Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-10-12

had the good fortune to dispatch MN.
as he raised his weapon In deadly
aim at my heart.
II searched the clothes Of Deneau.
WHOM, thought was dying. and
found passports. credentials. letters Of
recommendation. and letters OF credit
to nearly every part OF Russia and 81.
IBERIA. You can see by this. Castle.
man. what n valuable head ! wear.
and could Deneau have presented II to
the czar. It would have been worth
title equal to a dukedom." and he
smiled In that peculiar halfmocking.
but wholly significant. way that char.
acterized him.
MY head. and tho heads Of my as.
sociates are more valuable to the Rus
sian government than all the priceless
Jewels In the glitterins crown Of the
czar.''
Then II Is not surprising that De-
neau exhibits such tlreless energy
and such mastery genius and Gun.
ming In his management OF the case"
I said.
Il have no dread Of the Individual
Dcncau. but I confess that n proper
number OF operators under his master.
iy directions could ut the present
time. or at n near future date. cause
us . serious amount OF trouble. pro-
| yi6cd-"
"Proyidedf" I intcrjcctcd.
provided he Is In possession OF .
ccrta.a Hccga; UPON .sG,S! the future
Of our institution depends. hut NJ
| present. Castlcman. I can't say. even
TO you. what this discovery involves.
but. be assured. you will know In =
short time. and"
At this moment heard tho tones
OF bell. They came from = distance.
not no distinctly aH they sounded be-
fore. but I counted the strokes. one.
two. three. and when tho vibration
Of the gong had died away. Valdez.
mere hastily icf, tho room. but with
that unfaiIing courtesy. he badc mo
good night. and. as he passed Into
the dark hall. he turned again to me.
saying:
'Casticmnn. see that no one enters
the house tonight Sista will warn
you In the event Of an attempt TO do
80. Have you any arms7"
"Nonc. save my pistol" I ta!d. but
do you expect Dcncau7"
| II always expect him. Ho may
come tonight: he may never come.
Should he come alone. you have your
pistol. Should he be accompanied by
others. step into tho laboratory and
pull the lever Mt the left Of the door.
way
Then. as II he had overlooked some
thing. he crossed the room and enter
cd tho laboratory. ! followed him In
silence. As he passed tho door. saw
him raise his hand and pull upon nm
Iron bar nj the left Of the doorway.
then ! heard grating noise and n
whir of some hidden machinery: n
blue light flashed across the room.
then he pushed the lever into i,s
| place. and the noise ceased.
| had stood in mute Rstonishmc cnt
at this strange proceeding. but when
he again spoke. felt rcasSurcd. for
he smiled rs he observed my inquiring
gaze:
"Ah, CnHtlcmnn. you watch with
every assurance of safety tonight. II
any one approaches the house beyond
the stone wall. Sista will warn you.
| n Il be Dcncau. and he comes alone.
you will know what TO do7"
I bowed, shocked at the idea Of the
duty I was 10 perform. but made no
reply.
should there be others, pull that
lever. as have Just done, then leave
II down until Slsta makes her second
report"
Then he left me staring upon that
ugly device, as though It has fasci'
mated me.
| The violence Of the storm had some.
what abatcd. but the wind still moan.
ed through the old pines. and as they