Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-06-30
rest Of us-white mea."

Go ahead" said Ryder.
You are an artist of some sort. Yol
have learned that these people hav,
recovered their lost art of producing
: Kiastin porcelain. that rare painting
Of invisible flowers, fishes or othel
symbols on the outside of porcelain
vessels, paintings that are only reveal
ed when the vessel is filed with liquor
of some sort. The discoverer of this
lost and precious art is confined to his
workshop in the palace here. The re-
tention of the secret means the addi-
ton of large sums of money to this
country; hence they guard it carefully.
You were put on to the secret, you
have come to spy it out, you have
reached as far as
Il had a model began Ryder eager
ly, when the other mans low laugh
cut him short
What is your name?"
| Il am Edward Stone. an Englishman.
had a model, too, and so did each
of these five other poor earless devils.
1t was the same model. One by one
she sent us here as she sent you. 1t
could have been no one else but Lena
Shultz."
1T was Lena Shultz," returned Ry-
der duly.
Il knew it. The man who discov-
cred the lost art is not a native. To
what country he belongs l do not
know. | do know that he made the
discovery and was captured with bis
belongings and is confined within three
feet of where we now are. All day he
works in the underground cell perfect
ing his discovery. for in spite of the
most violent threats he will not i'm
part the secret to another soul or work
in another mans presence"
But why did that woman send us
here-On a wild goose chaser" NUT
tered Ryder after a silence.
"Yonder poor devil is her husband.
She hopes with the aid of other white
pen to help him escape from here.
was the first to come. arrived at 0
in the evening. Now it is my duty to
open the gate at 9 every evening in
the hope of catching other would be
thieves. Set a thief to catch thief
you know" He uttered a hard little
laugh.
Il suppose that's what we are"
agreed Ryder.
That's so"
''How long have you been here"
"Four years"
"Sly God! How do you live?" - !,
Don't live-exist." .AakS
'Any hope of eScape? I-sigF
''None whatever"
The imperial government began
Ryder suddenly. when the Englishman
interrupted.
The imperial government knows
nothing about the matter. The whole
rascally affair Is in the hands of a
tllque Of highborn scOundrels. Re-
solve to make yourself as comfortable
as possible under the circumstances
resign yourself to losing your ears df
you ever should escape one can buy
lovely pink rubber ones. fancy and
hope for a change Of rulers. Nothing
else VIII cause excitement enough to
have our existence forgotten. Good
night"
Stone calmly stretched himself on ;
the floor and went to sleep. Ryder sat |
and brooded ut the bronze lantern |
in the distance. His hand 1
still caressed the butt Of his revolver.
but with less confidence.
New York seemed many thousands
Of miles away tonight-New York and
llluring Lena Shultz. He cursed her
under his breath and wondered how
many more men she would throw as
Dait into that hidden city in the hope
hat one or all Of them might aid in
he escape Of her husband.
There was an audible murmur Of
.ound without the thick walls. pierced
y sharp staccato cries. The thud Of
many pounding feet sounded in the
.ourtyards above their heads. aud in
N instant the six sleeping prisoners
we're awake and on the alert. The
-atins gabbled French to one another,
While Stone and Ryder drew near 10
n iron grating IN the stone roof
The American could make nothing
Z the strange sounds, but the Eng
face lighted with sudden ex-I