The Irish standard., 1907-05-25

say! Here, my lad, it's not for me to
turn loose the family skeletons, and
Larry stood aside while l swung the
ak and brought it down with a crash
on the paddock. 1t was of no flimsy
stuff and the remaining bricks cramped
me, but half dozen blows broke it off,
"The house of thousand ghosts"
chanted Larry, as l pushed the door
open, crawled through and dropped
down inside.
Whatever the place was 1t had a
floor and set my feet firmly upon it
and turned to take the lantern.
Hold bit!" he exclaimed. Some
ones coming, bending toward
the opening heard the sound of steps
down the corridor. In moment Bates
ran up, calling my name with more
spirit than ! imagined possible in him.
What Is it," l demanded through
the opening.
TITS Mr.. Pickering. The sheriff has
come with him. sir"
As he spoke his glance fell upon the
broken wall and open door. The light
Of Larry's lantern struck full upon him.
IAmazement. and, thought, certain
satisfaction, were marked upon his
,countenance.
run along, Jack,-1ll be up little
later" said Larry. III the fellow has
come In daylight with the sheriff, he
isn't dangerous. It's his friends that
shoot in the dark that give us the
trouble"
crawled out and stood upright
Bates, staring at the opening, seemed
reluctant to leave the spot.
you seem to have found 1t, SIR" he
said,-1 thought a little chokingly. His
Interest In the matter nettled me; 1t
Was none Of his affair. for one thing;
and my first business was to go above
for IN interview with the executor,-a
matter Of immediate Importance, az
should have been clear to any one.
"Of course we have found it,"
calculated. brushing the dust from my
clothes.
us Mr.. Stoddard in the library?"
I! "Oh, yes, sir; I left him entertaining
he gentlemen"
Their visit is certainly most in
opportune," said Larry. Give them
my compliments and tell them I'll be
up as soon as I've articulated the
bones Of my friends ancestors"
Bates strobe on ahead Of me with
his lantern. and left Larry crawling
through the new-found door as hur-
ried toward the house. I knew him
we'll enough to be sure he would not
leave the spot until we had found what
lay behind the Door of Bewilderment.
you didn't tell the callers where
you expected to find me. did you?" I
asked Eates, as he brushed me off in
the kitchen.
"No. sir. Mr.. Stoddard received the
gentlemen. He rang the bell for me
was saying. Mr. Glenarm is at his
studies. Bates,'-he says-kindly tell
Mr.. Glenarm that I'm sorry to inter
rupt him. but won't he please come
DOWN. thought it rather neat sir.
considering his clerical office. l knew
you were below somewhere. sir; the
trap door was open and l found you
easily enough"
Bates eyes we're brighter than had
ever seen them. A certain buoyant
note gave an entirely new tone to his
voice. He walked ahead of me to the
library door, threw it open and stood
aside.
"Ah. here you are, Glenarm." said
etoddard. Pickering and strange,
stood near the fireplace in their over,
coats.
Pickering advanced and offered his
hand, but turned away from him with,
out taking 1t. His companion, burly
countryman, stood staring. a paper In
his hand.
1.-THE sheriff." Pickering explained
"and our business is rather personal
He glanced at Stoddard, who looked
ut me.
"Mr. stoddard will do me the kind
ness to remain" said and took my
stand beside the chaplain.
"Oh!" Pickering calculated scorn
fully. II didn't understand that your
relations With the neighboring clergy
were so intimate. Your taste is i'm
proving, Glenarm.'
"Mr. Glenarm is friend of mine,
remarked Stoddard quietly. "A very
particular friend" he added.
Il congratulate you-both."
I laughed. Pickering was surveying
the room as he spoke,-and Stoddart
suddenly stepped toward him, merely
think, to draw up chair for thu
sheriff; but Pickering. not hearing
stoddard's step on the soft rug unit
the clergyman was close beside him
started perceptibly and Redeemed.
It was certainly ludicrous, and wher
stoddard faced me again he was biting
his lip.
Pardon mel" he murmured.
Nov gentlemen, will you kindl,
a state your business: My own affair.
press me-"
Pickering was studying the cartridge
4 boxes on the library table. The sheriff
too. was viewing these effects with in
"a A.k hfrIr