Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1916-12-30


Burning Building.
continued to plead. She stripped her
self OF the mantle and held Il out to
him.
One man had been left In the cellar.
That was the crook named Joe. who
had tainted from the intense heat. A.
Ravengar sat up and opened his eyes
on the ground, Joe was opening his
In the cellar. He. too, could not at
first remember what had happened to
him.
He was conscious only of the fight
In the shed. the outbreak Of the blaze.
But Joe had not a meditative mind.
He found himself alive, and that was
his chief concern. He meant to re-
main alive. He was not anxious TO
face what seemed to him the inevitable
punishment for his crime.
He had no doubt that he was al
ready branded as Ravengars murder
w. And he felt, too, that Blanca was
becoming too exacing. and her
schemes too dangerous.
He erawled out of the csllar by tho
bulkhead and looked about him. No
body was to be seen though he thought
he heard Biancas voice In the distance.
Joe thought It was altogether good
moment for making his getaway.
He started to crawl through the long
grass, meaning to reach the pine
trees and then slip carefully down to,
ward the cliff.
But as he raised his head he was
startled and terrified to see Rayengar
lying not twenty PAGES away, support
Ing himself upon one elbow and star
ing about him.
Joe suddenly took heart again. The
man was not dead, then.
He edged away from Ravengar, and
then he saw the figure Of Leontine.
apparently become inearnste out Of
nothing. He saw II waver, now visa
BILE. now invisible. Then she was
standing beside Ravengar, who had
risen to his feet, and offering him the
mantle.
At once Joe made his decision. He
Topped down In the grass and began
crawling toward them.
Ravengar, meanwhile. resolutely de-
clined the mantle.
Take 1t, my dear" he said again.
II am quite safe. And | will meet
you here after 1t has grown dark, and
we can make our plans together. You
can never go back to your husband"
LeOntine ahivered. She had told
havengar of his murderous plot
"Ill take 1t, then, since you wish
IT, she said submissively, and drew
back her arm, with the hlmy mantle
upon 1t.
At that moment hand shot upward
from the grass and tore the mantle
from her grasp. A moment later Joe,
IA expert thief, had II In his posses
hon, and was racing for the pines.
Leontine cried out, and Ravengar
staggered after him. But Joe was al.
'eady out of sight, hugGng the pre-
.ious mantle In his arms.
AS Leontine turned, voices were
heard from the other side Of the trees.
They were those of Sebastian and b.
inca, who had been Joined by her sec.
nd servitor.
Gomez cried Leontine, grasping
aavengar by the arm. 1--WE must get
way before they sight US
"Leontine The mantlew
''Our lives, Ravengar,' she respond
ID.
And, seizing him by the arm, she
lelped him into the trees. into the I'M
erbrush. They crouched there while
blanca and Sebastian, unsuspecting
heir presence, passed by them toward
he hotel.
II suppose that fellow Ravengsr
ont come back to life suggested
ebastian.
Blanca realized for the FIRST time
lat he had gone. But she did not care
} let Sebastian know that she had
wed him. II guess we've seen the
st OF him." she answered,
Blanca and Sebastian, arm In arm
arted down the path through the
Gods together.
(END or TENTH EPrSoDR)