Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-11-06

garding the speaker. The latter's eyes
met the Man of Irons intent look, and
he added:
or else ! shall annihilate every
one OF you and myself" He looked at
his watch again.
You all understand. You have Just
six minutes within which to make up
your minds"
The Man OF Iron was not Of the stun
that is easily frightened-else he
would not have been the Man of Iron.
He was taken unawares and rendered
bewildered-as who would not have
been?-but he was first to recover him
self. His voice rang out with an au-
thoritative command that the casket
be removed.
The intruder, with one hand still ~
ing lightly at an end of the handsome
casket. the other still holding his
watch. calmly interposed:
Just a moment-if you please. l
have only to press a trifle harder upon
this bit of ornament and the explo-
sion will be precipitated. trust
for your sakes; don't care 30 much
to such an extreme.
However. | have come here pre-
pared for any turn. II my rights are
not to be recognized. then It Is a mat
ter OF Indifference to me wether
destroy myself along with the rest of
you ! prefer not to do 20, Of course;
but I give you my word. at the first
movement OF opposition I shall term
mate this unpleasant scene"
An impulsivs movement Of Theo-
dore Van Vechten's was followed by
a gasp of horror; for the stranger was
SO self-possessed and determined that
nobody doubted his dispassionate deo-
laration. It was only too obvious that
he would do to the last extreme exact
ly what he said he would.
The Man of Irons lists suddenly
clsnched. and he took a step toward
eyes turned upon him with a steady.
inscrutable look.
Theodore Van Vechten." the quiet
voice went on, 1T lowers the high
feeling OF respect and admiration
which l entertain for your genius to
see you choose the role OF fool now"
Max Willard" retored Van Vechten
evenly. you know me well enough to
recognize that | can not be coerced: !:
SO 1t 10 you who are playing the part
OF fool Can't you see that this
means your utter RUM"
Said the other: Everything that hu-
man agency can accomplish toward
that end has been dons-by you, Theo-
dore. And now. Just one more chance.
Your niece has been missing for some
time. has she not?"
Theodore Van Vechtsn started. The
inventor went on:
"I merely want to add that-in addi-
tion to welIcalculated charge of
willardite-she too is In this casket-
alive at this moment" Again he
glanced at his watch. 1T is precisely
two minutes until twelve"
Nothing was to be heard save the
regular ticking, each pulsation mark
ing of one more fateful second. The
two men-Max Willard. cool and stead
fast in his purpose; Theodore Van
Vechten, an image OF power and in
domitability-looke long into each
others eyes.
With quick movement, Willard's
hand slid TO another part OF the cas-
ket. 1t could be seen that he pressed
a trihe harder. The whole thing fell
apart into the shape OF a davenport
lounge.
In the midst of the creamy cushions
thus disclosed. clad in a white yacht
Ing costume which, in Its present set
ting might well have been the cere-
ments OF the dead. her hands claBped
lightly and naturally upon her bosom.
reposed beautiful young girl Her
glowing hair afforded the one mark
OF vivid color against the ivory and
dull gold OF the casket and the palior
Of the huge tables spotless napery.
The ticking still continued.