Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-08-10


grandfather. who had built and left sn-
complete a house 80 utterly prepos-
ferrous Nv objectionable hing at the
girl still ranked; and I was cold from
the quick descent OF the nisht chill on
the water and anxious "a get INTO some
comfortable clothes. Once on the sec
end noor I was sure Of the location OF
my room. and was feeling nay way
toward K over tho rough floor when
heard low voices rising apparently
from nv -ittingroom.
Il was pitch d,rk IN the hail
stopped short sad ustened. The door
or my room was open and faint light
flashed once into the hail and disap-
peared. I heard Row a sound as of a
hammer tapping upon woodwork.
Then &c ceased. and voice whis-
pered:
Hen KIN me 81 be finds me here.
III try again tomorrow. I swear to
God TN help you but no more now"
Then the sound OF = scuf1o and
again the tapping OF the hammer.
After several minutes more of this
there was a whispered dialogue which
l could MT hear.
Whatever was occurring two OF
three points struck me on tho instant.
One Of the conspirators was an unwill-
ing party 90 an act as yet unknown:
second. they had been unsuccessful
and must wait for another 0pportu-
nifty: and third. the business. whatever
st was. was clearly OF some Importance
90 myself. as my own apartments m
my graudfather's strange house had
been chosen for the investigation
Clearly 7 was not prepared 90 close
/ the incident but the idea Of frghteu-
ing nay visitors appealed 20 my sense
OF humor. I tiptoed 60 the front stair
way. ran lightly down. found tho front
door. and. from the inside. opened and
slsmmed &c. I heard instantly a hur-
ried scamper above. and the heavy fan
of one who had stumbled in the dark.
/ grinned with real pleasure at the
sound % the mishap. FASTENED TO tho
great library. which was As dark as "A
well. and. opening one Of the long win
dows. stepped out on the balcony. At
once from the rear of the house came
tho sound of stc0lthy step. which
increased Co q run az tho rsvino bridge
I listened 90 the hiSht OF the fugitive
through Che wood until the sounds died
away toward the lake.
Then. turning Co the library window.
I saw Bates. with a candle held above
his head. pecr.ns about
Hello. Bates Z called cheerfuIlv.
II iust got home and stepped out to
SEQ y the moon had risoa. I don't
believe Z know where Go look for il In
this country"
re began lighting tho tapers with
his usual deliberation.
'Its trine early. think. sIr.
About eight o'clock. 7 should say. was
the hour. Mt. Glenavm."
There was. OF course. no doubt what.
ever that Bates had been one OF the
mon I heard in my room 70 was
wholly possible hat he had been com
PEELED Go assist in some lawless act
against his viii; but why. 10 he had
! boon forced into aiding a criminal.
should he not invoke my own aid 70
protect himself I kicked tho logs
IN the fireplace impauently az my un-
certainty. The maa slowly lighted
the many candles ga tho grcat apart
ment lie was certainly deep ono.
and his case grew more puzsllng as I
studied 10 in relation 20 the rifle shot
OF the nisht before his collision with
I Morgan ga the wood. which I bad wit
I messed; and now the house Itself had
been invaded by some one with his
conniVance The rife shot might have
been innocent enough, but taken Ia
connection with these other matters
P 20 could hardly be brushed aside.
Bates lighted me TO the stairway.
and said as ] passed him:
There's "a baked ham 10Y dinner. Z
should call 10 extra delicate. Mr.. Glen
arm. I suppose there's no change In
the dinner hour sir2"
Certainly not" said with asperlty.
for I am not a person 20 inaugurate q
dinner hour one day and change il the
next Bates wished 20 make CONVEX
satioh-tho sure sign OF guilty con
science In servant.-end / was not
disposed 20 encourage him.
/ closed the doors carefully and b.
gan "a thorough examination OF both
the sitting-room and the little bed
chamber. I was quite sure that my
own effects could not have attracted
the two men who had taken advantage
OF my absence 10 visit my quarters.
Bates had helped unpack my trunk
and undoubtedly knew every item OF
my simple wardrobe. threw open
the doors OF my three closets and
found them all in the good order
established by Bates He had carried
my trunks and bags 20 a store-rOom.
80 that everything I owned must have
passed under bis eye. Ny money
even. the remnant Of my fortune that
had drawn from the New York bank.
l had placed carelessly enough IN the
drawer OF a chiGonier otherwise filled
with collars. II took but a moment To
satisfy myself that this had not been
touched. And. 10 be sure a hammer
was not necessary 10 open a drawer
that had. from its appearance, never
been locked Tho game was deeper
than had imagined; had scratched
abe crust without result. and my wits
were busy with speoulatioas as /
brushed my clothes. pausing frequent
ly TO examine the furniture. even the
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