The Carlisle independent. (Carlisle, Ark.) 1905-current, 1917-10-18

RaNengar was Coming Along the Hail.
heard the sounds of the firing, rushed
in. He realized the situation and dis
appeared for aid, his speed accelerated
by shot from Sebastian.
Sebastian. pausing only to give his
enemy's body final kick, ran for
ward, dragging Wang with him.
Quick !" he shouted There IS 20
time to lose!''
Meanwhile the third crook had been
lowering in the background after max
ing a fruitless effort 10 break dowr the
door of the card room.
"All together - yelled Sebastian.
They put their shoulders to the door,
A mighty heave, and it flew open, dis
closing Leontine crouching before the
fire, which was consuming the last
pages of the journal. The pellets had
already melted into a mass of sticky
black. Leontine rose to her feet as Sc
hastian entered
He rushed at ner, hurled her aside.
and stopped over the CRATE. Bitterly
he repented that he had stopped TO
hammer Ravengar after he had
knocked him unconscious. He saw now
that it was too late. The pellets. even
If they still retained their virtue, were
stuck fast to the iron bars of the
CRATE. The pages of the journal were
a 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.
III pay you for this :" he shouted,
and struck her violent blow on the
mouth that threw her to the floor.
LeoBtine rose and looked at him FIX
edly. 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 material
origin. Now for the first time some
thing seemed to stand between them,
as if it were protecting angel, some
thing that forbade him TO lay his hand
upon her again or TO go a step nearer
her.
He was afraid. He saw his own ira-
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
panions had fed, 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 q curse, flung up the
window, and leaped out to the ground.
1t was d light drop, he rose uninjered
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
singular discovery Ravengar's NOUS
taehe had been half torn from his face.
But it was false one. Underneath il
the skin was white and freshly shaver.
The other half came away at q touch.
And Ravengar wore wig. His gray
ing hair, at which the girl had often
wondered in so young a man-for he
seemed little more than 30-was false
too. Beneath it was a crop of close
cut flaxen hair.
The wig was awry. and as Leontine
removed it and looked into Ravengar's
face she uttered a great cry, rose to
her feet, and stared at him Greatness
ly.
Ravengar was beginning to regain
consciousness. He stirred, muttered,
and opened his eyes. He tried to sit
up; and in a moment Leontine was
back upon her knees beside him. ca
ressing him. and then taking his head
upon her lap and bandaging it.
END OF FOURTEENTH EPISODE.