The Washington times., 1917-09-07
HCTANER The Mon Fish I
A Strange Story of Mystery and
FdnGticisM

mesa. But as for you, Vera. do not
expect too much Of II. Until tomor-
rowF"
Fulbert pressed the button which
opened the doors. Diabolical puzzle
that he was. he disappeared from the
gaze Of the two young girls without,
once more, having torn aside the veil
OF mystery behind which he kept
them hidden.
Returning to oxus' room, he
pressed q spring which prevented
Hoisstte's room from being opened
from within Passing to his own
apartment, he entered that Of Nina.
Martha
In this case, however, he had %
reckon with q woman already IN t6o
Slough OF Despond-G woman who
knew him better than any one else In
the world could know him.
The frst room-the little salon
was empty. At the end OF the SEQ
ond. the bedroom. he saw two women
lying upon their beds in the dim Hight
Of the shaded electric light. One was
Baucis, lying asleep, fully dressed. the
other was Martha, covered to her chin
by the white coverlets.
The priest sat down. and. with his
eyes hxed upon Martha, let himself
lapse into a profound reveFy.
Was he reviewing the past or was
he flying to those brilliant realms Of
the future which he had bsen pictur-
ing for twenty years? Whatever u
was. no emotion was shown In his Sc
we're face. His great, oped eyes were
empty OF all other expiration than
their coldness and their accustomed
hardness.
A full hour passed thus. Martha
and Baucis slept, or seemed 20 sIeep,
very peacefully. At length Fulbert
rose and went out backward.
The door closed softly. In the
vague light OF the shades lamp the
two women scented still asleep.
A long half bcur passed without
the slightest movement from either.
Suddenly, Martha opened her eyes,
rose noiselessly and walked on tiptoe
TO the little salon. which she
crossed. Pressing her ear against
notonous tiek-tack was the only
sound which disturbed the siiencss
she listened for several minutes.
Then she went back to her room
Touching her servant on the shoul-
der, she said: ~
'Baucis. he IS asleep. Let Us listen,
for we must soon act-perhaps to
morrow. -
The next morning. April 2s. FuIbsrt
was awakened by oaus at 5 o'clock.
Come" said the savant, "Antn -
back again"
The. priest rose, rapidly made hts
toilet and. dressing as Of old In his
robe OF sou1bre stun he followed
OKus into the laboratory.
Seated. in respectful attitude. An
I'll awaited his masters.
Being questioned By Fulbert ne
gave an account of his mission
Following my instructions. stay
ed in the neighborhood Of the bateia
with the launch floating on the sur 8
face. I counted 500 reports. With
my own eyes / saw more than 400
vessels blow up and sink have eal-
eulated that the world fleet has been
about q third =.
Good" said the imperturbable Fut- !
bert. where are the unh@rmed ves-
sells now?"
They are concentrating at the east
of the Persian Gulf"
You do not know" asked Oxus, "oa
which vessel Severac isT'
Nothing has given me the slightest
elew." replied Antil. "but the decision
with which the great cruisers went
to the front makes me think that Sew.
erac was and will still be, IL he 10
alive, aboard a small. rapid ship.
There he risks less and can come and
go among the other vessels with more
facility, and with less ehanee OF
arousfng suspicion"
You are right" said FuIbert. We
are well pleased with what you have
done. Take some food and rest. To-
night you will set out again
to fnd out the further movements OF
the fleet and to warn Us In advaneS
of its arrival. II 1t Is SO daring Is to
appoach the Lost Isle"
"One word more" said Antil.
Yes"
'The Dreadnought, the English
flagship, sank, and with II the High
Admiral Beresford went down. Now
Admiral Germinet Is in command
VERY WELL" said Fulbert. indlffer-
emily. 60"
CTo BE Continued ToaorrOw)