"No," he growled. "No one can take my revenge from me. I'll do the
killing."
The emissaries fell back and went into the den.
Balcom was making some final adjustments when the great rock separating
the passageway from the Graveyard of Genius swung slowly on its balanced
hinges.
Startled from his work, even though he had expected the thing, Balcom
looked up, and in the passageway caught a glimpse of the dim outline of
his arch-enemy, Locke.
Balcom had been right. Locke had found the clue to the secret entrance
to the tunnel.
He worked feverishly to complete the final connection, but almost before
he finished Locke charged and the battle was on.
Up and down the passageway they fought. Although Locke was the younger
man, yet in Balcom he found a giant of strength.
It was a fight between these two alone, for no emissary, no Automaton,
now entered that passage of death.
Neither uttered a sound. Neither had a weapon. It was the primitive
struggle of man to man for life.
But now Locke's youth and clean living began to tell in his favor and he
sensed that his adversary was weakening. He redoubled his efforts.
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