The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-11-08

had thrown over the lever.
Leontine guessed what had occurred.
There ought to be time to gain the
entrance.
The water was up to her waist. She
almost despaired. hundred yards to
go. and every yard was made through
deeper water. 1t swirled against her
chest. it was up to her shoulders: 1t
touched her chin.
Gasping, choking, struggling for life,
LeOntine suddenly became aware that
she had been swept through the tun-
mel; a moment later she opened her
eyes, to find herself cast upon the mud
dy bunk Of the river.
Ravengar had disappeared once
more!
AS Blanca ran back triumphantly
from the bathroom, in which she had
pressed the switch, she saw the two
men staring about them in astonish-
ment.
Blanca stamped her foot furiously.
'Where is he?" she demanded.
"He's gone" muttered one Of the
men in awe-struck tones.
"Down the trap-door, you fool! Go
down and bring him up. You." she
continued to the second man, "stand
at the top of the stairs and see that
he doesn't pass you. I'm going to
search the rooms"
Suddenly the man on guard at the
head of the stairs screamed loudly,
and Blanca came running out of one
of the rooms. He cried again and
,i,,No Il <1,..I bat
saw the head and shoulders of Raven
ger as he leaned over the switch. She
darted after him. The switch had
been reversed.
She sprang at him. but he laughed
and. catching her by the shoulders.
pushed her back into the passage.
slamming the door upon her. Every
second was precious now.
That was the moment when Leon
tine, in the tunnel, was suddenly swept
from her feet and carried out into the
daylight.
Blanca raved and hammered at the
door. For the second time he had
thwarted her. She felt her love for
him turn into deadly hatred.
"Open that door!" she called to her
anu JuSt thSh thS. AACdN
and shoulders of the man whom she
had sent below emerged through the
trap door.
HE isn't down there, and the sluice
is full of water" he said lugubriously.
"Fool!" shouted Blanca, "he's in
the bathroom. Open that door! Break
it down, the pair of you'll"
There was u key in the door, but 1t
was on the outside, and Ravengar
| could not turn 1t. The two men
dashed themselves against 1t. Their
united strength was too great for Raw
engar. They forced him back, still
| struggling desperately, and dragged
him from the room.
Hold him on your lIvesw snid BH
anca, and, entering the bathroom.
threw the switch over the second
time.
1t was too late. Leontine had recov-
cred consciousness and staggered away
just us the renewed flood began to
pour through the tunnel.
Blanca darted back. "Now we've
got him." she cried. "Well put him
where he won't be able to play any
more of those tricks upon u.s."
Back into the strong rOom," asked
the first man.
"Shall 1 croak him?" inquired the
second.
| Blanca looked at Ravengar and nod
ded. The second man raised his re-
vOlver and aimed 1t at Ravengar's
head: however, he waited upon the
sign from his mistress before pulling
the trigger.
| Blanca hesitated, too. She watched
Ravengar's face like cat watching
its prey. AT the least sign of fear she
would have nodded to the man who
held the revolver; but Ravengar only
smiled at her. She felt overawed; the
mans moral power was something
that she had never encountered be-
fore.
"Why don't you get away now?" she
demanded tauntingly. You seem able
to go where you want to. Are you
tired of your life or what?"
"Dear madame" answered Raven
gar easily, did not come back to you
of my own free will? l must say that
this reception Is the reverse of hos
pitable."
The mOckery upon his face daunted
her. If he were dead he would die tri-
umphant, his will would have con-
Quered.
"Stop!" she cried; and the men low
cred their revolvers.
They stepped back, growing; their
mistress whims We're inexplicable to
them.
Ravengar bent down and kissed BIZ
anca's hand. Il knew that you were
too kind to kill helpless prisoner"
There was still the mockery in his