rough ladder began to
move. as though some one was pulling
1t taut. He gazed down.
Craig! Craig!' called. ''is that
your"
No answer. But the rope still
| moved. Perhaps the helmet made it
impossible for him to hear
He had struggled back in the swirl
ing current almost exhausted by his
helpless burden. Holding Elaine's
head above the surface of the water
and pulling on the rope to attract my
attention, he could neither hear nor
shout. He had taken turn Of the rope
about Elaine. tried pulling on it.
There was something heavy on the
other end, and kept on pulling.
At last I could make out Kennedy
dimly mounting the ladder. The
weight was the unconscious body of
Elaine which he steadied as he mount
ed the ladder tugged harder and he
slowly came up.
Together, at last, the policeman and
reached down and pulled them out.
We placed Elaine on the cellar floor.
as comfortably as was possible, and
the policeman began his first aid mo-
tions for resuscitation.
mo mol" cried Kennedy Not
here-take her up where the air is
fresher."
With his revolver still drawn to
overawe the prisoner the policeman
forced him to aid us In carrying her
up the rickety fight of cellar steps.
Kennedy followed quickly, unscrewing
the oxygen helmet as he went.
In the deserted living room we de-
posted our senseless burden, while
Kennedy, the helmet off now, bent
over her.
"Quick-quick" he cried to the off,
Ger. "An ambulance!"
But the prisoner" the policeman
indicated.
"Hurry-hurry; I'll take care of
him." urged Craig, seizing the police
mans pistol and thrusting 1t into his
pocket. Walter, help me-"
He was trying the ordinary methods
of resuscitation. Meanwhile the off,
Ger had hurried out, seeking the near
est telephone. while we worked madly
to bring Elaine back.
Again and again Kennedy bent and
outstretched her arms, trying to In
duce respiration again. So busy was
I that for the moment l forgot our
prisoner.
But Dan had seen his chance.
Noiselessly he picked up the old chair
in the room and with 1t raised was ap-
preaching Kennedy to knock him out
Before l knew 1t myselfs Kennedy
had heard him. With half instinc-
tive motion he drew the revolver from
his pocket and, almost before could
see it, had shot the man. Without a
word he returned the gun to his pock.
ct and again bent over Elaine, without
SO much as a look at the crook, who
sank to the floor. dropping the chair
from his nerveless hands.
Already the policeman had got an
ambulance, which was now tearing
along to us.
Frantically Kennedy was working.
A moment he paused and looked at
me-hopeless.
Just then, outside, we could hear
tha ambulance and dootor and two