The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-07
THE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
To be published In daily installmcnts on this page
The House of a
Thousand Candles
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright by
Q'he Bobhs Merrill Company
CHAPTER VII.

.'eariy' was prepared to close the in
ioeht' but the idea OF frightening my Wis
.ors appealed TO my sense OF humor I
iptoed to the front stairway. ran lightly
{own, round the front door and from the
S.e' opened ana slammed IL. Il hear
ha bly hurried scamper above, and
ne neavy fall Of one who had STUN hIed
me dark. l grinned with real pleasure
the sound OF this mishap, hurried into
ne great library, which was as dark as
Wei ana. opening one Of the long win
PoWs' stepped out on the balcony. AT
Rnce from the rear OF the house came the
onnd ef ef-a-st-dfthy step, which Increased
a run at the ravne bridge listened
tne H!ght OF the Fugitive through the
he lake
Then, turning to the library window. I
aw Bates, with a candle held above his
ead. peering about.
Hello. Bates" / called cheerfully. "I
ust got home, and stepped out to see If
he moon had risen. / don't believe I
now where TO look for in this coun-
He began lighting the tapers with his
sual deliberation.
Its trife early, l think. sir. About
o'clock, | should say, was the hour, Mr.
lenarm."
There was, OF course no doubt whatever
hat Bates had been one of the men I
card In the room. 1t was wholly possible
hat ne had been compelled to assist in
Ply, IL he had been forced into aiding
criminal, should he not invoke my own
ID 10 protect himself? l kicked the logs
the fireplace impatiently I'm my uncer-
ainty. The man slowly lighted the many
indles In the great apartment He was
srtainly deep one. and his case grew
bore puzzling as l studied IL IN relation
the rifie-shot Of the night before. his
ollision with Morgan in the wood. which
had witnessed; and now the house itself
nd been invaded by some one with his
bnnivanoe. The shot through the refrec-
pry window might have been innocent
Rough, but these other matters In con-
ection with II could hardly be brushed
side.
Bates lighted me TO The stairway. and
i'd as | passed him:
There's a baked ham for dinner.
lould call IL extra delicate, Mr.. Glen
IN. l suppose there's no change in the
nner hour, sir?"
Certainly not" I said with asperity;
II / am not a person 10 inaugurate a
nner hour one day and change IL the
hxt. Bates wishes 70 make converse
pn-the sure sign of a guilty conscience
a servant-and l was not disposed to
|courage him
closed the doors carefully and began
thorough examination OF both the sit
hR-room and the little bed-Chamber. /
as quite sure that my own effects could
L have attracted the two men who had
ken advantage OF my absence TO visit
quarters. Bates had helped unpack
lTunh ana undoubtedly hitM every
I'm OF my simple wardrobe. / threw
en- the doors OF the three closets In the
pms and found them all in the good or,
established by Bates He had carried
trunks and bags 10 2 store-room, 50
ht everything | owned must have passed
der his eye.
rhe money even, the remnant Of my
rtune that / had drawn from the New
Drk bank, l had placed carelessly
ough In the drawer OF a chiffonnier
hcrwlse piled with collars. 1t took but
moment 20 satisfy myself that this had
been touched. And 10 be sure. n
miner was not necessary 90 open "a
aver that had from its appearance.
yer been locked. The game was deeper
IN | had imagined; ! had scratched the
lst without result. and my wits were
sy with specuations as I changed my
hes. pauslug frequently 20 examine
furniture, even The bricks on the
arth.
pne thing only found-the slight scar
hammerhead on the oak paneling
,t ran around the bedroom The wood
heen-siruck near the base and Mt the
CT every panel, for though the mark
not perceptlble on all, a test had evil
ltly been made systematically With
az a beginning. I found n moment
er n spot OF tallow under n heavy table
one corner. Evidently the furniture
been moved 10 permit CO the closet
utiny OF the paneling. Even behind
oed I found the same impress OF the
nmer-head: the test had undoubtedly