The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-08-19

library. Stoddard had seized one of
the unknown deputies with both hands
by the collar and gave his captive
tremendous swing, jerking him high i'm
tie air and driving him against aUoth-
er invader with "A blow that knocked
both fellows spinning into corner.
Come on 20 the library shouted
Larry. and Bates who had got me
10 my feet, dragged me down the hail
toward the open library door
Bates presented at this moment an
extraordinary appearance. with the
blood from the scratch on his face
coursins down his cheek and upon his
shoulder His coat and shirt had been
torn away and the blood was smcared
over his breast The fury and indlgns-
ton in his face was something I hope
not 90 see again IN a human counte-
nance
My God. this room-thls beautiful
room. { heard him cry. as he pushed
me before him into the library LIT
was Mr. Glenarm's pride" he mutteT-
ed. and spranE upon a 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 bar
rlcade.
We were now between two fires, The
sherins party. had fought valiantIy
20 keep us out OF the library. and
now that We were within. Stoddard's
big shoulders held the door half-closed
against the combined strength Of the
men I'm the hall This pause was for
tunate. for 1t gave as an opportunity
to deal sIngly with the follows who
were climbing in from the terrace.
Bates had laid one OF them low with
A club and Larry disposed OF another.
who had made a murderous eff0rt 20
stick a knife into him. 1 was with
Stoddard against the door. where the
shcrifs men were slowly gaining upon
U.S.
let so on the Jump when 7 say
three" said Stoddard. and al his word
We snranE away from the door and
into tho room. Larry yelled with jOy
as the sheriff and hts men pitched for
ward and sprawled upon the floor. and
we were al Il again IN hand-to-hand
conflict 10 clear thu room
Hold that position. sir yelled
Bates.
Morgan had directed the attack
against me and 7 was driven upon the
hearth before the great fireplace. The
EHoTT Morgan. and Ferguson hem
med mc Don. IL was evident that I was
the chief Culprir. and they wished 20
eliminate me from the contest Across
tile room. Larry StOddard and Bates
were engaged in a lively rough and
tumble with the rest or the besieE-
ers. ana St0ddard, seeing my plight.
leaUcd the overturned table. broke past
the trio and stood at my side, swing
ing a chair.
At that moment my eyes, sweeping
the outer doors. saw the face Of Pick
eriug lie had come 20 sec that his
orders were Obcycd. and I remember
Yet my satisfaction, AS. uemmed in by
the men he had hired 10 XIII me or
drive me out I felt, rather than saw,
tire ,owardly horror depicted upon his
face.
Then the trio pressed iu upon mo.
As / threw down my club aud drew
my revolver. some one across the room
fired several shots. whose roar through
the room seemed to arrest the fight for
AN instant, and then, while StOdJaTd
stood al my side swinging his chair
extensively, the great chandelier,
IU1spued or broken by the shots. fell
With "a mighty crash Of IT'S CRYSTAL
pendants. The sheriff. leaping away
from StoddaUd's club, was struck on
tar head and borne down by the heavy
glass
Smoke from the firing foated IN
clouds across the room, and there was
"a moments silence save for the sheriff.
who Was grooming and CursIng under
the debris of thr chandelier. Al the
door Pickering face appeared again
anxious and frightened. I think the
scene u The room and The slow prog
reSs his men We're making against as
had halt-Daralyzsd him.
Ne were au getting. our second wind
for renewal of the fight with Nor
gan iu command OF the enemy. one
ur TWO of his men, who had gone down
early ia the struggle, were now craw-
Inns back for revenge. ] think 7 must
have raised my hand and pointed at
FlcbtriuE. for Bates wheeled like
flash and before ! realized what hap
ueued he had dragged the executor
into the -aum
You scoundrcI-you ingrate"" howl
ed the servant
The blood on his face and bare chest
and the hatred iu his eyes made him a
Eideuus object. but i'm that Iuu of the
storm while We waited. watching for
au advantage ] heard of somewhere.
auoyc or below, that same sound OF
footsteps that ] bad remarked before.
Larry and Stoddard heard il; Bates
heard IL, and his eyes fixed upon Pick
criug with a glare &C malicious DELIGHT.
There comes our old friend, the
ghost yelled Larry
'I think Won are quite right. sir"
saI4 Bates. Tie tAr,-. down the re-
volyer ne held i'm his hand and leaned
upon the edge of the long table that
lay ON IT'S side. his gaze stin bent on
IIeacrug, who stood with his over
coat buttuued close. his derby hat ON
the floor br-i5a him. where Il had fall
en- as Bates hauled him into the room.
The sound of measured step. of
some one walking. Of a careful foot on
sJgir--rv. ~--- quite distinct. ! even
re~ arl,.d tho 81 ght stumble that 1 had
noticed before.
We wrre aH So intent on those steps
I'm the wall that We were on guard. 1
heard Bates yell at me. anG Larry and
Stodiard rushed for Pickering He
had drawn revolver from his over
coat pocket and thrown il up TO fire
at me when Stcddard sent the weapon