The Carlisle independent., 1917-09-13

| ministrations of Ravengar, to realize | that death by starvation was immi- | nent. He had groped his way about the cellar again and again, seeking in vain for the smallest chance of egress. At last he seemed to abandon hope. He kneeled beside Leentine and they waited together for what seemed the | inevitable end.
 Perhaps it was twelve hours later when the rugbling was renewed. The structure was settling down again. | Stones began falling about them; and suddenly there came a gleam of day light, striking with blinding force upon their unaccustomed eyes. They started up, to see a narrow chink in the roof, and, through that, immeasurably far away, the white wisp of a cloud floating against the | blue.
 In an instant Ravengar had mo- | toned Leontine away, and was scram- bling up the debris and pulling at the stones. At first he could accomplish nothing; after a long while, however, he succeeded in dislodging a small | stone which held back another. The mass fell crashing into the cellar. Leontine, seized by Ravengar's arms and thrust upward, caught at the open | ing. He pushed her through, and she | found herself under the blue sky, be- | heath her the rocks, and the sea round about her. A minute later Raw engar joined her.
 Their return to the mainland in one , of the boats that came to investigate | the disaster was untroubled by fur ther dangers. Leontine had gone home; and that was how Sebastian happened to see her when he returned from the ghastly episode at Bfanca's ! house.
 She rose from her knees with sigh and put away the letters. Jerry was | dead. and she must not brood over the past.
 As she rose she was startled to hear Sebastian's tread upon the stairs. She waited for him, but she could hardly bear to meet him.
 He came into the attic and stood looking at her curiously. It was near ly half minute before he spoke.
 "Leontine," he said, you have not told me how you and the handsome Ravengar escaped from the burning balloon and the lighthouse accident"
 'Why do you wish to know?" she asked, shrugging her shoulders. 'Is it not enough for you that your das- | tardy scheme failed, and must be tried again?"
 What do you mean by that?" he asked.
 T mean" replied Leontine, that l am not unaware of your attempts upon my life. The balloon that landed us at Pilot Light was set on fire by you"
 "If you think that" he answered, ''why don't you accept my proposition and secure divorce from mel"
 "When you have confessed to the forgery that sent Jerry Carson to pris- on and to his death," she answered.
 Sebastian shrugged his shoulders, sneered and moved toward the door. He passed out, and Leontine heard something click as the door closed. She was trapped. She sank down helplessly into chair and stared wild ly about her.
 | Suddenly she started and gasped | convulsively. Across the half-dark- ened room, seated in a chair, she saw the ghost of Jerry. It rose and smiled sadly at her.
 It might have been an optical illu- sion, but never had Jerry seemed so CT, yet he was the same as of yore l; and Leontine, overcome, tottered to- ward him. weeping.
 But as she drew nearer the specter held out its hands.
 Come no nearer" it said, "but have no fear. No harm shall come to you. Trust in the love of my memory"
 Leontine hesitated only a minute, unable to obey, she ran toward him. As she drew near, the specter van ished. She saw only the empty chair.
 With wild cry Leontine fell swooning to the ground.
 
 In her house, at that moment, Blan- ca was receiving telephone message from Sebastian. She heard it with amusement, then with embarrassment
 "All right, I'll do it for you, Sebas- tian," she said, and hung up the re ceiver. She pressed bell, and two ot her followers came in.
 "Go to this address tonight" she said, telling them the number, "and bring back the girl you'll find there ir your auto. Pay no attention to any thing she says. She's dippy."
  Leontine had fallen asleep in hel chair in the attic, hopeless of escape and yet encouraged by the vision which she did not doubt was that o1 Jerry himself, come back from tht grave to solace her. She awakened i, l xxy3<b o c<ort fo boar fho boIt of tbs