, 1908-04-23

vas useless to attempt any further
dsception. I was amazed to hnd the
orest doors Of the main entrance flung
vide. and in real alarm I ran through
The hall and back to the library.
The nearest door stood open, and. a.
I neered In, . curious scene disclosed
itself. A few of the large cathedral
candles still burned brightly in several
nl.ces, their flames rising strangely in
tho gray morning light. Books had
heeu taken from the shelves end soc
tered everywhere. and sharp nipple
ments had cut ugly gashss in the
,hslying. The drawers containinr
sketches and photographs had been
puIled out and their contents thrown
about and tramplsd under foot.
The house vas ~ silent a. q tomb.
but as stood on the threshold trying
to realize what had happened, some.
thing stirred by the fireplace and l
crept forward, listening, until stood
by the long table beneath the great
CHANDELIER. Again I heard q sound As
Of some animal walking and stretch.
Ing, followed by . moan that undoubt.
,dly was human. Then the hands of a
man clutchsd the farther edge of the
table, and slowly and evidently with
infinite difnoulty . figure rose and the
dark face of Bates. with eyes blurred
and staring strangely. confronted me.
He drew his body to its height and
leaned heavily upon the table.
matched . candle and bent toward
him to make sure my eyes we're NOT
tricking me.
MT. Glenarm; Mr.. Glenarm;" he az.
claimed In broken whispers. TT Ia
Bates. sir"
What have you done: what has hap.
pened!" demanded.
He put his hand to his head uncer.
tainly and gasped as though trying to
gather his wits.
undoubtedly hurt,-there was nc mis-
taxing the wound on his head. He
spoke with . painful d~!fhculty that
was not assumed. l felt iAcreasingly
sure. ~ hs went on.
II nav . man pulling out the books
md tapping the inside of the shelves.
He vas working very fast. And the
nsIt thing l knew he let in another
man through one Of the casements.-
the one there that still stands q little
open"
He ninched A. he turned %slightly'to
Indicate It. and his face twitched with
pain.
Never miad that: tell the rest Of
your story"
Then l ran IN. grabbed n Of the
big oandelabra7 from the table. and
vart Hor th> u>~r>st man Th>v ~arN
about to begin on the chimney-brsast
1t was Mr.. 0ienarm's pride in all
the houss.-and that accounts for my {.
being there in front of the fireplace.
They rather got the best Of mo. sir"
Clearly: / ~ they did. You had .
Andto-hand tight with them. and b.
ing " to ne"
mo: there were two of us.--dont
you understand. two Of Us! There
was another man who came running In
from somewhere. and he took sides
with ne. l thought at arst 1t was you.
sir. The robbers thought 20. too. for
one Of them yelled. Great God; Glen.
arms come back Just like that. But
it wasn't you. sir. but quite another
person."
That's . good story so far; and
then what happened?"
"T don't remember much more. ex-
cept that soma ons .soused me with
water that helped my head consider
ably, and the nsxt thing ] knew 1 was
staring across the table, there at you"
Whoever these nsn. Bates1 SPEAK
up quickly"
Ny tone WAS psremptory. Here was.
felt, . crucial moment in u ella
tons.
WELL" he began. deliberately, Il
dislike to MAKE charges against . fel.
low man, but l strongly suspect one Of
the men of being"
Yes! Tell the whole truth or 1t WIN
lSs the wors for you."
~ very much fear n of them was
Ferguson, the gardener over the way.
HIM disappointed in him, sir"
Very GOOD; and now for the other
one"
> Il didn't get my eyes on him. q
blessed with Ferguson and We were
having quite . lively time of It when
the other one came in; then the man
Who came to ny help mixed us all up.
he WAS . very lively psrson,-and
what became Of Ferguson and the rest
Of 1t l don't knew"
There was food for thought in what
he said. He had taken punishment In
defense Of my property,-the crack on
his head was Northumberland could
not abuse him or question his veracity
with any trace; not. at least. without
time for Investigation and study. How
ever, I ventureA u ask hin N quss-
ton:
III you were guessing. shouldn't
you think 1t quite likely that Morgan
was the other mani"