The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1907-08-23
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
BY MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Author Of THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
CAMERON" Etc.
CHAPTER xvIli.-Continued.

peneQ. i uenlanQeQ.
He put his hand to his head uncer-
tainly and gasped as though trying to
gather his wits.
He was evidently dazed by whatever
had occurred, and | sprang round and
helped him to a couch. He would not
lie down but sat up. staring and pass
ing his hand over his head. 1t was
rapidly growing lighter. and saw
purple and black streak across his
temple where a bludgeon of some sort
had struck him.
What does this mean, Bates? Who
has been in the house?"
1T was early this morning" he fall
tered, about two O'Clock, | heard
noises in the lower part of the house.
! came down, thinking likely it was
you, and remembering that you had
been sick yesterday"
Yes, go on
The thought of my truancy was no
balm to my conscience just then.
''As | came into the hail. saw lights
in the library AS you weren't down
last night the room hadn't been lighted
at all. ! heard steps, and some one
tapping with hammer"
Yes; hammer. Go on"
1t was. then, the same old story!
The war had been carried openly into
the house, but Bates.-just why should
any one connected with the conspiracy
injure Bates. who stood so near to
Pickering, it's leader? The fellow was
undoubtedly hurt,-there was no mis-
liz. a. T. to, n
spoke with painful difficulty that
was not assumed, l felt increasingly
sure, as he went on.
81 saw a man pulling out the books
and tapping the inside of the shelves.
He was working very fast. And the
next thing | knew he let in another
man through one of the easements
the one there that still stands little
open"
He flinched as he turned slightly to
indicate it, and his face twitched with
pain.
Never mind that; tell the rest Of
your story"
Then | ran in, grabbed one Of the
big candelabra from the table, and
went for the nearest man. They were
about to begin on the chimney-breast
it was Mr.. Glenarm's pride in all
the house-and that accounts for my
being there in front of the fireplace.
They rather got the best of me, sir
Clearly; see they did. You had
hand-tohand fight with them, and be-
ing two to one"
No; there were two of us,-don't
pf
was another man who came running in
from somewhere. and he took sides
with me. thought at first 1t was you.
sir. The robbers thought so, too, for
one of them yelled, Great God; Glen
arms come back just like that. But
it wasn't you, sir, but quite another
person."
That's good story so far; and
then what happened?'
Il don't remember much more, ex-
cept that some one soused me with
water that helped my head consider
ably, and the next thing l knew | was
staring across the table. there at you"
who were these men. Bates? Speak
up quickly"
My tone was peremptory. Here was,
felt, crucial moment in our rela-
tons.
We'll" he began, deliberately. 81
dislike to make charges against fell
low man, but strongly suspect one Of
the men of being"
Yes. Tell the whole truth or it will
pc the worse for you
81 very much fear one of them was
10
I'm disappointed in him, sir
Very good; and now for the other
me"
II didn't get my eyes on him. l had
closed with Ferguson and we were
uaving quite a lively time Of 1t when
he other one came in; then the man
who came to my help mixed us all up,
he was a very lively person,-and
what became of Ferguson and the rest
If it l don't know"
There was food for thought in what
ae said. He had taken punishment in
lefense Of my property.-the crack on
ais head was undeniable,-and could
not abuse him or question his veracity
with any grace; not, at least, without
line for investigation and study. How
EVER, l ventured to ask him one ques-
lion:
"If you were guessing, shOuldn' t
you think it quite likely that Morgan
was the other man."
He met my gaze squarely.
Il think it wholly possible Mr..
Glenarm," he replied at once.
And the man who helped you-who
in the devil was he?"
Bless me, don't know. sir! He
disappeared. I'd like nightly to see
him again"
"Humph! Now you'd better do some
. thing for your head. I'll summon the
village doctor If you say So"
mo; thank you, sir. I'll take care
Of 1t myself"