The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-13
THE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
To be published in daily installments on this page
The House of a
Thousand Candles
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright by
rhs Bobbs ~ orriD Company

out mortar. and p1ucked them out and
raped with my knuckles on wooden
surface.
Even Larry grew excited as we flung
out the bricks.
"Ah, lad" he said "the old gentleman
had a way with him-he had a way with
him. brick dropped on his foot and he
howled in pain.
"Bless the old gentleman's heartl He
made IL as easy for us as he could. Now,
for the Glenarm millions-red money all
piled up for the ease OF counting it-a
thousand pounds in every pile"
Don't be a fool. Larry" l coughed at
him, for the brick dust and the smoke of
Larrys pipe made breathing difficult.
That's all the loose brick-bring the
lantern closer-and we seered through the
aperture upon a wooden door, In which
strips OF iron were deep-set. 1t was fas-
tened with a paddock and Larry reached
down for the AK.
'Wait!" / called. drawing closer with
the lantern. What's this7"
The wood of the door was fresh and
white, but burned deep on the surface, in
this order, were the words:
THE DOOR
OF
BEWILDERMENT
There are dead men inside, / dare say!
Here my lad, it's not for me TO turn
stood aside while / swung the ak and
brought II down with a crash on the pad
lock. II was OF no fimsy stun and the
remaining bricks cramped me- but half O.
dozen blows broke 1t Off
THE house of thousand ghosts ."
chanted the irrepressibe Larry, as I
pushed the door open and crawled
through.
Whatever the place was II had a floor.
n,,A
turned to take the lantern
Hold a bit" he exclaimed Some
ones coming"-and bending toward the
opening i heard the sound OF steps down
the corridor. In a moment Bates ran up
calling my name with more spirit than
i imagined possible in him.
What is it7' l demanded, crawling
out into the tunnel
IT'S Mr.. Pickering. The sheriff has
come with him. sir"
As he spoke his glance fell upon the
broken wall and open door The light Of
Larry's lantern struck full upon him
Amazement. and. thought. a certain
satisfaction, were marked upon his coun-
tenance.
Run along Jack--I'n he up a little
later" said Larry. IF the fellow has
come in daylight with the sheriff. he isn't
dangerous. It's his friends that shoot
in the dark that give us the trouble"
l crawled out and stood upright Bates
staring at the opening. seemed reluctant
to leave the spot
You seem to have found II. SIR" he
said-I thought a little chokingly His
interest In the matter nettled me: for
my first business was TO go above for
an Interview with the executor, and the
value OF our discovery was secondard.
"Of course we have found it, 7 ejacu-
lated. brushing the dust from my clothes.
'Is Mr.. Stoddard In the library7"
oh. yes. sir; l left him entertaining
the gentlemen"
Their visit Is certainly most lnoppor-
tune" said Larry. GIVE them my COM
pliments and tell them I'll he up as soon
as I've artlculated the bones OF my
friends ancestors"
Bates strode on ahead OF me with his
lantern. and left Larry crawling through
the new-found door a. ! hurried toward
the house. I knew him we'll enough 10
be sure he would not leave the spot until
he had found what lay behind the Door
Of Bewilderment
you didn't tell the callers where you
expected 10 find me. did you?'' l asked
Bates. as he brushed me of in the kitch-
en-.
mo. SIR Mr.. Stoddard received the
gentlemen. lie rang the bell for me and
when ! went into the library he was say
ing. Mr.. Glenarm Is at his studies
Bates he says-'kndly tell Mr. Glen
arm that I'm sorry 10 interrupt him. but
won't he please come down ] thought n
rather neat. sir considering his clerical
Office knew you were below some
where. sir: the trapdoor was open and
I found YOU easily enough"
(To he continued on Monday)