The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-05-31

CFoucnlHS nSuTe. lnen. very SLOWLY,
the platform retreated into the door
way. The door closed.
That Vas all. A dollar cuckoo clock
is hardly less impressive or more ridic-
ulous. A figure hacks with a sword mt
a figure complacently kneeling TO re-
ceive the blow. That was all. But
was 1t all? Was there not behind the
little figure n background of bronze. a
drop curtain. so to speak? And ON
the background was there not some
thing in bas-relief? felt quite ure
that there was, though the two au-
tomato must be the principal actors in
the foolish scene. l jotted down as
much as could remember and waited
for 8 o'clock to strike.
But II the previous hour was disap-
pointing this was maddeningly so.
This time | had the two lighted can
dies standing at the third door that
mo- a fraction of a second might be
wasted.
Again the whir of the spring and
the chime of bells. The third door
opened slowly. The circular platform
was pushed out again. A single figure
this time. ] watched it, breathless,
and it ~did-nothing. 1t stood there
motionless. But at the second glance
saw that it was designedly motion
less. IL was not an automaton. IL
was simply a piece OF bronze cast in
the shape OF an old man in n flowing
robe. The doge's cap was on his head.
His right arm was lifted as If gesticu-
lating. And as the hours struck there
appeared from the rear VI the platform.
in quick succession, tiny round disks.
They sprang into line from within.
one after the other. Before the door
closed | counted ten of them. They
stood in Il row. facing the immovable
hgure. There was again a bronze
plate at the back. At first | thought
design. But as I looked at it more
closely | saw that it was a gate. This
scene was more tantalizing than the
last. When the clock had been in per
feet repair the ten disks must have
been the basis for ten automatic. much
after the fashion of the Noah's ark
men of our childhood. Naturally the
ten figures suggested the council of
ten and the single figure the doge.
The whlr of the spring an hour
later and the silver chime aroused me.
The first of the six doors in front
opened. This time no automaton ap-
peared. In the background | made
nIIf 2nnlA plnnEfnfs "A x~nIl DfIrh nnsl "a
tree. The door closed slowly. laugh
ed aloud.
| yawned. blew out the candles. put
on my overcoat and hat and slipped
downstairs. 1t was time to let the
duke out of his box.
walked a few rods from the house,
hugging the wall. Returning noisily,
| pulled the bell half a dozen times.
/ bad to wait five minutes before the
frowsy head of my housekeeper peered
over the balcony. In the meanwhile
| discovered another head looking at
me from over the edge of the quay.
BY the rays of the lantern at my door
| recognized the face staring ut me in
tently as that of the man whom we
had seen smoking under the bridge.
He was the dukes gondolier. He was
waiting for his master.
| stepped into the hall and banged
the door after me. | stumbled up the
stairs. | clattered across the sala. !
sang. ] lurched into Il table. | fell
with a crash against the closet door in
which the duke was imprisoned. There
was no doubt about my having come
home this time. Even the duke in his
narrow box must have heard me. |
lighted Il candle. and. taking off my
coat and w%aistcoat. | held them in
front of me with one hand and flung
open the closet door with the other.
was prepared to express surprise. |
had an exclamation conveniently on
my lips. 1t so happened that my sur
prise was genuine. As | opened the
door the duke toppIed owe Imply into
my arms. He had tainted.
| let him slip to the floor. ! unbound
his wrists and legs. tore of the gag.
chafed his hands. ! poured water
over his face.
He opened his eyes presently. Sit
ting up. he blinked at me. Slowly the
pallor left his face. He glanced about
the room. He shook himself together,
rose to his feet, laughed lightly. and.
walking over to the table where his
cigarettes lay. he lighted one and in
hailed it deeply.
".Ah. my friend Hume. that was not
a pleasant half hour. ! must thank
you. my deliverer."
but how did you get into the clos
ETY. | demanded.
He was vOluble in his He
had come on II little errand. He must
have fallen asleep. He remembered
nothing till he was seized and bound
and robbed.
$50 they have robbed YOU, these
~thieyes?'' | asked indiscreetly.
Yes: they have taken my keys aud
be looked at me keenly.