Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-09-21

overturned table. broke past The trio
and stood by nay sica swinging a
CHAIR
At that moment my eyes. sweeping
Css broken outer doors. saw the face
of Pickering. He had como to rec
that his orders were oboyed. and re-
member yet my satisfaction. as. hem
med In By the men he lad hired 10
kin me or drive me out. felt,
rather than saw. the cowardiy horror
! depicted upon his face
Then the trio pressed upoa na As
I threw down my club and drew my
revolver. some one across the room
nrod several shots. whose roar
through the room seemed TO arresk the
night for an instant, asd then. Whine
Stoddard stood at nay side swing1as
his chair defensiVely, tho great chan
celier, loosened or broken by tho
shots, fell with n mighty crash OF its
crystal pendants. The sheriff. le&ptng
away from Stoddard's chair, was
struck on the head and borne down by
the heavy glass.
Smoke from the fTIng hOatsd In
!
4 moments silence save for the sheriff.
who was grooming and cursing under
the debris Of the chandelier. At the
door Pickering's face appeared again
anxious aud frightened think the
scene In the room and the slow pros
ress his men were making against US
had half-peralyzed him.
We were all getting our second wind
for renewal OF the night with Nor.
gan In 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. I think must
have raised my hand and pointed at
Pickering, for Bates wheeled like a
fash and before 1 realized what hap
pened he had dragged the executor into
the room
You scoundrel-you ingratel
hovled the servant.
The blood on his face and bare chest
and the hatred in his eyes made him a
hideous object; but in that lull OF the
lstorm while We waited. watching for
I'm advantage. I heard, somewhere in
the wall. that same sound OF footsteps
that l had remarked before. Larry
and Stoddard heard &; Bates heard it.
and HIS eyes fixed upon Pickering with
glare OF malicious delight
There comes our old friend. the
ghost" yelled Larry.
Il think you are quite right. sir"
said Bates. He threw down the TO
volver he held in his hand and leaned
upon the edge OF the long table that
lay on It's side. his gaze still bent on
Pickering, who stood with his over
coat buttoned close. his derby hat on
the floor beside him. where Il had
fallen as Bates hauled him into the
room.
Tho sound OF a measured step. OF
some one walking. OF careful foot
on stairway. was quite distinct.
even remarked the slight stumble that
I had noticed before.
We were ali so intent on those steps
In the wall that We were OF guard.
heard Bates yell warningly, and Larry
and Stoddard rushed for Pickering
He had drawn a revolver from his
overcoat pocket and was about 20 fro
at me when Stoddard sent the weapon
ullhk through tne air.
Only a 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 10 be In the air feeling OF
something impending. Even Morgan
and his men. half-crouching, ready for
rush at me. hesitated: and Pickering
glanced neryously from one 10 the
other OF US. IL was the calm before
the storm: In a moment we should be
at each others throats for the final
struggle. and yet we waited. In the
Wall heard stu the sound OF steps.
They were clear 10 all OF us now. We
stood there for what seemed an eter-
nityI suppose the time was really
not more than 80 ACCOMPLISHMENT. wait
ing. while I felt that something must
happen; the silence, the waiting. were
Intolerable. l grasped my pistol and
bent low for 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; | followed IL I forgot
Morgan; tacit truce held us all again.
l stepped back TIL my eyes fastened
on the broad paneled chimney-breast
at the right OF the hearth, and II was
there now that the sound OF footsteps
In the wall was heard again; then IT
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 a cloak was drawn over
her shoulders.
She laughed AS her eyes swept the
room.
All, gentlemen" she said. shaking
her head, as she viewed our disorder
what Wretehed housekeepers you
arel"
Steps were again heard In the wall
and she turned to the panel, held II
open with one hand and put ont the
other. waiting for some one who fol-
lowed her.
Then down into the room stepped
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