Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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wax &sii 9 C 6<J Uanda AUTHOR OF "BEYOND THE FRC "MY LADY OF 1 NOVELIZED FROM THI F HO T Of V 080ROE I SEIT2 OOfYmiOHT. (?)?. ? 8YNOP8I8. Adventurous Jerry Carson embarks In search of hidden treasure with the promise of Leontine Walcott to be his wife on ills return. Her father favors Sebastian Navarre. Jerry's ship is burned, he is reported lost. Sebastian presses his attentions. Jerry suddenly turns up to confront charges of the Navarres against him. In a struggle for a. forged paper Diego Navarre is killed and Jerry Is convicted of the murder. He escapes, and finds the treasure and a wonderful chemical pellet. Leontine Is forced to marry Sebastian. On the honeymoon, lie attacks her in a rage. Suddenly he ie confronted by a weird appurition. Havengar forces a confession from Ixiule. Sebastian attempts to get it. An earthquake occurs; in the excitement, Red .Finn steals the confession and (lees, lie appears in New York as Romanoff and enlists the aid of Madame Bianca. l^eontine confronts her husband in the ! ?rambling house. The Shadow battles or her and she escapes with the confession. One-Tximp Louie follows her and takes the paper from her. The Shadow eaves Navarre from robbery. Romanoff Attempts to kidnap Sebastian and Leon- j tine, but Ravengar appears to thwart them. Bianca and her thugs are puzzled by Ravengar's repeated escapes and returns to his cellar prison. Leontine consents to accompany Hamilton on a balloon ascension. Sebastian drugs Hamilton and arranges to have Leontine set adrift In the balloon. The balloon bursts into flame and Leontine finds that her companion is Ravengar. They are rescued, but One-Lamp Louie reports that tlicy i perished in a hurricane. Sebastian ar- i ranges to marry Bianca. Louie prevents' it to save himself and is thrown to death i by Sebastian who changes his marriage T.lnl.n 1L. I * I -11-- - ?? (fiano. in- i.ct'llllim JlllVl* JUKI WCH. j loiter Sebastian kidnaps Reontlne. but tlio ! Shadow has promised Iter protection. Rav- ! ensar delivers Roontine front the hands of her enemies, hut Rianea's tlnnrs capture him. Biarwa. hesitates t(t kill hint as site is passionately in love with hint. TENTH EPISODE The Vanishing Mantle. At the top of tJio ii\er bunk Leontine stopped and looked about her in uncertainty. Site was in an outlying part of the city which was unfamiliar to her. It consisted of fields, with a few scattered houses; in the distance was a road-house with a sited at the | back. Nearby a policeman was talkJug with a friend. Leon tine hurried up to thorn. The men eeased their conversation and looked tit her in amazement. She was dripping wet. her hair was falling nbout her shoulders, and her whole aspect was that of a crazy woman. "Help me!" pleaded Leontine, running up to the men. "I want you to save my friend and wipe out this band of criminals," Leon-1 tine pleaded after telling her story, i "Please hurry, or I don't know what may happen to him." As she turned aside a mmnpnt tn fix hor dross the* policeman tapped his forehead significantly. "Wheels!", he whispered. Til take charge of her," said the other. As Leontlne looked up he spoke to her soothingly. "I'm Detective O'Mara, madam," he said. "It's lucky I was here. Sure 1 know the gang you speak of, and if you'll come to the station house we'll look into the matter right away." Outside the roadhouse he paused, j "Excuse me one minute," he said, i "I'm working on another case, and I've got to turn in a report." Leaving Leontlne outside he entered and went to the telephone. In a few moments he had Sebastian on the wire. Sebastian, who had not learned of Lis wife's escape from Bianca's house, j was staggered by the message. He! thought hastily. "Hold her right where sin* Is." he answered after a moment's delay. "My ~ jiilk Leontine Thanks Bianca for Saving Ravcngar's Life. wife Is mentally unbalanced anil escaped from her nurse this afternoon. I'll come right over with the nurse and the doctor's assistants." O'Mnrn shrugged his shoulders, and went out to Leontine. "Would you mind waiting Just a moiftgCQt in here7" he usked, iudicutiug the I IngSkaclow flftrrislx fflj l. i >NTIER," "MAID OF THE FOREST," j rHE NORTH," ETC. LAY SERIAL Of THE SAME NAME RELEASED IY RATHE T tM*OAU?AUfW laud office. "I believe we cnu get tl* i facts from here and save your friend without going to the station house." j He took her Into the shack and quietly locked himself in with her. Leontine gazed ubout her in bewilderment. "Hut what are we to do here?" she asked. "Now, Just a minute," said O'Marn soothingly. "You mustn't excite yourself, you know, after your adventures in that drain you spoke of." Leontine began to grow alarinud. "What are we here for?" she inquired again. "It's nil right, Mrs. Navarre," said the detective blandly. "I've telephoned /or your friends, and they'll be here in Just a few minutes." i.. , . im n Mic- ifciiiit'u in terror, ior steps sounded outside, and she heard the voice of her husband?Sebastian! ******* "(Jet out?tlie pair of you !" repeated Bianca to her men. But the men,, usually prompt to obey the orders of their dreaded mistress, showed no signs of doing so now. Instead, they looked one at the <Tther. Then the fellow whom Ravengar had nearly strangled, spoke. "See here, madame!" he said. "Now that the girl has got away, this means the end of us. She'll bring down the police and tins guy has got to be settled. It's our only chance. If it don't suit you, I'm through." "All right, boys," she answered. "You have stuck to me for years, and I guess you're right. Do what you think best." The men raised their revolvers, but Bianca ran in front of Uavengar. "Not here!" she cried. "Take him into that room." They seized Uavengar by the arms, and he went with them, still apparently amused at the situation. The door closed. Bianca stood shuddering in ilie passage. Suddenly she ran into ilie room. She saw lhivengar standing in l'ront of the pair, laughing heartily. They both covered him with their weapons. "Walt!" cried Bianca. "Give me two minutes with him alone, boys. I want to speak to him." "Say, if tills ain't the limit!" growled the tirst man angrily. "What do you say, Joe?" Joe shrugged ills shoulders. "I giwss we can stand for him two minutes longer," he answered, "lie can't get out of here except by the door, unless lie llies through the window." They went out grumbling. Bluncu closed the door on them and turned to Uuvengar. "I cannot see you die like this," she said. "Say the word and I'll defy them. We'll leave this house together I'll love you all my life. I'll be faithful to you till deuth." Havengar looked at Bianca benignantly. "A splendid program, dear madam," he answered, "but I haven't time. In fact I've got an engagement, and I'm late now." He disappeared before her eyes. Bianca tottered from the room. She, went into her boudoir and sank down upon the couch. The telephone rang. Biauca sprang to her feet and took down tlie receiver, to hear Sebastian's voice. "She got away from you," he said. "How do you know?" asked Bianca faintly. "Yes, she beat it. I'd like to lay my hands on her now." "Well, you can," answered the otli or. "She's at the CI ill" House, and I've tipped off the detective who has her there that she's crazy. You're her nurse, and you'll go and get Iter, and i tmke two of your tuen to be the doctor's assistants. Get that?" "I did," answered iUancu joyously. ******* "It's all right. I'm Mr. Navarre. Open the door," said Sebastian to ; O'Mara. O'Mara stepped back, drew the key from his pocket, and opened it. Si*-1 bastian stood in the entrance. At the ! sight of him Leonline shrank back, against the further wall in terror. \ "I'm glad you got her," said Sebastian coolly. "She ran away from her | nurse this afternoon and got out of the house. It has given me no end of! trouble. I was afraid something had happened to her." Leon tine's eyes met his, and her lip curled scornfully. Sebastian let hi* eyes fall; he could not meet those of1 his wife. "Will you let me go free?" Leontlnoi ' (loTllll llllixl <\f O'Miirn "U ? - */? V/ ?l* III Ht A V IO 1 11 17 I I I I "! iiiun is my husband, but ho tried toj commit murder today, and often before. He hates me and wants me out of the way because of what I know." Sebastian only smiled, and the detective nodded. He wanted to pet out of the shod; he had never come upon ! a ease like this