The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-11-08

that death by starvation was immi
nent. He had groped his way abou
the cellar again and again, seeking IL
vain for the smallest chance of esress
At last he seemed to abandon hope
He kneeled beside LeOntine and they
waited together for what seemed the
inevitable end.
Perhaps it was twelve hours Inter
when the rumbling was renewed. Ihe
structure was settling down again.
Stones began falling about them; ana
suddenly there came n CLEAN of day
light, striking with binding force upon
their unaccustomed eyes.
They started up, to see narrow
chink in the roof, and, through that,
immeasurably far away, the white
,visp of 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
nothing; after long while, however,
he succeeded in dislodging small
stone which held back another. The
mass fell crashing into the cellar.
Leontine seized by Ravengars arms
and thrust upward, caught at the open
ing. He pushed her through, and she
found herself under the blue sky, be-
meath 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 ut Bianca'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
Sebastinn'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. 1t was near
ly half n 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, Struggling her shoulders. us
1t not enough for you that your das
tardy scheme failed, and must be tried
agnin?"
what do you mean by that?" he
asked.
II mean," replied Leontine, 'that
am not unaware Of your attempts upor
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 me?"
"When you have confessed to th'
forgery that sent Jerry Carson to prir
on and to his DEATH" she answered.
Sebastian shrugged his shoulders
sneered and moved toward the door
He passed out, and Leontine heart
something click as the door closed.
She was trapped. She sank dowI
helplessly into chair and stared wild
ly about her.
Suddenly she started and gaspet
+ convulsively. Across the half-dark
ened room. seated in chair, she saw
the ghost of Jerry. 1t rose and smiled
sadly Mt her.
1t might have been an optical !llu
sion, but never hnd Jerry seemed 81
real to the girl. A little older, stern
er, yet he was the same as of yore
and LeOntine, overcome, tOttered to
| ward him. weeping.
But as she drew nearer the specie
held out Its hands.
"Come no nearer" it said, "but hav
no fear. No harm shall come to you
Trust in the love of my memory"
Leontine hesitated only 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 fel
swooping to the ground.
| In her house, at that moment, Binr
ca was receiving telephone messag
from Sebastian. She heard 1t wit
amusement, then with embarrassment
|
'All right, I'll do 1t for you. Sebas
tinn," she said, and hung up the re
ceiver. She pressed bell, and two q
her followers came in.
| go to this address tonight" sh
said, telling them the number, ian
bring back the girl you'll find there /
your auto. Pay no attention to any
thing she says. She's dippy."
Leontine had fallen asleep in he
chair In the attic, hopeless of escape
and yet encouraged by the visioI
which she did not doubt was that {
Jerry himself, come back from tn
grave to solace her. She awakene
with a start, to hear the bolt of I'll
door withdrawn.