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Show theory of your discovery, doctor." said Hope. "My instructions from the department are to witness a practical demonstration and to apply the customary teats. If it can pass those testa, I think there is but little doubt that the government will take steps of iJ-ieSUBriA- Dlffl tpft E.AIexaider Powell , The End of the Trail, "Fighting in Flanders, "The Road to Glory Vive la France etc. Author of 44 44 Novelized from the Motion Picture Flay of the Seme Nvne by the American Film Minuftduring Gomptny. b CwrV. ftmU. FIRST INSTALLMENT " In a' room of the huge building In Washington which bouses the state, war and nary departments, half a dozen men sat about a long mahogany table. Though they were In clrill&n dress, the fashion in which they wore their clothes and the erectness of their carriage stamped them unmistakably as men who were more at ease in uniform than in the garb of cirtl life, an"I hare here, gentlemen. nounced the chairman, selecting a letter from a pile of correspondence which lay before him, "an Interesting communication. It is from Dr. Ralph Burke, the. California" inventor the same man, yon may remember, who suggested the improvement on the Japanese shlmose powder and who perfected the condensation system which the nary is now using " "Isnt he the same man, admiral,' Interrupted one of the officers, "who purchased the hull of that old submarine at Mare island which was com demned two or three years ago? Bought It for experimental purposes didnt her "Cxsctly," was the answer. "For a number of years now Burke has been carrying on experiments in the hope of devising a system for producing oxygen from water for use in submarines. It is scarcely necessary for me to point out to you, gentlemen, that were a submarine able to draw its supply of air directly from the water, the lives of the crew would no longer depend upon the supply of compressed air or upon the boat's ability to reach the surface. Doctor Burke now writes to the secretary that he has at last succeeded in per f acting a system which is both practical and simple. He asserts that i( can be Installed in apy submarina and that one thus equipped can remain below the surface indefinitely for a month if necessary," , "Good heavens, admiral," exclaimed a grizzled officer, his professional enthusiasm overcoming his habitual reserve, "if this man Burke can do what he claims he will revolutionize naval warfare. Why not send an officer out to the coast at once to examine it? "Jarvis Hope is the man to send," said the chairman. "Son of old Commodore Hope, who lost hla life in the hurricane at Samoa, you remember. There isnt a brighter youngster in the bureau of construction. He's as good a chemist as we have in the service and he's made a special study of submarine problems." A moment later the door opened .and Lieutenant Jarvis Hoperclicklng his heels smartly together, stood rigidly at attention. "Mr. Hope," said the chairman kindly. "How would you like to take run out to the coast? I Ileve that you are already familiar with this letter from Doctor Burke. The members of the board are of the opinion that you should start immediately for California, examine Burke's invention, give it an exhaustive test, and, it you are convinced that it is practical, obtain an option on it. Bear - As he was striding briskly past a line of storea, barber shops, saloons and pool rooms, which comprise Valda-vla-s business district, he felt a hand fall suddenly on his shoulder, while a hoarse voice boomed: "Avast there, Mr. Hope. Stand by a minute and pass tha time of day with an old shipmate, wont ye?" The young officer whirled about to confront a figure so quaint, so picturesque, so redolent of the sea that he might well have stepped from the pages of "Treasure Island." The man was of such tremendous girth that he looked shorter than he really waa. Protruding from hla right coat aleeve, where hla hand should have been, was a crudely fashioned Iron hook. For a moment, Hope stared at him coldly, then the light of recognition came over hie face. "Hook Barnacle, as Im alive," he exclaimed, grasping the old single hand. "Why, Hook, I haven't seen or heard of you since you got your discharge from the old Decatur hack in If. Youve grown so fat alnce those days that l didn't know you at flraL" "You could get as fat, as a Jellyfish, Mr. Hope, sir, and Id know you anywhere. Its going on seventeen years since you Jumped overboard in Pago-Pagharbor, and yanked me out of the Jaws of thaj, shark, hut I rememsea-dog- 's , o ber it as clear as If it happened yesterday. And what brings you out to the coast, if I might make so bold's to ask, sir?" Iva been detailed to aee a man named Burke Dr. Ralph Burke an inventor. He live here