The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-11-29

head"
Sebastian began to recover his eQua-
nimity. If the man was willing to
bargain with him, he could not be sure
of his ground. He shook his head.
''Then," said Ravengar quietly.
there is no more to be said"
At that moment the sound of an ap-
proaching automobile was heard. Sc
bastian, who had risen, looked out of
the window. to see police auto draw
ing up to the house. In it sat two
policemen and Leontine.
"Wait !" yelled Sebastian, as Raven
gar was nearing the door. "If 1 write
that confession, do you swear you will
call off the pOlice?"
Ravengar nodded, and Sebastian
rushed to his writing table and, taking
sheet Of nOtepaper, began to write
with trembling fingers. Ravengar
watched him for a moment. There
came a ring at the door. Ravengar
left the library and went to the aper-
ture in 1t, which Sebastian had had
made in order that he might scrutinize
unwelcome visitors before admitting
them. Leontine, upon the doorstep
with the policemen, saw Ravengar's
face.
You have got him?' she cried.
Sebastian, writing furiously at his
desk, saw Leontine through the win
dow. She was talking to Ravengar.
and she seemed ut a loss to understand
why he did not open the door. Sebas-
tian threw the pen down, and
crafty look came over his face.
He reflected for moment; then he
tore up the confession
which he had written and threw the
scraps away. He crept toward the
door. Near this was standing n heavy
teakwood chair, which he had brought
very old, and the wood was almost as
strong and solid us II it were steel.
Sebastian picked 1t up and noiselessly
opened the door.
He crept into the hall. His feet made
no sound on the thick carpet. He saw
Ravengar, talking to Leontine and the
policeman through the door. He raised
the chair and brought 1t crashing
down on Ravengar's head.
Rnvengar dropped like n log. with
out sound. The fragments of the
broken chair fell all about him.
Sebastian turned and fled up the
stairs. He dashed into room which
overlooked neighboring garden. Ii
was his plan to leap from the window,
thus to avoid the police.
In front of 1t stretched a line of
telegraph wires. 1t was desperate
spring. almost an impossible one.
He heard the front door splinter, and
the police rush into the house. They
were searching the library. they were
coming up the stairs. A hand was at
upon the window sill, and, rendered
desperate, leaped as the police entered
the room.
Sebastian caught the yielding tele-
graph wires with one hand. hung there
a moment. reached up the other hand.
and made his way to the pole. He
climbed down, and had just reached
the bottom when shout from the win
dow above him indicated that he was
discovered.
He heard warning cry. A bullet
was running swiftly for the garden
gate. 1t was unlocked. He darted
through and found himself in the
street.
His versatile brain was working fast.
He knew exactly what he was going
to do. His garage stood near. In this
he kept, besides his autos, II motor
cycle, hobby Of his. Sebastian
snatched 1t, mounted it, and whirled
away.
He rode with all his might, for he
was bent on making this supreme ef
fort and shaking his pursuers off the
track. But now fortune ceased to IA
vor him. The police auto had been
brought round to the back of the
house; as Sebastian dashed along the
road he was seen. The hue and cry
was up. In a moment the police auto
was after him.
Sebastian headed toward the hills,
but glance showed him that there
he would be caught. He could not
hope to best an auto on an ascent.
He turned and headed toward the har-
Dor. And now he became panic
stricken. He headed toward wharf.
1t was the last wharf up the river.
1t was little private dock once used
for sailing ships, but now practically
abandoned. In the distance. toward
the river mouth, n fisherman sat in a
motorboat.
Sebastian saw him and his scheme
was formed. He drove straight for the
head of the wharf. Without checking
himself, he let the motorcycle plunge
into the river, and, disentangling him.
self, began to strike out toward the
motorbOat.