The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-09-10

(Copyrtghtsd)
~ ICTANER, with a majestic Ees-
IL ture, slipped the dagger in
his belt and took the electric
= mirror in his hands. He laid
a finger on the spring. seated himself
on q wooden bench, and said MASTER
fully:
."oxus and FuIbert, take OF Sew
erac's diving costume"
They hesitated and he aimed the
electric mirror.
"Obey, obey, or I win kill you"
'T watched Severac use it, can use
myself"
Conquered and trembling with
shame and rage. Oxus and Fulbert
took of Sevtrac's costume. revealing
his inner garment Of wool
"Sit down there, facing me-" He
taner ordered the three men"
They obeyed, going to q divan and
sitting down side by side.
Their faces twisted with varying
emotions, but their lodies, as II sud
denly paralyzs were motioniess and
ridig.
Hictaner turned toward the dishev-
eled woman, still kneelinE in the
midst OF tn laboratory with ecstatic
eyes and hands Joined as IL in prayer.
Rise, woman" he said gently.
who are your
Nine. Martha rose. She brushed
the long. white hair from her face,
looked first at Hictaner and then at
Severao with an expression Of un-
speakabls Joy and tenderness, and
spoke.
Swiftly. but clearly, because II came
from the depths OF her mother heart,
she related the story of her life, from
the day shs met Charles Severac, the
young student at Perpignan, to the
night so recently when the words
pronounced by Fulbert in his sleep
told her that the world feet and Sew
erac were proceeding to attack the
Lost Isle, Of which Hictaner was chief
defender
Completely absorbed in her mater
nal thought occupied only in proving
TO Hietaner that he was her SON and
Severac's, Martha did not speak Of
her last interview with MoIsette.
So. unintentionally, she let Il be
thought that she was ignorant Of the
young girls return to the Lost IsIe
oxns and Fulbert listened eagerly
70 Nine Martha They trembled lest
sne betray their conspiracy, but when
they saw that she was forgetting to
speak OF her interview with Moisette
on the very night OF the young rirrs
return. they breathed freely once
more and hope shone in their ewes
suddenly Fulbert was seized Nth
one OF his most diabolicaI ideas.
Severae had eyes for no one hut
Hictansrs and he listened. Kaspinr.
to the story of HIS former love.
Hictaner had let his head fall upon
his breast, and had lowered his eyes
as II to better comprehend the wordo
OF the woman who called herself his
mother.
Meanwhile Fulbert was resolving
upon a plan OF action.
The divan upon which he was seat
ed was placed near the machine whose
lever only needed pushing in order
10 send q strong electric current
into the copper strips on the cement
floor.
By stretching out his left arm. Full
bert could work 1t with q single
move.
Although Oxus' feet as well as his
own were resting on the Insulating
carpet in front OF the divan, and He
taner's rested upon the transverse
bar OF q tabouret upon which he sat
pensively. Nine. Martha's feet were
not so safe. They rested squareiy on
the intersection OF two strips.
Fulbert observed all these points.
and then the thought came to him to
press down upon the lever and turn
on the electric current which would
kill Nine. Martha before she could
reveal hoisette's presence at the Lost
Isle.
With an easy, careless gesture. Full
bert stretched out his left hand and
pressed firmly upon the lever.
Meantime Nine. Martha was begin
ming to relate how she and BAucis
had arranged their flight from the
apartment where they were impris-
oned.
"Sclpio came into our room bring
ing the breakfast at the usual time"
she said. 1--WE were all prepared to-
carry out our plan. in order to pre-