The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-14

gained ingress TO { cellar by an opening
OF which knew nothing.
l faced the stairway that led up to the
back hall OF the house when 10 my as
tonishment. steps sounded behind me and
turning / saw coming toward me, man
carrying a lantern. marked his careless
step: he was undoubtedly on familiar
ground. As I watched him he paused.
lifted the lantern 10 a level with his eyes
and began sounding the wall with a ham
mer.
Here. undoubtedly was my friend Nor
gan--again There was the same periodi-
city in the beat on the wall that / had
heard i'm my own rooms. lie began at the
top and went methodically To the floor
| leaned against the wall where / stood
and watched the lantern slowly coming
toward me. The small revolver with
which / had fired at his flying figure In
the wood was in my pocket. II was just
as we'll TO have II out with the fellow
now. My chances were as good as his
though | confess I did not relish the
thought Of being found dead the next
morning in the cellar OF my own house.
II pleased my humor 10 let him approach
in this way, unconscious that he was
watched, until / should thrust my pistol
into his face
His arms grew tired when he was about
ten feet from me and he dropped the lam
tern and hammer to his side, and swore
under his breath impatiently
Then he began again, with greater zeal
As he came nearer | studied his face In
the lanterns light with interest. His
hat was thrust back, and could see his
jaw hard-set under his blond beard
He took a step nearer. ran his eyes over
the wall and resumed his tapping. The
ceiling was something less than eight
feet, and he began at the top. In set
tling himself for the new EUrtUs or strokes
he swayed toward me slightly, and l
could hear his hard breathing. was de-
liberatlng him best to throw myself upon
him, but as l wavered he stepped back.
swore at his ill-luck and flung the ham
mer to the ground.
Thanks / shouted, leaping forward
and snatching the lantern. "stand just
whore you arel"
With the revolver In my right hand and
the lantern held high In my left, / enjoy
ed his utter CONSERVATION, as my voice
roared In the corridor.
TITS too bad we meet under such
strange circumstances, Morgan" / said
I'D begun 10 miss you; but ] suppose
you've been sleeping I'm the daytime to
gather strength for your night prowling. q"
You're a fool" he growled. He was
recovering from his fright knew IL by
the gleam Of his teeth In his yellow
beard.
His eyes, too, were moving restlessly
about. He undoubtedly knew the house
better than i did and was considering
the best means Of escape. / did not know
what TO do with him now that had him
AT the point OF n pistol: and in my ig-
norance OF his motives and my vague
surmise as TO the agency back OF him,
was filled with uncertainty
You needn't hold that thing quite so
near" he said, staring at me coolly.
Tn glad II annoys you. Morgan" /
said. 1T may help you to answer some
questions I'm going 10 put 20 you"
so you want Information do you Mr..
Glenarm7 I should think IL would he be-
meath the dignity OF a great man like
you TO ask poor devil like me for help. -
We're not talking OF dignity" said.
81 want You TO tell me how you got in
here
lie laughed.
You're n very shrewd one. Mr.. Glen
arm. I came I'm by the kitchen window. IL
you must know. ! got in before your SOL
emn iack-of-all-trades locked up and I
walked down 20 the end OF the passage
there"-he Indicated the direction witlA a
slight jerk OF his head-"and slept until
IL was time 90 go TO work. You can see
how easy IL wasl'
laughed now at the sheer assurance of
the fellow
."If you can't lie better than that you
needn't try again Face about now. and
march"
To be continued tomorrow)