The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-12-13


heard the sounds of the firing, rushed
In. He realized the situation and dis
appeared for aid, his speed accelerated
by u shot from Sebastian.
Sebastian. pausing only to give his
enemys body n final kick, ran for
ward, dragging Wang with him.
"Quick!" he shouted. There Is no
time to loser
Meanwhile the third crook had been
lowering in the background after max
ing fruitless effort to break down the
door Of the carl room.
"All together yelled Sebastian.
They put their shoulders to the door.
A mighty heave. and 1t flew open, dis
closing Leontine crouching before the
fire, which was consuming the last
pages of the journal. The pellets had
already melted into mass Of sticky
black. LeOntine rose to her feet as Sc
bastian entered.
He rushed at her. hurled her aside.
and stopped over the crate. Bitterly
lie repented that he had stopped to
hammer Ravengar after he had
knocked him unconscious. He saw now
that 1t was too late. The pellets, even
II they still retained their virtue. were
stuck fast to the iron bars of the
CRATE. The pages of the journal were
q smouldering heap of burned paper.
Sebastian tried to pluck them out,
but only few scraps and corners re-
manned unconsumed. He turned upon
Leontine in fury.
IN pay you for this!" he shouted.
and struck her a violent blow on the
mouth that threw her to the floor.
Leontine rose and looked ut him fix
sdly. And Sebastian suddenly realized
the moral strength Of this woman
whom he had married, tortured, be-
trayed.
He had been afraid Of her before.
lie had feared her vengeance for Jer-
ry. But his fears had had u material
origin. Now for the first time some
thing seemed to stand between them,
as If it were n protecting angel, some
thing that forbade him to lay his hand
upon her again or to go step nearer
her.
He was afraid. He saw his own i'm
pending punishment; he realized that
all his life had been lived in vain.
Casting a glance backward, he dis
covered that he was alone. His com
ranlons had fled, leaving their dead
comrade upon the floor. Sebastian had
struck his last blow and failed.
And outside he heard the excited
voices of the chauffeur and gardener.
Upstairs the maids were screaming.
Somebody was shouting for the police,
He turned with curse. flung up the
window. and leaped out to the ground.
1t was light drop, he rose uninjured
and made his way toward the street In
the rear. among the stables, while the
chauffeur and gardener burst through
the hall, to find Leontine, the blood
streaming from her lip. bending over
the body Of Ravengar.
AS she crouched there, trying to re-
call him to consciousness, she made a
singular discovery. Ravengar's NOUS
tache had been half torn from his face.
But it was a false one. Underneath II
the skin was white and freshly shayeu.
The other half came away at a touch.
And Ravengar wore a wig. His gray
ing hair, at which the girl had often
wondered in SO young a man-for he
seemed little more than 3O-was false
too. Beneath it was a crop of close
cut f1axen hair.
The wig was awry, and as Leontine
removed it and looked into Ravengar's
face she uttered great cry, rose to
her feet, and stared at him breathless-
ly.
Ravengnr was beginning to regain
consciousness. He stirred, muttered,
and opened his eyes. He tried to sit
up; and in n moment Leontine was
back upon her knees beside him, ca
ressing him. and then taking his head
upon her lap and bandagiaS 1t.
END OF FOURTEENTH NPISODH