The Delta independent., 1907-04-26
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON
As,hor Of THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
DAMER0N." Etc.
Copyright 1905 by BoUbs-Merrtn Co.
CHAPTER IV.-Continued.

ahead of me, pausing occasionally to
hold back the branches. I began to
feel, as my rage abated, that l had set
out on a foolish undertaking. l was
utterly at sea as to the character Of
the grounds; l was following man
whom l had not seen until two hours
before, and whom l began to suspect
of 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 crackle of the leaves
and the breaking of the boughs adver-
tised our approach loudly.
bush slapped me sharply and l
stopped to rub the sting from my face.
Are you hurt. sir?" asked Bates So
licitously, turning with the lantern.
"Of course not" | snapped. I'm
having the time of my life. Are there
no paths in this jungle?'
Not just here, sir. 1t was Mr.. Glen
arms idea not to disturb the wood at
through the timber"
Not at night, l hope! Where are
we now?"
Quite near the lake, sir.
"Then go on
was out of patience with Bates,
with the painless woodland, and.
must confess, with the spirit of John
Marshall Glenarm. my grandfather.
We came out presently upon grav-
ely beach, and Bates stamped sud
denly on planking.
This is the Glenarm dock, sir; and
that's the boat house."
He waved his lantern toward a low
structure that rose dark beside us. AS
We stood silent, peering out into the
starlight, heard distinctly the dip Of
a paddle and the soft gliding motion of
a canoe.
Its a boat. SIR" whispered Bates,
hiding the lantern under his coat.
l brushed past him and crept to the
end of the dock. The paddle dipped
on silently and evenly in the still
water but the sound grew fainter. A
canoe is the most graceful. the most
sensitive, the most ineXplIcable con-
trivance of man. With its paddle you
may dip up stars along quiet shores or
steal into the very harbor of dreams.
l knew that furtive splash instantly,
and knew that trained hand welded
the paddle. My boyhood summers in
the Maine woods were not, / find,
wholly wasted.
The owner of the canoe had evident
~ stolen close to the Glenarm dock,
but had made off when alarmed by the
noise of our approach through the
wood
Have you boat near here, Bates?"
I asked.
The boat house is locked and l
haven't the key with me, sir" he re-
piled. without excitement
"Of course you haven't It," re-
Joined, full of anger at his tone OF IRE
proachable respect. and at my own
helpfulness. l had not even seen the
place by daylight, and the woodland
behind me and the lake at my feet
were things of shadow and mystery.
In my rage / stamped my foot.
Lead the way back" l roared.
l had turned toward the woodland
when suddenly there stole across the
water voice,-a woman's voice, deep,
musical and deliberate.
Really, shouldn't be SO angry II
were YOU. IL Sdlu, Will a
note on the word angry.
"Who are you? What are you doing
. there?" / bawled.
Just enjoying little tranquil
thought" was the drawing, mocking
reply.
Far out upon the water heard the
dip and glide of the canoe, and saw
family it's outline for moment; then
it was gone. The lake, the surround.
ing wood, were an unknown world
the canoe, boat of dreams. Then
again came the voice:
Good night, merry gentlemen"
ut was lady, sir" remarked Bates,
after we had waited silently for full
minute.
How clever you are." l sneered.
II suppose ladies prowl about here at
night, shooting ducks or into peoples
houses"
"It 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.
followed him, back through the wood
land to the house.
My spirits quickly responded to the
cheering influence of the great library.
| stirred the fire on the hearth into
life and sat down before 1t, tired from
my tramp. ! was mystified and per-
picked by the incident that had al
ready marked my coming. 1t was pos
sible, to be sure, that the bullet which
narrowly missed ms head in the little
dining room had been wild shot that
carried no evil intent. dismissed at
Dnce the idea that 1t might have been
fred from the lake; It had crashed
through the glass with too much force
To have come so far; and, moreover,