Evening star., 1894-03-24

coldness spring up between us at this time
because we don't think alike"
I'VE do think alike" replied Calicot
''and, allowing for differences of tempera-
ment, we suffer alike"
The two men sat down on the bench in
front of their quarters. Nearly everybody
was in the rotunda or south of it, Save
the men stationed as guard at the portal
and the workmen in the machine shop,
there was nobody to be seen. The railway
trucks were all at the other end of the
Laran. Hendricks and his captains had
| their hands full at the military headQuar-
terS half a mile away
Have you anything to tell me?' asked
stocking, despairingly. II shall lose my
reason in this place in another week.
Il have been waiting for some time to tell
you great DEAL" replied Calicot, ''but l
was afraid of your impetuosity and indis-
cretion."
Ing, ruefully. Il feel like man in a trance.
II l do not get out of this tomb 1 shall
perish of general paralysis"
l propose to get you out" remarked Cali
cot, calmly.
Stocking smiled somewhat grmly. 81
suppose the same conditions are breaking
down your mind also" said he. GO on
insanity is at least diversion"
The conditions have not disturbed, they
have only concentrated my faculties re-
piled Calicot "and circumstances have aided
me in an almost supernatural manner. 1
have been able to penetrate Hendricks de-
signs beyond this stronghold. You will see
that this is not a diseased fancy when I ex-
plain to you In the first place he has a
wire underground to some other rendez-
VouS that is in communication with the
world. Mrs. Hendricks and Fenning are at
that place. wherever it is. But the import
ant thing is that 1 have been able to read
their dispatches"
Have you, indeed?" remarked Stocking
Hendricks has taken you into his full
confidence, then"
NO, But you forget Miss Endicott"
And you depend upon her ravings?'
Not at all. Events have corroborated
her day by day"
What have you learned?"
This: that Hendricks co-conspirators
nave an army scattered through the coun-
try ready to be massed at any moment 1t
Is directed from this safe retreat; a cam
palgn OF destruction is going on it is
sweeping into its vortex all the mad ele-
ments OF our times. and the conceiving
brain of it is hidden away safely: The vic
timlzed world cannot imagine, much less
accept as fact, the prodigious audacity
upon which the whole scheme is built and
VIII not accept the conSummate and incred-
lble machinery of which we are witnesses
Hendricks has captured a United States
Sunboat off the bayou because the COM
mander or the boat could not get it into his
head that sufficient force was organized
10 drop upon him from both sides of the
river. The government arsenal at Leaven-
worth has been robbed because the govern
iheht would not believe that there was
at thls moment a large body of United
states troops concentrating in Upton coun-
", out the move has been foreseen and cal
cuiated by Hendricks and it takes place as
II ne We're directing it. These men will be
ANIMATED over our heads and we shall not
hear a sound"
Yes" said Stocking, with more bitter
ness than amazement, .'he Is prescient and
nVlnclble-tn your mind"
"On the con trary" replied Calicot "he
Is human, falliDle and vulnerable. 1t has
cost me many Sleepless nights to find If
OUT put have found it out, ami with that
khoWledSe Will free you and Miss Frank
lin If you will follow my directions uI.uues-
tioningly."
Il am afraid" said Stocking, who was
regarding MN with something like pity,
that you have worked yourself into q
morbid condition of mind. # YOUR scheme
were reasonable, why not appeal TO my rea-
son instead of my faith?"
Because" replied Calicot, 1T is reason
which Is working all this mischief, and
talth alone can circumvent It. don't want
TO argue that with you now l want your
cooperation to demonstrate il, and he
lieve me, when it is demon stratad YOU will
be the first to acknowledge its truth and
efficacy. One other pont-this man Fen
nlnS intends, with Hendricks assistance
to get possession of Miss Franklin. They
are only waiting for favorable opportun-
ity to send her away. At any moment she
may disappear forever. so far as Won and
L are concerned. She is breaking down With
,he appieIelSlon 10 save her, at least,
L count upon your faith. II il were merely
a matter of bravery 1 would not have TO
ask you"
Stocking was evidently touched you
are thinking" he said, "oniy of Miss
Franklin and me. Will you lot free your
| self?'' '-
Calicot hesitated a moment His face
| looked white and hard to Stocking Yes"
| he replied, Il will be free but IL depends
| on your implicitly following my direc-
| tions."
| There was moments silence. The two
| men looked ct each other
Il wish" said Stocking, that you would
| tel me frankly what is in your mind"
But he had placed his hand i'm that of
| his friend.
All Calicot said was: II will write il all
| down carefully for you.'
| CTo be continued)