The Carlisle independent., 1917-08-09

 Then he sprang at him like a tiger and locked his arms about him. the hands reaching toward the throat.
 The suddenness of his leap surprised RaYengar, who reeled and went stag gering back against the table.
 In the flash of an interval before they closed Ravengar freed his right hand and sent the fist crashing into Sebastian's face. As Sebastian re- leased him and staggered back Raw engar followed with second blow from his left. which caught the Argen- tine beneath the chin. Sebastian dropped with moan and crumpled up on the floor.
 As Rayengar stood over him q pie ture fell from the wall beside him. A moment later the water bottle upon the table went crashing down in splin- ters of broken glass.
 Ravengar looked about him in won- der.
 Shrieks and cries resounded through the hotel. Through the darkness out side a sudden stream of light shot up.
 
 The volcanic eruption had blown the top off the mountain, had rent the ground into deep Assures from which the subterraneaa fumes. ascending, sent up q cloud of inky smoke that, added to the darkness of q moonless night. made the panic universal.
 Leontine was standing in her room when the catastrophe occurred.
 Suddenly she was flung eff her feet by the force of the earthquake. Stunned. she mercifully escaped knowl- edge of it's first horrors. When she re- covered she found herself unhurt but pinned between two seantlings that had fallen one on either side of her.
 Cries and groans came to her ears from all sides.
 Then through the darkness she heard mans voice calling. "Leontine Leonune," he was saying.
 And thrill of joy leaped into her heart and set it to beating fast. It was Ravengar.
 She answered faintly, and presently. guided by her voice. he found her.
 You are not hurt?" he inquired anx- iously. She could not see his face, even though he stood beside her.
 No" she replied. And you?''
 q think not" he answered. placing one arm around her to support her.
 You had better let me carry you. !" he continued. You will fall over the beams. I know the way oGt-at least, I found the way in. There has been an earthquake.'' He raised her into his arms. and she lay there, one arm about his neck, her hair drifting across his face.
 Carefully he picked his way toward | the door. Then he set her down.
 T am going back for your husband. ' he said. Stay there till I return 1 Leontine looked about her. Several people lay half-buried in the debris of the hotel. A voice was calling pitt fully from what had been the dining room. A man came stealthily across the fallen beams, guided by the sound of the voice.
 It was Red" Finn. who had been | gambling with his companions in the next room to Ravengar's. He had heard the sounds of the quarrel, and Sebas- tian's offer of ten thousand dollars for certain paper. Then. as the fight began. he had peered cautiously into 1 the room and had seen Ravengar slip the paper into his pocket
 Now he was prowling among the ru- ins of the hotel. having almost miracu- lously escaped injury in the catastro- phe.
 At length his watch was rewarded. He saw Ravengar come staggering along the ruined wall, bearing Sebas- tian in his arms. He carried him to the porch and set him down beside Leontine. Sebastian groaned and opened his eyes. He tried to rise, Ra- vengar bent over him. 'Red" Finn crept cautiously nearer. Then something happened which con vinced him that this was his lucky day.
 The paper which he contemplated snatching from Ravengar's pocket dropped out as he bent over Sebastian. In an instant 'Red" had leaped upon it and possessed himself of 1t and taken flight.
 Only Leontine saw the action. She placed her hand on Rayengar's arm. 'rhe paper,' she cried.
 Ravengar started and felt in his pocket. Ii was not there.
 He has stolen it P cried Leontine frantically, pointing to the disappear ing figure of the fugitive.
 Instantly Ravengar understood. He left Sebastian lying on the ruined