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

Then he sprang at him like tiger and
locked his arms about him, the hands
reaching toward the throat
The suddenness OF his leap surprised
Rayengar, who reeled and went stag
gering back against the table.
In the fash of an interval before
they closed Ravengar freed his right
hand and sent the fist crashing into
Sebastans face. As Sebastian re-
leased him and staggered back Raw
engar followed with a second blow
from his left, which caught the Argen-
tine beneath the chin. Sebastian
dropped with moan and crumpled up
ON the floor.
As Kayengar stood over him pic
ture fell from the wall beside him. A
moment later the water bottle upon
the table went crashing down in splln-
tiers Of broken glass.
Ravengar looked about him la won
der
/ Shrieks and cries resounded through
/ the hotel. Through the darkness out
/ side II sudden stream Of light shot up
The volcanic eruption had blown the
top off the mountain, had rent the
ground into deep assures from which
the subterranean fumes, ascending,
sent up II cloud Of inky smoke that,
added to the darkness Of moOnless
night, made the panic universal
Leontine was standing In her room
when the catastrophe occurred
Suddenly she was flung off her feet
by the force Of the earthquake
Stunned, she mercifuly escaped knOwl-
! edge Of It's first horrors. When she re-
! covered she found herself unhurt, but
pinned between two scantllngs that
had fallen one on either side of her.
Cries and groans came to her ears
from all sides.
Then through the darkness she heard
n mans voice calling. "Leontne
LeOntine" he was saying.
And Il thrill of JOY leaped into her
heart and set 1t to beating fast. 1t
was Ruyengar.
She answered family and presently,
guided by her voice, he found her.
you are not hurt" he inquired anx-
i0usly. She could not see his face,
even though he stood beside her
NO she replied. "And your
II think not he answered placing
one arm around her to support her.
"YOu had better let me carry you"
he continued. you will fall over the
beams | know the way out-at least,
found the way in. TIL re has been an
earthquake" He raised her into his
arms, and she lay there, one arm about |
his neck, her hair drifting across his
face.
Carefully he picked his way toward |
the door. Then he set her down.
81 am going back for your husband"
he said. Stay there till return"
Leontine looked about her Several
people lay half-burled in the debris of
the hotel A voice was calling pitt
fully from what had been the dining
room. A man came stealthlly across
the fallen beams, guided by the sound
OF the voice.
1t was Red" Finn, who had been
gambling with his companions In the
next room to Rayengar's. He had heard
the sounds Of the quarrel, and Sebas-
nj ,eg, ,p nd toll In fnr
q certain paper Then, as the fight
began, he had peered cautiously into
the room and had seen Ravengar slip
the paper into his pocket
Now he was prowllng among the ru-
ms Of the hotel, having almost miracu-
lousy escaped injury In the catastro-
phe
At length his watch was rewarded.
He saw Ravengar come staggering
along the ruined wall bearing Sebas-
tian in his arms. He carried him to
the porch and set him down beside
Leontine. Sebastian groaned and
opened his eyes. He tried to rise, Ra-
vengar bent over him.
RED Finn crept cautiously nearer.
Then something happened which con-
vnced him that this was his lucky day.
The paper which he contemplated
from Ravengar's pocket
lropped out as he bent over Sebastian. I
In an instant "Red" had leaped upon 1t
md possessed himself Of It and taken
light.
Only Leontine saw the action. She J
placed her hand on Ravengar's arm.
The paper 7" she cried.
Ravengar started and felt in his !
pocket. It was not there. 6
"He has stolen tip cried Leontine {
rantically, pointing to the disappear (
ng figure Of the fugitive.
Instantly Ravengar understood. He
oft Sebastian lying on the ruined