The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-06-15

selves. Who is this person."
He pointed with his stick to the
sheriff who was endeavoring to crawl
out from under the mass of broken
crystals.
That sir. is the sheriff." answered
Bates.
"A very disorderly man, I must say
Jack, what have you been doing to
cause the sheriff so much inconven-
fence? Didn't you know that that
chandelier was likely to kill him?
That thing cost thousand dollars
Gentlemen, you are expensive visitors
All. Morgan,-and Ferguson. too!
Well. we'll! thought better Of both
of YOU Good morning, Stoddard! A
little work for the church militant!
And this ?"-he indicated
Larry. who was, for once in his life,
without anything to say.
"Mr. Donovan.-a friend of the
house." explained Rates.
Pleased, I'm sure" said the old gen.
tleman. Glad the house has a friend.
1t seems to have had enemies enough"
he added, and eyed the wreck of the
room ruefully. The good humor in his
face treasured me; but still stood in
tongue-tied wonder. staring at him.
And Plckering!" John Marshall
Glenarm's voice broke with a quiet
mirth that I remembered as the pre-
face usually of something unpleasant.
We'll. Arthur. I'm glad to find you on
guard, defending the interests of my
estate. At the risk of your life, too!
Bates!"
Yes, Mr.. Glenarm"
"You ought to have called me earlier.
I really priced that chandelier inn
mensely. And this furniture wasn't
so bad"
His tone changed abruptly He
pointed to the sheriff's deputies one
after the other with his stick. There
was. l remembered, always something
insinuating, disagreeable and final
about my grandfather's staff
CLEAR OUT" he commanded. Bates,
see these fellows through the wall.
Mr.. Sheriff, If we're you I'd be very
careful indeed what I said of this af-
fair. I'm a dead man come to life
again, and know great deal that I
didn't know before I died. Nothing,
gentlemen. fits man for life like a
temporary absence from this cheerful
and pleasant world. recommend you
to try it,"
He walked about the room with the
quick. eager step that was peculiarly
his own, while Stoddard. Larry and I
stared at him. Bates was helping the
dazed sheriff to his feet. Morgan and
the rest of the foe were crawling and
staggering away. muttertng, as though
imploring the aid Of heaven against an
evil spirit.
Pickering sat silent. not sure wheth.
err he saw ghost or real flesh and
blood, and Larry kept close to him,
cutting off his retreat. think we all
experienced that bewildered feeling Of
children who are caught in mischief
by sudden parental visitation. My
grandfather went about peering at the
quieting.
He paused suddenly before the de-
sign for the memorial tablet, which I
had made early in my stay at Glen
arm House. I had sketched the letter
ing with some care. and pinned It
against a shelf for my more lelsurely
study of it's phrases. The old gentle
man pulled out his glasses and stood
with his hands behind his back, read
ing. When ne finished he walked to
where stool. i.
"Jack." he said, Jack. my boy!"
His voice shook and his hands trem.
pled as he laid them on my shoulders.
Marian, he turned. seeking her, but
The girl had vanished. Just as WE'LL"
ne said. This room is hardly an edi-
Tying sight for woman" heard for
IN instant light hurried step in the
wall
Pickering, too. heard that faint, fugi.
live sound, and our eyes met at the in
slant 1t ceased. The thought of her
:ore my heart. and felt that Picker.
.ng saw and knew and was glad
They have all gone. SIR" reported
Bates, returning to the room.
Now, gentlemen" began my grand
father, seating himself. this little Sc
,ret Of mine was shared by only two
persons. One of these was Bates
ne paused as an exclamation broke
from all Of us; and he went on.
enjoying our amazement.-"and the
other was Marian Devereux I had OBJ
served for years that at a mans death
his property often gets into the wrong
hands. or becomes a bone of conten-
ton among lawyers. Sometimes
and the old gentleman laughed.-"an
executor proves incompetent or dis
honest. / was thoroughly fooled in
you. Pickering. The money you owe
me is a large sum: and you were so
delighted to hear Of my death that you
didn't even make sure was really out
Of the way. You were perfectly will.
ing to accept Bates word for It; and
must say that Bates carried 1t off
splendidly."
Pickering rose. the blood surging
again in his face. and screamed at
Dot eho1 g. A..