The Carlisle independent., 1917-09-13

me-" she said softly,
 An amused smile lowered about Raw engar's face. Pm glad you are glad, little one" he answered lightly.
 I'll warrant you won't leave again in a hurryi" cried the woman in fury, which was accentuated by Ravengar's mocking bow. She pressed her bell. Two attendants entered promptly.
 Lock him in the strong room," she announced.
 They frisked Ravengar hurriedly for weapons, but found nothing. Then seizing him, one by either arm, they hurried him toward the door.
 The strong room was in the hallway outside Bianca's boudoir. In this room were stored Biancais stolen goods un- til they could be disposed of. As her plunder was considerable, it was a large room. It was built into the wall, and was. to all appearance, one with it, so that its discovery on the part or anyone who did not suspect its exis- tence would be practically impossible. But the wooden exterior of the dcor was lined with steel jacket, the walls were of steel, and the ceiling also. There was. in short, no possibility for anyone, securely shut in it, to escape.
 'This time I've got you," soliloquized Blanca as the men went upstairs with their prisoner.
 Meanwhile Ravengar accompanied hiS fn tho door nf the strong room. They thrust him inside.
 "I guess this will hold him." said one to the other, leisurely turning the knob to the proper combination.
 "If it won't, there's nothing will answered the other. They locked the door and went back to announce to Blanca the fulfllment of their mission.
  Upstairs Leontine found herself a was preferable being here to being a prisoner of Sebastian.
 She loathed him, and she would ney- CT set eyes on him again, save at the moment when she could wiring the secret from him. And more and more she was coming to believe that in Ravengar lay the key to the mystery.
 He had come back, he had been in | Biancas house when she was brought there He would come to aid her. Un' consciously she spoke his name.
 "At your service, Leontine," an swered the well-known voice; and Ravengar stepped out from behind the curtains that hung before the win dow.
 Be brave and all will come out we'll" he said. "The play is nearly ended. I may have to leave you alone l again, but never fear. The memory oi Jerry will support you in every dan ger"
 Suddenly the door opened. On the ! threshold stood Blanca. AS she caught sight of Ravengar her eyes blazed with passion, and her voice shook as she l asked:
 What are you doing here? How did you get here?"
 Ravengar made his courtly, mocking bow, and replied: "My dear lady, to be here is the only reason why I re turned to your hospitable house." Blanca turned to her men, who were behind her. "Take him away!" she cried, stamping furiously.
 They seized Ravengar and ran him | down the stairs toward the strong room again, Blanca following, pouring out her wrath and fury against them
 How did he get away?" she cried. | "We locked him in."
 "You are lying. There is no way ot getting out of the strong room if the combination is set properly" One of the men turned upon her "Say, madame, guess you know there ain't no locks can hold him." he re torted.
 | Ravengar, meanwhile, thrust into | the dark room leaned back smiling against the wall. His mockery made | Blanca almost frantic.
 You are a pack of fools,' she cried "Pll set the combination this time."
 And, slamming the heavy door, sht adjusted her lock and clicked it. Sht called her men to her room. "See that there is no further troubl, with that woman upstairs" she saiC significantly. Make a clean job of it and when you are through, you car carry her out of the old waterwa! gate.''
 Without compunction the two meI