The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-08-29
TEN MINUTES I'm
LAND OF STORIES
THE SPY IN THE SUBMARINE.
BY HAROLD CARTER.

For the secrets of the newest
British submarine-the one fitted
with airlOcks and an air chamber
for escape, in case of submersion
Morton knew that he could get a
fortune from a foreign power. And
so he enlisted in the navy, select
ed the submarine department, and
in due time, was attached to a yes
sci in the capicity of seaman.
Yet he could never obtain a half
hour on board alone. Therefore,
having mastered the principles Of
the mechanism, he laid his plans.
A simple screw placed in the ma
chinery. would, he knew, submerge
her Its removal would raise her.
And none but he would know what
caused the accident.
Thus it came about that the WA,
maneuy ering off Portmouth, sud
denly tilted and went sliding down
to rest upon the mud 80 fathoms
beneath the surface of the Eng
lish channel. For three hours they
stroye to raise her; then, suffocat-
ing from want of air and half
choked by the chlorine fumes, the
lieutenant ordered the men to es-
cape.
At either end of the vessel a
sealed door opened into an air
chamber, in which the men put on
diving dres and oxygen helmets.
This done, the outer door was
opened and the men stepped out
upon the bed of the sea kicked off
their leaden soles, and flew up to
the surface.
That was Norton's opportunity.
He had lurked behind, knowing
that none would notice him through
the glass window of their helmets.
AS the outer door was opened, let
ing the water rush into the air
chamber, he stepped back quickly,
reopened the inner door, and was
again in the submarine, the COM
pressed air effectually keeping the
water back. Then taking off his
helmet, he hurried to the machin-
cry. gasping in the now almost in
tolerable fumes, but holding to his
task until the secret was his. From
time to time he took mouthful of
air from the reservoir inside the
helmet
The secret was his, and for
round sum he would reveal it to the
hostile power. And escape would
be easy-stay. Why should he not
himself remove the screw from the
mechanism and, submerged, hurry
the vessel across the channel UNI
der water. The thought was acted
on.
But the submarine refused to
rise. The fact was that small
quantity of water had leaked in
through the inner door of the air
chamber and seeped into the
valves, putting the gear out of ac-
tion.
Yet he was not alarmed. To don
his helmet and gain the refuge of
the air cahmber, thence to slide
out upon the Shiny bottom of the
sea, would be trivial task. But
suddenly the deadly chlorine gases
enyeloped him. His brain reeled;
he raised his hands, but had not
strength enouhg to place the heavy
helmet on his head. Blindly he
stumbled along the slippery bottom
of the boat toward the air cham
Der. Once there, in a moment he
would be revived.
Tottering. falling, he reached the
door of the air chamber. The
thought came to him that In his
weakened state he might not have
strength to open 1t. But the force
Or the compressed air in the ves-
eel was lowered. 1t no longer held
the door. whic hrequired the united
force OF five men previously. Hold
lng his helmet he stepped into the
ar chamber--Or, rather. into q
flood Of sea water that over
wheIn,ed him and swept past him
into tie submarine. One moments