Barbour County index., 1910-09-14
CHAPTER xXIII-Continued.

Apparently only a few minutes
elapsed, during which my eyes were
becoming accustomed to the darkness.
Then noticed that the windows were
rejecting faint pinkish light; Liddy
noticed 1t at the same time, and I
Sans deep voice doomed from some
where just below.
'FIre!" he yelled. "The stables on
nrei"
l could see him in the glare dancing
up and down on the drive, and a 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 a 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
well 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. I
hardly know how I came to think of
the circular staircase and the un-
guarded door at it's foot. Liddy was
putting my clothes into sheets, pre-
paratory to tossing them out the win
dow, when I found her, and 1 could
hardly persuade her to stop.
II want you to come with me,
Liddy." 1 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.
Il am not going down there" she
said firmly.
There is no one guarding the door
down there" 1 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 l had said it was con
vinced l had hit on the explanation
and that perhaps it was already toe
late. 1t seemed to me as l listened
that I 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" I said, then 1 shall &c
down alone. Run back to Mr.. Halsey'S
room and get his revolver. Dom
shoot down the stairs if you hear s
noise; remember shall be dowI
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, anC
listening with all my ears. Just at the
foot OF the stairs 1 stubbed my toe
against Halsey's big chair, and had tt
stand on one foot in a soundless agon!
until the pain subsided to a dull ache
And them knew | was right Som,
one had put key into the lock, ant
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
gleam down the well-like staircase
and at that-moment, with a second
no more. to spare, thought of plar
The heavy oak chair almost file
the space between the newell post an
the door. With crash I had turne
it on its side, wedging it agains
the door, its legs against the stairs.
could hear a 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"
l pointed to the door, and she VI
derstood.
Call out Of the windows at tn
other end of the house." Whispered
Run. Tell them not to wait for an!
thing"