The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-10-25

Mrs. Navarro" he said.
Don't be afraid" replied Leontine,
laughing.
"You know each balloon is to carry
a pilot and passenger. The passen-
ger who was to have accompanied ME
my sister-in-law, backed out yester-
day. How would you like to come.
Mrs. Navarre7"
II should love it." said Leontine en-
Enthusiastically.
MAY we regard 1t as settled" per-
sisted Bob.
'If my husband doesn't object" said
Leontine. "Oh, no, don't believe he
will"
"Why, there is Senior Navarrew ex-
claimed Bob Hamilton suddenly turn
ing. Following his look, Leontine per-
ceived her husband, accompanying n
flashily dressed woman of singular
beauty-in fact. Blanca.
Sebastian had accepted Bianca's In
vitation to motor out to the grounds.
in spite of the knowledge that his wife
would be there. His infatuation for
Blanca had grown steadily. Now. see
ing himself observed, he left her and
came to Leontine rather sullenly.
Sebastian, Mr.. Hamilton wants me
to be his passenger in the balloon
flight next week." said Leontine.
"Shall II"
by all means, If you wish." an
swered Sebastian, mentally cOmput-
ing the chances of an accident.
She looked about her while the two
men engaged in conversation. Her
eyes fell upon sportily clothed man
of middle age. who. leaning against a
rope. was watching the grounds.
Leontine started. She recognized
the man. 1t was the little crook, Louis
Lamb, or One-Lnmp Louie.
Another man had recognized One
Lamp Louie. This was Avery. Mr..
Hnmilton's assistant in the shed,
sinister-looking individual-in fnct,
one of those typical hangers-on Of all
athletic and sports meetings. He
stared at Louie in astOnishment; then
he flung the fag Of his cigarette away
and went up to him.
Hello, One-Lamp!" he said easily.
Don't you remember your old pal
Avery who did time with you three
years ago?"
Louie gazed at him DULY. 81 never
saw you in my life before" he an-
swered.
And while Avery. completely thken
aback. stirred at him. Louie sauntered
away through the thinning crowds in
the direction Of the roadhouse.
Since Louie had received the blow
on the head from falling beam In
the cabaret fire. he had had no memo
ries whatever of his past life.
Another man upon the grounds had
recognized Louie. This was Roman0ff,
Binnca's chief accomplice. Romanofr
knew all about Louie.
He followed Louie to the roadhouse
and waited while Louie tossed down a
glass of whisky. The little crook came
out and glanced cautiously about him.
and then made his way toward Sc
cluded spot in the bushes near by.
Romanofr crept stealthily after him.
He saw Louie leaning against n tree.
counting out his bills. Romanoff drew
n revolver from his pocket and sprang.
The butt descended on Loufe's head.
With a fearful cry Louie tumbled pros
trate among the trees. Romanoff
snatched the wallet from his hand and
disappeared through the undergrowth.
A moment later the car containing
Leontine and Bob Hamilton came
from the grounds.
"What was that?" exclaimed Leon
tine, laying her hand on her compan-
ions arm.
Bob stopped the car and sprang into
the road. A faint moaning was heard
among the bushes at one side. He
pushed the overhanging shrubs apart
and came upon Louie. hnlf-conscious,
with gaping wound in his head.
Looking up, he saw that Leontine had
followed him.
"Why, it's-it's Louis Lamb!" ex-
claimed Leontine, suddenly remember
ing the little mans name.
HE must have been slugged. We'd
better take him to a hospital" sug-
gested Bob.
NO" cried Leontine. Take him to
my home"
But, Mrs. Navarro" protested
Bob.
II mean just that, Mr.. Hamilton"
said Leontine.
Sebastian, returning later in the
afternoon, was vaguely conscious Of a
stir in the apartment. Entering Leon
tines boudoir, he discovered his wife
seated beside the couch on which lay
the figure of man.
Nothing happened to Hamilton"
he asked, hurrying forward.
The look in his wife's eyes fright
ened him. He advanced to the side
Of the couch. To his horror he found
himself looking again into the face
of his companion of the forgery, the
man whom he had last seen at Whites