The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-12-06

pile of the stun half rs high as the
ceiling, carrying armful after armful
from the boxes.
was regaining consciousness. Her lips
moved. Struck with a sudden Curl
osity, Sebastian went toward her. She
uttered one word:
"Ravengar!"
Furiously he struck a match and ap-
piled it to the piled up'straw and wood
shavings. The place was ablaze in an
instant.
Sebastian strobe from the room,
put the key in his pocket. Wrapped
in his invisible mantle, he descended
the stairs. g.
Ravengar. lying bound within the
garage, hardly felt the savage kick
that Sebastian gave him. He was not
thinking ut 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, rs 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 a
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 We're visible. Then.
with last effort Ravengar pressed
his feet together, bringing the two
wires into direct contact and making
short circuit.
He kept them thus for perhaps
half n minute before falling back ex-
hausted. And a half-minute pee, of
an electric bell would throw cons.erna-
ton or anger into the heart of the
most independent janitor or watchman
anywhere.
1t worked in this case. Half mile
distant Sebastian's chauffeur was seat
ed beside his wife, smoking, when the
bell rang.
"Them boys have gotten into the ga
rage again !" 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. Il have been attacked and
bound here. Don't walt to ask any
questions, but unfasten me and get
the car ut once"
The chauffeur took out his knife and
cut Ravengur's bonds. Ravengar strug-
gled painfully to his feet.
"WhO-?" the chauffeur began.
Get the car ont. I'll take you
there" answered Ravengar.
They hurried down the stairs to-
gether. In few minutes the car start
ed. 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 II we
are there in time to save her. And II
any cop tries to stop you, drive over
him!"
Leontine awoke to find the labora-
tory filled with smoke. At first she
did not know where she was.
Then, in flash. she remembered.
She was in Ravengar's workshop. and
Sebastian had come and seized the
precious journal. But how long ago?
Dizzily she tried to find the door,
but the place was filled with whirl-
ing, choking smoke clouds, and in the
center was n broad tongue of flame,
already spreading along beneath the
ceiling. catching Mt the rafters, and
sending out a shower of sparks. Un-
der the window she heard excited