Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-05-04

"
let me say that this house Ia ac-
cessible only by one road, and we can
see anyone approaching by that road
for two miles. Besides, keep a sentry
in the woods who can communicate by
signal with the house. IL by any ac-
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 10 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 as If it were on
rollers, and as it withdrew from the cor
ner in which Kent stood, a smooth
rock showed itself about foot be-
meath. He jumped down upon the
rock and with his foot gave the flooring
q push and it receded about three feet,
exposing a descent to which had been
fitted rude wooden rail and steps.
Laport stepped to the edge of the
floor and looked over. He saw part of
a rough shaft which was apparently
ten or twelve feet In diameter, that
sank away obliquely in a westerly d.
rection and was very dark and repel-
liant.
Come" said Kent, "I will show you
my possessions. You had better let
me take your hand. I am familiar
with the steps"
Thus assisting and guiding Laport,
they descended carefully the rude but
solid stairway which for some distance
was very steep. At the end of twenty
feet they came to rock landing and
a new opening leading downward more
gradually at right angles to the main
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"
said Kent, lit is that by the destruc-
tion of the steps one is caught like q
rat in a trap. But you forget that
there are other exits and, besides, I
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
q sudden rise or fall In the path. As
near as Laport could Judge the second
passage was fifty feet long and only at
q 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 ref|ectors. 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 q
pitchy 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 n perpeEdic-
ular. THE dimension Of this
ROOM" said Kent, In an explana-
tory way, 'is about half an acre. It
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
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 tie rock.
Externally 1t presented the appear
ance of a mere shanty. but when Kont
opened the door, he found 1t comfort
ably carpeted and furnished and lit by
a large lamp. A table stood in the
center upon which were heaped papers
and writing material. A bookcase
filled 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
his visitor and then said: "A fairly
comforta BILE retreat, professor, and
think you will now agree with me that
it is a safe one. Here is speaking
tube and signal bell communicating
with the house above. Here is a sleep
ing room," he added, as he threw open
q side door and disclosed a narrow
apartment with q comfortable bed and
all the necessary chamber appurten-
ances "You can work out your de-
signs here without fear of interrupt
ton and be entirely safe from the vari-
ations Of the season, as this thermom-
etef will show you. But of course 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 molina
tion."
Laport sat down in a 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 anything practical seems
out of place"
well, pray dismiss all notions of
magic and illusion" replied Kent with
a smile. THE cave is the only thing
that approaches the miraculous-all
the rest is plain sailing hard work with
the assistance of science. 1t remains
for you to say, after you have made q
i~a -
it can be made tenantable for a year"
II should say at once" said Laport,
"that II you have the means at COM
mand-that it can. I know nothing
about the ventilation or salubrity of it,
and the work is so gigantic that at
first sight should say it would require
stock company with unlimited capi-
tai to effect the purpose"
81 have roughly figured the improve
ments at million dollars" said Kent,
land that of course is an economical
estimate. The money 1 have. It is
not a question of resources 1t is
question of practicability. l want
you to familiarize yourself with the
place-make yourself comfortable,
look over my 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 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 can begin to get it in- The
first thing is to make a survey for an
electric nlant and a tramxav We