Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1916-12-23

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sound behind her A rush Of wRbae
almost swept her of her feet Biaha
aad thrown over the lever.
Leontine guessed what had occurred.
There ought to be time to gain the
entrance,
The water was up to her waist. She
almost despaired. A hundred yards to
go, and every yard was made through
deeper water. It swirled against her
chest. II was up to her shoulders; II
touched her chin.
Gasping, choking, struggling for Life,
Leontine suddenly became aware thar
she had been swept through the tun-
ael; moment later she opened her
eyes, to find herself cast upon the mud
iy bank of the river.
Ravengar had disappeared once
norel
AS Blanca ran back triumphantly
from the bathroom, in which she had
pressed the switch she saw the two
men staring about them in astonish.
ment
Blanca stamped her foot furiously.
Where Is he" she demanded.
Hes gone" muttered one of the
men In awe-struck tones.
"Down the trap-door, you fooll Go
down and bring him up. You," shs
continued to the second man, "stand
at the top of the stairs and see that
he doesn't pass you. I'm going to
search the rooms"
Suddenly the man on guard at tho
head of the stairs screamed loudly.
and Blanca came running out of one
OF the rooms. He cried again and
pointed toward the bathroom. Blanca
saw the head and shoulders Of Raven.
ger as he leaned over the switch. She
darted after him. The switch had
been reversed.
She sprang at him. but he laughed
and, catching her by the shoulders,
pushed her back into the passage.
slamming the door upon her. Every
second was precious now.
That was the moment when Leon.
tine, in the tunnel. was suddenly swept
from her feet and carried out into the
daylight.
Blanca raved and hammered at the
door. For the second time he had
thwarted her. She felt her love Tor
him turn into deadly hatred.
"Open that door!' she called to her
subordinates; and Just then the head
and shoulders Of the man whom abe
had sent below emerged through the
trap door.
He isn't down there, and the sluics
is full Of water" he said lugubriously.
"Fool!" shouted Blanca, hes In
the bathroom. Open that doori Break
1t down, the pair of you'll"
There was key In the door, but II
was on the outside, and Ravengar
could not turn 1t. The two men
dashed themselves against 1t. Their
united strength was too great for Raw
engar They forced him back, still
struggling desperately, and dragged
him from the room.
Hold him on your uvesi" said Bi.
anca, and, entering the bathroom,
threw the switch over the second
time.
1t was too late. Leontne had rec0v-
cred consciousness and staggered away
just as the renewed food began TO
DOur throuph tho tnnnol
Blanca darted back. "N0w we've
got him." she cried. wen put him
where he won't be able to play any
more Of those tricks upon u.s."
Back into the strong ROOM" asked
the first man.
shall croak him2" inquired the
second.
Blanca looked at Ravengar and nod
ded. The second man raised his 70.
volver and aimed 1t at Ravengar's
head; however, he waited upon the
sign from his mistress before pulling
the trigger.
Blanca hesitated, too. She watched
Ravengar's face like cat watching
Its prey. At the least sign OF fear she
would have nodded to the man who
held the revolver; but Ravengar only
smiled at her. She felt overawed the
mans moral power was something
that she had never encountered b.
fore.
"Why don't you get away nowY' she
demanded tauntingly. you seem able
to go where you want to. Are you
tired Of your life or whatp'
Dear madame" answered Raven
gar easily, did not come back to you
Of my own free will2 must say that
this reception Is the reverse Of hos
pitable."
The mockery upon his face daunted
her. If he were dead he would die tri.
umphant his will would have con-
luered.
"Stop" she cried and the men low.
cred their revolvers.
They stepped back, growing; their
whims were inexplicabls to
hem.
Ravengar bent down and kissed Bi.
meas hand II knew that you were