Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-08-21
EPISODE 9.
PRISONER OF THE DEEP.

Ralnface having gotten on top Of
the home of Ram Chunder and awed
the six Hindus Into submission ut the
point Of his revolver, peeped through
the trap In the floor to the floor be-
low. Seeing Ethel standing there
white and swaying from terror, her
dress torn from her bosom and the
old fakir approaching her with his
lancet, the Indian hesitated no longer.
Still keeping the Hindu gang at bay,
he drew Il heavy hunting knife and
hurled 1t through the aperture. The
point of the missile struck Ram in the
throat and he reeled back into the
arms Of Shallum. Morgan and the
Spider at that moment burst the graf
Ing behind which they had been stand
ing and rushed upon the scene. AS they
did so the Indian dropped through the
trap and stood between the pair and
Ethel. gun in hand and ready to drop
any one else as he had done Ram
Chunder, should the other person have
the temerity to attempt to lay violent
hands upon her. But 1t so happened
that the Hawk and the Spider had no
Intention Of harmlng the girl. Instead
the former grasped her by the hand,
crying as though greatly worried: =.
1--WE trailed you here. Are we In
timer"
As the Spider bent over the form of
Ram Chunder, now lying upon the tloor
In the arms of Shallum, the girl with
out replying to Morgan's question tore
herself from him and ran TO the quad
rant upon the wall. Throwing back
the lever as she had seer the old fakir
do, the doors of the idol gradually
swung open. disclosing John Davis i'm
prisOntd within. Morgan, having de-
cided that his game was up for the
present and that lie would still have to
wear the mask of deception and pre-
tended friendship, at once ran to the
idol, unscrewed the turn-buckles which
held the neck. waist, arms and legs or
Davis, thus relea.lng him.
"Leaving at once. the party sought
the street where they hailed a
taxicab and entered. Rainface took
his seal beside the chauffeur, his
weapon in readiness in case of trick
cry. +.
Ordering that they be driven to their
hotel they sought a quiet corner, ana
there the Hawk began his false expla-
nation of the things that had happened.
II caught sight Of that %scoundrelly
hermit at dawn near the shack in the
mountains. The Spider, here. had just
gotten up. Instantly we gave chase
and pursued him for miles. but in
spite Of all we could do he finally gave
us the slip. We then decided to come
here to Frisco, expecting that you
would follow, and we have been hunt
Ing you for the last two days, having
heard that you were here somewhere.
Johns taxi driver told us where he
had taken him, and as o o as we
could get there we burst In. I guess
you know all the rest. and If old Rain
face hadn't been or the job and beat
en- us to 1t we'd have saved you In
another second anyway. AS 1t Is, let
us hope that we have got free of them
at last"
So sincere did the mans speech
sound, and so friendly were his ac-
tons that they shook hands all around
In the best good fellowship-that Is.
all except the ancient Indian, who, sit
ting sullenly In his corner, refused to
either eat or drink with them. Nor
was Ethel entirely undeceived.
Meanwhile as to the In the
temple wherein had occurred the trag-
edy.
No sooner had the four white people
and Ralnface left the room than Shall
lum, arising from the floor where he
had been supporting the body Of his
stricken master, struck a gong. In.
stantly Joost. Singh and the other
Hindus came swiftly into the room,
some through the trap and others by
means of the secret doors. Carefully
raising the body of the dying Yogi.
they laid him before the image of the
god silva, whom he had wOrshiped
80 devotedly throughout the years.
Aud as though revived by the presence
Of the idol. Ram Chunder opened his
eyes and then raising himself spasmod-
lcally, one last word burst from his
grazing lips. before they were sealed
by the eternal silence Of death:
"REvENGE."
Then fell back dead.
For q moment there was an awful
pause during which they all stared at
the lifelesj form with horror. Shallun
raised his hands to the god.
"By Holy silva I swear" he said
ampressively.
Heads bowed upon their breasts, all
stood In silent prayer to the image.
John and hi: party In the hotel. hay
ing finished their refreshments, began
debating a. to what was next to Dc
done. Morgan raised his hand for 81
lence.
listen, friends. The day Is vel
young and Spider and ] will look after
: the hirin; Of a gang of men. If YOU
will 20 wei to Caldwell, Bruce & Coz
works on Water street and see a9ou!