The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-10-04

porch and raced after the fleeing crook.
1t was much lighter. The rising moon
Illuminated the land. Ravengar saw
his quarry distinctly, racing along the
wagon road that led toward the mining
ground.
Ravengar felt that he was gaining.
In front of them the railroad line
ran at right angle to the wagon road.
Just where they intersected was the
brawling mountain stream, which now
ragged, Il torrent. under the high bridge
that lay before them. Beneath the
bridge the railroad ran along the EN-
bankment cut beside the river.
1t was leap of forty feet to the
raging torrent below. "Red." looking
back, saw that his pursuer was close
upon him.
He thrust the paper into his pocket
and turned at bay. The two men
closed. Ravengar sent the crook reel
ing.
"Red" lodged and recovered him
self. He sprang at Ravengar like a
panther. A chance blow caught
Ravengnr under the ear. Ravengar
stumbled and fell.
Before he had recovered his footing
"Red." spurred to frenzy, had sprung
to the parapet of the bridge and leaped
into the stream.
AS he struck the icy water he was
all but unconscious. He felt it close
over his head The shock revived him.
He flung his hands upward, choking.
until he reached the surface.
The bridge already lay in the dis
L.
current was carrying him swiftly away.
He could not battle with 1t. He was
drifting helplessly in the boiling eddies.
Suddenly he felt the ground beneath
his feet.
In moment he was scrambling up
the bank and he flung himself, exhaust
cd and shaking with cold. among the
rushes.
Presently, feeling the return of cir
culation. he got up and thrust his drip
ping, palsied hand into his pocket. He
drew out the envelope and. opening 1t.
took the paper from it. In the rays Of
the moon he read:
~ wish to confess my part in the
conspiracy which ruined Jerry Car
could. A spasm of disgust crossed his
face.
He crumpled it and made to throw II
away. On second thought. however, he
changed his mind and thrust 1t into
his pocket. Then he started doggedly
along the road.
When RED" leaped. Ravengar fol
lowed him without hesitation.
He swan with all his strength,
reached the bank, and pulled himself
ashore. Then he looked up and down
along the river. 'Red" had disap
peared.
He was, as n matter of fact, hidden
by little rise of ground, too slight tc
be perceptible from where Ravengar
stood. Ravengar strobe furiously up
and down the bank.
The fellow must have perished in.
stantly in the water. he concluded
Feeling that his search was hopeless
he crossed the bridge and returned to
the village.
By this time the stunning effects OF
the earthquake had begun to subside
The inhabitants We're running hither
and thither. helping the injured. As
Ravengar reached the hotel he saw
that nearly all the inmates had already
been rescued. Leontine still stood on
the broken porch, where he had left
her.
He leaped into the stream" he said.
Il plunged after him, but the current
had already swept him under. l am
afraid there is no chance of recover.
ing your paper, unless the body is cast
ashore
ut doesn't matter" answered Leon.
tine.
You intrusted it to me. 1 have
proved faithless."
NO, you have done your best" y
Ravengar looked at her earnestly.
at may be-" he said, that all will
come out right in the end"
There was subtle significance in
his words which went Straight to her
heart He knew. then, of the unhap-
piness OF her life. But he did not
know about Jerry!
Marveiing. she looked into his eyes,
At that moment Sebastian hobbled up
and stood beside them, looking from
one to the other maliciously. Leon
tines eyes reluctantly met those of her
husband, and Sebastian's fell.
What did she know? he wondered
(TO BE CONTINUED.)