The Elbert County tribune., 1907-01-17
The l1ZTNI1IY

AL, mad as soon enter Hades as
enter that cave"
And yet. we must enter it, and
without delay"
Should we surprise force with
imp"
Il do not believe we shall. I am
sure that 1t Is used as a sort of stor-
age Tor plunder, a secret refuge for
the plotters-but we can safely as
sumo it is not used as a dwelling.
and, If guarded at all, the guard is
small"
theoretically small" said La
Prade
Yes. but in any case. we have the
chances in our favor"
And your plans are?"
TO enter those caverns prepared
for the worst, that is, prepared to
fight our way If met by resistance. but
hoping we shall find the road clear,
which l believe will be the case-for
having such absolute protection as the
cave Affords them, as they think II
impenetrable, inaccessible and sepa-
rated from the world by a barrier
which can be removed only by The
Invisible Hand itself, and one other
and that other is mine | have the
secret to the entrance. and can, by the
movement of my hand. cause the stone
wall to fall apart and open the way
to the tunnels or caverns beyond"
His eyes blazed, his hand smote the
air, and his words were marked by a
triumphant infection. He told La
Prade the secret of Dead Mans Cave.
La Prade leaned forward, almost
breathless, his eyes bulging, and his
bald head beady with sweat His
hand shook as he fingered the memo
randa before him.
Mon Dieu," he cried. "can there be
such things as magic in this?"
There are devils in it." sneered
Deneau, 'ard ii devils possess magic,
then there's both magic and devils"
But suppose we should enter, and,
when on the inside the damned thing
would not work? / suppose the same
machinery can be found on both sides
of the wall-that is, inside and out?"
Undoubtedly, for l saw it work
from within when Valdermere and the
Englishman left the cave, and | saw 1t
work from without when I discovered
the lever hidden under the wall and
concealed by pool of water"
Deneau continued to exploit his well.
laid plans to his old comrade until the
moon had sunk away behind the noun
tain, until a grayish light penetrated
the interior of the dismal little room,
and the small wick of the oil-lalnp had
burned to a crisp coal.
This is most remarkable case"
said La Prade, his eyes staring
through the small panes toward the
black outline of the mountain beyond.
'diHerent in every detail from any
other job that has come under my OBJ
seryation. i distrust It. l can hardly
reconcile the motive to the measure" /"
"And yet" replied Deneau, what
better place could be found to conceal
from the law and from the world a
treasure than those underground caves
what better place to hatch a great
conspiracy? In the Northern States,
in the Northwestern and Eastern
States, the eye of the law is ever up
on the nihilists and the anarchists
in New York, Chicago and Boston;
but here among the mountains, in a
cavern known only to themselves, and
accessible only to their members. why
1t Is an ideal rendezvous, typical
place for hidden treasure"
But they are not nihilists-not an
archists-not pirates?" asked La
Prade.
No, they are not nihilists, anarch-
lists, or pirates. but a band of men. |
do not know their number, high in
rank, unlimited in funds, desperate in
purpose, preparing to deal a blow
When this blow will fall, or with what
result, unless 1t can be averted. l can
not say. but unless we succeed in our
purpose, | feel sure that some, day
the world will stand appalled, at the
work of The Invisible Hand, and /
firmly believe that the future of the
Russian Empire is in our hands: two
Frenchmen against The Invisible
Hand two Frenchmen, upon whose
deeds depend the throne of the Great
White Gar, hal hal hal what do you
think of 1t, my brave sleuth; are we
to save Russia and dictate terms to
that trembling, shiyering coward of an
Autocrat lurking in the shadows of
Peterhoff, or shall we pause at the
very mouth of Dead Mans Cave, gaze
into the mysterious darkness, and fee
for our lives from the scene?"
La Prade seized the hand of his old
time superior, inspired by the daring
bravery in which Deneau was never
wanting.
Point out the way, and should l
come to the Gates of He'll, will en-
ter" cried La Prade
Deneau smiled triumphantly. He
knew how to reach the heart of his
confederate. He knew that La Prade
loved danger better than his own
heart, and that once he faced the enc
my, nothing but death itself would see