Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-03-01
CHAPTER VII.
The Man on the Wall.

wood when landed and brought up at
the rear door used by Bates for COM
T munication with the villagers who sup
piled us with provender. / readily
found my way to the kitchen and to a
flight of stairs beyond, which connect
ed the first and second floors. | STUN
bled up the unfamiliar way in the dark,
with, fear, malediction upon my
grandfather, who had built and left IN
comrlete a house so utterly prepos-
ferrous. My unpardonable fling at the
| girl still ranked; and | was cold from
the quick descent Of the night chill on
the water and anxious to get INTO some
comfortable clothes. Once on the sec.
ond floor | was sure of the location OF
my room, and was feeling my way
toward It over the rough floor when I
heard low voices rising apparently
from my sitting-room.
It was pitch dark in the hall.
stopped short and listened. The door
OF my room was open and a faint iight
flashed once into the hall and disap-
peared. | heard now a sound as of a
hammer tapping upon woodwork.
Then it ceased, and a voice whls-
pered:
Hell kill me II he finds me here.
III try again tomorrow. | swear to
God I'll help you, but no more now"
Then the sound Of a scuffle and
again the tapping of the hammer.
After several minutes more of this
there was whispered dialogue which
could not hear.
Whatever was occurring two or
three points struck me on the instant.
One OF the conspirators was an unwill-
ing party to an act as yet unknown;
second, they had been unsuccessful
and must wait for another opportu-
nifty; and third, the business, whatever
it was, was clearly Of some importance
to myself, as my own apartments in
my grandfathers strange house had
! been chosen for the Investigation.
! Clearly was not prepared to close
the incident, but the idea of frighten-
ing my visitors appealed to my sense
Of humor | tiptoe1 to the front stair
way, ran lightly down, found the front
door. and, from the inside, opened and
slammed 1t. ! heard instantly a bur
ried scamFer above. and the heavy fall
of one who had stumbled in the dark.
| grinned with real pleasure at the
sound Of the mishap, FASTENED TO the
great library, which WIS as dark as a
well, and. opening one Of the lone win.
dows, STEPPED cut on the balcony. At
once from the rear of the house came
the sound Of a stoalthy ston, witch
increased 10 a run ut the rayine bridge.
| listened to the fight Of the fugitiye
through the wood until the sounds died
away toward the lake.
Then, turning to the library window,
saw Rates with candle hold above
his head peering about.
"EellQ, Bates" | called cheerfnllv.
Il Just got home and stepped out to
see If the moon had risen. don't
believe | know where to lock for it in
this country"
He began lighting the tapers with
his usual deliberation.
IT'S trife early, | think, sir.
About eight o'clock, | should say. was
the hour, Mr.. Glenarm."
There was, of course. no doubt what.
ever that Bates had been one of the
men | heard in my room. It was
wholly possible that he had been com.
PEELED to assist in some lawless act
against his will; but why, if he had
been forced into aiding q criminal,
should he not invoke my own aid to
protect himself? | kicked the logs
IN the fireplace impatiently at my I'M
certainty. The man slowly lighted
the many candles in the great apart.
ment He was certainly a deep one,
and his case grew more puzzling as |
studied 1t in relation to the rife shot
/ OF the night before, his collision with
Morgan In the wood, which I had wit.
messed; and now the house itself had
been invaded by some one with his
connivance. The rifle shot might have
been innocent enough; but taken in
connection with these other matters
1t could hardly be brushed aside.
Bates lighted me to the stairway.
and said as passed him:
| There's baked ham for dinner.
should call 1t extra delicate, Mr.. Glen.
arm. | suppose there's no change in
the dinner hour, sir!"
Certainly not" said with asperity:
lOI all not person 10 lnaugurate
dinner hour one day and change it the
next. Bates wished to make CONVEX
sation-the sure sign of guilty con-
science in a servant,-and | was not
disposed to encourage him.
| | closed the doors carefully and be-
gan q thorough examination of hoth
the sitting-room and the little bed.
chamber. was quite sure that my
own effects could not have attracted
the two men who had taken advantage
OF my absence to visit my quarters.
Bates had helped unpack my trunk
and undoubtedly knew every item Of
my simple wardrobe. l threw open
the doors Of my three closets and
found them all In the good order
I -