Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-07

for renewal of the light, with Nor gan m command of the enemy. One or two of his men. who had gone down early in the struggle. were now crawl. ing back for revenge. think I must have raised my hand and pointed at Pickering, for Bates wheeled like a flash and before l realized what hap pened he had dragged the executor into the room.
 You scoundrel-you ingrate! !" howled the servant.
 The blood on his face and bare chest and the hatred in his eyes made him a hideous object; but in that Hull of the storm while we waited, watching for an advantage. I heard. somewhere in the wall, that same sound of footsteps that I had remarked before. Larry and Stoddard heard it; Bates heard it. and his eyes fixed upon Pickering with a glare of malicious delight.
 There comes our old friend. the ghost" yelled Larry.
 T think you are quite right, sir" said Bates. He threw down the re- volver he held in his hand and leaned upon the edge of the long table that lay on its side, his gaze still bent on Pickering, who stood with his over coat buttoned close, his derby hat on the floor beside him, where it had fallen as Bates hauled him into the room.
 The sound of measured step, Of some one walking, of a careful foot on a stairway. was quite distinct. I even remarked the slight stumble that l had noticed before.
 We were all so intent on those steps in the wall that we were of guard. I heard Bates yell warningly, and Larry and Stoddard rushed for Pickering. He had drawn a revolver from his overcoat pocket and was about to fire at me when Stoddard sent the weapon flying through the air.
 Only moment now, gentlemen" ]" said Bates, an odd smile on his face. He was looking past me toward the right end of the fireplace. There seemed to be in the air feeling of something impending. Even Morgan and his men, half-crouching, ready for a rush at me, hesitated; and Pickering glanced nervously from one to the other of us. It was the calm before the storm; in moment we should be at each others throats for the final struggle, and yet we waited. In the wall heard still the sound of steps. They were clear to all of us now. We stood there for what seemed an eter- nityI suppose the time was really not more than 30 seconds-inert. wait ing, while l felt that something must happen; the silence, the waiting, were intolerable. I grasped my pistol and bent low for a spring at Morgan; and every man in the room was instantly on the alert.
 All but Bates. He remained rigid that curious smile on his blood-smeared face, his eyes bent toward the end of the great fireplace back of me.
 That look on his face held, arrested, numbed me; I followed 1t. l forgot Morgan; a tacit truce held us all again. I stepped back till my eyes fastened on the broad paneled chimney-breast at the right of the hearth, and 1t was there now that the sound of footsteps in the wall was heard again; then 1t ceased utterly, the long panel opened slowly, creaking slightly upon it's hinges, then down into the room stepped Marian Devereux. She wore the dark gown in which I had seen her last, and cloak was drawn over her shoulders. h45aS 5aa F@1
 She laughed as her eyes swept the room.
 "Ah, gentlemen" she said, shaking her head, as she viewed our disorder. "what wretched housekeepers you are!"
 Steps were again heard in the wall, and she turned to the panel. held it open with one hand and put out the other, waiting for some one who fol- lowed her.
 Then down into the room stepped