The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-02-24

1
closer. AS soon as they knew that
something was wrong boat was low
cred and thin wire cable was attach.
ed TO the submarines coming tower.
which was just disappearing
| The sailors had to be careful In this /,
matter. These underwater craft are
| capricious creatures and the slightest
fouling of the cable might prevent the
boat from rising. thus bringing about
a real disaster. All that was possible.
now was that the patrol launch should
keep in touch with the submarine. fol
low her closely. and be at hand to-
board her when she rose.
| Naturally no one could be sure as to
the precise facts. The men afloat
shouted that they had seen Mr.. Smith
son bring a stranger on board and de
scend into the interior Of the subma.
rine. leaving the airlock open. Soon
afterward two other men followed.
and, as these were also unknown to
the patrol. a close watch was kept.
| The newcomers closed the airlock
behind them. and the submersible be-
| gan TO sink at once. quite natural
performance which lulled even the
slight suspicious raised by the fact that
Smithson was accompanied by three
unknown individuals.
There was nothing to be done now
but to wait Air bubbles and patches
Of oil. floating lazily on the surface.
showed the whereabouts OF the sub
mersible. 1t happened by chance that
her two periscopes were not mounted.
so those on board must be in complete
ignorance of the preparations made
above for warm reception the mo
ment the vessel reappeared.
Thus half an hour passed. half nour
Of inaction. though of tense expecta-
ton. Then q strange thing happened
A mans head and shoulders shot into
sight with dolphin like effect and van
ished again. only to reappear after "A
couple OF seconds.
1t was Smithson. Blood was stream
ing from his forehead and flowed in
such measure once he remained on the
surface that his features soon became
unacceptable. But the fact that he
was swimming with strong. steady
strokes showed that his wound, though
CHASTITY. could not be very serious
Soon. gasping for breath, he was drawn
on board boat and brought to the
quay.
At the same time another boat. laden
with officers from the patrol. natural
~ eager to ascertain what the ex-
traordlnary incident was, pulled along
side. and the whole party gathered
around the inventor. Smithson w;ts So.
exhausted that he could hardly stand
and was evidently enfeebled by loss
of blood from a deep cut. which one OF
the officers contrived to bind up with
a handkerchief but he could not be re-
strained from purrins forth an amaz-
iIg narrative.
I've been bunkoed in broad daylight
by a set of Chnks." he said brokenly.
"a fellow who called himself Mr.. MAJ
nan and said he was the agent of
the
NO names here interrupted Man
ming emphatically.
Smithson seemed to be puzzled for
moment. but grasped the essential
fact that his statements must he
guarded.
"Well. never mind about names" be
wheeZed. This MaZnan brought the
best OF credentials. He showed me
letters Of introduction from men
know quite well. However. let's get
away from that He played me for IA
sucker, and / fell at once. actually
invited the swine to come and see my
air lock in operation. brought him
on board, meaning to give a partial
demonstration without actually sub
merging, and. to my complete aston
ishment, two little brown men crept
down below after us. ! was about to
protest when one Of 'em laid me out
with spanner. givin' me this" and
he touched his bandaged head signifi-
cantly. THE next thing / knew
was being garrotted. But ] managed
to keep my wits. ! had been a fool.
but was willing to pay FOOLS price.
IL only they didn't kill me outright
resolved to lie doggo until the chance
offered that / might smash the air
lock control. Once that was gone ev-
cry one on board was doomed. of
course, except the man who might
contrlVe 10 creep INTO the air JOCK
chamber. And ] meant to be that
man too. Yes. by gosh. ] did! And
] won out gentlemen. Those three
devils were so keen to get the ship
under way-let me tell you. they
knew all about the machinery-that
they took 1t for granted l was goner.
They had to go forward. you know. in
order to use the sinking pumps. and
then came my opportunity. bust the
control with the same spanner whict
nearly bust me and made a jump for
the ladder. ! couldn't resist givin'
them one shout. so. that they might
know what was comm to themr'
And what is that?" broke in Man.
ming. with an eagerness which reveal
ed an almost agonizing hope that his
troubles and those Of his country might
be at an end.
The inventor was surprised, almost
panied, that any one should not know
, the true effect Of his contrivance.
why" he shouted in a queer crack
cd voice .'therp's NOT enough mir In