The Globe-republican., 1894-09-07
mo take your hand. I an familiar
with the steps,"

L
they descended carefully the rude bu
solid stairway which for some distance
was very steep. At the end Of twenty
feet they came to q rock landing and
a new opening leading downward more
gradually at right angles to the mair
shaft. Laport saw that the entire pas
sage was a natural rift or chasm. He
turned at the landing and looked back
at the stairway dimly seen in the dark
ness stretching up above them.
81 know what you are thinking of, y
said Kent. lit is that by the destruc-
ton of the steps one is caught like a
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
it is thinnest. Let us go down."
A light shone in the distance. and its
reflection enabled Laport to descend
without further difficulty. In places the
natural slant Of the rock needed no
steps At others Kent warned him of
a sudden rise or fall 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 two
men abreast. On reaching the bottom
of the declivity, he found himself in
an enormous stone room or arena, that
was lit in part by two or three power
full lamps and ref1ectors. AS accurately
as he could determine with his eye,
the roof rock was eighty or hundred
feet high where it was lit by the
reflected lights, beyond which was a
pitc,y gloom. The walls of this
rotunda were uneven and slanted
away at different angles. that portion
through whose fissure they had come
being the nearest to a perpendic-
ular. 1.-The dimension of this
ROOM" said Kent. in an explana-
tory way. sis about half an acre. 1t
leads by sort of corridor. fifty feet
wide and two hundred feet long, to
much larger 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
said Kent. They have
been fitting up the place for offices and
Let me show you your
They crossed the area, their figures
shifting and fantastic shad-
Dws, and came to a rude wooden struc-
ture built against the side of the rock.
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. A table stood in the
center upon which were heaped papers
and writing material. A bookcase
filed with books, handsome filter
and water-cooler 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
MS visitor and then said: "a fairly
retreat, professor, and
,hink you will now agree with me that
t is safe one. Here is a speaking
lube and signal bell communicating
With the house above. Here is q sleep
! side door and disclosed narrow
lpartment with comfortable bed and
III the necessary chamber appurten-
lnces. "You can work out your de-
igns here without fear of Interrupt
ion and be entirely safe from the vari
ltions of the season, as this thermom-
ter will show you. But of course do :
lot expect you to spend all your time
nut of the sunlight. Ishould advise you
lot to give more than half your day to !
his part of the establishment unless
here is danger of discovery. You are |
rec to go and come at your inclina-
ion."
Laport sat down in comfortable
hair. 81 should like to ask you few
questions" he said, but the |
act is the whole disclosure is SO much
Ike one of the stories of the Arabian
lights that anything practical seems
ut of place."
well, pray dismiss all notions of
magic and illusion. replied Kent with
smile. 1.-THE cave is the only thing
hat approaches the miraculous-all |
he rest is plain sailing hard work with
he assistance of science. 1t remains
or you to say, after you have made a
borough examination of the place, if
can be made tenantable for a year"
II should say at once" said Laport,
that if you have the means at COM
it can. I know nothing
bout the ventilation or salubrity of it,
nd the work is so gigantic that at
rst sight should say it would require
stock company with unlimited CAPT.
al to effect the purpose.
81 have roughly figured the improve
,ents at a million dollars" said Kent,
and that of course is an economical
stimate. The money l have. It is
ot question of resources. It is
question of practicability. I want
GU to familiarize yourself with the
lace-make yourself comfortable,
ook over my plans which you will find
n that portfolio there, estimate care
ully just what tools and materials you
eed and be ready to talk to me more
NJ of