Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-04-19
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
cop,risht 10, BY Rose.M Msrrtii Co.
CHAPTER Iv.-continued.
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Authss si THE MAIN CHANCE ZELDA
pAhEA0k." Etc.

Bates swung along confidently enough
ahead of me, pausing occasionally to
hold back the branches. ! began to
feel. rs my rage abated. that had set
out on a foolish undertaking. | was
utterly at sea as TO the character of
the grounds: was following man
whom had not seen until two hours
before. and whom ! began to suspect
. all manner OF designs upon me. 1t
was wholly unlikely that the person
who had fired into the windows would
lurk about. and. moreover. the light OF
the lantern. the cracklc of the leaves
and the breaking of the boughs adver.
tIsed our approach loudly.
A bush slapped me sharply and
stopped to rub the sting from my face.
Are you hurt. sir:" asked Bates so
licitousiy. turning with the lantern.
"of course not" I snapped. I'm
having the time OF my life. Are there
no paths In this junsie?'
Not Just here. sir. II was Mr.. Glen.
arms idea not to disturb the wood ut
all. He was very fond Of walking
through the TIMBER
Not at night. l hope! Where arc
". now?"
Quite near the lake. sir.''
Then go on
was out OF patience with Bates.
with the pathicsS woodland. and.
must confess. with the spirit of John
Marshall Gicnarm. my grandfather.
We came out presently upon n grav.
ely beach. and Bates stamped sud.
denly on pianking.
This Is the Glcnarm doeS. air: and
that's tn. boat house"
lie waved his lantern toward low
structure that rose dark beside ua. As
We stood silent. pccrinE out into the
starlight. I heard distinctly the dip of
n paddle and the soft gliding motion Of
canoe.
ITS a boat. sir whispered Bates.
hiding the lantern under his coat.
brushed past him aud crrpt TO the
end of the dock. The paddle dipped
ON Riicniiy and evenly In the still
water but the sound grew fainter. A
Mio- il the most graceful. tho mos,
Vhsitiyc. the most incxpi,cabi- con.
trivancc of man. With its paddle you
may dip up stars along quiet shores or
steal into the very harl,or OF dreams.
! knew that firtiy- splash Instantly.
and knew that trained hand welded
the paddle. Ny boyhooi summers In
the Maine woods were not. I and.
wholly wasted.
The owner of the canoe had evident.
Is stolen clos. to the GicuaEm dock.
hut had made on when alarmed by the
noise Of our approach through the
wood.
Have you a boat near here. Ba;cs9"
I asked.
The boat house is locked and
haven't the key with me. sir" he rc.
piled. without excitement.
"of coursc you haven't IT," ! re-
Joined. full of anger at his tone Of ire.
proachabic respect. and at my own
h.ipfuincss. had not even seen the
place by daylight. and the woodland
behind me and the lake .; my feet
were things of shadow and mystery.
In my rage stamped my foot.
Lead the way back I reared.
I had turned toward the woodland
when suddenly there stole across the
water yoicc.-a woman's voice. deep.
musical and deliberate.
Really. I shouldn't be 50 angry "
were you,' 1t sa,d. with a lingering
note on the word angry.
Who are your What are you doing
lssrc7" bawlcd.
Jnst enjoying little tranquil
iEht!" was the drawing. mcckins
Far out upon the water heard the
dip and glide of the canoe. and saw
family its outline for a moment: then
II was gone. The lake. the surround.
ing wood. were an unknown world
the canoe. boat Of dreams. Then
again came the voice:
Good niEht. merry gentlemen'"
"it was a lady. sir" remarked Rates.
after we had waited silently for full
minute.
How clever you arc." ! snecred.
u suppose ladies' prowl about here at
night. shooting ducks or into peoples
houses
1T would seem quite likely. sir
| should have liked TO cast him into
the lake. but he was already moving
away. the lantern swinging at his side.
I followed him. back through the wood
land 10 the house.
My spirits quickly responded TO the
cheering influence OF the great hprars.
stirred the fire on the hearth into
life and sat down before II. tired from
my tramp. was mystified and per
plcxed by the incident that had al
ready marked my coming. II was pos
siblc, to be sure. that the bullet which
narrowly missed riy head in the little
lining room had been a wild shot that
carried no evil intent. I dismissed at
once the idea that It might have been
fired from the lake: 1t had crashed
through the glass with too much force
10 have CONG 50 far: and moreover. !