The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-11-01


Of the lighthouse. while Keeper Nc
Quarrie and his wife busied them
selves with the meal that they were
making ready for their guests above.
Ravengar had taken Leontine's hand
in his and he was looking into her eyes.
"Tm glad you trust me-" he was say
ing. Madame Navarro, know more
of your life than you suppose. know
that you are nominally married to a
man you detest, whose conduct has
been unbearable. know that he won
your hand by fraud"
The tears streamed down Leontine's
checks. II have nobody to trust but
you. I am always grateful to you for
your Kindness" she answered.
"Kindness?" asked Ravengar. "Dear
Leontine. I am conscious of stronger
feelings than those you attribute to me.
love you, LeOntine."
She could not help but listen to him.
There was that in his manner which
robbed his words of insult, though
she was u married woman. She knew
that Ravengar would be faithful unto
death, would be content to give all and
to ask nothing.
Gently she withdrew her hand from
his.
"Mr. Ravengar, you know that 1
am married." she said. "Unhappily
married-yes. but legally bound. And
l have a mission to perform. Until
the memory of Jerry Carson Is cleared
l cannot even take the first steps to-
wurd securing u divorce from my hus-
band. He alone can aid me by con-
Tossing the part he played in that trag-
edy. The clearing of Jerry Carson's
memory means everything in the
world to me, more even than life IT.
self"
Rayengar remained silent for a mo-
ment.
"Leontine," he said presently. II
think l love you the more because of
your loyalty to that lost sweetheart
Of yours"
Suddenly Leontine's eyes wandered
toward the little slit of window
which gave upon the raging seas. In
| binding flash of lightning she dis
tinctly saw the face of Louie Lamb
pressed close against the pane.
She screamed. Ravengar run over
| to the window. Nothing was to be
seen there.
"Find him! !" cried Leontine. ut is
one Of my husbands spies. He has
tracked US here!"
With a bound Ravengar was at the
door. He rushed out into the raging
storm. slipping and stumbling over the
sea-washed rocks. But there was moth
ing except the whipping wind and the
rnging sea. He turned back and re-
entered the lighthouse. Leontine was
crouching. trembling. against the wall.
ut was nothing. Leontine." he said.
"You were overwrought. There Is no.
body outside. There could be mo-
body"
| Leontine had not been mistaken.
Louie had started In an open boat from
the mainland before the storm reached
Its height.
| He beached his boat in dry cave
and started to-. investigate the light
house. A brief glance through the
window had shown him that those
whom he sought were inside.
Fascinated, he saw Ravengar take
Leontine by the hand. This amused
Louie. He watched them till the sud
den flash Of lightning revealed him to
the girl.
| Louie saw that he was discovered.
and bolted for the cave. Fearing Ra-
yengnr, he crouched low there, hear
ing him pass and repass upon the
rocks outside.
| Suddenly he heard rending noise
without. In spite of his terror, Louie
crawled through the wet shingle at
the mouth of the cave to investigate.
| A bolt had struck the upper portion
Of the lighthouse. which had fallen
into the water. And the ghtninS
played about the ruined structure, in
the basement of which Leontine cow
cred at Ravengar's side.
Suddenly another bolt hit the dis
placed stones and mortar at the top
Of the shaft. For an instant there
was a profound silence; then Louie
saw that the entire structure was lean
ing toward him.
He shrieked and dived for his cave.
He was just In time. For. with q
mighty roar the ruins Of the light
house toppled, collapsed, and went
crashing to the rocks, mass of shape
less debris.
At dawn Louie stretched himself
and went out of the cave.
He started to investigate. The low
est story of the tower was still intact
The bolt which had struck the light
house had snapped 1t off above that
point bodily. But II anyone survived
within that sealed chamber. escape
was impossible for him.
i Then Louie came upon the crushed
bodies of Keeper McQuarrie and his
wife, lying half-buried beneath the
debris.
| He was quite satisfied now. Leon