The Washington times., 1917-08-22
.HICTANER The 9! Man Fish
A Strange Story of Mystery and
Fandticism
By Jean de Ia Hire
FHnHtLcLSn1

cltctnent was BoinB 10 explain 10
him In detail when the thought came
TO me that since this man who was
80 devoted TO my father and uncle
did not know anything about He
taner. Il must be q great secret which
was not to betrAy.
80 / kept silent and without any
explanation went out TO walk on the
rocks to wait for the meal winch
had ordered a. soon as came.
"a nns rain began to fall and my
walk was shortened, 30 I came back
to the house.
As was about to 60 up to my
room I was seized with curiosity TO
see ths mysterious submarine tele-
phone station. q description OF which
had read here in q book in the IL
brary and which for some reason
united the Island of Cabrera in the
with Lost Isle In the
Persian Gulf.
Instead Of going up the stairs, set
out TO md the entrance to the station.
Following my recollection Of the plan
l had always seen here In the library. I
went down q rather steepiy descending
passage which led underground. since
had been standing on the ground floor.
Electric lamps lighted the passage.
I counted hfty-three steps before I
reached an iron door with neither lock
nor handle nor bolt How could Il be
opened7 I wondered.
Like those on the Lost Isle. undoubt-
edly. and indeed / found. almost imme-
dlately. an ivory button hidden in the
rocky wall I pressed It and the door
opened. revealing q stairway whose first
steps alone were distinct. for It was only
lighted by 4 small electric bulb
sudden thought made me draw back.
Anti was probably In the telephone
room"
How would he receive my visit7
would my curiosity seem permits
sible to him. or would he ask me very
firmly to never again enter places
not allowed me by my father and
uncloi
would he not, besides, take pre-
cautions to prevent me ever going
AGAIN.
Something powerful and mysteri-
Gus was forcing me to visit the for
hidden post alone.
MY talks with Hictaner had given
me some insight into these mysteries.
Antil's ignorance only added to the
darkness which my mind 30 longed to
penetrate.
"I felt that I should ind out some
things In this telephone. post which
would make me see more clearly the
relationship between my father, He
taner, my uncle, myself, and Severac;
things which would further explain
to MEETINGS which would untangle
somewhat the snarl OF words and
facts with which my mind had so
hopelessly grappled since my nrst In
terview with Hictaner.
"On the spot decided upon q ruse,
and I went UP to my room again, de-
Gliding to wait for night to explore
the lower regions Of Cabrera Isle.
The Midnight Visit.
II will not describe my Impotence
nor the subterfugss by which I tried
to hasten the march OF time.
~ went to bed at o o'clock as II to
sleep. At midnight got up. put on
my felt slippers and q soft, warm pieg-
noir. dark IN color, and taking an cleo
trio pocket lamp which found In my
room. I descended rapidly to the
ground floor OF the house.
~ went through the passage, che
iron door, the stairway.
Suddenly I found myself In the
telephone station. II was q large.
square room, filled with machines.
"A great stone table with a thick
glass top flled the center OF II. On
the table were two familiar instru-
ments, larger than USUAL receiver
and a weird telephone transmitter.
"A little discouraged by seeing no
books or notes lying about which
could consult. l was looking vaguely
at the apparatus when a brisk ring.
ing made me jump.
1T came from q bell hanging over
the receiver. II lasted fully a minute.
Then there was silence.
MY heart beat hard. as II some
thing serious were being vaguely
forecast.
Some moments passed thus in ir-
resolution.
II heard the click OF opening doors,
and OF steps more and more distinct.
Some one was coming.
Il was confused for a moment, but
hid quickly behind the rocky founda-
ton OF a large apparatus. putting up
my electric lamp, and, crouching
down, hardly breathed.
CTo be Continued Tomorrow