The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-11-15

quietly locked himself in with her.
Leontine gazed about her in bewilder-
ment.
But what are we to do here? she
asked.
Now, just minute" said O'Mara
soOthingly. You mustn't excite your
self. you know, after your adventures
in that drain you spoke Of"
Leontine began to grow alarmed.
"What are we here for?" she inquired
again.
Its all right. Mrs. Navarro" said
the detective blandly. 1--WE telephoned
for your friends, and they'll be here
in just few minutes"
Then she recoiled in terror, for steps
sounded outside, and she heard the
voice of her husband-Sebastian!
"Get out-the pair of you" repeat
ed Blanca to her men.
But the men, usually prompt to
obey the orders of their dreaded mis-
tress, showed no signs of doing so
now. Instead, they looked one ut the
other. Then the fellow whom Raven
ilsiu hSslAly SDOhc.
See here, madame! |" he said. "Now
that the girl has got away. this means
the end of us. She'll bring down the
police and this guy has got to be set
tied. It's our only chance. If it don't
suit you, I'm through"
"All right, boys" she answered
You have stuck to me for years, and
1 guess you're right. Do what you
think best"
The men raised their revolvers, but
Blanca ran in front of Ravengar.
Not here!" she cried. ''Take him in
TO that ROOM"
They seized Ravengar by the arms,
and he went with them. still apparent
ly amused at the situation. The door
closed. Blanca stood shuddering in
the passage. Suddenly she ran into
the room. She saw Ravengnr stand.
ing in front of the pair, laughing heart
lily. They both covered him with their
weapons.
"Wnit!" cried Blanca. "Give me
two minutes with him alone, boys.
want to speak to him."
Say. If this amt the limit ~
growled the first man nngrtiy "What
do you say, Joe?"
Joe shrugged his shoulders. II guess
we can stand for him two minutes
longer" he answered. "He can't get
out of here except by the door, unless
he flies through the window
They went out grumbling. Blanc,l
closed the door on them and turned to
Ravengar.
'"I cannot see you die like this" she
said. Say the word and I'll defy
them. Well leave this house together
I'll love you all my life. I'll be filth
full to you till DEATH"
Ravengar looked at Blanca benig
nantly. "A splendid program, deaI
madam" he answered, "but haven't
time. In fact I've got an engagement
and I'm late now."
He disappeared before her eyes.
Blanca tottered from the room. She
went into her boudoir and sank down
upon the couch.
The telephone rang. Blanca sprani
to her feet and took down the receiver
to hear Sebastian's voice.
"She got away from you," he said.
"How do you know?" asked Bianca
family. Yes, she beat 1t. I'd like Il
lay my hands on her now."
well, you can," answered the 9th
cr. "She's at the Cliff House, and rv,
tipped of the detective who has hel
there that she's crazy. You're hel
nurse, and you'll go and get her, ant
, take two of your men to be the doc
tors assistants. Get that?"
Il did," answered Blanca joyously
Its all right. I'm Mr.. Navarro
Open the door," said Sebastian t.
O'Mara.
O'Mara stepped back, drew the key
from his pocket, and opened it. Sc
bastian stood in the entrance. At tn,
sight of him Leontine shrank bacl
against the farther wall in terror.
I'm glad you got her." said Sebas
tian coolly. "She ran away from hel
nurse this afternoon and got out ol
the house. 1t has given me no end oi
trouble. 1 was afraid something hut
happened to her."
Leontine's eyes met his, and her lii
curled scornfully. Sebastian let hi.
eyes fall; he could not meet those oi
his wife.
"Will you let me go free?" Leontint
demanded of O'Nfara. ut is true thi.
man is my husband, but he tried t.
commit murder today, and often be
fore. He hates me and wants me ou
of the way because of what know"
Sebastian only smiled, and the de
| tective nodded. He wanted to get ou
of the shed; he had never come upor
case like this before. Mechanically
he pocketed the bill for twenty dollar:
, ,, which Sebastian slipped to him, ant
went out handing, him the kew