The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-15

him. ! made sure OF this by going 20 the
window and feeling OF IL with my hahus.
l went back and groped about Tor my
candle. which | found without dlnlcuity
and lighted. / then returned 10 the win
dow 10 examine the catch. To my utter
astonishment IL was fastened with staples,
that 1t could not. possibly have. been
opened without the aid OF tools. j trled
IL az every point Not only was IL securely
fastened. but IL could not possibly pe
opened without an expenditure OF ume
and labor.
There was no doubt whatever that Nor
gan knew more about Glenarm House
than did. Ii was possible, but not likely,
that he had crept past me I'm the corri-
dor and gone out through the house. or
by some other cellar window. My eyes
were smarting from the smoke OF the last
shot and my cheek stung where the burnt
powder had struck my face was alive,
but in my veXation and perpleXity not.
fear. grateful for my safety. IL was, how
ever. some consolation To feel sure ] had
winged the enemy.
gathered up the fragments OF Nor
gaps lantern and went back 10 the IL
brary. The lights in half the candlesticks
had sputtered out. | extinguished the re-
mander and started TO my room.
Then. I'm the great dark hall heard a
muffled tread as OF some one following
me-not on the great staircase, nor IN any
place which | could identify-yet, unmis-
taxable on steps of some sort beneath or
above me. My nerves were already keyed
to breaking pitch, and the ghost-hke
tread i'm the hall angered me-Morgan, or
his ally, Bates, reflected, at some new
trick. / ran into my room, found heavy
walking stick and set off for Bates room
on the third floor. IL was always easy
to attribute any sort or mischiet 10 the
fellow. and undoubtedly he was crawling
through the house somewhere on an err
rand that boded no good TO me.
II was now past o'clock and ne should
have been asleep and out OF the way long
IN
the door without, l must say, the slight
est idea OF fndng him there. But Bates,
the enigma. Bates, the Incompatible cook,
the perfect servant, sat at table, the
light of several candles falling on a book
over which he was bent with that mad
dening gravity he had never yet In my
presence thrown off,
He rose at once. stood at attention, IN
clining his heaa slightly.
"Yos, MIR. Glenarm."
Yes, the devil!' / roared at him, as
tonished at finding him, ! must
say, that he was there. The stick fell
from my hands. / did not doubt he knew
perfectly well that / had some purpose
in breaking in uopn him. l was baffled
and in my rage floundered for words TO
explain myself
Il thought ! heard some one In the
house. don't want you prowling about
in the night, do you hear?"
Certainly not. sir" he replied in a
grieved tone.
glanced at the book he had been read
ing. IL was a volume Of Shakespeare's
comedies, open az 4he first scene OF the
last act OF The Winters Tale
quite a hit OF pretty work that.
should say" he remarked. at was one
OF my late masters favorites."
"Go to the devill" bawled at him.
and went down 10 my room and slammed
the door In rage and chagrin.
CHAPTER XII
RECEIVE A CALLER.
Going TO bed at 3 o'clock on a winters
morning I'm house whose ways are dis
quieting, after a duel I'm which you es-
capped whole only by sheer good luck.
does not fit one for sleep. When finally
drew the covers over me IL was TO lie and
speculate upon the events OF the night
In connection with the history OF the few
weeks | had spent at Glenarm. Larry
had suggested In New York that Picker
ing was playing some deep game and I,
myself. could not accept Pickering's
statement that my grandfather's large
fortune had proved TO be n myth. III
Pickering had not stolen or dssipated II.
where was II concealed? Morgan was un-
doubtedly looking for something OF value
or he would not risk his life IN the