The Carlisle independent., 1917-09-06
EIGHTH EPISODE
THE HAUNTED HAND.

study, took the clipping from the hand of Louie Lamb. It detailed briefly how a man and woman had been rescued from the wreck of balloon by Me Quarrie, the keeper of Pilot Light, five miles off the coast.
 '5t's them" said Louie, as Sebastian finished reading and handed back the clipping.
 Curse themp said Sebastian with much feeling. Why can't we ever get out of this tangle, Louie?"
 Louie Lamb only looked at him quizzically.
 Its your wife and that man Raven gar," said Louie. "There ain't no doubt of it. The balloon caught fire, just as I had arranged. but they escaped. I guess they're immortal and there ain't no way of killing them off"
 Louie, you'll have to investigate this" said Sebastian.
 T guess might" said Louie with a meaning smile.
 "Well?" demanded Sebastian impa- tiently.
 But ain't settling the overhead ex- penses of this partnership senor. The price, if you please"
 Sebastian pulled out his pocketbook and peeled off five one hundred-dollar bills. Louie looked at them, counted them, and slipped them into his pocket.
 ''I'll go and see," he said, rising.
 And if you find any way of getting rid of them, don't wait to telephone me first" said Sebastian sarcastically.
 When Louie had gone he began pac- ing his study with feverish anxiety. Everything seemed going wrong. Since he had sent his rival, Jerry Carson, to prison, and married Leontine, he had regretted his participation in the crime times without number. He had tired of Leontine, but she had refused to his share in the conspiracy against Jerry, her dead lover.
 Then there arose before his mental vision the face of Blanca, the beautiful criminal for whose sake he had aban- doned his hopes of reconciliation with Ahc Wi4Cs io1duCd 11Ao 1dCc SUI llCucu. She would help him out of his trou- bles. He would ask her to come away with him somewhere where they could both start their lives anew together.
 He put on his hat and made his way toward Bianca's house.
 Blanca, meanwhile, was in the midst of one of those domestic scenes that were so narrowing to her followers.
 It was several days since she had trapped Ravengar in her cellar. The mans mysterious disappearances and reappearances had seemed to her su- perstitious mind proof of some occult power wielded by him.
 She had gone down to the cellar to make him final proposition, not less than the entire offer of her heart and fortune. His love seemed to her the only thing in life just then.
 And she had found the cell empty. Ravengar had escaped, in spite of locks and padlocks, and triple guard of Chinese attendants.
 She called her followers and over- whelmed them with her fury.
 In the midst of the scene Sebas- tian's card was presented to her. h. stantly she grew calm. Bianca's head ruled her heart. Though she loved Ravengar, she was we'll aware that she could bring Sebastian to her feet at any moment.
 She dismissed Ravengar from her mind temporarily and, few minutes laterl was greeting Sebastian with an allurtng smile that conveyed, in a wom- ans subtle manner, the possibility of more than the conventionality of the welcb bme disclosed.
 T am in trouble" began Sebastian.
 Hihnca seated herself upon the lounke beside him. "Tell me your trou- bles Senor Navarro" she said, bending tow1rd him.
 *f
 Through the terrific storm that beat abopt the lighthouse Iyeontine was con scidus only of suprqne happiness In