The Delta independent., 1907-05-24
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
BY MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Author Of THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
DAhER0N." Etc.
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON
CHAPTER Vli.-Continued. d.
Copyright 1905 by Bobbs-Merrill Co.

room. The wood mad Deen struck
near the base and at the top of every
panel. for though the mark was not
perceptible on all, test had evidently
been made Systematically. With this
as beginning, | found moment
later a spot of tallow under heavy
table in one corner. Evidently the
furniture had been moved to permit
of the closest scrutiny of the paneling.
Glenarm House really promised to
prove exciting. l took from a drawer
small revolver filled its chambers
with cartridges and thrust it into my
hip pocket, whistling meanwhile Larry
Donovan's favorite air, The Marche
Funebre de Marionnettes." My heart
went out to Larry as l scented adven-
ture and | wished him with me: but
speculat1ons as to Larry's where
abouts were always profitless. and
quite likely he was in Jail somewhere.
The ham of whose excellence Bates
had limited was no disappointment.
There is, l have always held, nothing
better in this world than properly
baked ham. and the specimen Bates
placed before me was a delight to the
eye-sO adorned was it with spices;
SO crisply brown its outer coat; and
taste,-that first tentative taste, be-
fore the sauce was added was like
a dream of Lucullus come true. l felt
that l could forgive a good deal in a
cook with that touch,-anything short
of arson and assassination.
Bates" l said, as he stood forth
where 1 could see him. you cook
amazingly well. Where did you learn
the business?"
81 can hardly say I know it, sir.
Your lamented grandfather grew very
captious, Mr.. Glenarm. l had to learn
to satisfy him, and I believe I did it,
sir, if you'll pardon the conceit."
'He didn't die of gout did he?
can readily imagine it."
mo, Mr.. Glenarm. 1t was his heart.
He had his warning of it,"
"Ah, yes; to be sure. The heart or
the stomach,-on may as we'll fail as
the other. I believe I prefer to keep
my digestion going as long as possible.
Those grilled sweet potatoes again. if
you please, Bates"
The game that he and l were play
ing appealed to me strongly. 1t was
altogether worth while, and as I ate
guava jelly with cheese and toasted
crackers, and then lighted one Of my
own cigars over a cup of Bates unfail-
ing coffee, my spirit was livelier than
at any time since certain evening on
which Larry and I had escaped from
Tangier with our lives and the curses
of the police.
The day had offered much material
for fireside reflection, and l reviewed
its history calmly. There was, how
ever, one incident that l found un-
pleasant in the retrospect. | had been
guilty of most unchivalrous conduct
toward one of the girls of St. Agatha's.
It had certainly been unbecoming in
me to sit on the wall, however unwill
ingly, and listen to the words-few
though they were-that passed be-
tween her and the chaplain. I forgot
the shot through the window; I forgot
Bates and the interest my room pos
sessed for him and his unknown ac-
complice; but the sudden distrust and
contempt I had awakened in the girl
by my clownish behavior annoyed me
increasingly.
/ rose presently, found my cap and
went out into the moon flooded wood
toward the lake. The tangle was not
SO great when you knew the way
and there was indeed, as had found,
the faint suggestion of a path. The
moon glorified broad highway across
the water; the air was sharp and still.
| followed the wall of st. Agatha's to
the gate, climbed up and sat down in
- -r ~, Ill
the lake. I drew out cigarette and
was about to light it when heard
sound as of a step on stone. There
was, ! knew, no stone pavement at
hand, but peering toward the lake l
saw man walking boldly along the
top of the wall toward me. The moon
light threw his figure into clear relief.
Several times he paused, bent down
and raped upon the wall with an
object he carried in his hand.
Tap, tap, tap! The man with the
hammer was examining the farther
side of the gate, and very likely he
would carry his investigations beyond
1t. I drew up my legs and crouched |
in the shadow Of the pillar, revolver
in hand. 1 was not anxious to invite
an encounter; I much preferred to
wait for disclosure Of the purpose
that lay behind this mysterious tap
ping upon walls.
But the matter was taken out of my |
own hands before / had chance to
debate it. The man dropped to the
ground, sounded the stone base under
the gate, likewise the pillars, evident
ly without results, struck splteful |
crack upon the iron bars, then stood |
up abruptly and looked me straight in
the eyes. 1t was Morgan, the care
taker of the summer colony.
Good evening, Mr.. Morgan" said,
4l,x,, Al.,1,t. i.,I1 I'M