The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-11-17

ZION OF DOttlth containing y varied a
sortment of chemicals.
The detectives searched the cellar.
"Our man is not here, at any rate,
said the leader, when at last he had "a
turned to the foot OF the stairs; s'per
haps he'll try to give us the slip b
way of the roof. Come along, Jim
let's go upstairs now. Hellol what ar
you doing there, Mr.. Sturgis? Thin
youu find him in one of those bottlssy
The reporter appeared to be closely
inspecting the chemicals on the
row shelves. -,
ont;a ny .rs Examination.
Protective bit his lip and looked
the unpleasant things he thought 1t
best not to say.
SWELL Jim and / will take look
upstairs while you are busy here
| And the two men went up the dark
stairway, Sprague remaining behind
with the reporter.
"None so blind as those that won't
see," said the latter, sententiously.
At the same time he placed his hand
upon one of the shelves and gave IL a
lateral push. IL responded slightly,
and the entire shelving, with the door
which il concealed, opened outward.
II thought So" continued the re-
porter; "this looks as If IL might lead
somewhere. win you come, Sprague?"
''How did you find the combination
SO quickly?" asked the artist, prepar-
ing to follow his friend.
1T is not a combination--only a
concealed bolt. Our friends of the de-
tective force might have discovered IL
themselves If they had taken the trou-
BILE. The first thing noticed was that
a truck had recently been wheeled
through the cellar in the direction of
this door, from under the grating on
the street side. And this truck was
not here; neither was large case
which we know was delivered here to-
day. The trail extended clear up 10
the wall below the shelving; and yet
no truck, even unloaded, could pass
belowthatlowest shelf. The conclusion
was evident. Isounded the back of the
shelving and found that It covered an
opening of some kind. After that, all
that remained was TO notice that one
Of the shelves was slightly soiled in
just one spot, as though by the re-
peated contact of a hand. From this,
urgued that the bolt must be attached
to this board. And it was. That is ALL"
AS he spoke, the reporter entered
dark and narrow passage.
Don't shut the door," said he 10 his
companion, who followed him.
At that moment, however, the artist
stumbled; and, instinctively holding
out his hands to save himself from fall
ing he released his hold of the door,
which closed with slam.
THAT is unfortunate" said Stuvgis;
leorn nav bb hSye to lose some time in
ieai ninb nv" ..--tne holt from
this side. Hold on; il win be brudssHi"s
to keep open line Of retreat, in case
of unforeseen emergencies. Hello! we
are in luck. Nothing concealed OH this
side; the bolt in plain sight; works
easily. Ais we'll Then let us go on;
unless / am greatly mistaken, we shall
find another exit on the other side"
After following the underground
passage for some distance the men
climbed some steps and reached a
square chamber, on one side of which
rose n stairway leading TO n door
above. The room was surmounted by
slxylight, which was wide open, admit
ting draught of cold air from the
outside.
Sturgis set down his lighted candle
and proceeded TO examine his sur
roundings. In the middle of the room
stood n truck, upon which lay n long
pine box. A table and a chair consti-
tuted the only furniture of the place.
Al one side there was a long, low,
lead-lined tank, filed TO the depth Of
about two feet with a dark yiscous
liquid. Near IL lay few empty car
boys. In the floor there was what
seemed to be hot-air register, of large
size and of peculiar construction. The
walls were bare, unbroken, save by the
projection of the mouthpiece of n
speaking tube, and by set of shelves
filed with TASKS, crucibles, alembics
and the other paraphernalia of a chem
lists laboratory.
After the reporter had finished re-
connoitering he sat down upon the
long box in deep thought. Sprague OBJ
served him with silent curiosity for
awhile, and then, with growing impa-
thence:
III say, old man." he ventured at last
to ask, did you bring me here, armed
to the teeth, TO see you go of into a
trance?"
Sturgis started like a man suddenly
awakened from deep sleep.
"Eh7 What? Oh, yes--those confi-
dences. Well, you start in with yours.
am trying TO find the denouement OF
my story. / feel that IL is just within
imy grasp; and yet / cannot seem to
s~>it yet. But can listen TO you while
1 aln,hinlking. Go on"
nNVe ut any story 10 tell" said
Sprague, somews-~s offended At his
friends apparent iDdis.s.-ancc % what
he had 20 say.
"oh, yes, you have retorted o,--.
gis. with a conciliatory ssaile; "yo,