The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-09-19

CHAPTER xxlV.-contInosd.

c~oB5rsAt ns = HabseNsfEm q.
CHAPTER xxlV-coHtlnued.
~That was originally a trench for
natural gas plpes. There was once q
large pumping station On the site OF
this house, with a big trunk main rum
ming on across country 70 supply the
towns west Of here. The gas was ex-
hausted, and the pipes were taken up
before I began to build. I should
never have thought OF that tunnel in
ne world II the trench hadn't suggest
81 e. 7 merely d~eepened and widened
"a q little and plastered It with cheap
cement as far as the chapel; and that
kittle room there where / put Picker.
Eng's notes had once been the cellar
81 a house built for the s~uperlntend-
aent Of the gas plant. I never had any
idea nat ! should use that passage as
"a ean Of getting into my own house,
but Marian met me az 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?" I demand
ed IF you we're really alive and IN
Egyptg~
Bates laughed now.
oh. J vas the gh0sti I went
Ehro1gh there occasionally to stimu-
late your curiosity about the house.
And you nearly caught me oncelr
-One thing more, il we're not wear
ing you Out-Td like 70 know whether
Sister Theresa owes you any money.
My grandfather turned upon Picker
Eng with blazing eyes.
You scouRdrel. you Internal scoun-
drei, Sister Theresa never borrowed a
cent Of me In her lifei And you have
Eaade war on that roman"
Has rage ehoked him.
He told Bates to close the door Of
Sho steel chest, and then turned to
nse.
Where are those notes Of Picker
fng's2" he demanded; and l brought
the packet
Gentlemen. AR. Pickering has gone
To ugly lengths In this affair. How
many murders have you gentlemen
G0mmitted?H
we were about to begin actual kll-
ing when you arrived" replied Larry,
grinning.
The sheriff got all his men on the
premises more or less alive. sir" said
Bates.
That IA good Il was all a great
ymtsfake.-a very great mistake: / had
no idea such things could happen
snd my grandfather turned to Picker
ing
Pickering. what a contemplate
sooundrel you are! I lent you that
100000 to buy securities TO give you
better standing In your railroad enter
pftses. and the last time saw you.
o got me 10 release the collateral so
Tou could raise money TO buy more
shares. Then. after / died"-he
chRckled-"you thought you'd ind and
destroy the notes and That would end
The transaction: and n you had been
smaTt enough to find them you might
have had them and welcome. But as
e Is, they go 10 Jack. II he shows any
meucy on you IN collecting them he's
mot the boy think he Is"
Pickering rose, seized his hat and
backed away toward the shattered
library door. lie paused for a moment,
his face llvid with rage.
"You old fooli" be screamed az my
grandfather. You old lunatic. ! wish
m God I had never seen youl No won,
der you came back to lifel You're a
tricky old devil and too mean 20 dlef"
Vie turned toward me with some sim.
liar complaint ready AZ his tongues
endi but stoddard caught him by the
SHOULDERS and thrust him ont upon the
terrace.
A moment later we saw him cross
che meadow and hurry toward 81
Acafha's.