Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-11-23
[ll4 lXINlNlX

ties Of these cayerns are concentrated
near the center OF our route"
Al three y. IN. We halted and Valdez
mere announced to my great satisiac-
tion tina, We were within i've miles OF
Dead Mans Cave.
I'VE will now rest and have some
Refreshments. for We must not leave
the eayeFns until midnight"
do you think any one will sec us
leayc:"
lie smiicd-"I can't say that do.
and yet"
"And yet-' I repeated.
1T Is possible that Dcnean has an
eye ON this cave
'And II so?"
"Hc will shadow It's entrance"
But. he would not attempt to cause
your arrcst?"
"No. that would spoil his plans. II
would be premature move. and
Dcncau. who undoubtedly associates
us with nlhiiism. or rather. he thinks
our aims are identical with those Of
the nIhiliSts. and yet"
"And yct!"
"Iic has discovered that We do not
associate. or that I do not associate
with that ordcr-ihat our aim is high
cr. that our Order Il more powerful.
that We are more formidable. that
with my capture he can secure my ms
sociaicS.''
"You reason from infcrcncc7" said.
"Oniy from Inference" he replied.
looking at mo strangely.
"wcll." I continued. after VIC hid
resumed our journey. III Dcncau
should find the right clue. he would
s;iii be confronted by insurmountablc
difiiculilcs.'
"You are right. Casticman. but the
Ingenuity OF that man IL phenomenal
He can't cope with occult powers: he
can't escape the infalliblc power of
old SIsta to follow his steps. but when
he suspects mechanical combinations
for moving stones. then"
Then what?"
'Then he has only the inventive
genius OF RomansRi TO combat"
"But. can he have suspected this?
I asked.
"Undoubtcdly. as the old Indian
saw the great stones spread apart as
I made my exit"
This will lead Dcnenu to believe"
THAT the further passage OF Dead
Mans Cave, has been closed by the
hand OF man to conceal some rcndcZ-
vous or protect hidden treasure.
And II he discovers the secret of the
entrance. even II he is bold enough to
enter. he can nccvr hope TO capture
the men or the treasure"
THAT is true: but the cave beyond
the entrance Is, as yet, vague
theory"
He SUSPECTS that the cave affords
rendezvous for great plot, led TO
this conclusion by the fact OF my hav-
ing been seen to leave the entrance
at night"
But his real difficulty will begin.
| said, after he cntcrs-which Is alto
gether improbable. There are hun
dreds OF misleading passages. a thou
sand pitfalls. and should he reach the
central chamber. he will confront the
mon who are ut work. and then his
trcil-"
"WIIl end forever" he said. with
strange infection Of voice, Gideon
would rcnd him limb form limb"
"Will the twelve men remain long
ir the .caverns?" asked.
"That will depend" he replied. III
the gas Is threatening. Gideon Will
order the treasury removed. and then
the one hundred councillors Will be
warned. and will gather to remove II.
Gideon will be sent forth TO telegraph
the members of the one hundred coun-
cllprs, and in a short time every YES
tiee of "The Invisible Hand will be
renIOvcd from these caverns. the
submarine craft will be transported
10 tine river. filled with the treasures,
and each member Of the council VIII
carry away his pro rata, all to be de-
posted at n place agreed upon. How
even l.. hope 1T will not be necessary,
but If so. it will greatly precipitate
matters"
But should danger or other acci
dent force you to abandon the caves?'
ave still have otiiur places TO go to.
and can find other vaults for, our treas
ury,' &
,rAt nine o'clock we again resumed
6ur Journey. travelling at great leisure
'alcrg the route, which had begun to
wind about in many directions. break
ing abruptly along the bank of deep
co:ee; or n. the base of some huge
Stone; or. turning suddenly, would
force us to travel on u line with the
.ro,i+e over which We. had come.
"The path grows more uneven. as
We pass from the mountain" said Val
dermere. holding high his torch and
starin;; into the distance.
Are we not still under the noun
tain?" inquired.
mo, we are now abont five miles
bcvond the base. Have you not nb-
served that our path descends?
"True. but it often descended while