The Delta independent., 1895-12-25

physical difficulties ana Involve nSnt-
ing, ventilation, transit and defense.
My idea is that the subterranean do
main offers a magnificent field for the
abode of an army of mechanics and
soldiers
Laport was amazed. Would it be
impertincnt," he asked, ''if I inquired
what you are going to do with the
soldicrs?"
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 gun con-
structed on a novel plan?'
Eyes, 1 did" replied Laport.
''And the government rejected it?"
"The government laughed at It, and
spent months and all my money try
ing to lobby through an appropriation
to get it tested"
''When was that?'
''It is eight years ago"
every good" said Kent. 81 should
like to have talk with you about that
gun later on. The first thing to do is
to give you Il sense of security and to
do that l shall have to show you my
hidden retreat. Before we go down,
let nc say that this house is ac-
cessible only by pnc road, and we can
+, see anyone approaching by that road
for two miles. Besides, l keep q sentry
in the woods who can communicate by
signal with the house. If by any ac-
cidcnt 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, a smooth
rock showed itself about a foot be-
meath. He jumped down upon the
2 rock and with his foot gave the flooring
a push and it receded about three feet,
exposing n 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
rough shaft which was apparently
ten or twelve feet in diameter, that
sank away obliquely in westerly di-
rection and was very dark and repel-
liant.
Come" said Kent, 81 will show you
my possessions. You had better let
me take your hand. 1 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 a rock landing and
new opening leading downward more
gradually at right angles to the main
shaft. Laport saw that the entire pas
sage was 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, ''it is that by the dcstruc-
tion of the steps one is caught like
rat in a 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
reelection 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
a 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 rehectors. 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
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 a perpendic-
ular. '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 a
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 the rock.
Externally it presented the appear
ance of n 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. bookcase
filled with books q handsome filter