In Valdavia. Ever hear of him H "Hear o Doctor Burke?" chuckled the eallor. "Why, Lord love you, eir, Ive been doing odd Jobe for the doctor ever since he and hla daughter came here to live. And when he heard that I need to be in the navy he gave me charge o' putting the engine in that old submarine hull he bought a while hack. By the Jumping Jehosaphat, Ill bet thats what brings you to Valdavia, lootenant to get the secret o the uhmarlnel" . "Hook," laughed the officer, "your deductions would do credit to Sherlock Holmes. Ive come out to have a look Into Doctor Burkes Invention, Now suppose you show 'me where he to acquire It" Tt will pass any testa that you may Impose, Mr. Hope," declared the inventor, "I did not communicate with Washington .until 1 was positive that there was no chance for failure. The purchase of my discovery by the government means more to me than you perhaps imagine. It means comfort for me, Mr. Hope, in my declining years; it means leisure in which to conduct research work; it means food and clothes and education for my daughter Cleo. "What did you do for workmen?" inquired Hope interestedly.. "Where did you find men who had sufficient engineering ' knowledge?" Tn that respect I have Been forMy chief tunate," waa the answer. assistant, and the one on whom I have placed the most reliance, la a named Barnacle the same, in fact, who brought yon here. Then I have a young Jap-- " anese named Satsuma. He came to me and asked for work and he haa proved of a great assistance. Like so many of hla race, he la an extremely clever mechanic." "A Japanese, yon say?" said Hope quickly. "Isnt it a little unwise to let a foreigner become familiar with the detaila of your invention?" "I fancy that Satsuma is quits harmless," said the inventor lightly, "hut I have nevertheless made certain that he haa had no opportunity to observe the workings of my Invention. In fact, even were he able to obtain a drawing of the apparatus it would be quite useless to him unless he could also obtain the formal and that la well guarded. "I trust," said Hope gravely, "that you will continue to keep it well guarded. There la more than one foreign government that would pay handsomely for your aecret" "That I have already learned." said Doctor Burke. "Curiously enough, I waa approached only yesterday by a man named Mahlln, who represented himself as the agent of a foreign government, though which one he refused to say. He did say, however, that tf 1 would give him a demonstration of my discovery and It stood certain "Dear It waa dated Wellington. a ran: Through tt Montgomery, friend who is employed In a confidential capacity In one of the government departments, I have Just learned something that may be of interest to Dr. you. An elderly chemist named CaL, at Valdavia, Ralph Burke, living haa perfected an apparatus which will enable a submarine to remain under water indefinitely. I have not been able to learn the details of Burkes Invention, 'but I understand that the navy department is so interested that a naval Instructor, Lieut. Jarvis Hope, has been sent to the coast to examine It Hope left Washington three days ago, so, if the matter interests you. quick action will be necessary. With best wishes, sincerely yours. Whitman Davis." Ralph Burke," said - Montgomery reminiscently, evidently putting his thoughts Into words. Tt's close on fifteen yeans since I've seen him y . why, little Cleo must be almost' a I wonder If she woman now looks like her mother . .' ." Stepping across to a small safe, set in the wall, he gave the combination a few rapid turns and the steel door swung open. Opening one of the drawers. Montgomery drew out a large, square envelope of blue linen. "I wonder If I did right by Cieo, he mused aloud, staring at the envelope with unseeing eyes. was he in meditation that he was quite oblivious to the fact that the door leading to the outer office had opened and that a young man, his footfalls deadened by the thickness of the carpet, had entered and stood beside him. "Who's Cleo, Uncle Calvin?" he exclaimed. "I didnt hear yon come in. I must have been talking to myself," he added. apologetically. Restoring the sealed envelope to the drawer from which he had taken It, he swung shut the door of the safe but failed to lock 1L Returning to his desk, he picked up theletter fromWashington. "Here'll a letter, Gerald, which I have Just received from Davis the man who keeps me Informed of what is going on in Washington, you know. Just gjiance overjt, will you, while I get a glass of water. Im feeling a must be the heat" little dizzy. no sooner closed beThe door had hind his ' uncle than Gerald ' Morton darted silently across the room, swung tests that he was authorised to pur- open the door of the safe, and chase it on