The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-10-13

tOl rem from his hands: ! stopped 10
pici it up, and as seized 1t. he again
mastered himself and sprang fiercely
upon me. l struck him a 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.
las turned to leave the spot two
rufYianly natives. dressed in the same
manner as Deneau. attacked me.
II raised the weapon and fred .
bullet into the heart OF the foremost.
l received a wound in my side from
the other, but. turning hastily. also
had the good fortune to dispatch him.
as he raised his weapon in deadly
aim at my heart.
II searched the clothes Of Deneau.
whom l thought was dying. and I
found passports, credentials, letters OF
recommendation, and letters of credit
to nearly every part o, Russia and ST.
IBERIA. You can see by this. Castle
man, what a valuable head I wear,
and could Deneau have presented 1t to
the czar. 1t would have been worth q
smiled in that peculiar half-mocking,
but wholly significant. way that char
acteriZed him.
My head and the heads Of my as
sociates are more valuable to the Rus
sian government than all the priceless
jewels in the glittering crown Of the
czar"
Then it is not surprising that De-
neau exhibits such tireless energy
| and such mastery genius and cum
ming in his management of the case"
| l said.
Il have no dread Of the individual
| Deneau, but l confess that a proper
number of operators under his master
ly directions could at the present
time. or at near future date. cause
| vided-"
Provided" I interjected.
Provided he is in possession Of a
| certain secret upon which the future
of our institution depends. But at
present, Castleman, | can't say, even
| to you, what this discovery involves,
but, be assured. you will know in a
short time, and"
| At this moment heard the tones
of bell. They came from distance,
not SO distinctly as they sounded be-
fore but | counted the strokes. one,
two, three, and when the, vibration
of the gong had died away, Valdez
mere hastily left the room, but with
that unfailing courtesy, he bade me
| good night, and, as he passed into
the dark hall, he turned again to me,
saying:
| "Castleman. see that no one enters
the house tonight Sista will warn
you in the event of an attempt to do
so. Have you any arms?"
"None, save my pistol" said. but
do you expect Deneau?"
Il always expect him. He may
come tonight; he may never come.
Should he come alone, you have your
pistol. Should he be accompanied by
others. step into the laboratory and
pull the lever at the left of the door
way"
| Then as If he had overlooked some
thing, he crossed the room and enter
ed the laboratory. I followed him in
silence AS he passed the door, l saw
him raise his hand and pull upon an
| iron bar at the left of the doorway,
then l heard a grating noise and a
whir of some hidden machinery; a
blue light flashed across the room.
then he pushed the lever into its
place. and the noise ceased.
| 7 had stood in mute astonishment
at this strange proceeding, but when
he again spoke, l felt reassured, for
he smiled as he observed my inquiring
gaze:
"Ah, Castleman, you watch with
every assurance of safety tonight. If
! any one approaches the house beyond
! the stone wall, Sista will warn you.
| If 1t be Deneau, and he comes alone,
you will know what to do?"
I bowed, shocked at the idea OF the
| duty I was to perform, but made no
reply
Should there be others, pull that
| lever, as have just done. then leave
it down until Sista 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 abated, but the wind still moan
ed through the old pines. and as they