The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-08-26
HCTANER: The e. IN Mq q E G4
A Strange Story of Mystery and
Fanaticism
FUNHtIcLSM

- EVERAC was about to scale thu
cliff when his eyes were strucl
by an object that the wayeI
were battering against thu
rock upon which he was seated
He lowered himself and seized thu
object 1t was a little pine board
He was going to toss 1t back when
as he turned II over mechanically, HI
saw these letters rudely traced or
the other face OF the board:
BALEAR.
This time Severac could not re
strain a cry OF triumph and gladness
Under the letters he saw the secret
symbol. the sign OF the cryptogran
which Vera knew.
"Vera-MoisetteT' he cried hoarsely
He fell on the rock faintinE.
An hour later the sea had risen BIT
by bit, until Severac's right hand hat
been Tapped by q wave. Another
stronger one sent q cloud OF icy spray
over his face.
Severae- trembled and awoke.
! 1t took him several moments to col
lect his wits and recover his memory
When he had fully revived, Severac
murmured haltiAgly:
''vera, daughter, forgot you, and
you saved me! ask your forgive
ness.
81 do not know what has happened
Some day I. shall know. I shall
tighten the mystery.
where Is Hictaner? I shall IND
/ him.
at am sure that MoIsstte Is NOT
dead, for Vera would not have left
her, and Vera Is at the Balearics-
How? Why? shall know as soon
as am ready to scour the seas and
to fight.
az need q submersible and an cleo
trio mirror. The magazine and the
old laboratory OF the grottoes are In
tact. Ny four companions will help
me construct the submersible. The
electric mirror will permit me to
leave the grottoes again, having the
launch carried out by my compan'
ions.
yes, I say permit me- because
with II 1 will have a whole army's
strength.
These imbeciles can tap all the
rocks on Cape Circus: they will never
find the entrance, for 1 will break up
the mechanism at once.
Come, nothing is lost! will find
Moisette, Vera will explain every
thing and at last shall triumph-to
the Omega then"
| Having finished his nominations,
Severac slipped the plank into his
belt. nut the two revolvers between
his head and his cap, which he pulled
down over his ears, and having thus
made sure that his weapons would
not be wet, he jumped into the water.
| He swan vigorously, approximately
| following the edge of the cliff, and
coming out at the creek OF Canlep,
facing the Island OF Cullero, We went
ashore. He soon found the ravine by
which he had come, and four hours
later he Joined his companions VINO
were still lying in the creek protect
ed by Cape Corrego.
He related all he had seen In DE
tail.
After his long recital was finished
/ the Ave men partook OF suostantlal
meal. They then completely covered
the Omega with a strong DUCK cover
ing prepared for that purpose and
opening the valve to the water pal
| last, they sank the launch to the DOT
/ tom.
They were thus certain to md i;
when they needed It.
When their work was finished night
had come. The five men started alonE
] the road Travelled by Severac in single
file.
Back to the GrOttO.
Five hours later they came to the
foot OF Puig de las Pertas. 1t was
o'clock in the morning. In their tents
on the plain the soldiers were sleep
ing. A sentinel would have been use
, less, for an attack did not enter any,
ones mind.
Severac and his companions could,
therefore, penetrate without hindrance
to that unimaginable gateway to the
grottoes.
When they had entered the sub
terranean passage, Severac tried the
rocky wall, found an iron handle and
pressed 1t down. There was the In
mediate response OF a strident metal
| lie creakinE.
Vow" said Severac. "they can
sound all the rocks and press on all
the stones in the world and they will
never get in"
/ The five men descended the sloping
| passage, Enthusiastically lighted by an
electric pocket lamp which Severac
held In the air.
1t took Severac's companions Just