Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-12
ll![ l12I NlQ1Y

wonderful medium OF Sista to trace
his every movement. ! cant conceive
how any living being can cope with
such phenomenal resources as you
have at hand. The power that human
ingenuity and cunning can reach-a
phenomenal degree OF Development
but they are ms nothing when array.
ed against the great hidden force
which you control and to which they
seem rs nothing"
And yet We are traced to our very
last retreat. and Notwithstanding this
great power. this hidden mys,ic force.
you speak OF. We are still In q meas
ure at the mercy OF this mans tire
less pursuit"
"How can that bc?" I cried. when.
though unseen. you can follow his
every step: when through this won.
dcrfnl medium you can trace step by
step. and keep his distance ever meas.
ured. as he follows you In his futile
pilgrimage! ] can't see any horc 10,
his plans. however cunning they may
be. for his methods are human. die
tatcd by the mere deductions Of an oh.
servant mind. Of critical and ANA.
iy,icai brain. but his resources are OK.
hnustcd at the very point where yours
begin. He In following an ignis IN.
tuus: he comes only In sight OF the
quarry. never In reach Of II. You
have pillased mystery Of all Its
mighty secrets"
'Ah! Cas;icman. you reason with
clcarncss that Is commcndabic. but
let us assume that Dcncau k not
alone: that is hardly crcdibic-,hcn
what! I toll you he Is a dcviinsh.
Cut on n baicful tcntacic which
threatens you on one side. and then
another reaches for you on tho other.
and while you battle with the second.
the frst rcncws its existence"
reflected n few moments on his
strange words. then I said:
But let us allow him thorough
knowledge Of tho Order. Its object, i,H
personnel Its secret sessions. It's
methods. Its resources. It's facilities.
and even Its place Of rendezvous.
would he then be able to utilize his
discovery: would hc be able TO make
his work practical. legal and crcc.
liver"
THAT depends" said vaidcrmcrc.
ihoughtftiiy: IF he discovers our rcn.
devious: II he acquainis himself with
our numbers. our means OF defense.
and the risks that would be Incurred.
then he will provide means Of max.
Ing such measures effective: be will
supply all the necessary force. strata.
gem. and cunning that the human
mind can conceive: he will omit moth.
ing to insure an effective and final
movements. But does he know our
numbers: does he suspect our re.
| sources: does he properly estimate
the magnitude of his undertaking;
does he follow me rs means OF cap.
turing the entire Order: does he cal.
culatc the possibility of making his
capture effective. and OF obtaining
the almost fabulous rewards that he
would receive? One false step: one
premature move: one error. and the
labor OF ten years. In which the effort
of his life has been expended. and all
is ovcr-but Dcneau Is wise: he
knows how to wait: he appreciates
position: he knows the laws of every
land: he weighs the results in all pos.
sible phascs-hence he patiently fol.
lows me around the world. and once
he almost had his hand upon me.
Just as I was preparing to cross the
Amur river into Siberia. n man. n ma.
tive presumably. contracted to guide
me TO n certain point. We crossed.
and as my foot touched the land. !
turned suddenly-inspired by an inner
prophecy-and his eyes were fixed
upon me. He sprang from the boat.
and placed his hand upon my arm,
while he flashed n weapon In my face.
then made an effort to transnx him:
he shouted. and I heard voices com.
ing from the distance. I saw in his
eyes the force of his mighty will
power. I knew he had read my pow
er. and was battling against It: his
eyes fairly cleaned. and I feared lest
he should escape me. for he still re-
sisted my power. and kept his eyes
upon mine, blazing with defiant
light.
"The voices drew nearer, and
could hear the tramp of feet, but
saw at last that my will had predomi
mated. His beady eyes grew faint,
his lids closed then opened: the pis.
| hoi i'h i'oih ms hdHuS. 1 s'ooptu W
pick It up, and as I seized II, he again
mastered himself and spranE fercely
upon me. struck him terrible
blow upon the head, and as he totter
ed and fell, his mask was torn away.
and there before me upon the snow
lay the bleeding form of Victor De.
neau.
"As I turned TO leave the spot two
ruffanly natives. dressed in the same
manner as Denenu. attacked me.
81 raised the weapon and fired a
bullet into the heart OF the foremost.
I received n wound in my side from