The Delta independent., 1907-05-31
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Author Of THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
DANER0N." Etc.
Copyright IYoS by BobU--Aerriii Co.
CHAPTER VIII.-Continued.


self. Mr.. Glenarm?" he interrupted.
Il reckon you're tired from your trip
over"
Thank you. no. ! snapped.
Suit yourself. Mr.. Glenarm." He
seemed to like my name and gave it
disagreeable drawing emphasis.
Morgan, you are an internal black
guard. You have tried twice to kill
me-"
Wen call it that, If you like, and
he grinned. But you'd better cut
off one for this
He lifted the gray fedora hat from
his head, and poked his finger through
hole in the top.
You're pretty fair shot, Mr.. Glen
arm. The fact about me is,"-and he
winked,-"the honest truth is. I'm all
out of practice. Why. sir. when | saw
you padding out on the lake this after
noon l sighted you from the casino
half dozen times with my gun. but
l was afraid to risk It," He seemed
to be shaken with inner mirth. IF
I'd missed, l wasn't sure you'd be
scared to death!"
For a novel diversion | heartily rec
Ommend meeting with the assassin
who has, only few days or hours be-
fore. tried to murder you. | know of
nothing in the way of social adventure
that is quite equal to it.
Morgan, l hope you understand
that l am not responsible for any in
jury my grandfather may have infiict-
ed on you. l hadn't seen him for sew
eral years before he died. ! was never
at Glenarm before in my life, SO it's
little rough for you to visit your dis
pleasure on me-"
He smiled tolerantly as I spoke. ]
knew-and he knew that l did-that
no Ill feeling against my grandfather
lay back of his interest in my affairs.
You're not quite the man your
grandfather was. Mr.. Glenarm. You'll
excuse my bluntness. but l take it
that you're frank man yourself He
was very keen person. and. I'm
afraid, he chuckled with evident
satisfaction to himself really
afraid, Mr.. Glenarm, that you're mott"
There you have it, Morgan! l fully
agree with you! I'm as dull as an
oyster; that's the reason I've called
on you for enlightenment. Consider
that I'm here under a flag Of truce, and
let's see If we can't come to an agree
ment."
Its too late. Mr.. Glenarm; too late.
There was time when we might have
done some business; but that's past
now. You seem like pretty decent
fellow, too, and I'm sorry l didn't see
you sooner; but better luck next time"
We'll" l said, seeing that / should
only make myself ridiculous by trying
to learn anything from him, Il hope
our little spats through windows and
on walls won't interfere with our
pleasant social relations. And don't
hesitate to tell you,"-I was exerting
myself to keep down my anger,-"that
If l catch you on my ground again I'll
fill you with lead and sink you in the
lake"
Thank you, SIR" he said, with so
perfect an imitation of Bates voice
and manner that smiled in spite of
myself.
"And now, If you'll promise not to
fire into my back I'll wish you good
day. Otherwise"
He snatched of his hat and bowed
profoundly. "It'1l suit me much better
to continue handling the case on your
own grounds" he said, as though he
referred to a business matter. Kill
ing man on your own property re-
quires some explaining-you may have
noticed it?"
Yes; ! commit most of my murders
away from home," | said. 81 formed
the habit early in life. Good day, Nor.
gan"
AS turned away he closed his door
with slam,-a delicate way of assur.
ing me that he was acting in good
faith, and not preparing to puncture
my back with q rife ball. / regained
the lake shore, feeling no great dis
couragement over the lean results of
my interview, but rather fresh zest
for the game, whatever the game
might be.
The sun was going his ruddy way
beyond st. Agatha's as / drove my
canoe into a little cove near which
the girl in the tam-o' shanter had dis
appeared the day before. The shore
was high here and at the crest was a
long curved bench Of stone. boldly
reminiscential of Alma Tadema. and as
dearly the creation OF .Iohn Marshall
GIenarm as though his name had been
CARED upon 1t.
IT. was assuredly a spot for pipe
aad mood, and as the shadows crept
throuzh the wood before me and the
water, stirred by the rising wind be.
sas 10 heat below, ! invoked the one
ard yfeIded TO the other. Something
IN me witbered grass at my feet
esaght say eye, I bent and picked ur
. string IT gold beads, dropped there,