The Elbert County tribune., 1907-10-03
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Authsr Of THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
DAHER0h." Etc.
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON
copyrisht 1905 bJ BObb-M.rriii Co.
CHAPTER xxIv.-contlnued.


lay on its side his gaze still bent on
Pickering. who stood with his over
coat buttoned close, his derby hat on
tho floor beside him, where 1t had
fallen as Bates hauled him into the
room.
The sound OF measured step. OF
some one walking, of a careful foot
on a stairway was quite distinct. /
even remarked the slight stumble that
/ had noticed before.
We were all so intent on those steps
in the wall that we were of guard. l
heard Bates yell warningly, and Larry
and Stoddard rushed for Pickering.
lie had drawn revolver from his
overcoat pocket and was about to fire
at me when Stoddard sent the weapon
flying through the air.
"Only a moment now. gentlemen"
said Bates. an odd smile on his face.
He was looking past me toward the
right end of the fireplace. There
seemed to be in the air a feeling OF
something impending. Even Morgan
and his men. halfcrouching. ready for
a rush at mo- hesitated and Pickering
glanced nervously from one to the
other of us. II was the calm before
the storm; In a moment we should be
at each others throats for the final
struggle, and yet we waited. In the
wall 1 heard still the sound of steps
They were clear to all of us now. We
stood there for what seemed an eter-
,nity-I suppose the time was really
not more than 30 seconds-inert, wait
ing, while l felt that something must
happen: the silence, the waiting, were
intolerable. / grasped my pistol and
bent low for spring at Morgan; and
every man in the room was instantly
on the alert.
All but Bates. He remained rigid
that curious smile on his blood-smeared
face, his eyes bent toward the end of
the great fireplace back of me.
That look on his face held, arrested,
numbed me; followed it. 1 forgot
Morgan; tacit truce held us all again
on the broad paneled chimney-breast
at the right of the hearth, and it was
there now that the sound of footsteps
in the wall was heard again; then 1t
ceased utterly the long panel opened
slowly. creaking slightly upon its
hinges. then down into the room
stepped Marian Devereux. She wore
the dark gown in which / had seen
her last, and cloak was drawn over
her shoulders.
She laughed as her eyes swept the
room.
"Ah. gentlemen" she said, shaking
her head, as she viewed our disorder,
what wretched housekeepers you
arel"
Steps were again heard in the wall,
and she turned to the panel. held 1t
open with one hand and put out the
other, waiting for some one who fol.
lowed her.
Then down into the room stepped
my grandfather. John Marshall Glen
armi His staff. his cloak, the silk hat
above his shrewd face, and his sharp,
black eyes were unmistakable. He
drew silk handkerchief from the
skirts of his frock coat, with a charac-
teristic flourish that / remembered
well. and brushed bit of dust from
his sleeve before looking at any of us.
Then his eyes fell upon me.
Good morning. Jack" he said; and
then gazed with mild curiosity about
the room.
God help us."
1t was Morgan, think who screamed
these words as he bolted for the
broken door, but Stoddard caught and
held him.
Thank God. you're here, siri" broke
forth in Bates sepulchral voice.
1t seemed to me that l saw all that
happened with weird. unnatural dis
Nnctness. As one sees. before storm,
vivid outlines OF far headlands that the
usual light of day fails to disclose.
I was myself dared and spsllbound; !;
but do not like to think, even now, Of
the effect Of my grandfather's appear
Ance OF Arthur Pickering; Of the
shock that seemed verify to break him
in two. 20 that he staggered. then col.
lapsed. his head falling as though to
strike his knees. Larry caught him by
the collar and drassed him to seat,
whore he huddled. his twitching hands
ht his throat.
Gentlemen" said my grandfather,
you seem to have been enjoying your
selves. Who is this person."
He pointed with his stick to the
bheriff, who was endeavoring to crawl
but 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-
tence? 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, tool
Well, WE'LL l thought better Of both
OF You. Good morning, Stoddardl A