Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-09-15
CHAPTER XXIII-Continued.


Apparently OILY a few minutes
elapsed, during which my eyes were
becoming accustomed % the darkness.
Then noticed toat the windows were
rejecting a faint pinkish light; Liddy
noticed it at the same time, and
heard her jump I'D. At that moment
Sans deep voice doomed from some
where just below.
Fire" he yellrl The stables on
fire."
| could see him in the glare dancing
up and down OH she drive, aid a mo-
ment later Haley 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 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 hill, was torch to
attract the population from every di-
rectiOn.
The stable was off the west wing
hardly know how l came to think of
the circular staircase and the I'M
guarded door at its foot. Liddy was
putting my clothes into sheets, pre-
paratory to tossing them out the win
dow, when l found her, and | could
hardly persuade her to stop.
II 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
81 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 tc
draw everybody away from this END
of the house, and let some one in
here"
The instant had said it l was con
WINGED l had hit on the explanation
and that perhaps it was already toe
late. 1t seemed to me as l listened
that heard stealthy footsteps on the
east porch but there was so much
shouting outside that it was impos
sible to tell. Liddy was on the point
Of retreat.
Very WELL" said, then l shall &C
down alone. Run back to Mr.. Halsey's
room and get his revolver. DOM
shoot down the stairs if you hear g
noise; remember shall be down
there And hurry"
put the candle on the floor at the
top of the staircase and took off my
bedroom slippers. Then l crept dowr
the stairs, going very slowly, ant
listening with all my ears. Just at tn,
foot of the stairs I stubbed my to-
against Halsey's big chair, and had t,
stand on one foot in soundless agon.
until the pain subsidized to a dull ache
And them knew | was right. Som
one had put key into the lock, an,
was turning it. For some reason
refused to work, and the key wa
Withdrawn. There was a muttering O
voices outside; had only a second
Another trial, and the door woul
open. The candle above made a fain
CLEAN down the well-like staircase
and at that moment, with a seconC
no more, 10 spare, l thought of a plaI
The heavy oak chair almost file
the space between the newell post an
the door With crash had turne
it ON its side, wedging it agains
the door, it's legs against the stairs.
could hear faint scream from Lidd
at the crash and then she came dow
the stairs on a run with the revolve
held straight out in front of her
Thank God" she said, in shakin
voice. Il thought it was you"
pointed to the door, and she u
derstood.
Cali out of the windows at Il
other end of the house" | whispere
Run. Tell them not to wait for an
thing"
She went UP the stairs at that. tV
at time. Evidently she collide
with the candle. for it went out, al
was left in darkness.
was really astonishingly cool.
remember stepping over the chair al
giuing my ear to the door, and i sh;
never forget feeling 1t give an inch
two there in the darkness, under
steady pressure from without. B
the chair held. although could he
an ominous cracking OF one of Il
legs. And then, without the slighte
warning. the cardroom window bro
with q crash. i had my finger on Il
trigger OF the revolver. and az
svnped II ~ent on. right through 4