The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-02-25
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
BY MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Author Of THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
CAMERON" Etc,
CHAPTER Vil.--contlnued.

paneling that ran around the bed
room. The wood had been 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 a beginning, l found a 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 drawer
small revolver, filled it's chambers
with cartridges and thrust it into my
hip pocket, whistling meanwhile Larry
Donovans favorite air, THE Marche
| Funebre de Marionnettes." My heart
went out to Larry as l scented adven-
| ture, and l wished him with me; but
speculatfons 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, have always held, nothing
| better in this world than a properly
baked ham, and the specimen Bates
| placed before me was a delight to the
| eye,-so adorned was it with spices;
80 erispIy brown it's outer coat; and
taste,-that first tentative taste, be-
fore the sauce was added,-was like
dream of Lucullus come true. l felt
that | could forgive a good deal in
cook with that touch, anything short
| of arson and assassination!
Bates" I said as he stood forth
where l could see him, you cook
amazingly well. Where did you learn
the business?"
81 can hardly say I know 1t, sir.
Your lamented grandfather grew very
captious, Mr.. Glenarm. had to learn
to satisfy him, and 1 believe l did 1t,
sir, If you'll pardon the conceit."
HE didn't die of govt, did he? 1
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,-one may as well fail as
the other. 1 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 1 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 1 had escaped from
Tangier with our lives and the curses
of the police.
The day had offered much material
for Preside reflection, and 1 reviewed
its history calmly. There was, how
ever, one incident that l found I'M
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. / forgot
the shot through the window; I forgot
Bates and the interest my room pos
sessed for him and his unknown ac-
complete; but the sudden distrust and
contempt I had awakened in the girl
by my clownish behavior annoyed me
increasingly.
1 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 path. The
moon glorified a broad highway across
the water; the air was sharp and still
/ followed the wall of St. Agatha's tc
the gate, climbed up and sat down in
the shadow of the pillar farthest from
the lake. l drew out cigarette anC
was about to light it when l heard &
sound as of step on stone. There
was, knew, no stone pavement al
hand, but peering toward the lake
saw a 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 dowI
and raped upon the wall with al
object he carried in his hand.
Tap, tap, tap! The man with tn,
hammer was examining the farthe
side of the gate, and very likely HI
would carry his investigations beyon,
it. l drew up my legs and crouche,
in the shadow of the pillar, revolve
in hand. / was not anxious to invit
an encounter; 1 much preferred b
wait for a disclosure of the purpos
that lay behind this mysterious tai
! ping upon walls.
But the matter was taken out of m
own hands before 1 had a chance t
debate it. The man dropped to tn
ground. sounded the stone base unde
the gate, likewise the pillars, eviden
, ly without results, struck spitefr
, crack upon the iron bars, then stoo
, up abruptly and looked me straight /
the eyes. = was Morgan, the car,
, taker of the summer colony.
Good evening, Mr.. Morgan" sal,
settiing the yevolver into my hand.