The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-11-06

them SO that MS victim must SIT ever
the trapdOOr.
And now for the Search" he said
as he drew the Spiders arm beneath
his own. Out Of the door they went.
merely glancing at Rainface who just
outside the door Of the porch was
working at the stOrmdOOr with ax and
other tools, but no sooner were they
beyond the vision OF any possible
watchers than they wheeled. stole up
into the cellar.
Through the knot hole In the floor
that the Hawk had unsuccessfully used
in his former attempt upon the life OF
John, he peered into the room above.
The chair In which Davis sat and
which had been cunningly placed by
the plotter was just at the edge OF
the trapdoOr. which was concealed by
"a rug. Seeing that their victim was
in the place desired. very cautiously
he drew the bolt of the lever.
Sitting unsuspectingly in his chair.
John. caught by the trap, felt himself
going down. The desperate spring
which he made to right himself was
all unavailing: beneath him the rug
disappeared and the next instant his
legs were through the hole. Before
he had time to call out he was jerketis
downward. his head striking violently
upon the side Of the trap and leaving
his mind blank, the next instant
landing a senseless, huddled heap up
on the basement floor below. With a
few swift movements the Spider
thrust the rug into the room above
and replaced 1t as 1t had been the mo-
ment before. as quickly hoisting the
trap to Its former place and shooting
back the lever. Not over Ave seconds
had passed. and the room above remain
ed the same as before except that
Davis vanished as bubble bursts.
Binding the senseless man hand and
foot they gagged him and plnced him
In a long wooden box which bore the
label mining machinery for John
Carr" closing the lid with metal
clasp.
II reckon he's settled this trip"
painted the Hawk. Now for the next
move" Quickly they left the cellar.
Ethel entering the room which she
had left the moment. before on some
slight errand, stared about In amaze
ment. 1t WAS empty. Softly she call
ed "JOhn-where are your" but there
was no response. Bridget and Rain
face. attracted by her exclamations
came hurrietily in. followed II moment
later by the Hawk and Bellas.
"Whats up?' demanded Morgan.
Swiftly she told them OF the unac-
countabIe vanishment OF the missing
one.
Another mystery" murmured the
Hawk In the tones of one greatly per-
picked. Come on and we will scat
ter and search. The scOundrel cannot
have gone far" Drawing his revol-
yer he rushed from the. room the 9th
ers upon his heels. filed with wonder
ment. daxed by the suddenness Of 1t
all and half wondering II the world
had gone mad. A half hours search
revealed nothing and slowly they re-
turned. standing idly about until the
girl with despairing gesture again
entered the room.
In the cellar below a flicker of con-
scIOusness returned to the imprisoned
John. and feeling the returning tide
OF life he began to wrlthe and twist
beneath his bonds His feet touched
the end of the chest. and discovering
that he could make a sound by beat
ing them against 1t he began a tattoo.
Ethel In the room above him. hearing
the weird sound and being unable to
locate 1t. ran to the door and called
to the others telling them of the mys-
terious noises that had reached her
ears
what has become Of it?" queried
the Hawk MS they all strained their
hearing.
Listen" she breathed. But John.
convinced that he could make no one
hear had become silent.
Ghosts. most likely" sneered the
Spider with leer at her. "Spooks
come back to the scene Of the crime"
More likely 1t was further deviltry
on the part Of that mysterious stran-
GER" added Morgan. "Bellas here. and
will go to the barn and keep a look
out. II he turns up we'l get him
sure" with last assurance to Ethel
that she need not fear 80 long as they
were there to protect her, they disap-
peared within the barn.
Once there they lost little time In
pursuing the plan they had decided
upon. Closing the door behind them
they passed to side entrance which
lay beyond the view OF possible
watcher from the house. and making
a short detour crept silently into the
cellar. Gloom filed the place. and
feeling the way with their feet they
approached the box and bent over 1t.
As they did so form arose from be-
hind it and a mighty blow sent the
Hnwk reeling across the rooih. while the
Spider felt himself gripped in stran-