my own terms." snatched out the blue envelope. "Not "And you refused?" to be opened until my death. Calvin "I did," was the answer, "and God Montgomery," he reaid. aloud. "Now knows, Mr. Hope, 1 need the money. I wonder what the devil is in that?" You are not aware, perhaps, that L he muttered, examining the seals: "It one-arme- So-los- ... y As Hook swung open the creaking gate a young girl suddenly darted around the corner of the house and then, catching sight of Hope, stopped dead, like a startled fawn. She was a very beautiful girl Indeed: straight and slender as a boy, with a skin like creamy satin and a great crown of ruddy hair which turned to molten gold when the aun struck upon It. So lovely was she that Hope stood "Loo-tenan- t, r -- -- -and n chug-chuggin- g ' Had one stepped from the elevator of the Flatiron building in New York, at the sixteenth floor, he would hare found himself facing a door bearing. In neat, lettering. Uie words "international Supply" company! Calvin Montgomery. Pres." -- If the ruler of a black republic wanted to pick up a gunboat or a destroyer at a bargain, he set an agent to Calvin Montgomery. He made tt his business to keep Informed of everything pertaining to warfare on land or sea. and he let tt be known that he paid liberally for itor through a hug pair of horn- such Information. Information of this rimmed spectacles. sort 'was contained in the letter which "I am thoroughly familiar with the he was reading with such absorption. -- . v in A v 4 1 V TV; : S A CvfK Cll R ' i J) v s , A J! Jf e - . y V - t- V'A:- - ; I i .;WA '$ You Have Convinced Me Absolutely . ' private wharf the following morning, he found that the Inventor and his daughter had arrived before him. "Are all here. Hook?" asked the doctor. "All but Satsuma, zlr," answered the seaman, touching his cap. "I left him at work oiling the engines, but he's You cant trust a Jap, disappeared. anyway. That reminds me o something. doctor. Yon member that feller that come to see you the other day? Mah-li-a was bis name, wasn't it?" dark-skinne- d, furrfn-lookin- g "Yes." Well,1 when I was goln down to the 1 saw him talking to wharf last sight, O. . ' of the Efficiency of Yeur Invention." Satsuma in front o that empty house . Within throe minutes after Burke had returned to the forward compartr on the beach. They was together, an the minute they saw me ment, a subtle suggestion of freshness ' they went inside. Prsps the Japs got another berth." "No matter," said the inventor impatiently, we can get along without him. If everything is ready we will go aboard." "I have not confined tirely to my remarked Bnrke, his guest through the hole in the deck which the boat's interior. "I have utilized my spare moments in perfecting one or two other devices for use on submarines which may also interest you. This arrangement ' for automatically opening and closing the hatchway Is one of them." As he spoke he indicated a lever connected with steel rods which ran up to the hinged cover of the hatch through which they had just descended. "Very interesting, doctor," assented Hope, again become the trained naval officer, quick, intelligent, alert "Very interesting indeed. But it is your oxygen apparatus that interests me oxygen-producin- g stole through the submarine; in five minutes the atmosphere was as fresh and wholesome as though they were in the open air. I apologize fronTthe bottom of my heart, doctor," said Hope, seizing the my efforts en- old Inventors hand, "for what I said a few moments ago. Yon hare conas he followed vinced me absolutely of the efficiency circular man- of your Invention, though you nearly gave access to suffocated ns at first It is scarcely sys-tem- ," most - , r J uu , t Fago-Fago.- " "' ' d house. dream come true. Ill tell him that you are here." The room Into which she led' Hope was stacked from floor to ceSing with hooka-..- . As .ha wa Idly, turning, over on chemistry the pages of S' treatise the door opened ' to admit Doctor Burke. The inventor waa a small, wiry, nervous man. whose quick, excitable,' gestures plainly showed the strain under which he had been working. "Ton are very welcome, Mr. Hope." said thp old man, peering at his vis- f m man-o-warsm- staring at her; stared until a rosy wave of confusion swept over her from brow to bosom. " "Miss Cleo, permit me to introduce Lootenant Hope." said Hook. this la Misa Cleo Burke, Doctor Burke's daughter. Youve hearn Under the WelQht of Water the Submarine Wae Going Down. me tell o the lootenant before. Miss Cleo, an how he aaved my life in too, was ofcce in the service of the certainly gave the old gentleman a United States. As a young man I Jolt when I him looking at it "Not the Mr. Hope who dove into was with Farragut at New Orleans I And who on