The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1917-04-07

The waterway was an olu suultI-
ranean sluice under Bianca's house,
which was very ancient and had been
country home before the advance OF
the encroaching city epmeshed 1t In lts
tcntacles, together with the other scat
tered residences Of the street. This
wutcr-duct had long ago become ais
used, and its existence forgotten. III
anca. i'm the course Of the reconstruc-
tions which she had made, for the pur-
pose of storing stolen goods, mad come
upon II and followed 1t down To the
river half mile distant. She had dis
covered also that there still existed
connection with the city water supply
by means OF Il large pipe in the wall of
her cellar.
She had fitted connection between
this pipe and bathroom ON the floor
where was her bedroom. Just outside
the bathroom she constructed n trap
door with an iron ladder leading down
tu the sluice, In order To furnish herself
with safe and sure escape in case
Of need.
The switch in the bathroom was
open, leaving the sluicc full. But Il
turn of it would mt once begin to
empty it into the river beyond.
Blanca waited near the trap door
for the accomplishment of her scryi-
tors errald
But presently She found the strain
too much for her. She went into her
boudoir and sank down upon couch.
bring her down." said one Of Ri
anca's men to the other. Il guess
madame doesn't want il done in the
bedroom"
who's going to do the trick?" the
other rctortcd.
. "I'll do it II you'll get her. Bring
her along this way, without letting her
suspect, and I'll be behind this cur
tain"
The second man made his way up
stairs. lie unlocked Lsontine's door
and stood for moment hesitating.
As he stood there an arm slid round
his neck aud a hand was pressed over
his mouth and nostrls. his knees gave
under him and he fell unconscious to
the floor.
Rayengar released him and looked
into her purple face. lie opened
the door. LeontIne, who had heard
the lock unfusten, was waiting in the
middle Of the room. Ruvougar entered
seized her hand, and kissed it.
Come with me, Lcontiue,' he suid
There is not moment To be- lott
VIII you promise TO keep composed
and do exactly as l tell youT
She gave swift look at him. and
nodded. Raycngar gave her his arm
and led her out of the room, past ;Ae
man on the floor, who was already
beginning to recover consciousness.
lie led her down the stairs hurried
ly. Fortunately nobody was on guard.
In her buudoir Blanca. whose keen
ears heard the sound Of footsteps,
thought II was the men coming to tell
her that the job was done.
Meanwhile the second Of the muir
dcrcrS waited behind the curtains. lie
heard Ruyengur descending with Leon
tine. but he thought the man was his
confederate.
Ruycugur in his comiugs and Coiugs,
had learned AN about the sluIcrwuy.
lie stopped with Lcontiuc outside the
bathroom and hastily raised the trap
door, which lay beneath piece of
carpet, apparently ON" with that which
ran along the passage, but in reality
separate.
"Go down there" be whispered "It
leads tu "a s.u.crwuy that opens upon
the river. When you reach the bot
tom wait tll the sluice cmpucs; then
run as fast as you can tiIl you see
daylight Then you will hc free"
Looutiae looked at him. "Youf' she
whispered
81 shall turn or the water; then l
may follow. But don't wait for me-
The girl stepped down hurrledly,
felt for and found the upper rungs of
the ladder, and descended. Ruvengur
closed it, stepped into the bathroom,
and shut of the supply. Then he
emerged, just as the second confeder-
ate came from behind the curtain.
His mouth opened in amuzement (;
then, with an oath, he whipped out II
revolver and leveled II. Ravengar,
smiling at him, waited. At that in
stant the half-strangled man came
slowly down the stairway. He saw
Ruyengar and shouted. At the cry
Blanca came running out of her room.
She stared at Ravengar as If she
could not believe her eyes. Then, let
ting them fall for II moment, she saw
something which arrested her atten-
ton. 1t was fragment of Leontines
dress, caught in the trap door. And
Immediately the meaning OF his pres.
euce there dawned on her.
She rushed into the bathroom and
pulled the switch hard. Then she
came back, breathing hard, but with u
forced smile on her face.
We'll, | stopped that game in time,"
she said TO Ravengar.
Leontine gropcd her way to the bot
tom of the ladder and saw, by faint
light which filtered in through the Gel
lar, the sluiceway before her. a great