Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-29
CHAPTER XIV.
The DEVILS Cauldron.

Inc OeV1l CaulurOn.
The so!Cmnitv of Hazens whole manner
impressed Mr.. Harper strongly. AS soon
as the opportunity offered he cornered the
young man in the office where he had
taken refuge. and, giving him to under
stand that further explanations must pass
between them before either slept, he drew
apart and put the straight question to him:
Who is Josiah Auchincloss?"
The answer was abrupt. almost menac-
ing in its emphasis and tone.
"A Trunk maker in st. Louis. A man
she was indebted to-"
How indebted to-a trunk maker?"
That l cannot, do not desire to state.
1t is enough that she felt she owed him
the bulk of her fortune. Though this elm
some rights to share. | make no COM
plant. She knew her business best, and
l am disposed to accept her judgment in
the matter without criticism"
You are" The tone was sharp the
sarcasm biting. II can understand that
For AuchinCloss. in this will. read Hazen
hut how about her husband? How about
her friends and the general community :?
Do YOU not think they will ask why a
beautiful and socially well-paced young
woman like YOUR sister should leave so
large portion of her wealth to an OBJ
scure man in another town. of whom her
friends and even her business agent have
never heard? 1t would have been better
If she had left YOU her thousands directly"
INV 7h4llt which "ttS only
very bitter.
You drew up her will" said he. You
must have reasoned with her on this very
point as you are now trying to reason with
me-
The LAWYER waved this aside
Il dldn know at that time the social
status of the legatee nor did 1 know. her
brother then well | do now"
You do not know me now"
II know that YOU very pale; that
the determination YOU have Just made has
cost YOU more than you perhaps are will
ing to state. That there is mystery in
Your past, mystery in your present, and,
possibly. mystery threatening your future,
and all in connection with your great de-
IIazeu made forcible gesture but
whether of denial or depreciation, it was
not easy to decide
Would ii not then be better for all
parties pursued the lawyer. for you to
give me some idea of the great obligation
under which your sister lay to this man,
that | may have an answer ready when
people ask me why she passed you so con-
spicuously by in order TO enrich this
stranger
The story is not mine Had she wished
YOU To know it. she would have confided it
To YOU herself. ! must decline
Mr.. Harper Interrupted the other i'm
preSsiNeN. DO YOU realize what shadow
may be thrown upon your sisters memory
by this rctiCcnCe on your part? Her dea h
was suggestive enough without the COM
phcatious YOU mention. In justice to your
relationship YOU should speak. If, as
think, the money is really meant for you,
say so The subtcrfuge may be difficult of
explanation. but il will not hurt her mem
oiy as much as this extraordinary silence
on Your part"
Il am sorry, began HaZen. But Harper
cut him short.
You expect the mOney-you yourself,"
said he. Nothing else would force you
into an attempt so perilous. You would
risk death. Risk something less final: risk
your place in my esteem. your standing
among men. and confess the full truth
about this matter. If it involves crime
why, I'm a LAWYER and can see you through
better than YOU can win through by your
own instructed efforts. The truth, my
lad, the truth nothing else will serve you"
The look he received he will never forget
You are man Of limited experience,
Mr.. Harper We're the words which ac-
Comuanied it, You would not understand
the truth, Georgian or me Ransom might,
hut | shall not even risk Ransoms dis
erection. Now this is all l am going to
say about this matter. Georgians last will
and testament followed though it was by
suicide was a perfectly regular one The
only impedlmcut to its being so recognized
and acted upon is the doubt as to her
actual decease. If the body of my poor
young sister has become lodged in the
DCVil's CaUldrOu, ! am going there to seek
il. As the project calls for courage and,
above an, good condition of body and
mind | shall he obliged to YOU if you will
allow me the benefit of the sleep | most
something more to say TO YOU, and / may
rot. Perhaps l shall want to make my
will. who knows And with a smile full
Of sarcastic meaning. he pushed Mr.. Har-
per's arm aside and made for the stair
case, up which he presently vanished with
out another attempt on the lawyers part
10 hold him back.
A few minutes later the LAWYER get
ting what Information he could about the
so-caled Devils Cauldron.
1t seems that this was a very deep hole
in which. on account of the rocky forma-
tion surrounding 1t, the water swept In an
eddy which had the force of whirlpool.
No one had ever sounded its depths and
nothing had ever been seen again which
had once been sucked into its deathly hol-
low. That Georgians body had found it's
everlasting grave there many had believed
from the first and if the conviction had
not yet been publicly expressed it was out
Of consideration for Mr. Ransom, to whose
hopes 1t could but ring final knell.
Where is the hole2 How far from the
WATERFALL Queried Mr.. Harper.
"A good mile. muttered one man. Quite
around the bend of the stream. It's a
horrid place. sir. We've always been
mortal careful about rowing down that side
of the river. Children are never allowed
to. Only mans strength could get him
free again if ne once struck the eddy"
Would anything floating down from the
falls be apt TO strike this eddy?''
VERY apt. IT would be a miracle If it
didn't That is why we all turned out so
willingly the first day. We knew that If
Mrs Ransom's body vas 10 be found at
an. it would be found then: another day it
would be beyond our reach.
Won saw that no one has ever sounded
the depths of that hole. Has any one never
More than once Scientific men and
others"
"Dld they ever emerge-any of them?"
Yes one a powerful sort of chap with
Indian blood in him But he didn't advise