The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-11-17
SovEEz 81
BY EDGAR HPL |
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| 01TZGHT SE2. By NN
| sf1-tZIZ0 +GALLiC @/1EE,
CHAPTER IX.-Continuei.

NIlZhI 1 In NoHlllIuti-
do you think that Deneau realizes
the extent of your treasure, or that he
suspects it is hidden in these cav
erus?'
Il am afraid he is on the right clue
he replied. slowly, for few nights
ago he visited the hut of an old In
dian. who lives on the mountain side,
a short distance from our exit, or what
is known as Dead Mans Cave. This
cavern is visited each season by hun
dreds of people; and the steamboat
lines run regular Sunday excursions
from many points to the cave. And
the pleasure-seekers, with torches, oft
en- penetrate as far as the great stone
wall. which is perhaps distance of a
mile from the entrance. The old In
dian has for many years reaped har-
vest of small coin, by acting as guide
to these frivolous explorers. But l
am sure he will never enter the mouth
of Dead Mans Cave again"
Why" l said. greatly interested in
the story
Well" continued Valdermere. old
Uga, the Indiana, once ventured into
the cavern in search of game, which
had taken refuge from his fogs. He
had penetrated a great distance, when
suddenly the wall which affords an
impossible barrier Setween Dead
Mans Cave and the passages beyond.
began to sink into the waters of the
lake, and when he saw me step upon
the sinking stones, he fell upon his
knees, praying to the Great Spirit and
trembling in the most abject terror.
He thought that the Great Spirit had
appeared to him. and taking advan-
tage of his superstition and fright, |
placed him in a trance, and led him
out into the night, where he fell sense
less upon the ground. Resuming my
journey, | soon discovered the loss OF
the ring but | did not go back for it,
thinking l would find it safe upon my
return for | felt sure that the old In
dian would never again enter Dead
Mans Cave. He must have seized the
ring in his flight, and carried it to his
cabin, where it was afterwards turned
over to Deneau. You will observe that
the Counsellors wear a different ring
tonight, for upwards OF two thousand
OF the kind in Deneau's possession
have been destroyed and replaced by
the new"
We had some five hours to wait for
the coming of Gershon, Gideon, and
the ten men who were to accompany
them, and lost no time in gaining all
the information at hand, concerning
the Order of The Invisible Hand"
and the great cayerns in which the
wealth of the conspirators was SO ef-
fectually hidden away in the bowels
of the earth.
"Our committee" continued Valdez
mere, can be found at work in every
large city on the globe. and even when
you were in Australia | was informed
at intervals as to your progress"
l gave him an incredulous look. He
smiled, and continued:
This system of espionage is so per
fectly organized that we are informed
of every movement Of the Czar; of ev
cry step taken by his countless spies;
of every prisoner who is sentenced;
and of every nhiistic propaganda.
Though we are not nihilists, the nihi-
listic circles are useful to us-they
are unconsciously our abettors. They
occupy the attention of many secret
detectives, and by their futile, though
daring, attempts, keep these myrmi-