caught earth ia Cleo?" At that the harbor and saved you from the still carry in my shoulder a fragment Instant Bounded outside the shark ?" she exclaimed breathlessly, of a Confederate shell and I helped door. footsteps the Realizing Impossibility of open admiration In her eyes. "Hook Ericsson to build the Monitor.' So, it on his person, Morton has told ua that story a hundred times, even though it entails a financial sac- concealing hastily returned the envelope to ita Mr. Hope. Why, it was quite the rifice, I want my own country to have drawer and closed the safe. Had Cab bravest thing I have ever heard of." the first chance at my invention." Tin . Montgomery observed his nephew BeUefemei Miss Burkei5r"said That sentiment certainly does you more closely, he would have noticed Hope, embarrassed in his turn. "I did credit, sir," said Hope., "I trust, both that his hands were shaking. nothing that any man would not have for your sake and for the countrys "If this invention of Burkes is what done in my place. Hook greatly over- that your ambition may be realized. Davis says it is. " he said, "we rates my services to him. It would Now the question is, when, can 1 have must get hold ofGerald, Yon must go to lt never do to let as good a teaman at a demonstration under sea cond- him and Investigate it." Hook become - breakfast - food for itions?"''"" "But suppose he wont give us the fishes." Tomorrow morning," was the option. Uncle Calvin asked Morton. "You you havent come to see my prompt answer. "Suppose he has already promised it fathere Invention, have you? You Admirable,1 said Hope. I ahall be to the government? ..What shall I do? havent come in answer to hla letter ready and expectant And please "If he refuses," said Montgomery to the secretary of the navy?" tell your daughter that I anticipate slowly, give him this message." TakThat la precisely why I have come, the pleasure of seeing her again be- ing a card from his case, be wrote a Misa Burke," said Hope. "In order to fore I return to Washington. - few lines on it, and handed It to his see it 1 have traveled three thousand "You will see Cleo in the morning" nephew. This is what the young man miles." said the inventor. "She has made mq read: "Dear Ralph I once gave "Oh. Mr. Hope," she said anxiously promise to take her along on the trial something that I Talued as much you T pray with all my heart that the trip of the submarine, and I couldnt yon Talue the secret of the submarine.as government will take itr It has been well refuse. She is as Tttally inter- Now Is your chance to repay me. The Two Locked Forms Swayed Madly my fathers life work. Ita acceptance ested in the success of the invention Calvin." ' - - v ' will mean so very- much to him to as I am." About the Little Cabin. In mindTMr. Hope, aaTuuis invention can do what Burke claims for it, it will give to the nation .which holds the secret, control of the seas 'the day Is coming when . our. national existence man depend upon our possessing such a secret." When, six days later, the accommo-natiotrain, w;hich meets the Overland Limited at Suisun Junction, came Into Valdavia, Jarvis Hope swung on to the station plat-- form and tossed his bags to the driver of the bus of the local hotel. After a bath, a shave, and a leisurely luncheon. Hope set out on foot for Hi eottage occupied by Doctor Burke. - ; ... At the very edge of the town, where the street became a country road, stood a weatherbeaten frame - yI i . V 5 Uvea." two-stor- . Cn 0 'This way, then," said Burke, opening the door which gave access to the after compartment of the submarine. Had Hope and Geo been less engrossed in Doctor Burke's explanation of his apparatus, they would have been startled by the peculiar behavior of the cushioned top of the locker which was built against the side of the room. Apparently of Its own volition, the hinged. top of the locker began to slowly rise; so imperceptibly at the first that one might have at; trlbuted it to the motion of the boat! then higher, still higher, until through the narrow opening thus formed appeared a human face a yellow face, with slanting, cruel, eyes. 'Are we submerged yet?" asked Geo. Her question was answered by Hook, who at that moment entered from the navigating compartment. We have begun to submerge, sir," he reported, saluting. said -- the inventor "Very good, Tell the navigator to keep briefly. her at fifty feet until further orders." A moment later the cover of the lockqp was suddenly thrown up and from the coffinlike space beneath slipped the missing Japanese, Satsuma. It was obvious that this man was no stranger to the higher forms of science and that he understood, in principle, at least, what each of the switches, dials and wires composing Burkes apparatus was for. But it .was evident that the governing principle, for which this complicated mechanism was but a medium, eluded Mm ' - For stx bourtthsubmarlnehad been under water. The air. Its oxygen drained by a dozen, pairs of lungs, had gradually become so vitiated that the breathing of all on board had become labored and difficult - necessary for me to say that I shall wire to the department tonight, strongly urging that it be purchased bylhs government." "Thank yon, Mr. Hope," said the inventor, huskily, a suspicious mols-ture hi his ayes.