The daily Alaskan., 1920-07-15

"Oh, but I will--aye, more, I'll take 1t. A dozen will do no harm, and no scream from those lips will be heard. You may as well be nice, my beauty" She was against the wall, helpless, and the grip of his hands was like steel. His breath was on her cheek; his eyes burning with lust gazing straight into her own. Slowly, remorSe- leSsly, he bent her head backward un- til she feared her neck would snap. Into her terror-Stricken mind leaped the sudden conclusion that resistance with this beast was futile; she must Outwit him with her brains. Suddenly relaxing herself, she slipped to the granite floor on her knees.
 Please, please she begged. "l give in, senOr. l give in"
 But as she spoke her right hand closed about q square jagged bit of rock.
 "SO, my pretty" sneered Cateras, you have learned that Juan Cateras Is not a man to trihe with. It is we'll" And, releasing his grip upon her, he allowed the girl to rise.
 AS she stood there in the half light, her gray eyes flashing, her young bosom rising and falling, she was vaguely defined but alluring figure. So Juan CateraS thought, and he took step nearer, his thick, red lips curling with lust, eager to claim their rich re- ward. As they came closer Stella Donovan Stiffened.
 Look, senOr," she whlSpered-"be- hind you!"
 The Mexican in his eagerness was of his guard. He turned to look, and at that instant the girl drew back her sturdy army and then brought it for ward again with ail her vlgOr. Cluk ! She heard the rock sound against her opprrSSor'S head, heard a low moan escape his lips, and saw him sink slow ly tO the floor at her feet.
 The next instant she was beside hin, h terror lest she had killed him; but hurried glance, supplemented by her fingers which reached for his pulse, assured her that she had only stunned her aSSuilant. With delft hands that worked speedily in the darkness she unstrapped from around his waist the belt with its thirty-SiX cartridge and revolver, then pulled from his pocket the keys. not only to her cell, but, she judged, to others.
 The feel of their bronze COldness In her hot hands brought a quick message to her brain: beyond a question ot doubt the missing Cayendish was con- cealed in one of the dark, dauk ceItS in the immediate vicinage, If not ac~ tuallv in this same passage. then i'll another one perhaps not greatly dis tant. .--.-.... ..--.-.-
 Reaching beneath her outer skirt, she ierked loose her white petticOat, and then began tearing it into long Strips which she knotted together. This done, she bound Juan Cateras, hand and foot, and, with some diff culty, turned him over on his face after first thruSring into his half-open mouth a gag, which she had fashioned from stray ends of the prOyidential petticoat.
 Then leaping to her feet and strap ping the ammunition belt and revolver about her waist she stole on tiptoe to the doorway and peered out; the si- lent, cavernous passage was empty.
 Lithely, like young panther, she slipped out of the cell and began mak- ing down the paSsageway to a spot of light which she judged to be its open ing. She had scarcely gone ten feet, however, before she stopped short somewhere in the dark she heard voice.
 What was to be done? Her temples throbbed as the voices sounded nearer. Then 1t came home to her-why not try one of the other cells? Suiting action to the thought. she stepped quietly from the niche in the wall, moved uoiselessly along Its surface, and came at length to another dungeon similar to the one she had occupied, except that it had no window in its oaken door, Fumbling with the bunch Of