New Ulm review., 1910-08-10

T. <--Sxx> ->---Gll
BE AIMED AT CARSON, FIRED AND TIE
BULLET SANG AWAY. INTO THE SKY.
laugh Of Wilmer rose with horrid sig
nifcance from the Stickleback's man
hole, which was again above water
and open.
Don't be in hurry" he shouted.
"Stick around with us awhile. We're
going out where it's deep. Come in;
the waters fine! Got your bathing
suits? When she draws short tele-
phone down. Don't yell, for there
won't no one hear you There won't
no one hear either Of you again in this
world except just you two. By-by!
See you in Davy Jones' '-d-n your
And with this, as if pulled down
from below, the man vanished into the
dark interior, the manhole closed, and
the chain, like a line taken by some
titanic fish, started out to sea. The
airship had been captured by the SUBJ
marine! The mechanical devilfish was
not running very deep; her round deck
rose awash sometimes, but with the
manholes closed, and with no sign save
the erection of her periscope that she
was more than an inert mass of steel
| she swan on.
Still seated where Theodore had
placed her, Virginia looked at him in
questioning terror. He was white and
Mortified. At this moment he was de-
pressing her in her fight so as to get
all possible slack in the chain, so that
by a sudden upward rush he might
break the tether. Once, twice, thrice
he did this, but the chain held.
"What is it, Theodore? What is it?
said she.
/ II don't know" said he, ..but think
! it's the end!''
Carson was not looking at her. He
was looking upward, like man seek
ing for some sort of inspiration. She
stood looking out over the great DESC
late sea and back to the receding shore,
on Which she saw a group of forms
the forms of their friends. Nothing
could seem more helpless. They were
chained to their fate-a dark fend of
a machine that was taking them out
to sea, to deeps profound enough to
drown them-it might be an hour; it
might be the next moment.
Carson stood over her with a pistol
in his hand.
virginia, can you shoot?' he asked.
She took the pistol and nodded af.
firmatively.
II shall have to ask you to protect
me" said he, "while try to cut that
chain. They can see with their peri
scope what I'm doing, and when it is
necessary they will come up into the
open and fire. By pulling out to sea 1
can get her at an angle that will force
| them into the open to shoot. When
the manhole opens shoot into it. If
you should hit one of them don't let it
trouble you.''
Il shall kill one of them if 1 can.''
said she. Never mind that! Tell me
the things to dop'
| Il shall take the pliers and fle,'
said he. Il don't think the pliers will
cut it. may be too weak to climb
back. l don't know that can do it
anyhow. You must take us back to
land if cut her free"
Never fear. know every lever
There's another thing,'' said he.
I'VE came out with only little gas.
II we go much farther we haven't
enough to get ashore with. I think |
could soar her in with the aeroplane
set OF the blades. think we had bet
ter fly low going back and not waste
fuel. Keep her gliding about hun
dred feet from the water, but if you
want the aeroplane set this is the way
to fix it.
With swift movement he showed
her the way to manage the mechan-
ism. He lashed pair Of pliers about
his neck with a lanyard, thrust a cou-
pie of files into his pockets, took off
his boots, his coat and Waistcoat and
stepped to the side.
You may get ashore, said he.
while I may not. . II so goodby. and
God bless you, dearest!''
She threw her arms about his neck
and kissed him over and over again.
He felt her warm tears on his lips.
Don't cry!'' said he '.Clear your
eyes and shoot straight. Goodbye
She stepped to the rail and looked
fixedly at the black shadow like gi-
gantic fish that represented the sub
marine. Carson had disappeared over
the side in a terrifying hand under
hand descent until he reached the
trussWork of the naceue. The black
shadow grew more distinct, the round
deck broke water, and as the manhole
opened Wizner appeared and aimed
at Carson coolly as at target. Too
hastily Virginia fired. The bullet
struck the edge OF the deck with