The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-11-24
Il2 XINININ

dia was true-and suppose you will
admit that"
"Unreservedly," said. but that is
another thing. /"
We will say no more of it at pres
ent." he said. with smile. but
wait
said no more, and we travelled on
in silence.
Occasionally my nostrils caught
strong odor of gas. and at one point
the smell was SO offensive that
feared lest | might be overcome.
The nature and construction OF the
stones and earth seemed to have
changed. The path was rough and un-
even. the walls black. the earth damp
and mouldy. and great green patches
of moss clung to the walls. Occasion
ally an owl would whir past us with
horrible screech, or a blind fish would
rise to the surface OF a small lake or
stream and sink again from sight. At
one place a green snake wiggled across
our path and disappeared from view.
Are there no more crystal cham
bers or pillars OF fire?' l asked.
No" said Valdermere, "all the beau
ties of these caverns are concentrated
near the center of our route"
At three p. m. we halted and Valdez
mere announced to my great satisfac-
ton that we were within five miles of
Dead Mans Cave
Eve win now rest and have some
refreshments. for We must not leave
the caverns until midnight"
DO you think any one Will see us
leave"
He smiled-"I can't say that do,
and yet"
And yet?" | repeated.
1T is possible that Deneau has an
eye on this cave"
"And if so?"
He will shadow its entrance"
But. he would not attempt to cause
your arrest?"
No that would spoil his plans. 1t
would be "A premature move, and
Deneau. who undoubtedly associates
us with nihilsm, or rather. he thinks
our aims are identical with those of
the nhilists. and yet"
"And YETI"
"He has discovered that we do not
associate, or that do not associate
with that order-that our aim is high
er, that our order is more powerful,
that we are more formidable. that
with nay capture he can secure my as
sociatcs.'
"You reason from Inference | said.
only from inference" he replied,
looking at me strangely.
Well" | continued, after we had
resumed our journey. IF Deneau
should find the right clue. he would
still be confronted by insurmountable
difficulties
You are right, Castleman. but the
ingenuity of that man is phenomenal.
He can't cope with occult powers; he
can't escape the infallible 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 Romanski to combat"
But, can he have suspected this?"
asked.
Undoubtedly, as the old Indian
saw the great stones spread apart as
made my exit
This will lead Deneau to believe
THAT the further passage of Dead
Mans Cave has been closed by the
hand of man to conceal some rcndez-
vous or protect a hidden treasure.
And if he discovers the secret of the
entrance. even If he is bold enough to
en- or, lie can neevr hope to capture
the men or the treasure"
THAT is true: but the cave beyond
the entrance is, as yet, a vague
theory"
He SUSPECTS that the cave affords
a rendezvous for a great plot, led to
this conclusion by the fact of my hay
ing been seen to leave the entrance
at night"
"But his real difficulty will begin"
said, "after he enters which IS alto
ge,her improbable. There are hun
drcds of misleading passages. thou
sand pitfalls, and should he reach the
central chamber, he will confront the
men who are at work, and then his
trail"
"Will end forever he said, with a
strange infection Of voice. Gideon
would rend him limb form limb"
will the twelve men remain long
in the cavcrns?" asked.
That will depend" he replied. IF
the gas is threatening. Gideon will
order the treasury removed. and then
the one hundred councillors will be
warned. and will gather to remove It.
Gideon Will be sent forth to telegraph
the members of the one hundred coun-
cilors, and in a short time every yes
tige of The Invisible Hand will be
removed from these cayerns. The
submarine craft will be transported
to the river. filed with the treasures,
and each member OF the council will
carry away his pro rata, all to be de-