Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-09-28

CHAPTER xxiv.-continued

CHAPTER XxIV.-Continued.
ssThat was originally a trench for
natural gas pipes. There was once a
large pumping station on the site of
this house, with a big trunk main rum
ming off across country to supply the
towns west of here. The gas was ex-
hausted. and the pipes were taken up
before 1 began to build. / should
never have thought of that tunnel in
the world if the trench hadn't suggest
ed it. / merely deepened and widened
It a little and plastered it with cheap
cement as far as the chapel; and that
little room there where 1 put Picker
ings notes had once been the cellar
of a house built for the superintend-
ent of the gas plant. 1 never had any
idea that l should use that passage as
a means of getting into my own house,
but Marian met me at the station, told
me that there was trouble here, and
came with me through the chapel into
the cellar, and through the hidden
stairway that winds around the chin
ney from that room where we keep the
candle-sticks."
'But who was the ghost?" 1 demand
ed, IF you were really alive and in
Egypt?"
Bates laughed now.
"Oh, 1 was the ghost! I went
through there occasionally to stimu-
late your curiosity about the house.
And you nearly caught me once."
"One thing more, IF we're not wear
ing you out-I'd like to know whether
Sister Theresa owes you any money"
My grandfather turned upon Picker
ing with blazing eyes.
You scoundrel, you Internal scoun-
drei. Sister Theresa never borrowed a
cent of me in her lifel And you have
made war on that woman"
HIS rage choked him.
He told Bates to close the door of
the steel chest, and then turned to
me.
Where are those notes of Picker
ings?" he demanded; and 1 brought
the packet.
Gentlemen, Mr.. Pickering has gone
to ugly lengths in this affair How
many murders have you gentlemen
committed?"
1--WE were about to begin actual kill
ing when you arrived" replied Larry,
grinning-
1.-The sheriff got all his men off the
premises more or less alive, SIR said
Bates.
mistake-a very great mistake; 1 had
no idea such things could happen
and my grandfather turned to Picker
ing.
Pickering. what a contemplate
seoundrel you are, 1 lent you that
100000 to buy securities to give you
better standing in your railroad enter
prises. and the last time 1 saw you,
you got me to release the collateral so
YOU could raise money to buy more
shares. Then, after died"-he
chuckled--you thought you'd find and
destroy the notes and that would end
the transaction; and if you had been
smart enough to find them you might
have had them and welcome. But as
it is, they go to Jack. If he shows any
mercy on you In collecting them he's
not the boy 1 think he is
Pickering rose, seized his hat and
backed away toward the shattered
library door, He paused for a moment,
his face livid with rage.
you old fool," he screamed at my
grandfather. You old lunatic 1 wish
to God | had never seen you, No won
der you came back to lifel You're a
tricky old devil and too mean to die,"
He turned toward me with some SIM
ilar complaint ready at his tongues
end; but Stoddard caught him by the
SHOULDERS and thrust him out upon the
terrace.
A moment later we saw him cross
the meadow and hurry toward St.
AgatEa's.