The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-12-25
EPISODE 10
THE FLAMING SACRIFICE

THE FLAMING SACRIFICE
John Davis. lured into the diving
bell by the hireling superintendent of
Morgan, found the contrivance In
which he was confined being lowered
ITO the depths of the bay. Soon BE-
coming aware Of the fact that he was
rapidly being asphyxiated In the smail
iron chamber. and with no way Of es-
cape possible, he seized a hammer and
knocking of a valve leading to tube
which communicated with the dock
above, shouted several times for help.
Receiving no response he. sank ex-
hausted upon the floor of the upper
chamber.
Ethel Carr, reaching the rock above
the bell and realizing that something
wrong was going on, drew q revolver
and compelled a nearby workman to
raise the bell by means Of its hoisting
machinery. AS the ponderOus AFFAIR
came up. Its lip struck a submerged
pile, tipping 1t violently and causing
Johns half unconscious form to. slip
through the trap which was In tho
floor Of the upper chamber In which
he was confined. When the bell reach
ed the top, Ethel, mounting ladder,
opened the entrance door and looked
down into the BELLS Interior. No ooe
was there. Believing that her lover
had met his death, she swooned and
fell back into the arms Of workman
who eased her to the wharf. At that
moment Morgan and Bellas came rum
ming up.
1--WE had better 20 back to the no
TEL" said the Hawk as the girl revived
'.That IL. all OF US except the Spider.
who will stay here and report to us
II he learns anything" Not knowing
any better mode Of procedure. the gin
assented.
Az soon as the three were out Of
sight. the Spider got In the Seabirl
and started across the bay for tAe
Waterside saloon where he was sure
he would find the superiatenAent.
Simpkins.
That John was not dead was Aoe
to q series Of condolences. whea tie
bell tilted he had slipped Into the low
er chamber Of the machine, and there
fore Into the water. Another second
or two and the bell had risee shove
him, leaving him at the mercy e q
strong lnflowinR tide which bore his
body under the wharf ard out Of
sight Of those above. Struggling feeesy
and half unconscious, he drifted along
until he came In contact with oae Of
the crosspieces which bound Together
the great wooden piles which support
ed the whnrf. Throwing his arm over
this piece he hung there gasping for
air, and In no condition to cali for heip
or make further effort to save himself
As the minutes passed, however, his
strength gradually returned. Present.
ly his attention was attracted to
all-painted bob" such ns fishermen
use to keep their bait aflOat. and which
now came drifting past him. borne
under the wharf by the tide ~ he
had been. Seeing that h~hinE line
was attached to the bob. and that
the line ran mp over the edge OF the
wharf. he seized It. gave II a series
nf jerks as he feebly called for help.
On the wharf above the youth wl,e
was holding the other end OF the line
felt the tugs and responded vigorously
as he cried ont that he had mn old
whOpper Of fish. Then as he heard
the cry from below his eyes nearly
pOy,ped from his head in his astOnish-
meat.
"Holy mackereu The fish is talk
In he screamed. Dropping his line
he went scampering across the foot
bridge. not stopping until he reached
home and mother. He threw himself
into her arms.
IT caught a whopper of Il fish and 1t
yelled for help" he painted. Becom-
ing worried Mt the persistence with
which the boy repeated his assertions.
she finally called her husband.
"Mebby the kid did hear something.
There might be someone under the
wharf. so I guess we'd hest go and
take look" was the mans response.
Under the wharf, John, minute by
minute, had been regaining MS
strength. Hearing the approach of
the man and woman who had been
brought here by the story of the boy,
he raised his voice in shout.
.'The hid was right after ALL" cried
the man, and bending over tile e0se
caught sight of the wet. upturned face
below.
"Get q rope in hurry. I'm most all
in" gasped the one in the water. and
with a word Of encouragement the
man hurried away. Almost instantly
he came hack with boats painter
o..