, 1908-05-14
Che Door
Of
BeWildsrmeNt

There are dead men inside, I dare
say! Here, my lad, it's not for me to
turn loose the family skeletons,"-and
Larry stood aside while | swung the
ak and brought 1t down with a crash
on the paddock. 1t was of no nimsy
stuff and the remaining bricks cramped
ne, but half a dozen blows broke it off.
The house OF a thousand ghosts
chsnted Larry, as l pushed the door
open, crawled through and dropped
down inside
Whatever the place was it had a
floor and l set my feet firmly upon it
and turned to take the lantern.
Hold a Bit" he exclaimed. Some
ones coming and bending toward
the opening l heard the sound of steps
down the corridor. In a Bates
ran up. calling my name with more
spirit thar l imagined possible in him.
What is it," l demanded through
the opening.
IT'S Mr.. Pickering. The sheriff has
come with him, SIR"
AS he spoke his glance fell upon the
broken wall and open door. The light
Of Larry's lantern struck full upon him.
Amusement, and, l thought, a certain
satisfaction, were marked upon his
c~ountenance.
Kun along, Jack,-IIl be up a little
later" said Larry. IF the fellow has
come in daylight with the sheriff, he
isn't dangerous. It's his friends that
shoot in the dark that give us the
trouble"
| crawled out and stood upright.
Bates, staring at the opening, seemed
reluctant to leave the spot.
You seem to have found it, sir" he
[said,-I thought a little chokingly. HIS
Interest in the matter nettled me; 1t
Twas none of his affair. for one thing;
land my first business was to go above
lor an interview with the executor.-a
/natter of immediate Importance. as
! iloild have been clear to any one.
'"Of course We have found it," I
calculated. brushing the dust from my
clothes.
rs Mr.. Stoddard in the library?"
"Oh, yes, sir; l left him entertaining
tho gentlemen"
Their visit il certainly most in
opportune," said Larry. Give them
my compliments and tell them I'll be
up as soon as I've articulated the
bones of my friends ancestors"
Bates strobe on ahead of me with
his lantern, and l left Larry crawling
through the new-found door as | hur-
ried toward the house. / knew him
well enough to be sure he would not
leave the spot until we had oundw what
lay behind the Door of Bewilderment.
you didn't tell the callers where
you expected to find me, did you?" l
asked Bates, as he brushed me of In
the kitchen.
mo, sir. Mr.. Stoddard received the
gentlemen. He a n the bell for me
and when / went into the library he
was saying, Mr.. Glenarm is at his
studies. Bates,'-he says-'kindly tell
Mr.. Glenarm that I'm sorry to inter
rupt him, but won't he please come
DOWN. / thought 1t rather neat, sir.
considering his clerical office. | knew
you were below somewhere, sir; the
trap door was open and l found you
easily enough"
Bates eyes were brighter tha had
ever seen them. A certain buoyant
note gave an entirely new tone to MS
voice. He walked ahead of me to the
library door, threw 1t open and stood
aside.
All, here you are, Glenarm.' said
Stoddard. Pickering and a strange
stood near the fireplace in their over
coats.
Pickering advanced and offered his
hand, but l turned away from HIM with
ont taking 1t. His companion, a buriy
countryman, stood staring, a paper In
his hand.
The sheriff." Pickering explained
and our business is rather personal
He glanced at Stoddard, who looked
at me.
Mr.. Stoddard will do me the kind
ness to remain" | said and took m!
stand beside the chaplain.
OH" Pickering calculated scorn
fully. II didn't understand that YOU
relations with the neighboring clers!
we're so intimate Your taste Is I'm
proving. Glenarm."
"Mr. Glenarm is a friend of mine,
remarked Stoddard quietly. "A yer!
particular friend" he added.
Il congratulate you-both."
| laughed. Pickering was SURVEYING
the room as he spoke,-and Stoddar'
suddenly stepped toward him, merely
| think, to draw up a chair for tn
5hertf. hut pfckertnR not learinl