Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-03-30
CHAPTER IIl.-continued.

we'll as I deserved and the least
could do was to accept the penalty he
had laid upon me in sane and anna
Bile spirit This train of thought occu-
pied me as we tramped along the nlsh-
way The road now led away from
the lake and through heavy "ooo-
Presently, on the right doomed oark
barrier, and l put out my mana anu
touched a wall of rough stone that
rose to height of about eight Iee''
What is this, Bates? 2 l asked.
This is Glenarm land, SIR me
wall was one of your grandfather
ideas. It's a quarter of mile long
and cost him pretty penny, warrant
Won. The road turns off from the
lake now, but the Glenarm property is
all lake 'front.'
So there was wall about my pr1s-
on house. l grinned cheerfuliy 10
myself When, a few moments later
my guide paused at an arched gateway
in the long wall, drew from his over
coat a bunch of keys and fumDled at
the lock of an iron gate, 1eit the
spirit of adventure quicken WITHIN me.
The gate clicked behind us and
Bates found a lantern and lighted 1t
with the ease of custom.
q use this gate because it's nearer
The regular entrance is farther down
the road Keep close. sir, as the TIM
Der isn't much cleared.
The underground was indeed heaVy'
and l followed the lantern of my gulde
with difficulty. In darkness the place
seemed as wild and rough as tropi-
cal wilderness.
"Only a little farther" rose Bates
voice ahead of me; and then: There's
civ md
as 1 stumbled over the roots of a
great tree 1 saw for the first time the
dark outlines of Ghnarm House.
.Here we are sir!" exclaimed
Bates. stamping his feet upon a walk.
I followed him to what / assumed to
be the front door of the house, where
a lamp shone brightly at either side
of a massive entrance. Bates flung 1t
open without ado, and 1 stepped quick
ly into great hall that was lighted
dimIy by candles fastened into brack-
cts on the walls.
"T hope you've not expected too
much, Mr.. Glenarm," said Bates, with
a tone of mild apology. It's very In
complete for living purposes.
well we've got to make the best
of it," / answered, though without
much cheer. The sound of our steps
echoed in the well of a great stair
case. There was not, as far as could
see, a single article of furniture in
the place.
Here's something you'll like better.
SIR and Bates paused far down the
hall and opened a door.
A single candle made little pool
of light in what l felt to be large
room. 1 was prepared for disclosure
of barren ugliness, and waited. in
heartsick foreboding, for the silent
guide to reveal a dreary prison.
please sit here, SIR said Bates.
while l make better light"
He moved through the dark room
with perfect ease, struck a match.
lighted a taper and went swiftly and
softly about He touched the taper to
one candle after another,-they seem
ed to be everywhere,-and won from
the dark a faint twilight. that yielded
slowly to a growing mellow splendor
of light / have often watched the
acolytes in dim cathedrals of the Old
World set countless candles ableze on
magnificent altars,-always with awe
for the beauty of the spectacle: but
in this unknown house the austere
serving man summoned from the shad-
ows a loviier and more bewildering en-
chantment. Youth alone, of beautiful
thinga ia Ioveiier than light.
The lises of the wall receded as the
light increased, and the raftered cell
ing drew away, Turing the eyes up
ward. / rose WITH a smothered ex,
clamation on my lips and stared about
snatching OF my hat in reverence as
the spirit of the place wove its spell
about me. Everywhere there were
books; they covered the walls to the
ceiling. with only long French win
dows and an enormous fireplace break
ing the line. Above the fireplace q
massive dark oak chimney-breasi
further emphasized the grand scale oi
the room. From every conceivable
place-from shelves built for the pur
pose, from brackets that thrust out
long arms among the books, from 6
great crystal chandelier suspended
from the ceiling, and from the breast
of the chimney-innumerab candles
blazed with dazzling brilliancy. l ex
claimed in wonder and pleasure as
Bates paused, his sorcerer's wand In
hand.