Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-08-28
EPISODE 10
THE FLAMING SACRIFICE

John Davis, lured into the diving
bell by the hireling superintendent of
Morgan, found the cOntrivunce in
which he was confined being lowered
to the depths of the bay. Soon be-
coming aware of the fact that he was
rapidly being asphyxiated in the small
iron chamber. and with no way of es.
cape possible, he seized a hammer and
knocking off a valve leading to Il 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 a revolver
and compelled II nearby workman to
raise the bell by means of its hosting
machinery. As the pOnierous affair
came up, its lip struck Il submerged
pile. tipping it violently and causing
Johns half unconscious form to slip
through the trap which was in the
floor of the upper chamber in which
he was confined. When the bell reach
ed the top, Ethel, mounting II ladder.
opened the entrance door and looked
down into the bells interior. No one
was there. Believing that her lover
had met his death, she SwOOned and
fell back into the arms of q workman
who eased her to the wharf. AT that
moment Morgan and Bellas came run
ming up.
"We had better go back to the no.
tel" said the Hawk as the girl revived.
"That is, all of us except the Spider,
who will stay here and report to us
If he learns anything" Not knowing
any better mode of procedure. the girl
assentcd.
AS sOon as the three were out Of
sight, the Spider got in tie Scabird
and started across the bay for the
Waterside saloon where he was sure
Simpkins.
That John was not dead was due
to a series Of condolences. When the
bell tilted he had slipped into the low
err chamber of the machine, and there
fore into the water. Another second
or two and the bell had risen above
him. leaving him at the mercy Of a
,trOng intlowing tide which bore his
body under the wharf and out Of
sight of those above. Struggling feebly
mud half rtnsprsrinrs ln I1pifinI nInpO
until he came in contact with n Of
the c%rosspieces which bound together
the great wooden piles which support
ed the wharf. Throwing his arm owe
this piece he hung there gasping for
air, and In 10 condition to call for help
or make further effort to save himself.
As the minutes passed, however. his
strength gradually returned. Present
ly his attention M attracted to a
small-painted 'bob" such as fishermen
use to keep their bait a1oat, and which
now came drifting past him, borne
under the wharf by the tide rs he
had been. Seeing \that a fishing line
was attached to the bob, and that
the line ran up owe the edge of the
wharf, he seized 1t, gave It a series
of jerks as he feebly called for help.
On the wharf above the youth who
was holding the other end Of the line,
felt the tugs and responded vigorously
as he cried out that he had nm old
whopper of a fish. Then as he heard
the cry from below his eyes nearly
popped from his head in his astonish-
ment.
"HOly mackerel! 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.
81 caught a whopper Of a fish and 1t
yelled for help" he painted. Becom-
ing worried at the persistence with
which the boy repeated his assertions.
she finally called her husband.
"Mebby the kid did hear something.
There might be under the
wharf, so I guess we'd best go and
take a look" was the mans response.
Under the wharf, John, minute by
minute, had been regaining his
strength. Hearing the approach Of
the man and who had been
brought here by the story Of the boy,
he raised his voice In a shout.
"The kid was right after ALL" cried
the man, and bending over the edge
caught sight Of the wet, upturned face
below.
"Get a rope In a hurry. I'm most all
In" gasped the one in the water, and
with q word Of encouragement the
man hurried away. Almost instantly
he came back with a boats painter,
and making II loop in it lowered 1t to
the half drowned II who promptly
slid 1t Over his shoulders. Then with
the three who stood above hauled
upon the line, the man whom they
were r~escuing giving them what little
aid he could.
"You must come over to our house
and get some dry clothes" said the
woman alphabetically, and the res
cued one thankfully accepted the Of
fer. At their cottage he was quickly
provided with one Of the mans suits,
a half seaman's rig with boots and
cap. Wholly comfortable once more.
he ate n little food and felt himself
fully restored. The man, who proved
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