before. Mechanically he pocketed the bill for twenty dollars which Sebastian slipped to him, and ! went out, handinp him the key. Sebastian, left alone with Leontin*?, looked at her and smiled. It was not. an amiable smile. She shrank away 1 THB HOMtY HR1 i from him in horror. Thou Sebastian saw a curious look I come over his wile's face. Bhe was giunclng past him toward the door. Looking in the same direction, he saw Ravengar strolling nonchalantly toward them. Aud, glancing back at Leontine, he snw the happiness which she )..ude no effort to conceal. Itavengar came forward and nodded Ironically to Sebustlan. He pushed hiin buck, took Leontine by the hund, and led her toward the door. "Get out!" yelled Sebastian, precipitating himself upon the other. He struck Ravengar with his full force under the chin. Ravengar reeled buck under the sudden Impetus of the blow, stumbled, and fell upon the floor. Leontine tried to rush past him, hui Sebastian caught her and hurled her back Into the interior of the shed. Springing to his feet, Itavengar threw himself upon Sebastian anew, trying to seize the key from him. They clinched and Wrestled to aikt'fro. Ravengar got Sebastian to his knees; he held his head securely in his urrn, while with his free hand he drew the key from Sebastian's pocket. He flung Sebastian to the floor, opeiul the door, and took Leontine by the hund. Sebastian rose dizzily; he staggered, groaning, toward his enemy. He saw Ravengar lead Leontine out into the freedom of the-eky. This was the juncture at which Biancu and her men came on the scene. Sizing up the situatiou, und maddened I by the sight df Ravengar, who hail ! escaped them, Uioy hurled themselves upon him, and bore hiiii buck into the ! -Hied. They followed him, holding, Leontine between them. Sebastian, unsteady on his feet, looked triumphantly at Bianca. "Take her away," h?j said. "Wait!" interposed Rnvcngnr, holding up his hand. "Leontine, lock the j door on the outside when you go out." Sebastian hurst into laughter at the words. They turned and looked at him curiously. He was making some | strange motions with his hand, as if it held an invisible garment. He raised it from his side and moved it toward Leontine, with the manner of one putting a cape about her. Suddenly a cry hurst from Sebastian's lips. Leontine had disappeared. The door opened. The key was withdrawn. The door closed again. Joe hurled himself against it just as the i lock clicked. "One minute!" interposed Ravengar. They looked at him iu terror, hut there was an air of authority about him that maintained silence. He advanced into their midst. "We're all locked up very comfortably together," he said, "and we're going to stay together." He drew out his match box, struck a match, and held it to an oil-soaked piece of tarred paper which he had picked up. "if you folks try to open that door," he said, "I'll throw this into that grease barrel. I guess this oil-soaked shack won't take long to burst into flame." With a yell, Joe drew his revolver and tired at Ravengar, who staggered and fell. The paper which he held fell into the grease barrel. In- j stantly a column of tire shot up. The shack was ablaze from end to end. ******* Leontine had failed to understand Rnvcngar's meaning, but she had trained herself to obey him. That the mantle which he had thrown over her in appearance actually existed, that it made her invisi- | ble, were facts undreamed by her. Leontine went out and locked the n u ohn l\?wl Konn /\/1 uuut I no UIIV 1IUU IllTIi lll.lll UVU'U, At that moment her attention was attracted to a filmy piece of material apparently hanging from her sleeve. Wonderingly she plucked at It. She had a feeling as if some filmy garment covered her. She reached up, took it off, and shook herself free. She found j that she was holding in her hands a mantle, of the thinnest material, and only in places visible. As she examined it the secret dawned on her. On one side the mantle was invisible, on the other it was visible, llavengar had thrown it over her with the invisible side uppermost. 