The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-11-01

really think he means any mischiefT
"He-he means what he says" an
swered Sebastian.
For the first time Blanca sensed
some purpose In Louie's folly. She
was a woman Of determination. She
glanced at the little crook and made
swift decision. She turned to one
of her attendants.
Louie, glancing at her, saw slight
movement of her lips and fingers.
Criminal as he was, and versed in the
ways of crime, he knew what that sign
meant. It was the death sign. Bi-
anca was taking no chances on the
threshold of her marriage.
Louie, staring at the man, saw him
nod In answer to Bianca's signal. Bt-
anca turned to Louie once more.
"Did you mean what you saidY" she
demanded, "about sending Senior Ma
varre to jail IL he marries mel"
"Yes," snapped Louie.
The two men came forward and took
Louie by the arms. He went with
them quietly into the next room. One
of them released his prisoner to open
the secret panel. Instantly Louie
struck the other in the face, Telling
him to the ground. Free for the mo
ment, Louie drew a revolver and
fred at the second man point blank.
The party In the inner room rushed
in to see one of the two men strug-
Cling to his feet and the second writh-
ing in his own blood. Louie had es-
capped through the open panel.
He found himself in Bianca's bou-
doir. He dashed for the door. But
Sebastian was quicker. Before he
could turn the handle he was upon him.
Louie was not a brave man, but had
seen the sign, and fear rendered him
desperate. He dashed his fists into
Sebastain's face, knocking him to the
floor. He bounded toward the win
dow and flung it open. AS Sebastian
regained his feet the party, entering,
saw Louie spring to the window sill.
Blanca. standing at the doorway,
placed her fingers upon little knob,
apparently an electric bell. Instantly
a huge shutter of steel snapped down
into place before the window. blocking
Louie's escape. Another inch or two.
tated.
"Get him now!" commanded Blanca
in crisp tones of command.
Louie leaped for the nearest man
and, with a strength which he had not
known he possessed, swung him be-
fore him as shield against the half.
circle Of revolvers covering him. He
edged toward the door again, the man
struggling helplessly In LOuie's grip.
They fell to the floor together, claw.
ing at each other like wild beasts
None Of the others dared to shoot, 80
violent were their movements.
Blanca calmly watched the perform
ance. The men were working their
way toward the center Of the door
where was the trap door which had
shot Ravengar into the cellar below
Blanca pressed another button. and
the door disclosed a yawnIng cavity In
the middle Of the floor.
The watchers held their breath al
the two men, still engaged in theiz
furious struggle. neared the cavity
Louie was nearer. and 1t seemed In.
credible that he could escape. But
he, maddened by the double feaE
| that held him, seemed to have q hun
dred eyes and senses. With an adroit
leap he bounded from the very edge
of the cavity and pushed his companion
down.
He rose with one eye blackened
bleeding and disheveled. He was Gov.
cred by 4 circle Of revolvers. Escape
l V1A1tDf
for Bianca's signal to IRE.
And the little crook, fairly cornered
stood defiant In the middle Of the room
beside the open door, which would at
| any instant become the roof of his bur
ial vault. There was only one chance
in q million of Louie's escape.
| But the one chance arrived. For. al
Louie stood there, his eyes shifting
from face to face, he became aware
Of an extraordinary phenomenon which
nobody else perceived. A hand. ant
nothing but hand, marble-white. man
size, was approaching the switch which
controlled the electric lights In the
room. And Louie. watching 1t out Of
the corner of his eye, was cOOlly cal
culating whether 1t would snap the but
| ton before Blanca dropped her hand.
| He saw Blanca straighten herself
The hand wavered. An then. before II
fell, the lights went out with a cllcl
that sounded like a pistol shot.
The pistol shots themselves followet
the sudden plunging Of the room intt
darkness. Louie heard them cracl
around him, heard the hiss Of the bul
lets, and then he made with alrnos
noiseless, catlike steps for the secre
panel.
A moment later Blanca had fount
the switch, and the lights went OF
again. Louie was not in the room.
ITO the panel!" she shouted furi
ously.