The Washington times., 1917-08-20
tcopyrighted.l
PART Overwhelmingly

FART ONE-(Continued.O
OW his mind was untroubled
nj and his spirit at peace.
Moreover, he felt the need for
sleep, knowing that he would
be awakened by the friendly soldier
at midnight, when the sentry was
changed. Severac did not hesitate to
yield to a sleep which overlook him
almost as soon as he lay down.
Just after midnight a touch on the
shoulder awoke him.
He rose and found himself facing
his accomplish.
THE time has come" the soldier
| whispered.
what is your manner" breathed
Severac.
"Humbert"
Thanks, comrade: this will be a
bond between us till death"
81 know. Let US be quiet and act"
Then Humbert stood with his back
against the door, his hands on the
barrel OF his gun.
Severac proceeded with that calm,
that sang froid, that decision which
! could only come to a well-tried char
, acter under such ominous circum-
stances.
- drew the black string from be-
! meath his mattress, attached his watch
! to II, and lowered both cord and
its unusual plumnet out of the win
dow.
Two minutes after he no longer felt
the weight OF the watch. but immedi-
ately two little jerks tuEged at the
hand which held the cord. Then he
understood that Martial had replaced
line.
The window ledge was at the
height OF his chest. He saw the OBJ
ject attached Ape E'ing over the
ledge, and while one hand held the
string the othetr seized the apparatus
and drew It in between the two bars.
He unfastened It, put the string
under the mattress once more and.
going close to Humbert. said:
You will be here for an hour and
a half more?"
yes" replied the soldier. Read
the note with the tool quickly"
Thanks" said Severac.
Then he added quickly.
81 am rather conversant with such
things. 1 will understand the mechan-
ism as perfectly after once reading as
II had invented II myself. The idea
OF cutting metals by oxygen has long
been familiar to me-but there is one
thing more'-
What is it?"
Cutting The Bars.
How. when the bars are cut, do
we get down to the lsunch:"
81 have a rope wound around my
body"
Good
Severac had placed the apparatus
on the table. 1t was a little rect
angular metal case. hardly bigger
than a schoolboy's pen box.
A short pipe projected from one
side OF II, and underneath was a sort
OF glass mouthpiece. Upon the box
were different copper buttons num-
bered from l to 4.
Attached to it was a sheet OF paper.
Severac took it OF, unfolded and read
rapidly.
The pipe is the outlet for the OK
hydro gas which will warm the
article TO be cut. Button connecting,
No. >
The glass orihce Is the outlet for |
the stream of high pressure oxygen |
which operates the cutting by burn |
ing the metal Button connecting, |
No. 3.
Press button 1 automatically to
ignite the gas, and Immediately after |
press buttons . and 3 simultaneously,
directing the stream upon the object |
to be cut.
AN iron bar an inch in diameter |
Is cut in two minutes. Press button |
4 to stop the mechanism"
At the window were six horizontal |
and six vertical bars. II was only !,
necessary to remove three in each |
direction in order to open the passage |
for a man OF medium size.
Therefore, there were six bars to be |
taken away and twelve cuts to be |
made, since each bar had to be cut
in two places.
This would take twenty-four
minutes, and It would be seventy-fve |
minutes before the sentry was re-
lieYed.
Severae applied himself TO the task.