Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-09-04
EPISODE II.
IN THE OCEANS GRIP.


The Spider. John, Ethel and Morgan,
awakened by the heat and smoke
fumes from the blazing brush without
the woodland temple Of silva, opened
their eyes to see the grim visuge of
that god glarlng down upon them and
seeming to grin as he watched their.
impotent writings beneath the In
~creaslng heat blasts. Outside, the in
carnations of the Hindus grew louder.
Rising above the tree tops, the
smoke of the consuming temple rose
to the heavens as the OutpOurings Of
a living volcano. Far in the distance
the trailing Rainface, seeing this evil
sign and instinctively knowing that 1t
was the place for which he was In
search, glanced about with despairing
eyes His own feet would lev bear
him there in time.
He had left the city far behind him
and was passing a country house.
Standing before il, hitched to the fence
pnling. was q saddled horse, and with
a grunt of satisfaction he leaped upon
the animal and went speeding upon
his way to the clatter of hOOfs and the
protesting yells of the steed's owner,
who had emerged from the building
Just in time to witness the seeming
larceny. Riding as he seldom had be-
fore, the Indian arrived upon the scene
Just as the flames were approaching
their zenith. Absorbed in their mean
tations, and with the rOa of the blaze
in their ears, the Hindus remained I'M
conscious of the hOOf beats of the
steed that was charging madly upon
them.
As Il bomb bursts upon its mark. so
did Rainface burst upon his unSuSpect-
ing audience. Without the waste of a
second he opened fire upon the group
before him.
Shallum. throwing up his hands.
reelcd back into the arms of two of
his companions. who lifting him bodily
went speeding through the trees with
their burden. Again the great revol-
YER roar.d and Il second Hindu with
II yell leaped into the mir and fell, Il
moment later, however, %regaining his
feet and disappearing in the wake of
his fellows.
Having got rid of his enemies. the
Indian ran swiftly around the burning
building. The tiercely blazing fire be-
fore the door made any attempt to en-
ter by that means unthinknble, and his
eyes flew upward. Instantly they light
ed upon the strong limb that overhung
the doomed structure, and with a leap
he secured the lariat that hung ut the
saddle of his purlOined beast. To
throw II Over the limb and mount 1t
was but the work Of a dozen seconds.
From the branch he peered down
through an opening In the roof upon
the four tortured victims of the altar.
A glance told him that not u second
was to be lost. Binding the handker-
chief he had found about his nose and
mouth he drew up the rope n
dropped it into the interior of the now
blazing building.
He slid down the rope until his feet
rested upon the stone altar. In the
terrible heat the quickest action was
necessary, and slashing Ethers bonds
apart he raised her to her feet. AS he
did the same for John, the girl tore
strips from her pettic0at which h
wet in Il jar Of perfumed water which
stood upon the altar, then bound 1t
over her face as the Indian had pro-
tected his own.
As John arose glddily and covered
his nose and mouth in the same a
ner he saw Ralnfuce standing knife in
hand over the still twisting forms of
Morgan and the Spider. Plainly the
ancient one was debating whether he
should release them C' leave them TO
the mercy of the flames, and with a
commanding motion of his hand Davis
babe him set them free. Plainly act
ing against his will the red man
obeyed. and the last Of the four VIC
tins struggled to his feet. In the at
mOsphere of the place speech was I'M
possible. As Morgan and Bellas were
masking themselves, John pointed hrst
to the girl and then to the opening In
the roof. NOdding his understanding,
the Indian swarmed the length Of the
lasso until he gained the limb. At an
other motion from John the Spider
followed, and a loop was swiftly made
In which the girl could sit. Before
the strength Of the four arms above
she was hOisted clear Of the inferno
and seated in safety. At once the rope
was dropped to the remaining two.
With the fire roaring on all sides and
their clothing beginning to smoke. 1t
would be but the matter Of a minute
or two more before life within the
place was impossible. Yet there were
two men to make the ascent. Know
Ing that the chances were against the
last ones ability to Withstand the fur-
mace heat until his turn came, John
sicnaled Morgan to 60 ahead. without
waiting my SECOND invitation, that
party seized the rope and climbed m
was hauled from the fiery pit to the
b~reathuble mir above.
Leaving the two other men upon the
limb to haul up Davis, Rainface as
sisted the girl to the ground, "here
she stood wringing her hands ~ she
imp,ored them 10 hnsten and draw her
lover forth. Morgan. tattening out