The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-10-27
[l}l3 Nl1lY

lights burned again, and Naldermere
stood before me. his hand in mine, and
his eyes alame with the mesmeric
fire of his soul.
He smiled, then seizing a torch. he
led me into the passage from which
the Invisible had spoken. and as l fol
lowed him my mind was filed with
gloomy foreholings, and my heart felt
like lead in my breast.
AS We moved along. the passage
wideaed and turned in many direc-
tions. Other tributary passages led
from either side. like a perfect hon
eycomb of tunnels.
At one end OF these. Na.dermere
paused and raised his torch. Then |
heard a rattle of chains. and pite-
oUs weak voice crying ont from the
gloom beyond-a voice so full of plead
ing sorrow, as to transfx me to the
spot
What is it," l cried, staring at
Edldermere, whose face Wore Sc
rious. thoughtful look. and whose mind
seemed at work upon some horrible
thought.
"Castleman. would spare you this
sight. but | cannot 1t is a part of
your enlistment with us. to look upon
this creature who cannot die. but must
live on. to pay the penalty of his bro
ken oath" and dashing into the dun
geoulike tunnel, he led the way to
sight which l prayed God TO Danish
from my mind. but which lives for
ever.
Chained to the bare stone walls. by
hand and foot, stood living skeleton,
whose eyes were sightless and sunken,
and whose lips were cracked apart a
the sides, leaving a toothless cavity
too horrible to look upon. His face
wrinkled and worn almost to parch-
ment, was surmounted by few
strands OF thin white hair, which only
enhanced the hideous spectre he pre-.
sented.
Then he crooned in soft weak
voice. begging. sobbing, then signing
and moaning, then demoniacal
laugh. | could stand it no longer.
Come away" cried, let us co."
but Valdermere. needless of my words,
took from his pocket flask and
placed it to the lips of this miserable
wrath, who swallowed the strong
drink greedily. Then. falling upon the
stone floor. it lay silent until we had
passed without.
could not speak, so filled with hor-
ror was at this sight.
That Is the only man who ever
betrayed u.s." said Valdermere. with
a look OF such solemnity in his face as
l had never before seen. Il would he
could die, and surely would go now
and kill him out of mercy, but l can
not-I cannot"
Was it a tear I saw in his eyes
could Valdermere weep-could this
man feel human sympathy? Let us
hope it was a tear, let us hope it came
from the heart. l shall never forget
the expression on his face as he said
those words. Then he continued;
Twice he might have died but for
Sista"
For Sista," | said, "how?'
"She is ever watchful of him. He
is our one prisoner. He is our one
betrayer"
AS we proceeded, the path grew
wider and the descent more abrupt.
We seemed to be descending a steep
and rugged hill, and the stone walls
on either side of us rose higher and
spread farther apart.
And thus we travelled a distance of
twenty miles, when, turning abruptly
at an angle. / heard the voice of Val
dermere, who was about a hundred
feet ahead OF me. cry out:
Look, Castleman, is not that a
beautiful sight?"
| fastened into the open space
where he stood with his torch waving
aloft. Looking in the direction indi-
Gated, l beheld massive polygonal
column springing from the very cen
ter of the chamber, and rising to a
height of sixty feet above us. and re-
sembling in its outlines a colossal
obelisk.
Its surface was covered with crys-
tal-like substances, which under the
rays of the torches shot forth show
er of lights of a million colors, and
presented a magnificent spectacle,
while the spire burned with con.
stant glow of reddish light.
ooh! how beautiful" | cried, en-
raptured at the spectacular effect OF
the thing.
'Yes, Castleman. this is indeed
beautiful sight, and to think that such
natural wonders must be hidden away
from the sight of man. The beauty of
this strange formation is almost vir-
gin, as it has thus stood for ages in
it's cold hidden grandeur. Think OF
the fortunes which could be acquired
by making these great mysteries ac-
cessib!e to man. But it cannot be, for
these hiQden wonders are ours, and
among them is stored the enormous
treasures of our brotherhood. 1t is
here we hold our councils; it Is here
sI.aal lth nd form liiE