The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-12-13

eve can get her now, boss" he said
to Sebastian. II seen her through
her study window. She's setting there
alone. She looks as II she was waiting
for somebody"
Sebastian understood. 1t was Raw
what he needed, and secure his re-
venge. in one dramatic coup.
"We'll 60 along" he said.
The three left the tenement separate
ly, and rejoined each other some dis
tance away. They proceeded rapidly
toward Leontine's house. At length
the pair indicated 1t to Sebastian.
1t was beginning to grow dark. Sc
bastian spoke n few words to his COM
panions and one Of them went round
to the back Of the house. After giving
him time to post himself. Sebastian
and the two others stole past the lodge
among the trees until they were stand
ing in front of the study. And Sc
bastian's heart leaped up as he saw
his wife and Ravengar seated opposite
each other at the table.
He watched them with eager eyes
and listened with ears that heard q
littlo-nOt much. but just enough to
inspire the keenest interest.
Sebastian and his companion stole
round to the side of the house. The
crooks inserted knife under the
sash and had the window catch shot
back in n moment. Then he crawled
in, and Sebastian followed him.
Clutching their revolvers, the two
crept to the entrance of Leontine's
study. The door was partly open. Sc
bastian mOtioned to his companion to
halt and, his ear close to the crack,
listened to Ravengar's explanation.
But he had not been there more than
half minute before both Leontine and
Ravengar turned their heads stimuli
taneously and saw him.
They sprang to their feet LeOntine
screamed, and Ravengnr issued a
short command:
The journal and the pellets. Leon
tine-destroy them!"
Until now." said Ravengar to Leon
been such thing as absolute black.
Our blacks are not absolute black. II
they were, they would reflect no light
and would be invisible. We see things
by the light they reflect"
"Now let us begin with Dexter's
statement of the discovery.
"'The black pellets he says, rep
resent, then, this absolute black which
have discovered after my investiga-
tions Of many years. A solution Of
these. made in pure water and painted
upon any object, confers the power of
invisi-"
That was the moment at which Raw
engar and Leontine both felt the pres
ence of Sebastian at the door. They
turned their heads and saw him.
1.-The journal and the pellets. Leon
tine destroy themy" Ravengar
shouted.
AS he spoke he darted to the door
and struck Sebastian a blow in the
face that sent him reeling backward.
Taking advantage OF this, Leontine
slipped past him and ran down the
passage. The two companions Of Sc
bastian started after her, but Raven
gar barred the way.
With an oath one Of the crooks
drew his revolver. As he did SO. Raw
engar. with almost incredible dexterity.
snatched 1t out of his hand and fired
point blank. The crook. shot through
the brain, fell over backward, dead
before his head struck the floor. The
two others, maddened with fear and
rage. threw themselves upon Ravengar.
He had NO time to fire again. 1t was
an inextricable medley; but somehow
Ravengar managed to hold the pas
sage.
Leontine ran for the back door. with
the intention Of gaining the garden and
alarming the chauffeur and gardener.
But as she did SO she saw the third
crook on guard there. She stepped
back hurriedly. 1t was difficult situa-
ton. Ravengar had ordered her to de-
stroy the journal and pellets; but
Ravengar was fighting for his life and
all her impulse was to help him. On
the other hand she was too weak to be
Of assistance. and might even hamper
him. She decided therefore to obey.
She ran into the card room, adjoining
her study. and flung the bottle Of pei
lets and the hook into the crate Of the
open fireplace.
1t was summer time and there was
no fire, but a box of matches hung by
the mantel, and there was the days
newspaper upon a chair beside the
fireplace.
Leontine heard the crook In the pas
sage outside. She turned and locked
the door. She heard Ravengar strug-
Cling desperately with his assailants,
and her one thought was to destroy
the journal and pellets and then go to
his aid. She struck a match, lit the
newspaper. and flung the journal and
pellets upon 1t, tearing out page after
page to ensure complete combustion.