Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-08-21

hook or chain block at the end of a
travelling crane. Within the bell were
two chambers, upper and lower, access
to the chamber beneath being had
through a trap in the floor. From the
upper chamber, by means Of a valve,
rubber tubes ran to an air machine on
the dock. The superintendent Of the
Island Diving company drew near as
the Hawk finished his examination OF
the underwater machine. The super
intendent spoke.
"If he gets here I'll have him locked
up In the upper chamber of the bell,
then I'll beat it. The men have all
left the island except the caretaker
and his family at the other end. Take
your time about whatever you do. I'll
show you how to move the thing" To-
gether they started in the direction
named. A moment later the Spider,
hurrying along the road in his auto,
stopped at the foot bridge and conceal
Ing his machine crossed the footway.
John in his m%otorboat was proceed
ing rapidly. Then as he made a sharp
turn around a buoy the skiff behind
him swung to w%indward. and a faint
smell of smoke came to his nose He
glanced behind, saw a wreath of vapQr
arising from beneath the %tarpaulin,
and wondering what could cause it he
hauled the lesser craft alongside. One
glance beneath the oiled cloth was
enough. The Internal machine with
Its blazing fuse lay fully revealed.
and cutting the skiff loose he started
forward to seize the wheel Of the
Seabird. As he did so there was a
| flare and roar from behind, and the
next instant he was ~bombarded with
splinters and falling pieces Of the
launch. By good luck he had discov-
cred his danger in the nick of time
and had escaped destruction by a mat
ter Of seconds. Soon he arrived at the
island.
IT guess I am doomed to die In bed
after all" he unused as he thought
over his experience.
The superintendent came forward to
meet him, and to that worthy John
showed his letter of introduction from
Mr.. Caldwell. Together they began in.
specting the mining machinery upon
the list, and presently the superinten'
dent touched his visitor upon the arm,
"Tve got something new here, Mr.
Davls-a little invention of my owl
which might interest you. I made use
Of an old diving bell out of which to
construct q quartz crusher. I'll let you
have 1t at cost to try out, and II II
works both Jul fortunes are made"
Interested in knowing what the other
had invented. John signihed his de.
sire to inspect the contrivance.
Mounting a ladder which the super
intendent placed in position, John be.
gan mounting it closely followed by the
other. He arrived at the trap leading
into the upper chamber of the bell,
and at the suggestion Of his companion
! climbed down into 1t. A moment later
he was startled to hear the door closed
behind him and find himself alone In
the interior of the submarine plunger
Alarmed by the strange actions OF
the n who had lured him here, Davis
hammered upon the trap. There was
no response. Beneath his feet the
floor Of the bell was rising and he cast
a glance from the window. but nothing
but the barren sea met his gaze. For
a moment the machine mounted, hung
suspended and then began to sink,
Slowly but steadily he went down and
down, saw his prison beyond the glass
With all means Of escape cut off from
above, he opened the trap in the floor
and looked into the chamber below
Held back by the compression Of the
air which filled 1t. the e had been
able to mount but a little ways into
the lower room. The air which had fill.
ed the upper chamber already had be-
gun to grow heavy. and finding that
he breathed more freely with the In.
flux of fresh oxygen from below, he
seized a hammer, knocked open a valve
and putting his mouth to the open be-
gan calling for help into the tube which
ran to the free air above the surface
"Help! Helpl" Still silence. He
glanced about his prison.
The inside Of the bell had grown
dark as he neared the bottom of the
bay, and the atmosphere Of the place
was fast becoming unbreathable. II
would be but a few minutes more be
fore he would be asphyxiated. for al
ready his brain was Keeling. his sigh,
failing and his breath coming In gasps
As helpless as though he had been seal
ed up In q tomb. he began Keeling abou1
the room striking upon the side Of his
prison with the hammer. With heat
about to burst and with faintnes:
creeping over him, he again placed hi.
mouth before the open valve and shout
ed his despairing appeal for succor
Then giddiness swept w him and h
sank upon the floor.
On the dock above Ethel, her eal
to the tube. heard the wild call from
the depths Of the ocean, and turned
faint even as the man below. BY
great effort she recovered herself ant
shouted back, but no answer came from
the fainting man. SEEKING the air hos,
she pulled It loose.
ut Is he" she cried. "Great God,
there no n who can help meT
Across the dock Rainface cam,
stumbling, dragging an unwilling work
man In his tow. Resisting, protesting
suffering with indignation, the captiv
was powerless in the hands Of the In
dian. The girl few to them.
800 you understand this thingf" sh,
cried to him who was being haule'
hodily to the scene. He stood starin,