The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27
CHAPTER XVIII.
Meet an Old Friend,

When I reached Glenarm House the
ment that the window l had left open
as l scrambled out the night before
was closed dropped my bag and
crept to the front door, thinking that
II Bates had discovered my absence 1t
was useless to attempt any further
deception. was amazed to find the
great doors Of the main entrance flung
wide, and In real alarm I ran through
the hall and back to the library.
The nearest door stood open. and, as
| peered in. curious scene disclosed
itself. A few of the large cathedral
candles still burned brightly in several
places, their flames rising strangely in
the gray morning light. Books had
been taken from the shelves and scat.
tered everywhere, and sharp nipple.
ments had cut ugly gashes in the
shelving. The drawers containing
sketches and photographs had been
pulled out and their contents thrown
about and trampled under foot.
The house was as silent as tomb,
but as stood on the threshold trying
to realize what had happened. some.
thing stirred by the fireplace and l
crept forward, listening, until I stood
by the long table beneath the great
of some animal walking and stretch.
ing, followed by moan that undoubt.
edly was human. Then the hands of a
man clutched the farther edge of the
table, and slowly and evidently with
infinite difficulty a figure rose and the
dark face Of Bates with eyes blurred
and staring strangely, confronted me.
He drew his body to its height and
leaned heavily upon the table. l
snatched a candle and bent toward
him to make sure my eyes were not
trucking me.
"Mr. Glenarm; Mr.. Glenarm;" he OK.
claimed IN broken whispers. 1T is
Bates, SIR
What have you done; what has hap
pened?" l demanded.
He put his hand to his head uncer.
tainly and gasped as though trying to
gather his wits.
He was evidently dazed by whatever
had occurred. and sprang round and
helped him to couch. He would not
lie down but sat up, staring and pass
ing his hand over his head. 1t was
rapidly growing lighter, and l saw a
purple and black streak across his
temple where a bludgeon of some sort
had struck him.
What does this mean, Bates? Who
has been in the house?'
1T was early this morning." he fall
tered, about two o'clock, heard
noises in the lower part Of the house.
l came down, thinking likely 1t was
you, and remembering that you had
been sick yesterday"
Yes, go on"
The thought of my truancy was no
balm to my conscience just then.
"As l came into the hall, saw lights
In the library. AS you weren't down
last night the room hadn't been lighted
at all. heard steps. and some one
tapping with hammer"
Eyes; hammer. Go on!"
1t was, then. the same old story!
The war had been carried openly into
the house. but Bates.-just why should
any one connected with the conspiracy
injure Bates, who stood 50 near te
Pickering, its leader? The fellow was
undoubtedly hurt,-there was no mis-
taking the wound on his head. He
spoke with painful difficulty thai
was not assumed, felt increasingly
sure, as he went on.
II saw a man pulling out the books
and tapping tho inside Of the shelves
He was working very fast. And thu
next thing knew he let in another
man through one of the easements
the one there that still stands . little
omen F"