Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-06-28

"The difficulties to be overcome, as
you. will readily understand, +
physical difficulties aud involve light
ing, ventilation, transit and defense.
My idea Is that the s~ubterranean do
main offers a magnificent field for the
abode of an army of mechanics and
soldiers
Laport was amazed. would 1t be
impertinent," he asked, eff l inquired
what you are going to do with the
soldiersP"
mot 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 a gun con-
structed on a novel plan?'
Yes, I did," replied Laport-
"And the government rejected it?S
"The government laughed at 1t, and
I spent months and all my money try
to get 1t tested
"When was that?"
ut Is eight years ago"
every good" said Kent. 81 should
like to have a talk with you about that
gun later on. The first thing to do is
to give you a sense of security and to
do hat 1 shall have to show you my
hidden retreat- Before we go down,
let me say hat this house is ac-
cessible only by one road, and we can
see anyone approaching by that road
for two miles. Besides, l keep a 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 as if it were on
rollers, and as it withdrew from the cor
ner in which Kent stood, q smooth
rock showed itself about a foot be
meath. He jumped down upon the
rock and with his foot gave the flooring
a push and 1t receded about three feet,
exposing a descent to which had beer
fitted d 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, thai
sank away obliquely In a westerly di
rection and was very dark and repel
liant.
Come" said Kent, II will show you
my possessions. You had better lei
me take your hand. am familiar
with the steps"
/ Thus assisting and guiding Laport
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 ant
a new opening leading downward NOR,
gradually at right angles to the maiI
shaft. Laport saw that the entire pas
sage wa a natural rift OF chasm. HI
turned at the landing and looked bacl
at the stairway dimly seen in the dark
ness stretching up above them.
81 know what you are thinking of,
said Kent, ''it is that by the destruc
ton of the steps one is caught like {
rat in a trap. But you forget tina
there are other exits and, besides,
have bored into the stratum abov'
with an artesian drill and know wher
1t Is thinnest. Let us go down"
A light shone in the distance, and it
reflection enabled Laport to desoen'
without further difficulty. In places tn
natural slant of the rock needed n
steps. At others Kent warned him o
a sudden rise or fall in the path. A
near as Laport could judge the secon
passage was fifty feet long and only a
q few points wide enough to pass tw
men abreast. On reaching the bottor
Of the d~eclivity. he found himself j
an enormous stone room or arena, tina
was lit in part by two OIL three power
full lamps and refiectors. AS aceuratel
as he could determine with his eye
the roof rock was eighty or a hundre
feet high where it was lit by tn
reflected lights, beyond which was
pitchy gloom. The walls of thi
away at different angles. hat porto
through whose assure they had com
being the nearest to a perpendit
MAR. 1.-THE dimension of thi
room," said Kent, in an explans
tory way. us about half al acre. ]
leads by q sort OF corridor, fifty fee
wide and two hundred feet long. to
much larger opening. This at presen
is my workshop"
As his eyes became familiar with tn
light, Laport saw figures movin
about, and he thought he heard tn
sound of hammers. ''There are 81
workmen," said Kent. They hav
been fitting up the place for offices an
headquarters. Let me show you you
rooms"
They crossed the area, their figure
making shifting and fantastic shat
!, ows, and came to a rude wooden strut
ture built against the side of the rocl
Externally 1t presented the appea
ance of a mere shanty, but when Ker
opened the door, he found it comfor
ably earpeted and furnished and lit b
a large lamp. 4 table stood in til
center upon which were heaped paper
and writing material. A bookcas
filled with books. a handsome hite
and w~ater-cooler and o little bufft
| with decanters and glasses gave tt
place an air of luxury. The woode
walls had been ~tastefully papered an
| several pictures hung upon them.
Kent waited to see the effect upo
, his visitor and then said. "A fairl
comfortable retreat, professor, and
think you will now agree with me thu
. 1t is a safe one. Here is a speakin
tube and signal bell communicable
with the house above. Here is Q slee,
, ing room," he added. as he threw OPP
. a side door and disclosed q Mario
apartment with a comfortable bed al
all h necessary chamber appurte
, ances. you can work out your d
. signs here without fear OF interru
ton sad be entirely safe from the va,
, atoms Of the season, as this thermor
eter will show you. But OF course I {
/ not expect you to spend all your tin