The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-22
TIE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
To be published in daily instalments on this page
The House of a
Thousand Candles
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright by
Che Bobbs- Merrill Company

Stoddard still stood where I had left
him. Bates was not in sight, but the
barking of a revolver above showed that
he had returned TO the window TO take
vengeance on his enemies.
Stoddard shook his head I'm depreciation.
They fired first,-we can't do less than
get back at them" l said. between the
blows OF the battering-ram.
a panel OF the great oak door now
splintered In, but i'm their fear that we
might use the opening as a loophole. they
scampered out into range OF Bates re-
volver In return we heard rain OF small
shot on the upper windows and a few
seconds later Larry shouted that the
fankng party was again at the terrace.
This movement evidently heartened the
sheriff, for, under a fire from Bates, his
men rushed up and the log crashed again
into the door. shaking it free OF the up
per hinges. The lower fastenings were
wrenched loose an instant later, and the
men came tumbling into the hall,-the
sheriff. Morgan and four others / had
never seen before. simultaneously the
flanking party reached the terrace and
were smashing the small panes of the
French windows. We could hear the glass
crack and tlnkle above the confusion at
the door
In the hall he was certainly a lucky
man who held TO his weapon a moment
after the door tumbled in. blazed at the
sheriff with my revolver as he stumbled
and half-fell at the threshold, so that the
ball passed over him, but he gripped me
by the legs and had me prone and half
dazed by the rap OF my head on the floor.
| suppose | was two or three minutes,
at least getting my wits. l was first
conscious OF Bates graphing the
sheriff, who sat upon me, and as they
Al. N..I
benefit of their combined, swerving, toss
ing weight. Morgan and Larry were try
ing for a chance at each other with re-
volvers, while Morgan backed the Irish
man slowly toward the library. Stoddard
had seized one of the unknown deputies
with both hands by the collar and gave
his captive a tremendous swing, Jerking
him high i'm the air and driving him
against another invader with a blow that
knocked both fellows spinning into a COR
ner.
Come on to the library!" shouted Lar
ry. and Bates, who had got me to my
feet, dragged me down the hall toward
the open library door.
Bates presented at this moment an ex-
traordinary appearance, with the blood
from the scratch on his face coursing
down his cheek and upon his shoulder.
His coat and shirt had been torn away
breast The fury and indignation In his
face was something / hope not to see
again in a human countenance.
MY God. this room-this beautifm
room!' / heard him cry, as he pushed
me before him into the library. 1T was
Mr.. Glenarm's pride" he muttered. and
sprang upon n burly fellow who had come
In through one of the library doors and
was climbing over the long table we had
set up as a barricade.
We were now between two fires. The
sheriffs party had fought valiantly TO
keep us out OF the library. and now that
we were within, Stoddard's big shoulders
held the door half-closed against the COM
bined strength 'of The men in the han.
This pause was fortunate. for IL gave up
fellows who were climbing in from the
terrace. Bates had laid one OF them low
with club and Larry disposed OF an
other, who made n murderous effort 10
stick knife into him. / was with Stod-
dard against the door where the sher-
ifs men were slowly gaining upon us.
Let go on the jump when I say three"
said Stoddard and at his word we sprang
away from the door and into the room.
Larry yelled with Joy as the sheriff and
his men pitched forward and sprawled
upon the floor. and we were at II again
in a hand-to-hand conflict 10 clear the
room.
Hold that position. SIR" yelled Bstes.
Morgan had drected the attack against
me and I was driven upon the hearth be-