Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-11-30

listening with all my ears Just at the
foot of the stairs | stubbed my toe
against Halsey's big chair, and had to
stand on one foot in a soundless agony
until the pain subsidized TO a dull ache.
And them knew | was right Some
one had put key into the lock. and
was turning it. For some reason it
refused to work, and the key was
withdrawn. There was a muttering OF
voices outside; | had only second.
Another trial, and the door would
open. The candle above made faint
CLEAN down the well-like staircase,
and at that moment with a second,
no more, to spare. thought of a plan.
The heavy oak chair almost filed
the space between the newell post and
the door. With a crash I had turned
1t on its side. wedging II against
the door, its legs against the stairs.
could hear a faint scream from Liddy
at the crash and then she came down
the stairs on run, with the revolver
held straight out in front OF her.
Thank God" she said, I'm q shaking
voice. II thought it was you"
] pointed to the door, and she I'M
derstood. .ss~ss~ss0s~-'--s''s
Call out OF the windows at the
other end of the house." / whispered.
Run. Tell them not to wait for any
thing"
She went up the stairs at that two
at a time. Evidently she collided
with the candle, for IT went out, and
/ was left in darkness.
was really astonishingly cool. T
remember stepping over the chair and
gluing my ear to the door, and | shall
never forget feeling it give an inch or
two there in the darkness. under a
steady pressure from without. But
the chair held, although ! could hear
an ominous cracking OF one of the
legs. And then, without the slightest
warning, the cardroom window broke
with crash. had my finger on the
trigger OF the revolver. and as I
jumped II went of, right through the
door. Some one outside swore round.
ly, and for the first time could hear
what was said
only scratch. Men are at
the other end OF the house.
Have the whole rats nest on us"
And lot OF profanity which won't
write down. The voices were at the
broken window now, and although I
was trembling violently. was de-
termined that ! would hold them until
help came. ! moved up the stairs un-
vi could sec into the cardroofn, or
rather through It, to the window AS
] looked small man put his leg over
the sill and stepped into the room.
The curtain confused him for n mo.
ment; then he turned, not toward me.
Jut toward the billiard room door
Tired again, and something that was
glass or CHINA crashed TO the ground d
"hen J ran up the stairs and along the
corridor 70 the main staircase. Ger.
'rnde wa standing there, trying to
iocate the shots. and / must have
oeen peculiar figure, with nv hair
IN crimDs my dressing.gown flying. no
slippers. and ? revolver clutched in
my hand. had no time TO talk
There was the sound Of footsteps i'm
the lower hall, and some one bounded
UP the stairs.
had gone Berserk. think 7
leaned over the stall rail and fired
again Halsey, below yc..rd at me.
What are you dc.Ge ru Eerc ," he
yelled You missed oo by an inch"
And then ] collapsed and tainted
When 7 came around Liddy was rob.
ding my temples with eau de- uuinino.
md tho search was in fun blast.
VOL the man was gone. The stable
burned to tho ground, while the crowd
clrorcd at every falling ratfer and
The volunteer fire department sprayed
It rith q garden hose And In the
house Alex and Halsey searched every
corner Of the lower floor. finding no
ono
The truth Of my story was shown
by The broken window and the over.
turned chair That the unknown had
got upstairs was almost impossible.
lie had not used the main staircase,
there was no way TO the uDpoy Toor
in the cast wing. and Liddy had been
AZ thc window I'm The west ving.