Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-14
THE SEVEN PEARLS
Episode No. 4.

| hearing the phrase repeated by his
, servant.
He hoped that before the arrival
of the plane the acid which he had
poured on the rope would have eaten
through and thus severed the girl from
the balloon. Her death would then
be certainty. A little nervously he
noted that the wind had fallen He
had calculated that lima would be
swept to sea and dropped into the
ocean where the chances were ten
thousand to one against her being
saved. Now, however, new danger
faced him. the slackening wind meant
that the progress of the balloon would
DO retarded and that the girl might
fali into some village or somewhere
| where her body would be found. In
| eFitaoiy the rope about her would lead
to an investigation, and with the evil
dent knowledge OF his crime possessed
by the men in the aeroplanc his own
neck would not be safe for an instant.
/ lie mad everything to gain. therefore,
/ by defeating the objects of his foes
he meant to kill the occupants of the
plane II he could and sec to IL that
lima was never heard OF again.
on board the airship the pursuing
hydro-aeroplanc had not yet been
sighted. Both Harry and the execu-
TONER were devo;inG their energies in
trying TO locate the balloon, which
had disappeared in mist suddenly
risen from the marsh land over which
they were passing.
| The captain slowed down, thus
giving the observers a better chance
TO use the binoculars
TO lima, hanging in midair. the end
OF the world seemed to have come.
She was faint she was weary: sh. MA.
ehirs'y; and yet such is the hope that
inspires the human heart when there
is chance for life tina, she had NOT
yet given up. Only when her ewes
fingered on the blackcned rope being
bitten away slowly, inexorably. by ths
| corroding acid. she shuddered. Already
! me heaTy hemp strands were half catan
through.
across her mind rushed like piano.
rama inc scenes Of her youth. Like
q mirage Constantinople spread ont
oeiorc her She saw Mustapha Bev
reading her letter, she saw him kneeI
ana thank Allah for his mercfes for
she hhe" that in his heart of hearts
''er lostcr-father worshiped her &c
though she had been his own flesh and
blood
suddenly this scene dissolved and
she was brought face 10 face with the
PeFlis oil her position. She looked
Gown and inVoluntarily she screamed
only night bird answered her
she thought of Harry Drake. Some
no" she wondered If he could have
heard her when she passed over his
mead She felt sure he must have both
seen and heard, but how could he pos
sio!y rescue her-by what means? The
oe'!lish ingenuity OF Perry Mason
seemed proof against any human fore
sight
lima hoped that the balloon might
prove defective. shat II might drop into
q Tree and thus give her an opportun-
Ky of.~freeings herself This vague
nope euoyed up her sinking spirits and
she resolved not to despair
she hung in such a position that she
MAS powerless 10 help herself in any
way. If she could have reached the
swelling SILK above her, she nigh, have
puHctuEtd u. but such feat as climb
ing was impossible.
meanwhile, the mist had lifted A
shout from the captain announced that
the object Of their quest was again
visible
There she is" ne cried, pointing
westward. where The balloon hung like
q dark comet against the moonlight.
Tho executioner betrayed no sur
/ prise. We shall reach her" he said,
calmly. AZ Harry clutched the frame
work Of the plane.
: Can We save her." he shouted
( The .xecutioner nodded
But new complicat ton arose. The
captain seized the arm Of the execu-
| TONER I'VE are too many: one OF us
viii have TO get ou;."
No ballast?' queried the saturnine
man.
1 The captain nodded. Only a little;
Wen throw il over and see what hap
pens"
/ lie Indicated several bags Of sand.
The executioner and Harry heaved
/ them overheard and watched them
shoot downward like huge projectiles.
lows that asked the anxious
young man.
"N0t enough said the captain.
The exccu,ioncr looked at them. Ills
face was impassive.
Il VIII so" ne said. II suppose you
have the usual parachute aboard?'
y CLEAN OF admiration Mashed from
the eyes OF the captain. Harry Drake
leaned forward. We will draw lots"
he cried.
But the eXeoutiOner shook his head.
Il will 60" he repeated in tone Of
hnality.
The captain stopped and produced q
folded parachute. The executioner ex-
amined it, and smiled; then with mo-
ments preparation he nodded to the
two, and sczing the handle leaped from
the car
Harry Drake watched him breathiess
Down he shot, then the framework Of
the parachute opened. its speed dirnin-
iShed and il began to drop gently; the
Two observers behcld the intrcpid Turk
land safely on road close to "A small
car whose occupant came TO "A sudden
halt as the strange apparition con-
frontcd him.
Unfortunately the ski!lful leap Of the
c%ecuiioncr was observed By eyes other
=, ~