Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-09-21
Copyright 1906 By Bobbs-Merrin Co.
CHAPTER xxIv.-continued.


upon the edge of the long table that
lay on It's side, his gaze still bent on
Pickering, who stood with his over
coat buttoned close, his derby hat on
the floor beside him, where it had
fallen as Bates hauled him into the
room.
The sound of a measured step, of
some one walking. of a careful foot
on 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 off guard. l
heard Bates yell warningly, and Larry
and Stoddard rushed for Pickering.
He had drawn a revolver from his
oyercoat pocket and was about to fire
at me when Stoddard sent the weapon
flying through the air
1Only 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, half-crouching, ready for
a rush at me, hesitated; and Pickering
glanced nervously from one to the
other of us. 1t was the calm before
the storm; in a moment we should be
at each others Threats for the final
struggle. and yet we waited. In the
wall / heard still the sound of steps.
They were clear to all of us now. We
stood there for what seemed an eter-
nifty suppose the time was really
not more than 80 seconds-inert, wait
Ing, while L felt that something must
happen; the silence, the waiting, were
intoierable. 1 grasped my pistol and
bent low for a 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; I followed it. l forgot
Morgan; a tacit truce held us all again.
I stepped back till my eyes fastened
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 it
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 1 had seen
her last, and a 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
are!"
Steps were again heard in the wall
and she turned to the panel, held it
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
arm! His staff, his cloak, the silk hat
above his shrewd face, and his sharp,
black eyes were unmistakable. He
drew a silk handkerchief from the
skirts of his froclS coat, with a charac-
teristic flourish that 1 remembered
well. and brushed a 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
tho room.
God help usi''
1t was Morgan. 1 think. who screamed
broken door. but Stoddard caught and
held him.
THANK God, you're here, sir!" broke
forth in Bates sepulchraI voice.
1t seemed to me that / saw all that
happened with weird, unnatural dis
thickness. as one sees, before a storm.
vivid outlines of far headlands that the
usual light of day fails to disclose.
1 was myself dazed and speIlbound:
but do not like to think, even now, of
the effect of my grandfather's appear
ance on Arthur Pickering; of the
shock that seemed verify to break him
In two. so that he staggered. then col
lapsed. his head falling as though to
strike his knees. Larry caught him by
the collar and dragged him to a seat,
where he huddled. his twitching hands
at 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
sheriff, who was endeayoring to crawl
out from under the mass of broken
crystals.
'@That, sir. is the sh>-iff,'' answered
Bates.
A very disorderly saan, must say.
Jack, what have you been doing to
cause the sheriff so much inconyen-
fence? Didn't you know that that
That thing cost a thousand dollars.
Gentlemen. you are expensive visitors
All. Morgan.-and Ferguson. too.