1 Bianca's Men Caj SkLD, COKWAY, 8 O. She heard voices within the shack. Raveugar was sayiug something lou*l- | ly. and there was a responsive murmur, followed by silence. Suddeuly the revolver shot rung out. Leontine ran toward the door. As she did so a flame burst through the aperture, followed by tluiues and smoke that seemd to curl out of every corner of the building. Shouts came from the road-house The proprietor and a number of men came running out. When the Are broke out the group was still standing facing Itavengar His fall and the starting up of the flames were almost simultaneous They forgot him and rushed wildly to thp door for safety. . They could not breuk It down. The shack was tilled with smoke. In the corner where Ravengar lay the flames were shooting np to the roof, wlilcT* was already ahluze. They rushed to the window. The shutters were of Iron, and heavily pudlocked. Joe staggered against one of tho blazing barrels and, in his fall, hurled It ankle. His companion shouted. Ttoe barrel had been stnnding over a trap door, with a large iron ring set into It. n T\ HaAW on ??/x ??V> /I?cinlnfil??rt ? A 14V I I 4I|F UVIUl VlllltV U|)| UIDLIU^Ul^ (1 | flight of steps loading down into u cellar. By this time the shack was ablaze in every part. Bianco cast a hurried look toward Hnvengar. lie was lying between two blazing barrels. Her heart and her head were in bitter conflict. On the one hand was llaveugar, who had! scorned her; on the other Sebastian ! with his millions. Head won. Shrugging her shoulders, Bianco followed the rest down the stops into the cellar, leaving lla-1 vengar lying unconscious where lie had fallen. The little cellar was provided with a 1 bulkhead leading outside, Sebastian and one of the men rushed up it, heedless of Bianco. As she was about to follow them the man Joe, overcome by the heat, pitched forward unconscious, upon the iloor. That moment of hesitation changed I Bianco. She stopped. She considered again. New heart won. She turned and made her way back into the burning shark to save Uavengar. She could hardly enter on account of the furious heat. The whole of the roof was afire, and sparks were settling down. The walls were blazing. The smoke was so thick that at first she could not find Uavengar. Then, stooping, site managed to get her hands upon him and drag him into the cellar. She kneeled beside him and burst into tears. Then, when he did not stir, Bianca became frenzied. She lifted ltavcngar's body in her arms again and started to carry him out of the cellar. Site laid him upon the ground a safe distance from tin? shack, which was now entirely in flames. Leontine, hidden in iter mantle, had stood among a cluster of trees some little distance away, looking on in horror which paralyzed her limbs, Ruvengar was in the burning shack, and her palsied will failed her. With a last effort she began groping her way toward the shed again. Then she stopped, hoping wildly, as she saw Sebastian and one of Riuncu's men emerge from the bulkhead. They had found a way to escape; and Ru* vengar must be behind them. Bulling her maul! * a' *.ur her, she went toward them. Scba.vtian and his companion passed within a few feet of her without seeing her. As he walked Leontine heard her husband say: "Well, there's one consolation. Ravengar won't trouble us again." At the words the girl uttered a scream, and, entirely forgetful of her disguise, pulled the mantle from her head and shoulders and, clutching it in her hand, began to run toward the bulkhead. Sebastian stopped at the cry and, to his amazement, saw Leontine a few paces away, running. lie dashed at her and grasped her, yelling at the top of his voice. The <9^MgRU 'iCUf pture Leontine. . ? /.' *- *- "s proprietor of the road-house, who had j abandoned his futile search and had given up all hoi>e of saving the shed, came hurriedly toward him. "We must get u tr.xl and take her ; home," he said. "This lias been a > | terrible experience. I should have tuken better care of her. She Is a homl- i cidal maniac. I'll recompense you for your loss. Call a taxi, please." i Leontine was in a frenzy. Craft came to her aid. She ceased to si rug j gle, aud, looking toward the shack suddenly tittered a scream, and pointed. The waiters who were holding her released their grip for an instant. Leontiue broke from them and began running at the top of her speed. As she did so she shook out the