The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1917-04-07


almost swept her on her feet. Blanca
had thrown over the lever.
LcOntine guessed what had occurred.
There ought to be time to gain the
entrance.
The water was up 10 her waist She
almost dospaired. A hundred yards 10
60 and every yard was made through
deeper water. II swirled against her
chest, II was up TO her shoulders: II
touched her chin.
Gusping, choking, struggling for life
Lcontine suddenly became aware thar
She had been swept through the tun-
mel; n moment later she opened her
eyes to find herself cast upon the mud
dy bank Of the river.
Ravengar had disappeared once
more!
As Blanca ran back triumphantly
from the bathroom, in which she had
pressed the switch, She saw the two
men staring about them in astonish-
mrnt.
Blanca stamped her foot furiously.
where is hep she demanded.
Hes gone" muttered one Of the
men In awe-struck tones.
'Down the trap-door. you fool Go
down and bring him up. You" she
continued to the second man. "stand
at the top of the stairs and see that
he doesn't pass YOU. I'm going to
search the rooms"
Suddenly the man on guard at the
head of the stairs screamed loudly.
and Blanca came running out of one
Of the rooms. He cried again and
pointed toward the bathroom. Blanca
saw the hend and shoulders Of Raven.
ger as he leaned over the switch. She
darted after him. The switch had
been reversed
She sprang AZ him. but he laughed
and, catching her by the shoulders.
pushed her back into the passage.
slamming the door upon her. Every
second was precious now.
That was the moment when Leon.
tine, in the tunnel, was suddenly swept
from her feet and carried out into the
daylight.
Blanca raved and hammered at the,
door. For the second time he had
thwartcd her. She felt her love for
him turn into deadly hatred.
"Open that door, she called to her
Subordinntes and just then the head
and shoulders of the man whom she
had sent below emerged through the
trap door.
"llc isn't down there, and the sluice
is full Of wntcl' he said luguuriously
Fool :" shouted Blanca, hes in
the bathroom. open that door Break
1t down, the pair Of you"
There was key I'm the door, but It
was on the outside, and Ravengar
could not turn it. The two men
dashed themselves against 1t. Their
united strength was too great for Raw
engar. They forced him back, still
struggling desperately and dragged
him from the room.
Hold him on your lives! :" said Ri
ancu, and, entering the bathroom,
threw the switch over the second
time.
II was too late. Lcontne had rccov-
cred consciousness ana staggered away
just as the renewed flood began to
pour through the tunnel
Elauca dartrd back. "Now we've
got him. sine cried. "WeW put him
whore hc won't bee able to play any
more of those tricks upon U.S."
Back into the strong ROOM" asked
tine first muu.
"ShuIl l croak hIm?" inquired the
second
Blanca looked at Eaycngar and nod
dcd The second man raised his re-
volvcr and aimed it at Rayengnr's
head; however, hc waited upon the
sign from his mistress before pulling
the trigger.
Blanca hesltatcd. too. She watched
Ravengur's face like cat watching
its prey. At the least sign Of fear she
would have nodded to the man who
held the revolver; but Ravengar only
smiled at her. She felt overawed the
mans moral power was something
that she had never encountered be-
fore.
"Why don't you get away now3" she
demanded tuuntingly. you seem able
to go where you want TO. Are you
tired of your life or what?"
Dear madame answered Raven.
gar easily, did not come back to you
of my own free will? / must say that
this reception is the reverse of hos
pitable.'
The mockery upon his face daunted
her. II he were dead he would die tri-
umphant. his will would have con
quered.
stop" she cried and the men low
cred their revolvers.
They stepped back, growing; their
mistress whims were inexplicable to
them.
Rayengar bent down and kissed Bi-
anca's hand. Il knew that you were
too kind to kill helpless prisoner"
There was still the mockery in his
tone and Blanca could bear It no long
er. She burst into helpless tears.