Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-08
'. 4IHZzRaN2H IHznuI5M
 IA10Plr MfANXG GYxfEr tz7AqAGNz4XTa
 C01HaxHy E2Iu Gy Aaz4sA AEAHzk Cd

No; didn't even find that. Dono- van deserves the credit. But how did you ever come to build that tunnel. if you don't mind telling me-" He laughed gleefully.
 That 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 run ming of across country to supply the towns west of here. The gas was ex- hausted, and the pipes were taken up before l began to build. l should never have thought of that tunnel in the world if the trench hadn't suggest ed 1t. l merely deepened and widened 1t a little and plastered 1t with cheap cement as far as the chapel; and that little room there where I put Picker lng's notes had once been the cellar of house built for the superintend- ent of the gas plant. never had any Idea that should use that passage as 3 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 chim- ney from that room where we keep the candle-sticks."
 But who was the ghost?"I demand ed, If you were really alive and m Egypt?"
 Bates laughed now.
 "Oh, 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-rd like to know whether Sister Theresa owes you any money"
 My grandfather turned upon Picker Ing with blazing eyes.
 You scoundrel, you internal scoun- urel. Sister Theresa never borrowed a cent of me in her life! 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 ing's?' he demanded; and brought the packet.
 "Gentlemen, MT. Pickering has gone to ugly lengths in this affair. How many murders have you gentlemen committed"
 We were about to begin actual kill ing when you arrived" replied Larry, grinning.
 "The sheriff got all his men oil the premises more or less alive. sir," said Bates.
 ''That is good. It was all a great mistake,-a very great mistake; I had no idea such things could happen and my grandfather turned to Picker ing.
 Pickering, what a contemptible scoundrel you are! I lent you that $300.000 to buy securities to give you better standing in your railroad enter prises. and the last time saw you, you got me to release the collateral SO you could raise money to buy more shares. Then, after I 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 lind them you might have had them and welcome. But as 1t is. they go to Jack. If he shows any mercy on you in collecting them he's not the boy think he is."
 Pickering rose, seized his hat and backed away toward the shattered library door. He paused for moment, his face livid with rage.
 You old fool." he screamed at my grandfather. You old lunatic. wish to God had never seen you! No won- der you came back to life! You're a tricky old devil and too mean to die,"
 He turned toward me with some sim liar complsipt ready at his tongues end; but Stoddard caught him by the sohulders and thrus: him out upon the terrace.
 A moment later ~e saw him cross the meadow and hurry toward St. Agatha's.