mantle aud managed to euvelop herself with it. The crowd, which had taken up the pursuit, suddenly stopped, completely i battled. Leontine had vanished into thin air, apparently, as if she had nev- j er existed. Leontine, having made herself invisible, stood perfectly still. She was afraid to run, for fear that the movements of her limbs would stir the man- j tie. Then Bianca came out dragging IJavengar's body. She laid it down i upon the ground and wept over it.. Stilling a cry, Leontine kneeled down -noiselessly upon the other side of the stricken man aud gazed Into his face. Bianca, a few inches iiwuy/wus wholly unaware of her proximity. So | might a man's Invisible, good angel kneel beside him, helping and patmipt- ? ing htm. Uavengar breathed, he stirred. Tears came into ?mii n ...... .. .... I' sense of thankfulness Mingled wiMi this was gratitude to this woman who lmd saved him. Leontine stood up, stepped hack, and threw off her mantle. Biancu saw her and littered an exclamation of dismay and consternation. "You have saved his life," cried Leontine, "and I can never thank you enough. You have given me hack the only man living who means anything to me." And she held out her' hand to Bianca. Binnca dashed Leontine's hand furiously away. Leontine had lot her mantle fall completely from her in her agitation. Suddenly she perceived Sebastian and fi:o rest of the crowd in pursuit of her. She had betrayed herself. ltavengar was alive and, for the present, safe. She must save herself. She looked wildly about her. A little distance away was an out-building, with a number of empty hogsheads standing against the wall. Leontine rushed toward It, trying to draw on her mantle as she run. She shook it open and got it about her head snul shoulders, and let It fall to her feet. For the second time the ' girl had eluded hiin. She had simply vanished. She was nowhere to be seen. Leontine, not daring to stir, heard her husband's heavy breathing as lie ran past her. He stopped and looked about him in utter bewilderment. Then lie began running back toward Biunca. "Where is she?" he shouted. Bianca, kneeling still beside Ravengar, had watched the scene. She had seen Leontine disappear, but there were a few small trees in the line of view between herself und the barrels, and she was sure Leontine had sought refuge in them. And in fact Leontine, as soon as Sebastian broke off the chase, had made her way toward the largest barrel, in which she could very well conceal herself. A person looking in would see nobody. "She is in one of those hogsheads," Bianca skid, pointing toward the out-! buildings. "Kill her now, Sebustiun. Kill her! I'll do it." A sudden light came into Sebastian's eyes. "It needn't be murder," he said. "It can be an accident. Come with me, Bianca." Sebastian glided through the trees, making 110 sound as he went. Binncu foHowed him. | "In the third barrel from the right," 1 she whispered. Sebastian crept under the over-1 l?.ww** .** ..1 1 "i - 1 IMIIIKIIIK IUWI W1 lliv S11KU UIllll lit?! readied the corner. He was now nl-1 most within reach of tlie barrel. The J i lid hung from the top by a single nail, i A hruminer rested under the sill of the j door. Sebastian raised it and, rush- i ling out, pulled on the lid and began 1 nailing it. | Bianco meanwhile felt in the other! barrels. There was nobody there. "I guess that's got her," said Sebus-j tlan triumphantly to Biancu. Then Bianca began to understand liis meaning. From the outbuilding the ground sloped toward the high I cliff which bordered the river, running . at tirst gently, and then with a sud-1 denly increased grade until it became i vertical at the extreme edge. There , was a fall of two hundred feet from the cliff's top to the rocky river below. Sebastian gave the barrel a gentle push. A few seconds later there came to the watchers' ears the faint sound of the splash in the river. * ****** Kavengar opened his eyes and looked about him. lie did not at first know what had hanDened to him. Thon h<? felt the throb of the wound in his shoul-1 der, and, looking down, saw that he | was covered with blood. He heard distant shouting, and saw! the stream of water from the hose that j played upon the burned shack, lit?, was alone, lying in.the shelter of the group of trees. On the other side of them Sebastian was watching the barrel make its way toward the cliff. ^Un? I .. ' A*? -\n..?. . . | 1U? staggered to his feet, his mind I filled with foreboding as to Leontlne's I fule. lie remembered nothing since 9 her exit from the shade, followed by 9 the revolver slvot. Where was she? 9 ll:id alio escaped, as he had hoped, in 9 the Invisible mantle? 