The Nevada County picayune., 1910-09-02
CHAPTER XXIiI-Continued.

Annarentlv only few minutes .lapeed, during which my eyes were becoming accustomed 70 the darkness. Then noticed that the windows were rOsecting a faint pinkjsh light; Liddy noticed 1t at the same time, and l heard her jump up. At that moment Sans deep voice booned from some where just below.
 Fire" he yelled. The stables on are."
 could see him in the glare dancing up and down on the drive, and mo ment later Halsey joined him. Alex was awake and running down the stairs. and in five minutes from the time the fire was discovered three of the maids were sitting on their trunks in the drive. although, excepting few sparks, there was no fire nearer than 100 yards.
 Gertrude seldom loses her presence of mind, and she ran to the telephone. But by the time the Casanova volun- teer fire department came toiling up the hill the stable was a furnace, with the Dragon Fly safe but blistered in the road Some gasoline exploded just as the volunteer department got to work, which shook their nerves as we'll as the burning building The stable being on a hill, was a torch to attract the population from every di- rection
 The stable was off the west wing. l hardly know how l came to think of the circular staircase and the un- guarded door at its foot. Liddy was putting my clothes into sheets, pre- paratory to tossing them out the win dow. when 1 found her. and I could hardly persuade her to stop.
 T want you to come with me, Liddy, said Bring a candle and a couple of blankets.
 She Jagged behind considerably when she saw me making for the east wing and at the top of the staircase she baked.
 T am not going down there." she said firmly.
 There is no one guarding the door down there" explained. Who knows?-this may be a scheme to draw everybody away from this end of the house. and let some one in here"
 The instant had said it l was con Vnced had hit on the explanation, and that perhaps 1t was already too iate. It seemed to me as I listened mat heard stealthy footsteps on the east porch, but there was so much shouting outside that it was impos- slole to tell. Liddy was on the point of retreat.
 very we'll l said. then I shall go ooWn alone. Run back to Mir. Halsey's s ioom and get his revolver Don t shoot down the stairs if you hear a noise remember-I shall be down there. And hurry"
 put the candle on the floor at the "p ot the staircase and took off my ueuroom slippers. Then l crept down ue stars, going very slowly, and ns'enlng with all my ears. Just at the 'oot of the stairs l stubbed my toe against Halsey's big chair and had to ''dhu on one foot in a soundless agony uhtll tAe pain subsided to dull ache. anu then-l knew l was right Some one had put key into the lock, and was turning 1t, For some reason it 'e'used to work, and the key was "i.hufawn. There was muttering of ,o'ces outside; l had only a second. Ahother trial, and the door would opeh' The candle above made faint s'eaih down the well-like staircase. ana at that moment, with a second, Ao more, to spare, thought of a plan. :, me heavy oak chair almost filled tue space between the newel post and .' cue door. With crash I had turned :. on It's side, wedging it against e uoor, It's legs against the stairs. .ouio hear faint scream from Liddy z. ~ tue crash and then she came down ,"e stars on run, with the revolver e'u straight out in front of her.
 lhank God" she said, in shaking 'o,ce' T thought it was you" .i pointed to the door, and she un- derstood.
 eaii out of the windows at the "rner ou end of the house." whispered. ..h nuh Tell them not to wait for any