The Globe-republican., 1894-09-07
CHAPTER V.-COSTINrED.
[CoPYR1GET. 1894 ]

[CoPYRIGET. 1894
CHAPTER V-CoSrINrED
For the first time it flashed over La
ports mind that he was listening 20 z
mOnOmaniac: one of those restless and
harmless characters who conceive pro-
digious schemes and make fabulous in
vestments with no other capital than
their disOrdered imaginations Kent
Guessed what was passing in his mind
for he said:
81 see the suddenness and largeness
of my schemes have disturbed Your
confidence. Two or three days of in
vestiGation will restore it. We can
talk farther of the matter after we are
better acquainted. Before show YOU
she underground laboratory, let me
explain to You the typographical Pc
'culiarities of the country"
AS he said this he picked up a map
and, moving his chair closer to La
ports, spread out the paper on the
table. There" he said, Indicating a
point on the map with a pencil, sis
about where we are. This original
map is sketch-plan of the subter-
ranean domain as near as have been
able to survey it. estimate the south
western extension of the cave to be
about eighteen miles in length. There
is another hidden entrance at that ex-
treme limit, but it needs little exca-
waiting to be of practical use. Intend
to purchase that land also and erect
house over it. That entrance, or to
speak more correctly, that exit, is
within four miles Of the great Wash
bayou on the Mississippi The coun-
try is such that a hard road can be
easily made. The bayou is one of the
deepest and widest on the river. A
aaternwheel boat can land her supplies
there entirely hidden from the river
with little difficulty. The nearest
house is eighteen miles distant. The
transportation overland is not much
of q problem. but the eighteen miles
underground needs an engineers skill
That is where want an electric rail-
way. You will see the necessity of
that when you examine the place, for
it is the northeastern end of the cave
that can best be fitted up for habita-
ton and workshops.
''The difficulties to be overcome, as
you will readily understand, are
physical difficulties and involve light
ing, ventilation, transit and defense.
My idea is that the subterranean do
main offers q magnificent field for the
abode of an army of mechanics and
soldiers"
Laport was amazed. Would it be
Impairment" he asked, ''if 1 inquired
what you are going to do with the
soldiers?"
Not at ALL" replied Kent. "But it
would be better perhaps if you were
kept in ignorance of my ultimate plans
or at least not made acquainted with
them until you had grown to under
stand their possibility. In case you
did not approve of them, it would be
better not to be implicated in them.
Let me ask you one questionable you
not offer to the government gun con-
,structed on a novel plan?"
Eyes, l did," replied Laport.
And the government rejected ito"
THE government laughed at it, and
Z spent months and all my money try
ing to lobby through an appropriation
to get it tested
"When was that?"
1T is eight years ago."
Very good" said Kent. 81 should
like to have q talk with you about that
gun later on. The first thing to do is
to give you sense of security and to
do that l shall have to show you my
hidden retreat. Before we 60 down,
let me say that this house is &C
.ces:ible only by one road, and we can
sec anyone approaching by that road
for two miles. Besides, keep sentry
in the woods who can communicate by
signal with the house. If by any &C
cident an officer or detective should
get into the other apartment, you
have ample time to disappear. Let
me show YOU"
Here Kent got up and going to the
corner of the room, leaned with his
hands upon the wall and pushed vigor-
ously with his feet upon the floor
which instantly moved rs if it were on
rollers. and as it withdrew from the cor
ner in which Kent stood. . smooth
rock showed itself about q foot be-
meath. He jumped down upon the
rock and with his foot gave the flooring
push and it receded about three feet,
exposing descent to which had been
lifted rude wooden rail and steps
Laport stepped to the edge of the
Moor and looked over. He saw part of
. rough shaft which was apparently
ten or twelve feet in diameter, that
sank away obliquely in . westerly d.
lrectaon and was very dark and repel-
liant
Come" said Kent, 81 win show you
~ possessiooa You had better let