Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-05-03
By Meredith Nicholson
9 CHAPTER XXI.
A ProWler of the Nicht

WHAT En NAii.
A Prower of the Night.
Down we plunged into the cellar,
through the trap and to the Door Of
Bewilderment.
Don't expect too much" admon-
ished Larry; q can't promise you
single Spanish coin"
Perish the ambitionl We have
blocked Pekering's game, and nothing
else matters" | said.
We crawled through the hole in the
wall and lighted candles. The room
was about seven feet square. At the
farther end was an oblong wooden
door, close 10 the ceiling. and Larry
tusged at the fastening until 1t came
down, bringing with it a mass of snow
and leaves.
. Gentlemen, he said. we are at the
edge of the. Iavine. Do you see the
= blue sky and yonder, ii you will
twist your necks a bit, is the boat
house"
''Nall, let the scenic effects 90 and
show Us where you found those pa.
pers," Tmged.
"Spealang Of mysteries, that is
where Fthrow up NY hands, lads. It's
quickly told Here is a table and
here Is on Old DESPATCH b5x, which lies
jSt where found it. It was closed
and the key was in the lock. took
out That packet-it wasn't even sealed
saw the character Of The contents,
and couldn't resist the temptation to
Try the effect of an announcement of
Us discover on your friend Pickering.
Now tat IS nearly all. found this
piece of papsr Ualer the tape with
Which the envelope was tied. and I
don't hesitate 20 ay Eat when ] read
it'll laughed until | thourht | should
shake down the cellar Read it, John
Glenam!"
He handed me a traemant of legal
cap'paFer on which WIS w-itten in the
unmistabab'e, Handwriting of John
Marshall Glelarm, these words:
ms LAUGHS BEST WHO LAUGHS
LAST
'TWbat do Won -h,nk is 60 f,r,r :,
this?" | demanded.
'Who wrote il do Won think - asLod
Stoddard.
"Who wrote il. do Won as,,9 wbv
Jaek's oran5faIbor - ~, 10y rny'
Marshall Gloaa-m. the cIavarost
grandast old man that ever lived wroto
it," dechimed larry his v,;oo boor
ing loudly in tha room. "n's an a
great bic game fled nm N trv Won ,,a
PickeHng-but pripcir9IIy Won Won,
blockbead! Oh. IFS grand narract1v
deliciously sgrand-and TO tbiol, II
Should be my good luck to share in
it,"
"Humph I'm glad you're amused
but it doesn't strike me as hoing 90
awfully funny. SurDosa those bod
fallen into Pickering's hands. tbon
where would the Joke have. been 7
should like to know"
"On ven NV lad IN ba c,,,oI tn
old gentleman wanted Won - INC lHo
architecture he wanted vor 70 st,av
his house; he even loft rtt,a ro;ntar
IN an old book! Oh it's ton FOOD r. no
true!"
That's all clear enoEpbn obsorvoa
Stoddayd. knocking upop tha dagna,ob
box with his knuelIes "B1f WIN 10
you sunrose he dug This hole boro v,;th
Its outlet on the ravinnqv
"Oh. it, was the wav of bir,,n ~
pblned Larry He liked tbo idoo %,
queer coraers and UNDERGROUND noe
sages. This is a bully bid,ng riooo
for man or treasure and tbat outlet
into the ravine makes if roeeib,o ~
get OUT of tlre house with nobody tbo
wiser. Its in keeping with tba rest ~
his scheme. Be gay. conlradesl II.
morrow will likely find ms with nIan+v
. of business on hands. AT present wa
ehold the fort, and let US have a care
best we lose e." wi
We closed the ravine door. restored
the wall as best we could and re-.
turned to the library. We made a list
Ofsthe Pickering notes and spent an
ohohr discussing this new feature of
the situation and specializing as To the
hiding place Of the remainder of nv
grsndfatheTs fortune. Larry and
Stoddard both declared their intention
Of remaining until my troubles we're
ended in site of my protests. Stod.
dard STAYED for dinner opd ofto,,,,.,