Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1907-10-04
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
CHAPTER xx'v.-censInseS.
D. AgEREDTTH NICHOLSON
A''A.' = TH.sHss. ! ss e. ''''A


upon the edge OF tho long table that
lay on It's side. his gaze still bent ON
Pickering. who stood with his over
coat buttonsd close. his derby hat on
tho door beside him. where Il had
fallen ~ Bates hauled hin Into the
room.
The sound OF . measured step. Of
AIns one walking. OF . careful foot
% . 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 wc were Cd guard.
heard Bates yell warninxiy. and Larry
and Stoddard rushed for Pickering.
He had drawn = revolver from his
ovsrcoat pocket and was about to fire
1t mo when Sioddard sent the weapon
dying through the air.
only = moment now. gentlemen"
said Bates. an odd smile on his face.
hs was looking past mo toward the
right end of the fireplace. There
seemed to be In the air = feeling OF
something impending. Even Morgan
and his men. haif.crouchinE. ready for
b rush at me. hcsitatcd: and Pickering
glanced rervousiy from ono to tho
other Of US. II was the calm before
the storm: in a moment We should be
ut each others threats for the ANAL
struggle, and yet We waited. In the
wall I heard still the sound OF steps.
They wore clear to NIL Of US now. We
stood there for what seemed m cter-
nity-l suppose the timc was really
not moro than so ACCOMPLISHMENT. walt.
Ing. while I felt that something must
happen: tho silence. tho waiting. werc
sntolcrabie. ! Eraspod my pistol and
bent low for n spring At Morgan: and
every man In tho room was instantly
on tho alert.
All but Bates. He remained rigid
that curious smile on his blood.smeared
face. his eyes bent toward tho end Of
tho great fireplace back Of me.
That look on his face held. arrested.
numbcd me: I followed It. l forgot
Morgan: = tacit truce held US all again.
Asteppcd back till my eyes fastened
Oh tho broad panoicd chimncy.brcast
at the right OF the hearth. and II was
there now that the sound Of footsteps
in tho wall was heard again: then II
ceased utterly. the long panel opened
slowly. creaking slightly upon it's
hinges. then down into the room
stepped Marian Dcvcreux. She wore
the dark gown in which I had seen
her last. and a cloak was drawn over
her shoulders.
She laughed rs her eyes swept the
room.
"Ah. gentlemen" she said. shaking
her head. rs she viewed our disorder.
what wretched housekeepers you
sre!"
Steps were again heard In the wall.
and she turned to the panel. held II
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 stan. his cloak. the silk hat
above his shrewd face, and his sharp.
black eyes were unmistakable. He
drew q silk handkerchief from the
skirts OF his frock coat. with charac-
teristic flourish that remembered
well. and brushed bit OF dust from
his sleeve before looking at dry OF US.
Then his eyes fell upon me.
Good morning. Jack" he said: and
then gazed with mild curiosity about
the room.
God help us!"
. It was Morgan. I think. who screamed
these words as he bolted for the
06ken door. but Stoddard caught and
held him.
Thank God. you're here. sir!" broke
forth in Bates sepulchral voice.
1t seemed to me that saw all that
happened with a weird. unnatural dis.
tinctness. as one sees. before storm,
vivid outlines OF far headlands that the
usual light OF day fails to disclose.
was myself dazed and spellbound;
but do not like to think. even now, of
tho 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.
tapsed, his head falling a. 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 endeavoring to crawl
out from under the mass Of broken
crystals.
THAT, sir. is the sheriff." answered
Bates.
"A very disorderly man, must say.
Jack. what have you been doing to
cause the sheriff SO much ineenven-
fence? Didn't you know that that
chandelier was likely to kill him?
That thing cost a thousand collars.
Gentlemen. you are expensive visitors.
All, Morgan,-and Ferguson, too!
Wall WE'LL thought better Of both