Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-01-27


that Sebastian gave him. He was not
thinking at all Of his own danger, but
Of LeOntine. She must have witnessed
his mysterious disappearance at the
hospital; she would be searching for
him; she would go back to the labora-
tory and meet her husband there.
He must save her. And, as soon as
Sebastian had taken his departure, he
fought desperately to free himself
from his bonds. But 1t was In vain.
Suddenly he stopped struggling and
looked about him. Somehow there
must be a means of escape. He had
been In worse positions than this, and
had got out Of them.
On one side of the room he per.
ceived two wires. evidently those of an
electric bell connected with the house
of the estate on which the garage
stood
Ravengar began working his way,
wormlike, along the floor. He had to
use his back and body muscles as q
medium for self-propulsion. In time
he reached the wires, sore and dusty.
He raised his feet In the air, reclining
ON his back upon the floor.
His feet, tied together, were thus ex-
actly opposite the two wires. With
about three inches Of freedom at the
ankles, Ravengar began to move them
up and down alternately, pressing back
the wires against the wooden beam be-
hind them. He worked In this way for
ten minutes.
Now an observer might have de-
tected what he was doing. He was
trying to rub Off the protective cover
ing Of the wires. At last the strands
of copper wire were visible. Then,
with a last effort Ravengar pressed
his feet together, bringing the two
wires into direct contact and making
a short circuit.
He kept them thus for perhaps
half a minute before falling back ex-
hausted. And a half-minute peal of
an electric bell would throw consterna-
most independent janitor or Waterman
anywhere.
1t worked In this case. Half mile
distant Sebastians chauffeur was seat
ed beside his wife, smoking, when the
bell rang.
"Them boys have gotten into the ga
rage again u exclaimed the good wOm-
an. I'D give 'em taste of the stick,
Henry"
Henry put down his paper, thrust
on his cap, and sailed forth to wreak
justice upon the youthful malefaCtors.
BY the time he reached the garage
he was hot with indignation. There
was nobody below. He rushed up
stairs, to encounter Ravengar lying
upon the floor, bound.
what" he began.
"Your mistress is In danger" said
Ravengar. II have been attacked and
bound here. Don't wait to ask any
questions, but unfasten me and get
the car at once"
The chauffeur took out his knife and
cut Ravengar's bonds. Ravengar strug-
gied painfully to his feet.
"Who-T the chauffeur began.
"Get the car out. I'll take you
there" answered Ravengar.
They hurried down the stairs TO
gether. In few minutes the car start
cd. 1t whirled out Of the estate and
began to thread the city streets.
"Go faster" cried Ravengar In the
chauffeur's ear. "Her life is in peril |
I'll give you five hundred dollars If we
are there In time to save her. And If |
any cop tries to stop you, drive over
himw
Leontine awoke to find the labora.
tory filled with smoke At first she
did not know where she was.
Then, In a fash, she remembered.
She was In Ravengar's workshop and
Sebastian had come and seized the
precious Journal. But how long agoT
Dizzlly she tried to find the door,
but the place was filled with whirl-
Ing, choking smoke clouds, and In the
center was broad tongue of fame,
already spreading along beneath the
ceiling, catching at the rafters, and
sending out shower Of sparks. I'm
der the window she heard excited
cries.
Leontine CROPPED her way to the win.
low and looked out. A crowd was
gathering, watching the smoke clouds
pouring forth. A cluster of men, see
ng her, cried to her to wait, to stay
here, that the engines were coming.
But Leontine did not understand
What they were saying. The window
vas so high above the ground that
leap would be to certain death. How
'ver, its position enabled her to re-
member where the door was. She
an back through the room, skirting
he blazing fire, which was now ex-
ending shoots Of flame In every direc.
ion. They licked at her dress hun.
'rily, but she won clear and found the
loor.
1t was locked. Leontine tore at the
landle fruitlessly She remembered
hat she had not locked It behind her.
Then her husband had set the fire and