The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-10-02

! WlLnlu.
AS the terrified girl uttered q
scream, Ram Chunder moved the lever
again Snd the two doors closed about
half way. Ethers arms stretched
themselves forward in an appeal to
the old Hindu.
stake off the handkerchief and let
him speak for himself" was his COM
mand to Shallum, and the latter
obeyed. Instantly Johns voice arose,
anger filed, defiant.
"Let me die a thousand deaths,
Ethel, before you permit that vile dog
to touch you" From behind the graf
ing the voice of the Spider addressed
Morgan in a low tone.
Lets put a stop to this nonsense"
The Hawk showed him aside.
swat. There Ia time enough yet.
Let's see what she will do. We won't
let them put anything over on her."
Weapons in hands, they awaited the
outcome of the tragic scene in the
room beyond.
Ram Chunder spoke agn1n.
"You both refuse? Verx well. we
shall see. silva must persuade you a
little further it would SEEM"
Again he moved the lever, and bow
er doors almost closed. a looE Of
pain shot across the face of the i'm
prisoned man. Quickly he mastered
it and smiled at the girl, who stood
petrifed by terror. Calmly his voice
filed the room.
"It will soon be over. You must
not give away, dearest girl" Ram
Chunder leered at him.
"No. Not so swift as you would
desire. See"
Very slowly, watching their faces
with a cruel smile, he again turned
the lever a bit and slowly the upper
doors began to move. Nearer and
nearer the body of the man the dead
ly fangs of steel drew until they al
most touched his person. The face
Of the threatened one did not change
as it looked at them through the ever
narrowing aperture. Suddenly Ethel,
unable to endure the torture Of sus-
penSe longer,
Eyes, yes. I will grant anything you
may ask. For Gods sake stop. You are
not human-you are fiends." Before
the words had fairly left her mouth
she had torn open her dress at the
breast, standing before them white as
death and weaving upon her feet in
her mental agony.
Upon one side Of her Shallum
raised a cup. The fakir, drawing a
small but very bright bladed knife
such as surgeons use, thrust it slow
ly toward her breast.
Rainface, having reached the door
of a room on the floor above, stood
listening a moment with ears that
| we're as keen as a VOLTS. Then as a
~Ceculiar sound from within reached
them, he noiselessly drew his gun
with one hand and began opening the
door with the other.
Stepping into the room with che
tread of a cat, he saw six Hindus
upon their knees on the floor looking
through an open trap into the room
below. Approaching them from be-
hind he iabbed n of them with the
muzzle of his weapon, and at that
they sprang to their feet with low e
carnations of surprise. One look into
his fierce, grim old face was enough,
and at his gesture their hands new
on high.\ Driving them silently TO a
$1,000. IL 4IO ,uOnpo U-harn fh0U hIIn-
died before the threatening muzzle,
Rainface stretched himself upon the
floor and keeping one eye upon his
victims, peered into the room befowi
His first glance showed him the girl
with her dress. torn open across her
bosom, Shallum with the cup upon one
side of her, Ram Chunder with his
glistening blade upon the other.
Casting his Eyes upward, Morgan
saw the face of the old Indian at the
opening, glowing with hatred upon the
Hindus below. He seized the Spider
by the arm with a grip so fierce that
the other WINGED.
"See that cursed Indian up there
He is going to spoil everything
And even as he spoke the Indian
acted. Still covering the Hindu gang
with his gun in his left hand he raised
himself a little, whipped out a long
and keen hunting knife and raised 1t
or high, then hurled it into the room
below.
Spinning through the air with q
vicious whistle it came hurting as a
bolt of lightning from the heavens
Full upon the throat Of Ram Chunder
it landed point first, burying itself
there. And Ram with a gasping cry
dropped his lancet and staggered
back. Dropping his bowl, Shallum
sprang forward to catch him.
"He's done it." cried Morgan from
behind the grille.
Thrusting the muzzle Of his gun
against the lock, the Hawk pulled the
trigger and as the heavy bullet tore
the bolts apart he seized the grating
and wrenched it open. With weapons
raised threateningly, he and the Spider
burst into the roo just as Ram
| Chunder sank to the floor in the arms
of Shellum and at the feet of the ter
ror-stricken girl.
(ENn on ETGHTH EPISODE.)