, 1908-03-12

hiiu Inc, and, turning, saw a mo,
carrying a lantern coming toward mn.
l marked his careless step; he "a.
undoubtedly on familiar ground. Az I
watched him he paused, lifted the Ian.
tern TO a level with his eyes and be-
gan sounding the outer corridor wal,
with a hammer.
Here undoubtedly, was my friend
Morsah-asain! There was the same
~perfodicity in the beat on the wall
that had heard in my own rooms
lie began at the top and went method.
ically to the floor. | leaned against
the wall where l stood and watched
the slow approach of the lantern. The
small revolver with which / had first
fired at his flying figure in the wood
was in my pocket. 1t was lust as
well to lave it out with the fellow
now. My chances were as good as
his, though l confess I did not relish
the thought of being found dead he
next morning in the cellar of my own
house. 1t pleased my humor to let him
approach in this way, unconscious that
he was watched, until I should thrust
my pistol into his face.
His arms grew tired when he was
about ten feet from me and he
dropped the lantern and hammer to
his side and swore under his breath
impatiently.
Then he began again with greater
zeal. AS he came nearer l studied his
race In the lanterns light with inter
est. His hat was thrust back, and l
could see his jaw hard set under his
blond beard.
He took a step nearer, ran his eyes
over the wall and resumed his tap
ping, beginning close to the ceiling.
In settling himself for the new series
of strokes he swayed toward me
slightly and l could hear his hard
breathing. | was deliberating how
best to throw myself upon him, but a,
| wavered he stepped back. swore at
his Ill luck and flung the hammer to
the ground.
Thanks" l shouted, leaping for
ward and snatching the lantern.
Stand just where you are!"
With the revolver in my right hand
and the lantern held high in my left.
l enjoyed his utter CONSERVATION. as
my voiced roared in the corridor.
IT'S too bad we under such
strange circumstances, Morgan l
said. I'D begun to miss you; but l
suppose you've been sleeping in the
daytime to gather strength for your
night proving"
You're a fool" he growled. He.
was recovering from his. fright
Knew it by the CLEAN of his teeth in
his yellow beard His eyes. too. were
moving restlcssly about. He undodbt
edly knew the house better than I did.
and was considering the best means Of
escape. | did not know what to do
with him now that I had him at the
point of a pistol; and in my ignorance
Of his motives and my vague surmise
as to the agency back of him. l was
filed with uncertainty.
You needn't hold that thing quite.
80 near" he said. staring At me coolly.
I'm glad it annoys you Morgan" I
said. 81 want you to tell me how you
got in here"
He laughed.
II came in by the kitchen window,
II you must know. I got in before
your solemn Observation-Disclosures locked
It up. and | walked down to he end
of the passage theIe"-he indicated
the direction with a slight jerk of his
head-"and slept until it was time to-
to work"
"If you can't lie better than that
you needn't try again. Face about
now, and march!"
put new energy into my tone. and
turned and walked before me down
the corridor in the direction from
he had come. We were, l dare
say, a pretty pair-he tramping dog
gedly before me, | following at his
heels with his lantern n my pistol
Not SO fast" | admonished sharp
ly.
Excuse me-" he replied m~ockingly.
He was no common rogue: | felt
the quality in him with a certain ad-
miration for his scoundrelly talents.
l continued at his heels, poking the
of the revolver against l
back from time to time to keep him
assured of my presence-a device that
| was to regret a second later.
When we were, | should judge.
about ten yards from the end OF the
corridor, at that moment | prodded
him with the point of the revolver,
he fell backward against me, threw
his arms over his head and grasped
me about the neck, meanwhile turn
ing himself lithely until his fingers
clasped my throat. The lantern FELL
from my hand and N or the other
of us smashed It with our feet.
A wrestling match in that dark hole
was not to my liking. l still held onto
the revolver, waiting for a chance 70
,. a. and maan while he tried to