Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-03


traveller got out stamped his feet as if he
was cramped by long riding, gave the negro
| a two-dolar bill, and began climbing the
| rocky bank
1t was Laport.
He sat down on the doorstep of the house
somewhat winded by the climb and looked
about him. The prospect to the east and
| north was open, revealing what appeared
| to be a desolate wilderness OF rocks and
, forests, with here and there the blue peaks
| of the distant mountains showing between.
| While he sat there the door opened a man
whom ne did not recognize appeared and
| spoke to him Familiarity.
| Come inside, professor-you can rest
yourself much better indoors"
He looked at the speaker 1t was Kent,
but save for something in the tone of his
| voice, Laport did not know him. He ap-
| peared broader and heavier and older.
| de CONSIDERABLY assisted Laport To rise,
! saying: I've been waiting breakfast for
You. You may dismiss further anxiety.
Your troubles are ended. You must be hun
cry after your long ride.
| Once inside the house, Widespread
| table presented itself and the men sat down.
| Let us, said Kent, avoid the usual for
| malities. Explanations viii prepare the
! way to rest You are naturally amazed at
what has taken place, and anxious 10
know the motives OF my action. L VIII pro-
| coed at once to relieve your mind and re-
| plenish your system Let me advise you to
drink coffee-it is necessary prophylactic
! in this place"
| He called to servant, who came in from
| the one other apartment and brought the
| meal. Laport looked with expectancy
and was silent, while Kent both ate and
| talked.
You have been most cruelty wronged."
he said. You are not guilty of murder
for that was not your intention. Society
| took from the world a genius and locked
| him Up. lou are at present, and so long as
you stay here, beyond the reach of society.
do not intend to interfere with your lib
erty. | shall make you business propo-
ma
appreciation you depart. l Will not be-
tray you. II it does, you can work for me
a year. save a handsome competence, and
/ spend the remainder of your days in some
safe place comfortably. You are not eat
ing
pardon me-" said Laport. Il will drink
this coffee and listen to you. l have no
appetite
Perhaps a drop of stmulant?"
| No said Laport My curiosity to hear
what you have to say is too great to permit
| me to eat. Proceed"
| There are two orders of men, Mr.. La
port" said Kent One order deals with
Ideas, the other with events. They are In
| compatible, but supplementary. the great
| est achievements are brought about by the
association of the two orders of talent.
| One order is reflective and creative the
| other Is executive and administrative. We
represent the two orders. l am not salts
fled with events they occur. l am going
| to manufacture them on large scale
| He paused moment ard took few
moCthruls OF food Laport was regarding
him curiousy.
This sounds a little abstract. but it is a
necessary postulate. I'm not crank. Like
yourself, society has wronged me- / pro-
pose to rectify some of the evils of society.
If that sounds chimerical, let me remind
you that the details of your rescue ought
| to convince you that am man of method,
accustomed to deal with facts and ADJUST
myself to circumstances. You under
| some obligations 10 me. i propose to avail
myself of those obligations In only one way
| king "A a
| depending upon your sense Of loyalty, no
matter what arrangement we effect. The
pledge is implied. l have to put myself in
your hands to a certain extent. You are a
free man. You are not directly indirectly
| to betray my confidence, even IL you do not
stay with me. That, l merely say, is UNDER
stood"
Laport bowed his head in acquiescence.
Kent smiled. IL is hardly necessary for
me to say to You that l would not have this
| confidence in your sense of loyalty il I
had not acquainted myself with your
character. and l hardly would have taken
the extraordinary means to secure your
services if l had not believed l could de-
pend upon you Verbal pledges are I'M
necessary, my dear sir"
In carrying out the vast projects which
l have in my mind fer the rectifcation of
| some of the evils of society. / shall neces-
sarily come in collision with society, and it
was necessary first of all to find a secure
place safe from interruption. inpregnable
and unknown to the world. where l could
carry on the extensive organizing scheme.
That place is under your feet"
| II do not understand YOU" said Laport
looking curiously about him.
| Under this floor" continued Kent lis
| the entrance to the largest cave that has
probably ever been explored by man. / dis
covered it by accident seven years ago.
| bought this piece of. land and erected this
house over the entrance. 1 purpose to buy
the whole 1900 acres of wild land that
covers a great portion of 1t, and erect here
a large building, ostensibly a sanitarium.
III M dor a
domain that / have taken such pains to
secure your aid. / need In 1t an electr ical
pant, water system, electric railway,
and heating apparatus, besides means Of
defense and other modern appliances I
have estimated the cost of my Internal
or, perhaps, l should say. intestinal-im-
provement at something like million dol
| lars. 1t Is for You to say, when l have
taken you over the ground. If you will sell
me your mechanical skill for year and
| what 1t will be WORTH g.
| Kent waited for a reply
After moments hesitation Laport said:
1T seems to me. sir, that at this time
am not in position to make terms If
you succeed in demonstrating to me the
practicability OF your plans, the best can
do is to offer you my services and advice
in SO far as the scheme meets with my ap-
probation
| WELL l can only say that such an .r
rangement will not do at ALL 1 do not
intend to implicate you in any of my
| schemes. 1 wish to employ your construc-
| i've aDlllty at a reasonable price. II the
| work that 1 want done is practicable to
| the engineering and mechanical mind, and
you give me your services for a year. will
| fifty thousand dollars compensate your"
| For the first time 1t flashed over Laport's
mind that he was listening to a mono
| maniac; one Of those restless and harmless
characters who conceive prodigious schemes
and make fabulous investments with no
| other capital than their disordered imayina-
| tons. Kent guessed what was passing in
| his mind, for he said:
| Il see the suddenness and iargeness of
my schemes Have disturbed your conf
dence. Two or three days of Investigation
will restore it. we can talk further of the
matter after we are better acquainted Be-
fore l. show you the underground labora-
tory, let me explain to you the topograph-
| ical peculiarities of the country"
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