- -' Tt looks as though my struggles were at an end." Entering the rear compartment a moment later, Burke stood transfixed with utter astonishment For at the switchboard, his hand on one of ths switches which controlled the sir car rent stood Satsuma. What the devil are you doing her Satsuma? shouted the inventor wrath-full"What have you Just done to y. that machine?. - As Burke, carried away with anger, advanced menacingly, Satsuma's hand went toward his hip pocket Burke, realizing the significance of the movement instantly grappled with him. With a sudden twist Satsuma threw Burke, the old man falling heavily. At that moment Hope launched himself against tire Japanese as, in his Annapolis days, he had tackled the West Point quarterback. For a few brief moments the two locked forms swayed madly about the little cabin, overturning the table and chairs and threatening each Instant to wreck ths mechanism of Burkes Invention. Gradually working his right hand free. succeeded In reaching his hip pocket His fingers closed about the stock of an automatic. There was a deafening explosion, followed almost Instantly by a shower of sparks from the nest of wires above the apparatus. The stream of bubbles in the tank abruptly ceased and the little compartment was filled with acrid fumes. My God, groaned Burke, crouching on the floor where he had been thrown. "Hes smashed the transformer!" Ths bullet which had been Intended for Hope had missed him by a hairs breadth and had burled itself amid the mechanism. At the same instant Satsuma, like all Japanese, an adept in the art of wrestling, slipped from the officers grasp and leaped through the door of the navigating room. A seaman attempted to fell him with a spanner, but the Orientals pistol Sat-sum- oxygen-producin- . -- a g cracked sharply' and the ma.nrspa" ning completely aronnd, crumpled I a heap. Another man who rushed forward fell with a bullet through Keeping the remainder of the crew- - covered - with his smokinff "Isnt it about time to demonstrate pistol, Satsuma threw over the handle rudyour invention, doctor?" asked Hope. which controlled the horizontal ders and the sudden inclination of the Tt's getting pretty close in here." Not yet" said Burke, who was floor showed that the boat had rapidly seated at the little table in the for- begun to rise. A moment later a ward compartment immersed in an of sunlight entered through the con abstruse calculation. Theres no hur- ning tower. The submarine was run ry. You havent said much, lieuten- ning awash. Jerking down the erer ant but I know that youre skeptical. Fhich automatically opened ths hatch-waI wish to wait until I can make Satsuma sprang up the ladder my and dived into the sea. demonstration so convincing that yon An Instant later a wave, breaking wijl have no skepticism Jett." subTwenty mlnntea later Hook entered. over the unprotected deck of the hatchway the marine, "Dont you think youd better poured through give us into the a little air, doctor?" he Inquired compartment below. -- After. anx- -' came another. Geo screamed byTA'bQ ..boys in,..tb,e.ejiglT.yri.7y' ...9? ore complaining that they cant "Its all right. Miss Burke!" shouted' breathe." Yet" said the Inventor, absent-Y- - Hope. "Dont be frightened! I'll doss , the hatch".. .. ...... Tell them not to worrj,-..- i as he was, to the tTP Burk" asped Hope of Accustomed, .hatch. In use In the navy, and, h roughly, staggering across the room. the excitement of the moment entireThis nonsense has gone automate quite long enough. Look at your daughter there ly forgetting the inventors -t-he poor child is closing device, Hope sprang up the suffocating, if you ladder and to frantically endeavored it Tour apparatus to bolt working and down the hatch cover and give us some air. in take com- pull In place. But a solid column of water. mand myself, rise to the surfacl the and telegraph to Washington that your in- Pouring through the aperture with him knocked force of a battering ram, and tellt T0U 4r fraud!" from the ladder, bruised and haJ drowned. Under the weight of the 8&id the inventor, ris1:. Tl ing. Im going to make you retract ter, it had shipped, the submarine . gotog down! those words." '( his-shoul- rf -- 1 y, , - -- END OF CHAPTER ON'S' i 3 |