Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1916-12-02


The Forward Impetus Preciptatoa
Him to the Ground.
his heart beating wildly. 1t was "a
iron crowbar, such as the gypsies
carry in their tinkering and shoeing
outfits.
He grasped it, snatched it up, and
battered furiously upon the door IT
splintered. Again and again he de-
livered thunderous blows with all his
power.
Suddenly the whole door gave. 1t
cracked and swung from the hinges.
and toppled to the ground, falling be-
meath the van. 1t arrested one Of the
hind wheels. The van stopped dead
for an instant and began to topple
over. The forward impetus precipitat-
ed him to the ground.
He scrambled upon his feet and saw
the awful precipice beneath him. Had
not the van swerved at that moment,
1t would have precipitated him down
thirty feet below, among the rocks and
powders
He stretched out his arms. Isoa-
tine" he called wildly.
And LeOntine tumbled into tham.
For a second they swung and swayed
upon the very edge Of the precipice.
Then, with almost superhuman
strength, he pulled her backward. and
they fell exhausted among the bushes
Sick and giddy, Leontine rose to her
feet and looked at her rescuer. Was
this Ravengar? Or was it a phantasy
Of a disordered brain that seemed 10
see him standing at her side, one hand
Outstretched.
Come, Madame Navarro" he said
tremendously. II will conduct you to
your husband"
Blanca leaped to her feet as the
auto stopped in front Of her house.
She had fallen asleep dreaming of Ra-
vengar. the man locked in the cellar
beneath. She had dreamed that her
emlssaries had returned, bringing with
them news of success, and Sebastian's
written confession.
She had dreamed that the mystic
prophecy had been fulfilled, and that
Ravengar loved her. In this love
somehow she had found herself: shs
had shaken free from the old Bianca:
she was once more an innocent girl b.
side her lover.
She looked through the window. Thai
men were descending from the aute.E
She read their failure in their ds1sot-i
ed faces. And the dream was all lts.1
RomanoH and his friends received
the worst rating that had ever passed.
Bianca's lips. For once she met themI
on their own level. She tonguelashedI
them until they were ready to sink
through the floor. Blanca knew howl
to WELD the whip.
IF you'd accepted my advice and5
had that Ravengar killed, this Wouldn't
have happened" burst out Romanofr.
You fool!' said Blanca angruy,I
You were dreaming, all of you. Somsl
tramp came along, I suppose"
Il tell you it was that Ravengar."I
cried Romanoff furiously. 'He busted
up the show, and he got Leontine OUT
OF the van In the nick of time"
Blanca looked from one to anotheri
speechless.
Are you prepared to swear it was
Rayengar" she asked. "Are you'll
ready to come to the cellar with meYl
You won't find him there, unlessy
he's got a double" answered Roms.l
loff.
Blanca rang for Wong Lee. Where
S Mr. Ravengar?" she asked the Chill
laman
"All in cellar, misss."
Lead the way, then, Wong"
They followed the servant with n
Consciousness Of increasing tension.
wong Lee threw back the bolts. Upon
he bench Ravengar lay, his head on
lis arm, asleep. He started up as the
Ioor opened and, seeing Blanca,
lowed.
1 tell you he was there" screamed
almost beside himself. He
'as at Smiths roadhouse In the Rama
os this afternoon and busted up the
how"
Ravengar laughed gayly.
Il wish | had BEEN" he remarked
(END OF SIXTH EPISoDE.)