Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1916-11-18

porch and raced after the fleeing crook
II was much lighter. The rising moon
Illuminated the land Ravengar saw
his quarry distinctly, racing along the
wagon road that led toward the mining
ground
Ravengar felt that he was gaining.
In front Of them the railroad line
ran at right angle to the wagon road.
Just where they intersected was the
brawling mountain stream, which now
ragged, torrent, under the high bridge
that lay before them. Beneath the
bridge the railroad ran along the en-
bankment cut beside the river.
1t was leap Of forty feet to the
raging torrent below. Red" looking
back, saw that his pursuer was close
upon him,
He thrust the paper into his pocket
and turned at bay. The two men
closed Ravengar sent the crook reel
ing.
"Red" lodged and recovered him
self. He sprang at Ravengar like a
panther. A chance blow caught
Ravengar under the ear. Ravengar
stumbled and fell
Before he had recovered his footing
"Red," spurred to frenzy, had sprung
to the parapet Of the bridge and leaped
into the stream.
AS he struck the icy water he was
all but unconscious. He felt Ii close
over his head. The shock revived him.
He flung his hands upward, choking,
until he reached the surface.
The bridge already lay In the dis
lance behind him. The force of the
current was carrying him swiftly away.
He could not battle with 1t. He was
drifting helpIessly in the boiling eddies.
Suddenly he felt the ground beneath
his feet.
In a moment he was scrambling up
the bank and he flung himself, exhaust
ed and shaking with cold, among the
rushes.
Presently, feeling the return Of cir
culation, he got up and thrust his drip
ping, palsled hand into his pocket. He
drew out the envelope and, opening 1t,
took the paper from 1t. In the rays Of
the moon he read:
II wish to confess my part in the
conspiracy which ruined Jerry Car
son
He read It to the end, as best he
could, A spasm Of disgust crossed his
face.
He crumpled 1t and made to throw 1t
away. On second thought however, he
changed his mind and thrust 1t into
his pocket. Then he started doggedly
along the road.
When Red leaped, Ravengar fol-
lowed him without hesitation.
He swan with all his strength,
reached the bank, and pulled himself
ashore. Then he looked up and down
along the river. RED" had disap-
peared.
He was, as matter Of fact, hidden
by little rise Of ground, too slight to
be perceptlble from where Ravengar
stood. Ravengar strobe furiously up
and down the bank.
The fellow must have persisted In
stantly In the water, he concluded.
Feeling that his search was hopeless,
he crossed the bridge and returned to
the village.
BY this time the stunning effects Of
the earthquake had begun to subside.
The inhabitants were running hither
and thither, helping the injured. AS
Rayengar reached the hotel he saw
that nearly all the inmates had already
been rescued. Leontine still stood on
the broken porch, where he had left
her.
HE leaped into the stream" he said.
II plunged after him, but the current
had already swept him under / am
afraid there Is no chance Of recover
Ing your paper, unless the body is cast
ashore"
1T doesn't matter" answered Leon
tine.
"You intrusted 1t to me. l have
proved faithless.'
"No, you have done your best
Ravengar looked at her earnestly.
ut may be-" he said, that all will
,ome out right in the end"
There was a subtle significance in
lis words which went straight to her
leart. He knew, then, of the unhap-
illness of her life. But he did not
NOW about Jerry!
Maryeing, she looked into his eyes.
1t that moment Sebastian hobbled up
nd stood beside them, looking from
ne to the other maliciously. Leon
ines eyes reluctantly met those of her
and Sebastians fell.
What did she known he wondered
ITO BE CONTINUED.i