The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-09-12

would be pressed into the man
within.
| AS the terrified girl uttered q
scream, Ram Chunder moved the lever
again and the two doors closed about
| half way. Ethel's arms stretched
themselves forward in an appeal to
the old Hindu.
"Take 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 thousand deaths,
Ethel, before you permit that vile dog
to touch you" From behind the graft
ing the voice of the Spider addressed
Morgan in low tone.
Lets put a stop to this nonsense"
The Hawk showed him aside.
"Wait There is time enough yet
Let's see what she win 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 again.
"You both refuse? Very well. we
little further it would SEEM"
Again he moved the lever, and low
er doors almost closed. A look of
pain shot asross the face of the inn
prisoned man. Quickly he mastered
it and smiled at the girl, who stood
petrified 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.
mo. Not so swift as you would
desire. Seer
Very fslowly, watching their faces
with cruel smile, he again turned
the lever 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 1t looked at them through the ever
narrowing aperture. Suddenly Ethel
unable to endure the torture of susr
rense longer, screamed.
Eyes, yes. / 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 ShalIunT
raised a cup. The fakir, drawing a
small but very bright hladed knife
such as surgeons use, thrust 1t slow
ly toward her breast.
Rainface, having reached the Eoor
of a room on the floor above, stood
listening a moment with ears that
were ms keen as a VOLTS. Then as q
peculiar sound from within reacheG
them he noiselessly drew his gun
with one hand and began opening The
door with the other.
Stepping into the room with the
tread of 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 jabbed one of them with the
inuzzle of his weapon, and at that
they sprang to their feet with low eS-
carnations of surprise. One look into
his fierce, grim old face was enough
and at his gesture their hands flew
| on high Driving them silently to a
! corner of the room where they hud-
| died before the threatening muzzie,
Rainface stretched himself upon the
| floor and keeping one eye upon mis-
victims, peered into the room below
| 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 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 long
| and keen hunting knife and raised IL
or high, then hurled it into the room
| below
Spinning through the air with q
| vicious whistle it came hurtling as
bolt of lightning from the heavens
Full upon the throat of Ram ChundeF
it landed point first, buryfng Itself
there. And Ram with gasDing cry
dropped his lancet and staggered
bnck. Dropping his bowl, Shallum
sprang forward to catch him.
Hes done it - cried Morgan frona
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 wrenchcd it open. With weapons
raised threateninely, he and the Spider