The Irish standard., 1907-03-09

candle, whose thin flame had risen un.
wayeringly, sputtered and went out as
a sudden gust swept the corridor.
I had left nothing open behind me.
but some one had gained ingress to
the cellar by an opening OF which l
knew nothing.
I faced the stairway that led up to
the back hall Of the house when, to
my establishment, steps sounded be-
hind me, and, turning, l saw a man
carrying lantern coming toward me-
l marked his careless step: he was
undoubtedly on familiar ground. AS /
watched him he paused lifted the Ian
tern to a level with his eyes and be-
gan sounding the outer corridor wall
with hammer.
Here, undoubtedly. was my friend
Morgan-again! There was the same
neriodicity in the beat on the wall
that l had heard in my own rooms.
He began at the top and went method
ically to the floor. l leaned against
the wall where I stood and watched
the slow approach Of the lantern. The
small revolver with which l had first
fired at his flying figure in the wood
was in my pocket 1t was just as
we'll to have it out with the fellow
now. My chances We're as good as
his. though l confess I did not relish
the thought of being found dead the
next morning in the cellar of my own
house. 1t pleased my humor to let him
approach in this way, unconscious that
he was watched, until I should thrust
my pistol into his face.
His arms grew tired when he was
about ten feet from me and he
dropped the lantern and hammer to
his side and swore under his breath
impatiently.
Then he began again with greater
zeal. AS he came nearer I studied his
face in the lanterns light with inter.
est. His hat was thrust back, and
could see his jaw hard set under his
blond beard.
He took a step neaser, ran his eyes
over the wall and resumed his tap
ping, beginning close to the ceiling.
In settling himself for the new series
of strokes he swayed toward me
slightly and l could hear his hard
breathing. I was deliberating how
best to throw myself upon him, but an
| wavered he stepped back, swore at
his i'll luck and flung the hammer to
the ground.
"1hanks!' I shouted, leaping for.
ward and snatching the lantern.
Stand just where you are!"
With the revolver in my right hand
and the lantern held high in my left,
enjoyed his utter CONSERVATION, as
my voiced roared In the corridor.
It's too bad We meet under such
strange circumstances, Morgan"
said. I'D begun to miss you; but l
suppose you've been sleeping in the
daytime to gather strength for your
night prowling."
You're fool" he growled He
was recovering from his fright
knew it by the gleam of his teeth in
his yellow beard. His eyes, too, We're
moving restlessly about. He undouht.
edly knew the house better than did,
and was considering the best means cf
escape. did not know what to do
with him now that I had him at the
point of pistol; and in my ignorance
Of his motives and my vague surmise
as to the agency back of him, was
filled with uncertainty.
"You needn't hold that thing quite
so near he said, staring at me coolly.
I'm glad it annoys you, Morgan"
said. 81 want you to tell me how you
got in here"
He laughed.
Il came in by the kitchen window.
if you must know. got in before
your solemn iack-of-alltrades locked
it up, and l walked down to the end
of the passage there"-he indicated
the direction with a slight jerk Of his
head-"and slept until it was time to
60 to work.
IF you can't lie better than that
you needn't try again. Face about,
now, and march,"
I put new energy into my tone, and
uC eul AIS-u anu "dlhcu UclOIS 1lS uOWu
the corridor in the direction from
which he had come. We were, dare
say, a pretty pair-he tramping dog
gedly before me, following at his
heels with his lantern and my pistol.
Not so fast" admontshed sharp.
~.
Excuse me-" he replied nockingly.
He was no common rogue; I felt
The quality in him with a certain ad.
miration for his scoundrelly talents.
I continued at his heels, poking the
muzzle of the revolver against his
back from time to time to keep him
assured of my presence-a device that
[ was to regret second later.
When We were, 1 should Judge.
about ten yards from the end of the
corridor. at that moment I prodded
him with the point of the revolver,
he fell backward against me, threw
his arms over his head and grasped
me about the neck, meanwhile turn
ing himself llthely until his fingers
clasped my throat The lantern fell
e.. L.