The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-09-09
.HCTANER The q IN Mqn Fish 5s'
A Strange Story of Mystery and
FdndticiSm
FdndticiSnl

I tune.
In his handE Severac held a square
box-his electric mirror. He Einel II
n the gate. Instantly there was a
great bubbling of the water and a
long, sharp Kissing.
Then there was silence. acd little by
;it:Ie the water became transparent
and clear as nature had ma L. 1t.
Then Hictaner saw that a great
Severac was entering.
follows its prey.
In the grotto Severac stopped. and
Hictaner, too, halted.
Before them, almost In the bottom
of the grotto, three divers were
seated
Hictaner knew IT, They wsra An
til. Ludwig. and Albert, waiting near
the electric launch.
Before they had time to move the
water began TO bubble, the kissing
commenced. and when everything was
over the three divers existed no
longer.
Hictaner crouched. painting. two
steps behind Severac.
At first he had thought of spring.
ing forward and sinking the long,
sharp knife clasped in his hand into
Severac's body. but upon second
thought he waited.
NO." he said. "I must see more
So he crouched behind the ledge of
rock.
Severac went on, barely pausinE,
toward the wall OF the Erotto, CROPPED
for some time with his hands and at
last discovered the button which con-
, trolled the door leading from the
grotto TO the laboratory wall.
The door was opened-severac pass
ed in. It was closed once more.
Hictaner knew that II would take
Severac at least five minutes to 90 up
through the we'll to the laboratory,
weighted as he was by his diving cos
tune.
Therefore he waited, counting to
sixty-five times.
Then he sprang forward, opened the
door and rose TO the top OF the well
in an instant. The trap door was still
open. He bounded into the middle OF
the laboratory floor with q loud cry.
In a flash he saw Oxus and Ful7ert
standing still. their faces CONCEALED
with horror.
He saw Severac, Invested OF his hell
met. which was on the floor, his head
bare, casting a look OF triumph upon
oIus and Fulbert as he aimed his
electric mirror.
Hictaner cried out again.
Severac turned with a shudder. The
two rivals stared at one another.
There were ten seconds OF unspeak-
able tension.
You first" roared seversc.
He raised the electric mirror.
But swift IS lightning. Hictaner
dropped down and glided to one side
with raised knife.
with a leap he fell upon severac
before he could press the spring OF
his electric mirror.
The two rivals, clasped in one anoth-
er's arms, rolled on the moor before
Oxus' and Fulbert's terrified eyes.
Severac, weighted down by his div
ing costume, could hardly move, but
he deftly seized Hictaner's wrist, the
wrist whose hand held the dagger.
HIctaner twisted himself free and ris-
ing to his knees drew back the knife
and with a cry Of triumph was about
to strike.
But his arm was rudely seized from
behind. A disheveled, weeping women
threw herself between him and Sew
erac.
TINS IL gouE 1OAs ~
seyerac IL your father! Do not strike!
Do not strikel
But four brutal hands seized the
woman, snatched her from severac
and Hlctansr, to whom she chung.
Hictaner saw Fulbert bsSide him,
pointing to the supplied severGc, and
saying:
strike my SON"
The sound OF this Incorporating
voice gave Hictnnor his self possess
sion once more. with that presence
Of mind, 30 innate In skilled fighters.
no bsnt over. picked up the electric
mirror and cut the strap which held
IL around SaverRn's mock.
Rising, tho electric mirror in one
hand and the dagger in tho other, he
szid with authority!
~ am the only master now-not
move Sus, or Fuibert or Hoverac-
or will kill you"
I'M Toaaa6RasWN