The Elbert County tribune., 1907-03-21
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
CHAPTER I.-contInued.
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Authsr si THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
pAHERoE." Ese.
copyrirht 1905 By Bobbs-MsrriIl Co.

the table.
After you, They're made quite
specially for me In Madrid"
"You forget that never use tobacco
in any FORM"
You always did miss a good deal OF
the Joy OF living" observed, throwing
my smoking match into his waste
paper basket, to his obvious annoy
ance. well, I'm the bad boy of the
story books: but I'm really sorry my
Inheritance has string tied to 1t. I'm
about out of money. l suppose you
wouldn't advance me few thousands
on my expectation"
Not cent" he declared, with quite
unnecessary vigor; and / laughed
again, remembering that in my old
.appraisement of him generosity had
not been represented in large figures.
Its not in keeping with your grand
fathers wishes that I should do SO.
You must have spent good bit OF
money in your tiger hunting exploits"
he added.
81 have spent ali I had," replied
amiably. Thank God, I'm not clam!
I've seen the world and paid for 1t, and
/ ask nothing of you. You undoubt
edly share my grandfather's idea of
me. that I'm wild man who can't
cit still or lead an orderly. decent life;
but I'm going to give you a terrible
disappointment. What's the size of
the estate?"
Pickering eyed me-uneasily. l
thought-and began playing with a
pencil. never liked Pickering's
hands; they were thick and white and
better kept than like to see mans |
hands.
II fear it's going to be disappointing.
In his trust-company boxes here
have been able to find only about ten
thousand dollars worth of securities.
Possbly-quite possibly-we were all
deceived in the amount of his fortune.
Sister Theresa wheedled large sums
out of him. and he spent, as you will
see. a small fortune on the house at
Annandale without finishing it. 1t
wasn't a cheap proposition. and in its
unfinished condition it is practically
valueless. You must know that Mr..
Glenarm gave away a great deal of
money in his lifetime. Moreover he
established your father. You know
what he left.-it was not a small for
tune as those things are reckoned."
was restless under this recital. My
fathers estate had been of respectable
size. and l had dissipated the whole of
it. My conscience pricked me as
recalled an item of $4,000 that had
spent-somewhere grandly-on an ex-
pedition that l led with considerable
satisfaction to myself. at least,
through the Sudan. But Pickerings
words amazed me.
Let me understand you," l said,
bending toward him. MY grandfather
was supposed to be rich, and yet you
tell me you find little property. Sister
Theresa got money from him to help
build school. How much was that?"
Fifty thousand dollars. 1t was an
open account. His books show the ad-
yances. but he took no notes."
And that claim is WORTH"
ut is good as against her individu-
ally. But she contends"
Yes, go on."
had struck the right note. He was
annoyed by my persistence and his ap-
parent discomfort pleased me.
"She refuses to pay. She says Mr..
Glenarm made her gift of the money"
That's possible. isn't it? He was
forever making gifts to churches.
Schools and theological seminarics
were sort of weakness with him.
wen pass that If you get this
money the estate is worth 100000, plus
the value of the land out there at
Annandale. and Glenarm House is
worth"
There you have mel
It was the first lightness he had
shown, and it put me on guard.
Il should like an idea of It's value
Even an unfinished house is worth
something"
Land out there is worth from 800
to $3.50 an acre. There's an even hun
dred acres. I'll be glad to have your
appraisement of the house when you
get there"
~Humph, You fatter my judgment.
Pickering. The loose stuff there is
worth how much?"
TITS all in the library. Your grand
fathers weakness was architecture"
$50 / remember!" l interposed. re-
calling my stormy interviews with
John Marshall Glenarm over my
choice of a profession.
In his last years he turned more
and more to his books. He placed out
there what is, l suppose. the finest col
lection of books relating to architec-
ture to be found in this country. That
was his chief hobby. after church af-
fairs. as you may remember. and he
rode it hard. But he derived great
deal of satisfaction from his studies"
/ laughed again: 1t was easier to
laugh than to cry over the situation.
Il suppose he wanted me to sit down
there, surrounded by works On archi-
lecture, with the idea that q study Of