9 Suddenly, to his uinuzement, he saw I her standing before him. 9 lie staggered toward her and caught 9 her hands in his. "Leontlnel" he 9 cried. 9 The girl had not entered the hogs- 9 bend. As she ran from her husband 9 she seemed to acquire the craft of the 9 animal, long hunted, which realises 9 that ouly this quality will save It. She I had wrapped herself In her cloak and, 9 running toward the hogshead, removed 9 it for a moment, to allow her pres- 9 ence there to be seen. Then she had 9 pulled it once more about her. 9 She had stood at the opposite angle 9 of the outbuilding and watched Se- 9 bastlan intent upon Art**work. 9 Then she ran back to Itavengar. 9 Now, standing before him, with her arm about 1dm, to steady him, she 9 urged hitn to take the mantle and muke 9 good his escape. "You take it, dear Leontlne. and sro." 9 - o " I he said. "I am snfe enough. I will go over to the road-house and rest m there; they will not dare attempt to S murder me." a Hut Leant! no, anxious for him, and I thinking nothing of her own safety, I 1 H I / ^ Bianca and Her Men Escape From the Burning Building. continued to plead. She stripped herself of the liuiiifle Mint tw.M If /ni? # ?. hiii). I one man had been left in the cellar* I That was the crook named Joe, who W had fainted from the intense heat. As llnvengar sat up and opened his eyes 1 on the ground, Joe was opening his in the cellar. He, too, could not at \ lirst remember what had happened to > him. He was conscious only of the light , in the shed, the outbreak of the blaze. But Joe hud not a meditative mind, lie found himself alive, and that was I his chief concern, lie meant lo re- } main alive. He was not anxious to j fnce what seemed to him the inevitable punishment for his crime. lie had no doubt that he was already branded as Kuvengar's murder- j er. And lie felt, too, that Blancu was ! becoming too exacting, and her schemes too dangerous. He crawled out of the collar by the J bulkhead and looked about him. No- ' body was to bCsooii 1 hough he thought \ he heard Biaiiea's voice in the distance. Joe thought it was altogether a good moment for making ids getaway. He started to crawl through the long grass, meaning to reach the pine trees and then slip carefully down towurd the cliff. But as he raised his head he was startled and terrified to see Kuvengur 1 lying not twenty paces away, supporting himself upon one elbow and star- v ing about him. Joe suddenly took heart again. The \ man was not dead, then. He edged away from Ravengnr, and men ne saw the ligure of heontine, apparently become incarnate out of nothing. He saw it waver, now visible, now Invisible. Then she was standing beside Rnvengur, who had risen to his feet, and offering him the 111a tithe. At once Joe made his decision. lift Hopped down in the grass and began crawling toward them. * ltaveng&r, meanwhile, resolutely de- I clincd the mantle. "Take it, my dear," he said again. "I am quite safe. And I will meet you here after it has grown dark, and we can make our plans together. You 1 can never go hack to your husband." Leontine shivered. She had tolil ltavengar of his murderous plot. "I'll take it, then, sim-e you wish it," she said submissively, and drew back her arm, with the iilmy mantle upon it. At thnt moment a hand shot upward from the grass and tore the mantle from her grasp. A moment later Joe, an expert thief, had it in his possession, and wus racing for the pines. Leon tine cried out, and Unvengur staggered after him. But Joe was already out of sight, hugging the precious mantle in his arms. As Lcontlne turned, voices were hoard from the other side of the trees. They were those of Sebastian and Blunca, who had been joined by her sec- v oud servitor. "Come!" cried Leontine, grasping Ilavengar by the arm. "We must get away before they sight us !M