Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-01-11
! [llla liz. .S|'|lNIN

these latter were accessible only TO
Valdermere and his associates by
means OF some mechanical device.
some hidden ingenious machinery,
known only to Its inventors: but he
would yet discover It. for he knew
something OF safe combinations. he
had studied the ingenious method of
locks. secret springs. and n thousand
cunning devices used by criminals
and against criminals.
His eyes biazcd with living fire
as he eazed upon those great stone
walls that shut out the world from
that hidden treasure. and he found
himself trying yainly To figure out tho
amount OF yalunbles that he would
probably ind when he entered the un'
known realms OF the subtcrrancan
chambers beyond that frown!ns bar.
rier. His brows met. his eyes were
fierce. he stood as II transhxed.
what deyiiish magic holds these
stones together" he wondered. 'and
shall I ever discover the secret. or am
I to stand helpless. with my foo, on
the threshold. my eye almost upon
tho treasure. and let them escape? No
by aii tho gods Of fortune. will fad
tina, pass-t will yet discover the key
TO that accurscd lions den"
He again entered n small tunnel. the
same he had travcrsed n hundred
times before. Here he found foot.
prints In the soft soil. These he fol.
lowed until they led him back to the
very spot where he had started. baf
ficd. cnraIcd. and even hopeless.
At a distanc. Of some ten feet from
this was n pool Of dark water. extend.
ins In triangular shape from the
stone wall. He dipped his hand into
tho watcr-thcn. STOPPING. he plunged
his arm aions the edge OF tho pool.
feeling biindiy. madiy. along tho
stones. until his hand touched the
wall.
"Ah what Ii this" he cried. piuns
Ing into the cold. silent water. and
scixin. franticaiiy some object which
pro,udcd from tho solid masonry.
"Ah. Il II a lever. Il Is Iron. II is
he tusscd ncrcciy. his eyes ahrc. his
frame ircmblin.-pushins downward
there In the silence Of that io.,ciy
craven. he heard = noise Ms of chains
"a grating. as of timbcr-hc rprans
backward. his bcady eyes staring nx.
cdiy In the scmi-darkncss beyond.
Ono Of the great stones was slowly
descending. and his heart stood still.
M he pccrcd into tho dark chamber
beyond. gaping with tunnels. which
seemed TO lead In every direction.
black and frownins. like tho very
gates Of an Inferno.
His face was cold with sweat, his
limbs numb with tcrror-hc felt
shocked. he who had never mot fear
was face TO face with some terrible
phantom beyond. and thus hc stood
until the great stone had ceased TO
movc-until his lamp had gone out.
gazing into tho mysterious darkness
beyond. afraid TO move least he should
be swallowed up. He dared rot enter
that place alone.
gap In the wall. II awokc him to
his surroundings. He laughed. and a
horrible chorus Of echoes caused him
to fee. He again returned. however.
and plunged into the pool OF black
water tuggins at the lever. until he
heard the chains rattle. the grating
Of the stone. and when with a tremb.
ling hand he had lighted his lamp he
saw nausht save the black frowning
walls and the barrier was again
closed.
He crept from the .-vern-it was
night. and. without. the wind sighed
among the trees and tho sky was
clear and cloudlcss.
when he crossed the river he
paused and looked back across the
muddy waters in the direction Of Dead
Mans Cave. His evil face lighted.
his thin lips parted in a sinister smile
The wind moancd In the forest of trees
between the bank OF the river and the
base Of the great bridge. to the side
OF which chung the hut OF the old In.
dian.
He laughed. he drove his fists into
the air: he talked to himself: to his
imaginary foes. Spirits. are thcy7
Not now. but they will be. Ha! hal"
Then turning suddenly about he al.
most stumbled into the arms of a
short stout man. whose outlines he
could scarcely distinguish In the dark.
ness of the night.
who the devil are your" cried he.
drawing a revolver and stepping back.
ward. The only answer was loud
laugh-a jeering. mocking laugh.
which seemed to convulse the stout
man.
Deneau stood peering into the dark.
ness. his pistol fallen at his side. his
face betraying an expression of won.
der and surprise.
"You would shoot your old com.
rade. would your" and aonther burst
ef laughter accompanied the words.
for La Prade. besides being a sbrewd
objective, was great Jester.