The Carlisle independent., 1917-10-04

Sebastian Wrenched the Cloth Out of
 His Hand.
 bed in order to seize Sebastian before he could make his getaway. But Sc bastian had been too quick for hin.
 Robed in the mantle, which coB pletely enveleped him, Sebastian was crouching upon one of the empty beds, waiting for his opportunity to make 8 break for freedom. He saw Ravengar hunting for him in the wrong Arec- tion.
 He crept softly from bed to bed Ravengar was advancing along the middle of the room, with arms out spread. like a man in blind mans buff It was easy to elude him.
 He crept toward the window, near which, in a rack, rested the fire extin- guisher and the fire ax. Raising the ak, he shattered the window glass
 The doctor by the door, seeing the ax apparently pick itself out Of the rack and break the pane, uttered d loud cry and came running forward
 "Go backr shouted Ravengar, and prieipitated himself toward the win dow. trying to grasp Sebastian by the legs and bring him down.
 Sebastian had anticipated this move He flung the ax into Ravengar's face Fortunately for the latter, he happened 10 move aside at that moment.
 Sebastian had crawled under the nearest bed as Ravengar made for firR Ravengar was puzzled Crouching down, he began to beat the room with his arms. But Sebastian was already travelling from bed to bed.
 Look r' cried Leontine.
 The depressions caused by Sebas- tian's feet were becoming visi5le upon the counterpanes. Ravengar rushed to head Sebastian off, but Sebastian had already reached the door. The doctor suddenly felt a violent blow in the face, which sent sent him stagger- ing. The next moment Sebastian had opened the door and rushed toward the stairs
 Fate was with him no longer. An at tendant was coming up the middle Of the stairway. Sebastian hesitated an instant but Ravengar was close be hind him, and the two men were clos ing in on him. The one was conscious of his presence, the other not.
 "Stop him." Ravengar yelled to the attendant, who stopped in surprise and looked about him.
 The next instant Ravengar saw the attendant stagger under the impact of the collision.
 'Now hold himl" he yelled, and dashed down after Sebastian. His hands caught the surface of the cloth, dragging it from Sebastian's head.
 The attendant, seeing a head, unsap- ported by any body, apparently floating in the air. uttered one scream and promptly disappeared.
 Ravengar made a wild leap for See- bastian. The head disappeared again as Sebastian threw the mantle over himself. But Ravengar tackled him. and the doctor and the hospital attend ants who had been drawn to the spot by hearing the sounds of the struggle
 
 himself upon the stairway.
 Then, as the struggle grew fiereer. they saw first 8 head, then an arm. then part of a body appear and fisap- pear, as if materialized out of thin air. It was too much for their nerves.
 Sebastian fought desperately, fow 1t was battle for life. He and Raven- gar were very fairly matched. They buffeted each other and struggled. until, with a supreme effort. Ravengar raised Sebastian his arms and tried to fling him over the banisters to thee hall below
 Sebastian, poised thus, elung to Ray engar. If he died. his enemy should die with him.
 The doctor, standing above, saw the two men fall headlong to the mosaic payer ent underneath, where the clerks and other attendants had already gath cred.
 As the bodies struck the hall floor. there was hasty scramble for safety. By miracle neither was seriously injured. Rayengar, however, was slightly stunned. and. during the few moments of semiconsciousness that fol- lowed Sebastian managed to wrench the cloth out of his hands and disap- pear.
 He vanished as Leontine came run ming down and knelt beside her friend
 (END OF TWELFTH EPISODEl