The Washington times., 1917-08-16
HICTANER The Man Fish,
By Jean de la Hire
4 strange StOry of Mystery and Fdndticisnl

I enough to make your deposition be-
fore the committee7'
Eyes, Messieurs," replied the ssvant
In a weak but clear and willing voice.
do you swear to tell the truth. the
whole truth and nothing but the
TRUTH"
II do"
please begin your narrative, N.
Bertillon. We are waiting"
n. Bertillon then related, without
any interruption, the story Of the let
ter from the unknown woman IN
which she asked for his help in de-
ciphering q cryptogram, and the visit
from the stranger during which he
deciphered the cryptogram and was
struck down by = blow from her
dagger.
at fell down beside the table," con-
tinued N Bertillon, "and should have
died there, for my servant had been
killed. had not my brother. whom /
was expecting that day, arrived barely
q quarter of an hour after the night
Of the murderers."
"The murderersw exclaimed the
president Then the one you call
Vera was not alone?'
mo, for she would not have been
! able to strangle my servant, who,
| though aged, had the strength to de-
fend herself against any one.
Vera must have had an accom-
plice who entered at . signal after
had been struck"
please continue" said the presi.
dent
Surprised because no one re,
sponded to his ring, my brother, who
knew / must be expecting him, and
4
not be out in my absence, opened the
door.
He had q master key for all the
locks in my house, for he Is my col
laborator, and when am out of town
he often comes to work at my desk.
day or night
"Hs found me unconscious and Gov.
cred with blood.
"He is a surgeon, you know, and he
dressed my wound, which though sc.
rious was not mortal.
when I came to my senses / had
no difficulty In persuading my
brother that we must conceal the at
tack made upon me-
I'VE should then be much better
able to discover the assassins, and
especially to unravel their criminal
secretA-
my servant was buried quietly,
thanks to the Intelligent cooperation
of a doctor in my quarter, who gave
the permit when he had been let into
the secret.
MY brother cared for me 80 sue
cessfully that I have been able TO
make the journey from Paris to Mar
settles, where my friend, the prefect.
has given me his hospitality and his
protection from notoriety."
NJ BertiIIon was silent, breathing
hard. He cast q look Of triumph
| toward Severac and said:
| Nothing now remains but to com
municate the text OF the cipher sent
by Severac to the anarchist Archilien,
Of whose death he was Ignorant.
This is the message:
"'The daEger's blow fxed II upon
my very soul, and I believe that II
my brain were dead my fingers could
still write It. Listen"
VI. BertIllon enunciated slowly:
.RosaE GrottO-send Vera and
money. Have Important hostage,
Safe. Successful"
Interrupting the words ready to
come from the presidents llPs, II.
Bertillon went on:
"Rosas Grotto, of which I happen
to have heard a legend during one of
my trips into Catalonia, lies some
where on the coast near the city of
the same name, In Spain. to the south
Of Cape Crous.
"The hostage mentioned Is evident
ly the same Moisette whom Hictaner
demands. Ny deposition is now at an
end"
NJ. BertIllon, who could not have
been sustained by anything but his
determination to unburden himself.
fell back exhausted in his chair His
piercing eyes, still open, were nKed
upon Severac.
Excitement among the delegates
was now at its height. and triumph
and satisfaction shone in every eye.
(To be Continued Tomorrow)