The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-09-12

cHAPTER NxIV.-continued.

II think you are quite right. SIR,
said Bates. He threw down the r.
volyer he held ia his hand and leane.
upon the edge OF the long table tina
Jay on ITS side. his gaze stiil bent Of
Pickering, who stood with his over
coat buttoned close his derby hat OF
h floor beside him. where It Ia,
fallen as Bates hauled him into tn
room.
The sound OF a measured step, o
some one walking, OF a careful foo
on a stairway. was quite distinct
even remarked the slight stumble tina
] had noticed before.
We we're all so intent on those step.
in the wall that We were on guard.
heard Rates yell warnlngly. and Larry
n 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.
ONLY a moment now. gentlemen IS
said Rates. an odd smile on his face.
He was looking past me toward the
right end Of the fireplace. There
seemed 10 be in the air a feeling Of
something impending. Even Morgan
aud his men, h~alfcr0uching. ready for
a rush at me. hesitated; and Pickering
glanced %nervOusly from one to the
other Of us. II was the calm before
the storm; in a moment we should be
at each others threats for the final
strnggie. and yet We waited IN the
wall 7 heard stll 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 1 felt that something must
happen; the silence, the waiting. were
lntolerable. ] grasped my pistol and
bent low for a spring az 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 hello. arrested.
numbed me: l followed Il. / forgot
Morgan; a taclt truce held us all again.
] stepped back tfl my eyes fastened
on the broad paneled -chimney-breast
az the right OF the hearth. and ii was
there nOw that the sound Of footsteps
IN the wall was heard again: then II
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 I had seen
her last. and a cloak was drawn over
her shoulders.
She laughed as her eyes swept the
room
All, gentlemen she said, shaking
her head. as she viewed our disorder.
what wretehed housekeepers You
are!"
Steps were again heard In the wall.
and she turned 90 the panel. held IL
open with n hand n put out the
other, waiting for some one who fol
lowed her.
Then down into the room stepped
my grandfather. John MarshaH Glen
arm. His stan. mis- cloak. the silk hat
above his shrewd face, and his sharp.
black eyes were unmistaknble. He
drew a silk handkerchief from the
skirts ~ his frock coat. with a oharac-
terisuc flourish that l remembered
well. and brushed a bic OF dust from
his sleeve before looking az any OF ur.
Then hts eyes fen upon me.
Good morning. Jack he said. and
then ga2cd with mild curiosity about
the room.
God help usi"
n was Morgan. / think. who screamed
ahann urnran eH h. AaHH.H n a.
broken door, but stoddard caught and
held hm
Thank God, you're here. sir" broke
forth Ia Bates sepulchral voice.
Il seemed 10 mo chat I saw an That
happened with a weird. unnatural dis. \
tinctness, as one sees. before a storm.
vivid outlines Of far headlands that the
nsual light Of day falls TO disclose
! vas myself dazed n s~pellhound.
but do not like 20 think. even now. OF
the effect OF my grandfather's appear.
anee on Arthur Pickering; OF the
shock that seemed verify 10 break him
10 two. so that he staggered. then. col,
lapsed. his head falling as though 10
strike his knees. Larry caught him BY
the collar and dragged him to a seat
where ne huddled, his twitohing hands
al his throat.
Gentlemen, said nay grandfather. !
you seem 10 have been enjoying your
selves. Who Is this person.
lie 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
Hates.
"A very dlsOrdeFly man. / must say.
Jack, what have you been doing to
cause the sheriff 30 much ~inconyen
iencc? Didn't you know that thai
chandelier was likely 10 kan him.
That thing cost a thousand dollars.
Gentlemon. you are expensive visitors