, 1908-03-12

ing after b roar Of the explosion,
IL was a very pretty game, but not
destlned to last long. He was SLOWLY
retreating toward the end of the pass
age where there was, I remembered n
dead wall. His only chance WA tn
crawl through an area window I knew
10 De there, and this would, 1 felt
sure give him into my hands.
After five shots apiece there was a
truce. The pungsnt smoke of the DOW.
der caused me to cough. ana he
laughed.
Have you swallowed q bullet. Mr..
Glenarm?" he called.
could hear bis feet scraping on the
cement floor; he was moving away
from me, doubtless intending to fire
when he reached the area window and
escape before I could reach him. I
crept warily after him, ready to FIRE
on the instant, but not Wishing to
throw away my last cartridge.
He was now very near the end of
the corridor. I heard his feet strike
some boards that I remembered Law
on the floor there, md I wal nerved
for a shot n a hand-toLhand strue.
gle. II It came to that.
was sure that he sought the win
dow; ! heard his hands on the wall as
he felt for 1t. Then a breath of cold
air swept the passage, and knew
that he must be drawing himself up
to the opening. I fred and dropped
to the floor. With the roar of the ex-
plosion I heard him yell, but the ex.
pected return shot did not follow.
The pounding OF my heart seemed
to mark the passing OF hours. /
feared my foe was playing some trick,
creeping toward me, perhaps, to fire
at close range, or to grapple with me
in the dark. The cold air whistled
into the corridor, and | began to feel
the chill of it. Being fired upon is
d~isagreeable enough, but waiting in
the dark for the shot is intolerable. I
rose and walked toward the end of
the passage.
Then his revolver flashed and roared
directly ahead, the fame of It SO near
that 1t blinded me and the wad of the
cartride burned and stung my cheek. I
fell forward dazed and blinded, but
| shook myself together in a moment
and got upon my feet. The draft Of
air no longer blew into the passage.
Morgan had taken himself off through
the window and closed it after him.
/ made sure Of this by going to the
window and feeling 1t with my hands.
/ went back and CROPPED about for
my candle, which found without diff.
Guilty and lighted. I Their returned to
the window to examine the catch. To
my utter establishment II was fas-
tened with staples. driven deep into
the sash In such a way that 1t could
not possibly have been opened with
out an expenditure of time and labor.
My eyes smarted from the smoke OF
where the wadding had struck my
face. I was alive. but In my vexation
and perplexity not / fear. wholly
grateful for my safety. 1t was. how
ever, some consolation to feel sure I
had winged the enemy.
gathered up the fragments of Nor
gan's lantern and wen back to the IL
brary. The lights in half the candle
sticks had sputtered out. / extin-
guished the remainder and started to
my room.
Then, in the great dark hall, l heard
a mufiied tread as of some one follow
ing me-not on the broad staircase,
nor in any place could identify-yet
Enthusiastically on steps Of some sort
beneath or above me. My nerves
were already keyed to . breaking
pitch, and the ghost-like tread in the
wall angered me. Morgan, or his ally.
Bates, undoubtedly, o reflected, at
some new trick. I ran into my room,
found a heavy walking stick and set
on for Bates room on the third floor.
sort Of mischief to the fellow, and
undoubtedly he was crawling through
the house somewhere on an errand
that BODIED no good to me.
1t was now past two o'clock and he
should have been asleep and out Of
the way long ago crept to his room
and threw open the door without, I
must say. the slightest idea of find
ing him there. Sui Bates, the enigma.
Bates. the Incompatible cook. the per-
feet servant, sat at a table. the light
over which he was bent with that
maddening gravity he had never yet
In my presence thrown off,
He rose at once. stood at attention.
inclining his head slightly.
Yes, Mr.. Glenarm."
Yes. the DEVIL" I roared At him.
%astonished at finding him-sorry. I
must say. that he was there! The
stick fell from my hands. l did not
doubt he knew perfectly well that I
had some purpose in breaking in upon
him. i was bafiied and In my rage
floundered for words to explain my
self.