The Elbert County tribune., 1907-02-21
Il2 l1ZTNl1lY

Where are wei" gasped La Prade,
fearing to move lest he should fall
into some horrible chasm and be
dashed to death.
Stand near me. and | will light
match" whispered Deneau.
match was lighted, they conceal
ing its rays with their bodies. Per-
ceiving an opening which led off to
their right, they made rush for 1t,
and hid themselves about twenty feet
from the main passage. and listened.
The odor of gas had entered from
shaft below, but still they waited.
The voices came nearer and nearer,
and 1t seemed as though an army had
entered the caverns, so great was the
noise.
At last they could distinguish the
words of the newcomers, who had en-
tered the chamber, through which
they had so precipitately fed, and
which was only separated from their
hiding place by the passage in front
of them.
"Ah," said a voice. 1--WE have not
reached here too soon, for the odor
of gas has entered our Council Cham
| ber."
"Yes," replied another. "but why is
Gershon not here? | thought he
would be in readiness to receive u.s."
"Ah, he comes now, for / see the
light of his torch as he approaches"
Just at this moment the two
Frenchmen, peering through crack,
saw the stately figure of Gershon
coming from an opposite direction
pass in front of the opening and disap-
pear beyond Many voices cried out
to the newcomer, but one, which
sounded like the rumble of thunder
and rose high above all the rest, was
heard with awful distinctness.
Look, my brothers," cried the great
voice. "can you not see the aoor is
sprinkled with our jewels!"
At this a hundred cries rang out
upon the air:
"Traitorl Traitor! Let the traitor
be foundl"
Then all was quiet, and voice un-
like the others, soft, gentle and sweet.
said:
"Some one has discovered the pass
and entered these caverns. Let us
first look to the treasure, and then
search the passages that lead from
the entrance"
1t was Gershon who had spoken.
The hearts of the detectives sank
within them, for they knew that they
were doomed.
Draw your pistols" whispered De-
neau, I'VE shall not be ashamed to
| die; we are Frenchmen," and rising
from their concealment, they crept
from their shelter, ready to face what
knew to be horrible death. They
looked into the Chamber of Silence.
1t was deserted, as the clen had
rushed back into the passage to
search for the unknown invaders
They entered the chamber, and peered
into the vault in an opposite direc-
ton. They glided on like shadows,
until they were in the very midst of
the excited crowd. and when they had
neared the mouth of the main tunnel
they plunged forward for their lives
Then there arose a great commotion
who were they that left us," said
one excited voice.
Were not they of our Order?'
criend another. for so great was the
excitement incident to the discovery
that the desperate stratagem of the
two detectives had partially succeed
ed.
Follow me-" cried the desperate
Deneau, as he blindly groped his way
into connecting tunnel.
Here they crouched in silence, un-
til all the searchers had reassembled
in the Chamber of Silence. Taking
advantage of the deserted passages,
the two wretched creatures leaned for
ward and sped onward.
Ere they had gone twenty yards a
hundred men were in hot pursuit. led
by the mighty giant. Gideon, while
the air resounded with the firing of
pistols. Gideon. who was many yards
in advance of all the pursuers was
rapidly gaining upon La Prade, whose
very limbs were swollen and bleeding
and whose fat body was fast succumb-
ing under the terrible strain. He stag
gered frantically forward in a mad eff
fort to reach the side of Deneau, but
the latter moved with marvellous swift
ness. bounding like an antelope from
stone to stone.
Suddenly. the giant. with a great
bound. had seized the unhappy La
Prade by the middle, and, lifting him
aloft, he dashed out his brains against
the stone walls, and throwing the
quivering body into pit he again
started in pursuit of Deneau.
The multitude stood appalled, at the
frightful deed of Gideon, and | turned
away in horror. for the sight was more
than l could look upon.
When / again turned l saw a
hundred white, speechless faces. and
all were fixed upon Gideon. who was
now almost within reach of Deneau.
shouting and firing his pistol as he
sped onward.