The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-10-16
EPISODE 10
THE FLAMING SACRIFICE

John Davis, 1ured into the diving
bell by the hireling superintendent of
Morgan, found the continuance 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, ne seized hammer and
knocking off valve leading to tube
which communicated with the dock
above, shouted several times for help.
Receiving no response he sank ex-
hausted upo5 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 nearby workman to
raise the bell by means of it's hosting
machinery. AS the ponderous affair
came UP, It's lip struck a 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 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 workman
who eased her to the wharf. At that
moment Morgan and Bellas came run
ming up.
"We had better go back to the he
tel" said the Hawk as the girl revived.
THAT is, all of us except the Spider,
who will stay here and report to us
IL he learns anything" Not knowing
any better mode of procedure, the girl
asSented.
AS soon as the three were out of
sight, the Spider got in the Seabird
and started across the bay for the
Waterside saloon where he was sure
he would find the superintendent,
Sin1pkins.
That John was not dead was due
10 series of condolences. When the
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 risen above
him, leaving him at the mercy of a
strong infi0wing tide which bore his
body under the wharf and out OF
sight OF those above. Struggling feebly
and half unconscious, he drifted along
H. IN nj <lf
the cr0sSpieces which bound together
the great wooden piles which support
ed the wharf. Throwing his arm over
this piece he hung there gasping for
air, and In no condition to call for help
or make further effort to save himself.
AS the minutes passed, however, his
strength gradually returned. Present
Is his attention was attracted to a
sn,allpainted ''bob" such as fishermen
use to keep their bait afioat, and which
now came drifting past him, borne
under the wharf by the tide as he
had been. Seeing that a fishing line
was attached to the bob, and that
the line ran up over the edge of the
wharf, he seized it, 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 an old
whopper of a fish. Then as he heard
the cry from below his eyes nearly
popped from his head in his astonish-
menf.
"Holy mackerel! The fish is talk
m" he screamed. Dropping his line
ne went scampering across the foot
bridge, not stopping until he reached
home and mother. He threw himself
into her arms.
81 caught whopper of fish and it
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 someone under the
wharf, so / 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 woman 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 rope in a 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 canS back with boats painter,