Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-03

In the Cavern.
Here Keat got up ana going to the cor
nee VI the room leaned VITA his hands
upon the wall AMI pISned vigorously with
hiS Ieet upon the nuor, wn-cn Instantly
moved as we're GA ronS.s, duI iS A.
W4tn0reW fiom the corner in which kelt
stood a smoolu rvCk showed itself about a
foot beneath he jumped down upon the
roek, ana with has foot gave the noorlng a
push ana II recedei aDout three Ieet, ex-
posing descent 10 winch had been nttsd
At ruue wooden rail and steps.
Laport stepped to the euse of the floor
ana looked over. he part OF a rough
smart. which was apparently ten or twelve
feet IN diameter, that SANK away obliquely
In westerly direction and was very dark
ana repeilant.
Come said Kent. Il will show you my
possessions You had better let me take
your hand. l am familiar with the steps"
Thus assisting and guiding Laport, they
descended carefully the rude but solid stair
way, which for some distance was very
steep. At the end OF twenty feet they
came to rock landing and new opening
leading downward more gradually at right
angles to the main shaft. Laport saw that
the entire passage was natural rift or
chasm. He turned at the landing and
looked back at the stairway dimly seen in
the darkness stretching up above them.
Il know what you are thinking Of" said
Kent. 1t IS thar by the destruction of the
steps one is caught ike rat In trap.
But you forget that there are other exits.
and. besides. have bored into the stratum
above with an artesian drill and know
where ii is thinnest. Let us go down..
light shone in the distance, and its
reflection enabled Laport to descend with
out further difficulty. In places the natural
slant OF the rock needed no steps. At others
Kent warned him of a sudden rise or fail
in the path. AS near as Laport could judge
the second passage was fifty feet long and
only at few points wide enough to pass
nh or fl.ap .a1s tasr lx~t
OF the declivity, he found himself in aa
enormous stone room or arena, that was lit
In part by two or three powerful lamps
and refiectors AS accurately as he could
determine with his eye. the roof rock was
eighty or a hundred feet high where it was
lit by the reflected lights. beyond which
was pitchy gloom. The walls of this ro-
tunda were uneven and slanted away at
different angles, that portion through whose
assure they had come being the nea -est to
perpendicular. THE dimension of this
room said Kent, in an explanatory way
lis about half an acre. 1t leads by a sort
OF corridor fifty feet wide and 200 feet
long. to much large opening. This at
present Is my workshop"
As his eyes became familiar with the
light Laport saw figures moving about
and he thought he heard the sound of
hammers. There are six worxmen"
said Kent They have been fitting up the
show you your rooms
They crossed the area. their figures max
ing shifting and fantastic shadows and
came to 4 rude wooden structure buIlt
against the side Of the rock Externally
1t presented the appearance of a mere
shanty. but when ker. opened the door ne
found 1t comfortably carpeted and furnish
ed and lit by large lamp. A table stood
In the center, upon which were heaped ia
pers and writing material. A book case
filled with books, q handsome filter and
water cooler and little buffet with dscan-
tiers and glasses gave the place an air OF
luxury. The wooden walls had been taste
fully papered and several pictures hung
upon them.
Kent waited to see the effect upon his
visitor and then said: "A fairly comfortable
retreat, professor, and think you will now
agree with me that it is a safe one. Here
Is speaking tube and signal bell commu-
ncating with the house above. Here is q
sleeping room,'' he added, as he threw
open a side door and disclosed a narrow
apartment with comfortable bed and all
| the necessary chamber appurtenances.
You can work out your designs here with
out fear of interruption and be entirely
safe from the variations of the season, as
this thermometer will show you. But of
course l do not expect you to spend all
your time out of the sunlight. l should ad-
wise you not to give more than half your
day to this part of the establishment I'M
less there Is danger of discovery You are
free to go and come at your inclination"
Laport sat down in comfortable chair.
81 should like to ask you few practical
questions" he said, but the fact is the
whole disclosure is so much like one of the
stories of the Arabian Nights that any,
thing practical seems out of place"
WELL pray dismiss all notions of magic
and Illusion" replied Kent with a smile
1.-The cave is the only thing that approach
eS the mraculouS-all the rest is plain sail
ing hard work with the assistance of sci
ence. 1t remains for you to say, after you
have made a thorough examination of the
place, II it can be made tenantable for a
year"
II should say at once said Laport
that If you have the means at command
that 1t can. / know nothing about the ven-
tilation or salubrity of 1t, and the work is
so gigantic that at first sight should say
it would require stock company with I'M
limited capital to effect the purpose"
Il have roughly figured the improvements
at s1.OOO,0OO," said Kent, "and that of
course Is an economical estimate. The
resources. 1t is a question of practical
bility. I want you to familiarize yourself
with the place-make yourself comfortable
look over my plans which You will find in
that portfolio there, estimate carefully just
what tools and materials you need and be
ready to talk to me more fully at the end
of fortnight Your salary will commence
from today and you can draw on me for
money when you please. The sooner you
get an accurate estimate of the material
the sooner l can begin to get Ii in. The
first thing is to make survey for an cleo
trio plant and a tramway. We must have
light and means of conveyance. 1t is i'm
possible to deliver the heavy material at
this entrance 1 am going away tomorrow
and will be back in about a week. In that
time / expect you to have formed a clear
judgment of what you can do. You are too
tired today to go over the ground, but will
introduce you to my right-hand man here,
who will be subject to your directions when
we get to work, and he will guide You in
your explorations. You will find many of
the convenences of life here. The mail is
brought once day and includes the prin-
cipal papers of the country and some of its
best periodical literature. There are sta
tionery and appliances in the rooms.
would not, IL l were you, venture far from
the house above ground alone. and remem-
Der that my name here is Hendricks and
yours is Franklin. Is there anything you
would like to say to me before l go?"
Laport hesitated a moment, and then
replied: Eyes. There is person whom
/ should like to know of my freedom 1t
is the only person on earth for whom I
have a deep affection, and who on hearing
of my escape will be tormented with anx-
iety."
And who might that person be?''
1T is my daughter
Where is she?"
In Boston,