The Carlisle independent., 1917-09-13

speaking. Leontine hesitated for a moment. Then she went bravely for ward. She felt that she was safer in the hands of the three than in those of Sebastian.
 One man preceded her, the others ranged themselves on either side of her as they went down. the wide stair way. AS they passed along the pas sage outside Sebastian's room, the door opened, and Leontine saw him stand ing there, watching her, look of sat isfaction upon his face.
 And suddenly she saw the figure of her dead lover again. He was stand ing at the top of the stairs, gazing di- rectly at her. At the same instant her eaptors and Sebastian saw the ghost also, and they staggered back, leaving LeOntine for the moment alone.
 Jerry Carson's hand was upraised as if to warn the party to proceed nc farther.
 One of Leontine's captors had a re volyer in his coat pocket. He placed his hand to the trigger and fired through the cloth at the ghost
 The figure of Jerry staggered and then fell down the stairs. It tumbled over the balustrade and disappeared Instantly the three. together with Sc bastian, hurried in pursuit.
 But when they reached the bottom of the stairs there was no sign ot Jerry.
 Leontine had not moved from where she was at the top of the stairs. They returned and led her, not urgently down into the hall, and into the au tomobile that waited outside in ar alley.
 A few moments earlier a speeding auto had been held up by two police men. The discussion waxed warm The offender was about to be taken tC the station when a figure came run ming out of Sebastian's house.
 Somebody wants help in there!" i cried to the policemen. q heard { shot fired. Better go and see :" AnC he pointed toward the rear entrance.
 Dropping their captive, the police men leaped into the auto and drove t the rear entrance around the cornel of the block, just in time to see tht auto with the men and Leontin' emerging.
 The police yelled to the driver tt stop. The auto sped faster. A wilt chase followed through the suburban streets and toward the river, alonl the edge of the high cliff.
 For a few moments the fugitive: seemed to gain; then the police autt leaped forward and began to overhau them.
 "Stop or I fire!" yelled one of tn, policemen, standing up in his seat.
 A bullet from the fleeing auto an swered him. The chauffeur screamed and his hand dropped from the wheel The policeman fired in answer, but tht car swerved and the bullet went wild Leontine, gazing back in terror, saw the police auto swerve toward thu edge of the cliff. The chauffeur haC fallen to the bottom of the car. Ont of the policemen tried to catch tht wheel. But it was too late. The cal was rushing on toward the precipice It toppled over, the front wheels churn ing up the chalky edge of the cliff hung there a moment, and suddenly went plunging downward into tn, depths below.
 Leontine sank shuddering back il her seat, while the auto drove back by devious ways, toward Blanca! house.
 Be gentIer with heri"
 The men who were leading Leontin, into Bianeas boudoir, somewhat rough ly, released their captive and took of their masks.
 Its all right for you to say that Madam Blanca" sneered the mal whom she had addressed. "But that what you said about your last pigeon that guy Ravengar-and where is h. today?"
 Right here, friends" came Raven gar's crisp tones from a chair besid the fireplace.
 All turned in terror at the soun, and saw him seated in the chair With an oath the man who hat spoken to Blanca leaped back. Or Bianca's face were two expressions terror at Ravengar's powers, joy tha | he had returned.
 "Take her to the room upstairs ant | lock her up for the present" she said When she was left alone with Ray engar she looked at him in wonder