The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1907-09-20
CHAPTER XXI.
A Prowler Of The kIobt

Don't expect too much" admon-
ished Larry: Il cant promise you a
single Spanish coin"
Perish the ambition We have
blocked Pickcring's game, and nothing
else matters" said.
We crawlcd through the hole in the
wall and lighted candles. The room
was about seven feet square. At the
farther end was an oblong wooden
door, close 10 the ceiling, and Larry
tugged at the fastening until II came
down. bringing with 1t a mass of snow
and leaves.
"Gentlemen." he said. we are at the
edge OF the ravine. DO YOU see the
blue sky" And yonder, II you will
twist your necks a bit, is the boat
house
We'll let the scenic effects go and
show us where you found those pa.
pers." urged.
Speaking Of mysteries. that is
where throw up my hands, lads. It's
quickly told. Here Is a table. and
here is an old despatch box. which lies
Just where ! found It. 1t was closed
anu Ai' h'-N Was III lie JUN 1 'ooh
out that packet--it wasn't even sealed
saw the character OF the contents.
and couldn't resist the temptation to
try the effect of an announcement OF
Its discovery on your friend Pickering.
Now that is nearly all. found this
piece Of paper under the tape with
which the envelope was tied. and I
don't hesitate to say that when I read
II ! laughed until l thought should
shake down the cellar. Read It. John
Glenarm,"
He handed me a fragment of legal
rap paper on which was written in the
anmistakable handwriting Of John
Marshall Glenarm. these words:
HE LAUGHS BEST WHO LAUGHS
LAST.
"What do you think Is so funny in
this" demanded.
Who wrote 1t, do you think" asked
Stoddard.
who wrote II, do YOU ask? Why
Jacks grandfather wrote II, John
Marshall Glenarm. the cleverest.
Erandest old man that ever lived. wrote
IT." declaimed Larry, his voice boom
ing loudly in the room. Its all a
great big game, fixed up to try you and
Pickering.-but principally you. you
hlockhead! Oh, it's grand, perfectly.
deliciously grand.-and to think II
should be my good luck to share in
IT,"
'Humph. I'm glad you're amused.
k,,, t,tl kn,,~
swfully funny. Suppose those had
allen into Pickering's hands: then
where would the joke have been, I
should like to know"
On you. my lad. to be sure The
old gentleman wanted you TO study
architecture: he wanted you to study
h,S house: he even left a little pointer
in an old book. oh. it's too good to bs
,rue!"
That's all clear enough" observed
Stoddard. knocking upon the despatch
box with his knuckles. But why do
YOU suppose he dug this hole here with
its outlet on the ravine?"
oh, II was the way of HIM" eN-
planned Larry. He liked the idea of
queer corners and underground pas
sases. This is bully hiding place
for man or treasure, and that outlet
into the ravine makes It possible to
get out OF the house with nobody the
wiser. It's In keeping with the rest OF
his scheme, BE gay, comrades. To-
morrow will likely find us with plenty
Of business on hands. At present We
hold the fort, and let us have care
lest We lose it."
We closed the ravine door. restored
the wall as best We could. and re-
turned to the library. We made list
OF the Pickering notes and spent an
hour discussing this new feature OF
the situation and specializing as to tho
hiding place of the remainder of my
grandfather's fortune. Larry and
Stoddard both declared their intention
of remaining until my troubles were
ended In spite OF my protests, Stod.
dard stayed for dinner, and afterward
We began again our eternal quest for
the treasure. our hopes high from
I.arry's lucky strike of the afternoon,
and with a new eagerness born of the
knowledge that the morrow would Ger.
tainly bring us face to face with the
real crises. We ranged the house from
tower to cellar: we overhauled the
tunnel. for. It seemed to me. the hun
drcdth time.
1t was my watch, and at midnight.
after Stoddard and Larry had recon-
no,tered the grounds and Bates and
had made sure Of all the Interior fas-
Jennings. sent them OF to bed and
made myself comfortable with a pipe
in the library.
waa glad Of the respite. glad to be
alone,-to consider my talk with Ma.
rian Devereux at st. Agatha's. and her
return with Pickering. Why could she
not always have been Olivia. ranging
IL. Ill