Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-05-17
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON
As,I., Il TEE HAiH esANeI.- zllSA
6AhEaeh." Ese.
CHAPTER vii.-contInusd.
copyrissi isss y sssS.N .NsTItii Co,

panelins that ran around the bed.
room. The wood had been struck
near the base and Mt the top OF every
panel. for though the mark was not
perceptible on all. test had evidently
been made systematically. With this
AZ beginning. found moment
i,ter spot OF taiiow under heavy
oable In one corner. Evidently the
Furniture had been moved TO permit
OF the closest scrutiny OF the panelins.
Glenarm House really promised TO
prove exciting. ! took from a drawer
small revolver. filled It's chambers
with cartridges and thrust II into my
hip pocket. whistling meanwhile Larry
Donovan's favorite air. The Marche
Funebre de Marionnettcs." My heart
went out to Larry as ! scented adven.
ture, and I wished him with me: but
spcculations as to l.arry's where
abouts were always proftless. and
quite likely he was In jail somewhere.
The ham OF whose excellence Bates
had limited was no disappointment.
There Is. l have always held. nothing
better In this world than n properly
baked ham. and the specimen Bates
placed before me was delight to the
syc.-so adorned was II with spices:
so crispiy brown Its outer coat: and q
taste.-thnt first tentative taste. be-
fore the sauce was added.-was like
a dream of Lucuiius come true. felt
that could forgive good deal In n
cook with that touch.-anythins short
of arson and assassination.
Bates" l said. as he stood forth
where l could see him. ''you cook
amazingly well. Where did you learn
the busincss7'
Il can hardly say know Il. sir.
Your iamcntcd grandfather grew very
captious. Mr.. Glcnnrm. ! Ind to learn
to satisfy him. and ! believe did II,
sir. II youli pardon the concciL"
He didn't die OF gout. did he: l
can readily imagine IT,"
mo. Mr.. Glcnarm. II was his heart.
lie had his warning Of it,
"Ah. yes: to be sure. The heart or
Tho stomach.-onc may aS well fall as
UHic other. I believe ! prefer to keep
my digestion going nv long ms possible.
Those griiicd sweet potatoes again. II
you please. Bates"
The game that he and I were play.
Ing appealed to me strongly. II was
altogether worth while. and ms ! ate
Suava jelly with cheese and toasted
crackers. and then lighted one Of my
avn cigars over cup OF Bates unfail.
ing coffee. my spirit was livelicr than
At any time since n certain evening on
which Larry and had escaped from
rangicr with our lives and the curses
of the police.
The day had offered much material
Tor fircside reflection. and I reviewed
It's history calmly. There was. how.
ever. one incident that I found I'M.
pleasant In the retrospect. had been
guilty of most unchivalrous conduct
toward one Of the girls OF 81. Agatha's.
It had certainly been unbecoming In
me to sit on the wall. however unwill.
ingly, and listen to the words-fcw
though they wcrc-that passed be.
tween her and the chaplain. forgot
the shot through the window: I forgot
Bates and the interest my room pos.
sessed for him and his unknown o..
complice: but the sudden distrtist and
contempt I had awakened In the girl
by my clownish behavior annoyed me
increasingly.
rose presently. found my cap and
went out into the moon.flooded wood
toward the lake. The tangle was not
30 great when you knew the way.
nd there was indeed. as I had found.
Hie faint suggestion OF path. The
moon glorified broad highway across
the water: the air was sharp and still.
I followed the wall OF st. Agatha's to
the gate. climbed up and sat down In
the shadow of the pillar farthest from
the lake. I drew out a cigarette and
was about to light 1t when I heard a
sound as OF a step on stone. There
was. knew, no stone pavement at
hand, but peering toward the lake
saw a man walking boldly along the
top of the wall toward me. The moon.
light threw his figure into clear relief.
Several times he paused. bent down
and raped upon the wall with an
object he carried in his hand.
Tap. tap. tap! The man with the
hammer was examining the farther
side of the gate. and very likely he
would carry his Investigations beyond
It. drew up my legs and crouched
In the shadow of the pillar. revolver
In hand. I was not anxious to invite
an encounter; I much preferred to
wait for disclosure of the purpose
that lay behind this mysterious tap.
ping upon walls.
But the matter was taken out Of my
own hands before I had chance to
debate 1t. The man dropped to the
ground. sounded the stone base under
the gate, likewise the pillars. evident.
" without results. struck spiteful
crack upon the iron bars. then stood
IN abruptly and looked me straight in
The eyns. II was Morgan, the care.