Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-10-11

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
workmen," said Kent. They have
been fitting up the place for offices and
headquarters. Let me show you your
rooms
They crossed the area, their figures
making shifting and fantastic shad-
ows. and came to a rude wooden struc-
ture built against the side of the rock.
Externally it presented the appear
ance of a mere shanty, but when Kent
opened the door. he found it comfort
ably carpeted and furnished and lit by
large lamp. \ table stood in the
center upon which were heaped papers
and writing material. \ bookcase
filed with books, handsome filter
and water-couler and a little buffet
with decanters and glasses gave the
place an air of luxury. The wooden
walls had been tastefully 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 ne that
| it is a safe one. Here is a speaking
tube and signal bell communicating
| with the house above. Here is q Sleep
ing ROOM" he added, as he threw open
Il side door and disclosed a narrow
apartment with a comfortable bed and
all the necessary chamber appurten-
auces. You can work out your de-
signs here without fear of Interrupt
ton ant, be entirely safe from the vari-
ations of the season, as this thermom-
eter will show you. But of course 1 do
not expect you to spend all your time
out of the sunlight should advise you
not to give more than half your day to
this part of the establishment unless
there is danger of discovery. You are
free to go and come at your inc1ina-
ton
Laport sat down in a comfortable
chair 81 should like to ask you few
practical guastions,' he said. but the
fact is the whole disclosure is so much
like one of the stories of the Arabian
Nights that anything practical seems
out of place"
Well. pray dismiss all notions of
magic and Illusion" replied Kent with
smile. THE cave is the only thing
that approaches the miraculOus-au
the rest IS plain sailing hard work with
the assistance of science. 1t remains
for You to say, after you have made a
thorough examination of the place, if
it can be made tenantable for year"
Il should say at once" said Laport,
| that if YOU have the means at COM
mand-tlIat it can. | know nothing
about the ventilat ton or salubrity of it,
and the work is SO gigantic that at
first sight l should say it would require
stock company with unlimited CAPT
tai to effect the purpose"
Il have roughly figured the Improve
ments at a. million dollars said Kent.
| and that of course is an economical
estimate. The money l have. 1t is
not a question of resources. 1t is
! question of practica bility. 1 want
| you to familiarize yourself with the
place-make yourself comfortable,
| look over lay plans which you will find
in that portfolio there, estimate care
| fully Just what tools and materials you
need and be ready to talk to me more
fully at the end of n fortnight. Your
| salary will commence from TO-DAY and
you can draw on me for money when
| you please. The sooner you get an ac-
curate estimate of the material, the
sooner 1 can begin to get it in. The
| first thing is to make a survey for an
electric plant and tramway. We
must have light and means of convey
ance. 1t is impossible to deliver the
heavy material at this entrance. l am
! going away tomorrow and will be
back in about a week. In that time l
expect you to have formed clear
Judgment of what you can do. 1ou are
too tired to-day to go over the ground,
but | will introduce yon 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 eXplora-
! tionS. | shall be gone one or two weeks.
| You will find many of the cOnvenienceS
| of life here. The mail is brought once
day and includes the principal pa
pers of the country and some of it's
best periodical literature. There are
stationery and appliances in the
rooms. l would not, if l were you,
venture far from the house above
| ground alone, and remember that my
name here is Hendricks and yours is
Franklin. Is there anything you
would like to say to me before l go?"
Laport hesitate6 moment, and then
replied: Yes. There is one person
whom l should like to know of my
freedom. 1t is the only person on
earth for whom l have a deep affec-
| ton. and who on hearing of my escape
! Will be tormented with anxiety
| And who might that person be?'
ut is my daughter"
''Where is she?"
SIN Boston"
| you want to communicate with
! hero
81 should like to set her mind at rest
| in some way. even if I cannot see her.
! Il need not tell YOU" said Hen
bricks. that communication with her
is exactly what the detectives who are
searching for you expect. They have
already put watch upon her; know
| all her actions and follow every one
who calls upon her. Her mails are
| even intercepted. No, no. Not at
present. BY and by when the scent is
! cold, we can get word to her, and
when we have proper accommodations,
you can have her with you if you like,
! but not now"
CHAPTER VI,
The next morning there arrived at
! the house very early a dark-visaged,
Northumberland and somewhat
rc..gh-lcolling parsonage, whom Hen
| bricks called 1.-The captain" They ate
their breakfast together and then set