The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1907-12-07
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
BY MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Author Of THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
CAMERON" Etc.
CHAPTER lv.-continued.
Copyright 1906 BY BobbsMerrih Go.

Bates swung along cOnndently enough
ahead of me, pausing occasionally to
hold back the branches, l began to
feel, as my rage abated that had set
out on a foolish undertaking. / was
utterly at sea as to the character OF
the grounds; | was following a man
whom / had not seen until two hours
before, and whom | began to suspect
of all manner of designs upon me. 1t
was wholly unlikely that the person
who had fired into the windows would
Turk about, and, moreover. the light OF
the lantern, the crackle of the leaves
and the breaking Of the boughs adver-
tised our approach loudly.
A bush slapped me sharply and l
stopped to rub the sting from my face.
Are you hurt, sir?" asked Bates so
licitously. turning with the lantern.
"Of course not" / snapped. I'm
having the time of my life. Are there
no paths in this jungle?"
mot Just here, sir II was Mr.. Glen
arms idea not to disturb the wood at
all. He was very fond Of walking
through the timber"
mot at night. I hope! Where are
we now?"
quite near the lake, sir"
"Then go on"
was out of patience with Bates,
with the painless woodland, and. ]
must confess, with the spirit OF John
Marshall Glenarm. my grandfather.
We came out presently upon grav-
ely beach, and Bates stamped sud
denly on planking.
"This is the Glenarm dock, sir; and
that's the boat house."
He waved his lantern toward a low
structure that rose dark beside us. AS
we stood silent, peering out into the
starlight, heard distinctly the dip Of
a paddle and the soft gliding motion Of
, a canoe.
Its boat, sir" whispered Bates,
hiding the lantern under his coat.
l brushed past him and crept to the
end of the dock. The paddle dipped
on silently and evenly In the still
water but the sound grew fainter A
canoe is the most graceful, the most
! sensitive. the most inexplicable con-
trivance of man. With its paddle you
may dip up stars along quiet shores or
steal into the very harbor of dreams.
knew that furtive splash instantly,
and knew that trained hand welded
the paddle My boyhood summers In
the Maine woods were not, l find,
wholly wasted.
The owner of the canoe had evident
hn
but had made off when alarmed by the
noise of our approach through the
wood.
'"Have you boat near here. Bates?'
asked.
1.-THE boat house Is locked and
haven't the key with me, SIR" he re-
piled, without excitement.
"Of course you haven't It," re-
Joined. full Of anger at his tone Of IRE
proachable respect. and at my own
helpfulness. l had not even seen the
place by daylight, and the woodland
behind me and the lake at my feet
were things of shadow and mystery
In my rage stamped ny foot.
Lead the way back" roared.
had turned toward the woodland
when suddenly there, stole across the
water voice,-a worhan's voice, deep
musical and deliberate.
Really, shouldn't be so angry II
were you!" II said, with lingering
note on the word angry.
who are you? What are you doinl
there?" | bawled.
"Just enjoying a little Tranquil
thought" was the drawing. mockinl
reply.
Far out upon the water heard thu
dip and glide of the canoe, and saw
family its outline for a moment: 'hei
It was gone. The lake. the surround
ing wood, were an unknown world
the canoe, a boat of dreams. Thel
again came the voice:
Good night, merry gentlemen"
1T was a lady, sir" remarked Bates
after we had waited silently for full
minute.
How clever YOU are." | sneered
II suppose ladies prowl about here a
night, shooting ducks or into people
houses"
~ Wuuiu stSiu Vuite iihciys BIZ
! should have liked to cast him int
the lake, but he was already movin
away. the lantern swinging at his side
| followed him. back through the WOOD
land to the house
My spirits quickly responded to tn
cheering influence of the great librar,
stirred the fire on the hearth Int
life and sat down before 1t, tired fror
my tramp. | was mystified and pc
picked by the incident that had a
; ready marked my coming. 1t was po
sible. to be sure, that the bcllet whic
narrowly missed my head In the littl
dining room had been wild shot tha
carried no evi, intent. ! dismissed
once the idea that It might have bee
fred from the lake; It had crashe
through the glass with too much fore
to have come so far; and. moreover.
could hardly irseWs even a rife ba