Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-06-06

wilderment."
All was quiet in the great cellar:
only hero and there an area window
ratified dolorously | carried a tape
! line with me and made measurements
or the length and depth of the corri
dor and Of the chambers that were Sc,
off from ii. These figures entered in
my notebook for further use, and SAT
down on an empty nail keg to reflect
The place waa certainly substantial
the candle at my feet burned steadily
with no hint of draft; but saw nc
solution Of my problem. was losing
sleep for nothing: my grandfather s
sketch was meaningless. and rose
and picked up my candle, yawning.
Then a curious thing happened. The
candle, whose thin fame had risen TN.
waveringly, sputtered and went out as
a sudden gust swept the corridor.
had left nothing open behind me.
but some one had gained ingress to
the cellar by an opening of which |
knew nothing.
I faced the stairway that led up to
the back hail Of the house when, to
my establishment, steps sounded be-
hind me, and, turning, saw a man
carrying lantern coming toward me.
| marked his careless STEP he was
undoubtedly on familiar ground AS I
watched him he paused. lifted the Ian
tern TO level with his eyes and be-
Il a.,
with a hammer.
Here, undoubtedly, was my friend
Morgan-again There was the same
periodiclty in the beat on the wall
that | had heard in my own rooms.
He began at the top ard went method
ically to the floor. / leaned against
the wall where | stood and watched
the slow approach Of the lantern. The
small revolver with which | had first
fired at his flying figure in the wood
was in my pocket. II was just as
well to have It out with the fellow
now. My chances were as good as
his. though | confess l did not relish
the thought Of being found dead the
next morning in the cellar Of my own
house. 1t pleased my humor to let him
approach in this way, unconscious thai
he was watched. until should thrust
my pistol into his fecc
His arms grew tired when he was
about ten feet from me and he
dropped the lantern and hammer to
his side and swore under his breath
impatiently.
Then he began again with greater
zeal. AS he came nearer I studied his
face in the lanterns light with intor.
est. His hat was thrust back. and
could see his jaw hard set under his
blond beard
He took a step nearer. ran his eyes
over the wall and resumed his tan
ping, beginning close to the ceiling.
In settling himself for the new series
of strokes he swayed toward me
slightly and could hear his hard
breathing l was celebrating how
best to throw myself upon him. but an
wavered he stepped back swore at
his i'll luck and flung the hammer to
the ground
Thanks" l shouted, leaping for.
ward and snatching the lantern.
stand just where you are"
With the revolver in my right hand
and the lantern hello high in nv left
! enjoyed his utter CONSERVATION. as
my voiced roared in the corridor.
ITS too bad we meet under such
strange circumstances. Morgan"
said. I'D begun to miss you; but
suppose you've been sleeping in the
to gather strength for your
night prowling,"
you're a fool" he growled. He
was recovering from his fright
knew it by the CLEAN Of his teeth in
his yellow beard. His eyes, too. were
moving restlessly about He undoubt-
eddy knew the house better than did,
and was considering the best means of
escape. | did not know what to do
with him now that had him at the
point Of pistol; and in my ignorance
of his motives and my vague surmse
as to the agency back of him, I was
filled with uncertainty
You needn't hold that thing quite
so near" he said> staring at me coolly.
I'm glad II annoys you, Morgan" I
said. II want you to tell HE how you
got in here
EIe laughed
Il came in by the Kitchen window,
If you must know. I got in before
your solemn Observation-Disclosures locked
it up. and l walked down to the end
of the passage theIe"-he indicated
tho direction with a Slight jerk of his
head--"and slept until it was time to
go to work"
"lf you can't lie better than that
you needn't try again. Face about,
now. and march,"
put new energy into my tone, and
be turned and walked before me down
the corridor in the direction from
which he had come. We were, | dare
say, pretty pair-he tramping dog
gedly before me- following at his
heels with his lantern and my pistol.
Not So fast" | admonished sharp.
ly.
| m J.