The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1917-04-12

nodded and started up the hall stairs.
The waterway was an old subter-
ranean sluice under Bianca's house,
which was very ancient and had been
country home before the advance of
the encroaohing city enmeshed 1t in its
tentacles, together with the other scat
tered residences of the street. This
water-duct had long ago become dis
used, and Its existence forgotten. Bi-
anca, I'm the course of the reconstruc-
tons which she had made for the pur-
pose of storing stolen goods, had come
upon IL 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 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 a trap
| door with an iron ladder leading down
to 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 sluice full. But
turn Of II would at once begin to
empty it into the river beyond.
Blanca waited near the trap door
for the accomplishment of her servi-
tors errand.
But presently she found the strain
| too much for her. She went into her
boudoir and sank down upon u couch.
Bring her down." said one of BIZ
madame doesn't want 1t done in the
| bedroom"
"Who's going to do the trlck?" the
other retorted.
I'll do it If 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. He unlocked Leontine's door
and stood for a moment hesitating.
AS he stood there an arm slid round
his neck and hand was pressed over
his mouth and nostrils, his knees gave
under him and he fell unconscious to
| the floor.
Ravengar released him and looked
into her purple face. He opened
the door. Leontine, who had heard
the lock unfasten, was waiting in the
middle of the room. Ravengar entered,
| seized her hand, and kissed it.
| hn
There is not a moment to be lost.
VIII you promise to keep composed
and do exactly as 1 tell your"
| She gave a swift look at him, and
nodded. Ravengar gave her his arm
and led her out of the room, past the
man on the floor, who was already
beginning to recover consciousness.
He led her down the stairs hurried
ly. Fortunately nobody was on guard.
In her boudoir Blanca, whose keen
ears heard the sound of footsteps,
thought il was the men coming to tell
her that the job was done.
Meanwhile the second of the muir
derers waited behind the curtains. He
heard Ravengar descending with Leon
tine, but he thought the man was his
confederate.
Ravengar, in his comings and goings,
had learned all about the sluiceway.
He stopped with Leontine outside the
bathroom and hastily raised the trap
door, which lay beneath a piece Of
carpet, apparently one with that which
ran along the passage, but in reality
separate.
"Go down there" he whispered. ut
leads to a sluiceway that opens upon
| the river. When you reach the bot
tom wait till the sluice emptles; then
run as fast as you can till you see
daylight. Then you will be free"
| Leontine looked at him. "You?" she
whispered.
81 shall turn off the water; then i
may follow. But don't wait for me-"
The girl stepped down hurriedly,
felt for and found the upper rungs Of
the ladder, and descended. Ravengar
closed it, stepped into the bathroom,
and shut off the supply. Then he
emerged, Just as the second confeder-
ate came from behind the curtain.
His mouth opened In amazement ;
then, with an oath, he whipped out a
revolver and leveled It. Ravengar,
smiling at him, waited. At that In
slant the half-strangled man came
slowly down the stairway. He saw
Ravengar and shouted. At the cry
Blanca came running out of her room.
She stared at Ravengar as II she
could not believe her eyes. Then, let
ting them fall for a moment, she saw
something which arrested her atten-
ton. 1t was a fragment of Leontine's
dress, caught In the trap door. And
Immediately the meaning of his pres.
ence there dawned on her.
She rushed into the bathroom and
pulled the switch hard. Then she
came back, breathing hard, but with a
forced smile on her face.
swell. stopped that game In time,
she said to Ravengar.
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