The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1910-09-30
CHAPTER xxIlI-contInued.

HotICeu IL at the same time. and
heard her jump up. At that moment
Sans deep voice boomed from some
where just below.
FIRE." he yelled. The stables on
fret"
could see him in the glare dancing
up and down on the drive, cld 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 furr ace, 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.
hardly know how / came to think of
the circular staircase and the I'M
guarded door at it's foot. Liddy was
putting my clothes into sheets, pre-,
paratory to tossing them out the win,
dow, when | found her, and I could
hardly persuade her to stop.
Il want you to come with me-
Liddy." said. Bring 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" explained Who
knows?-this may be a scheme tC
draw everybody away from this end
of the house. and let some one in
here"
vinced l had hit on the explanation
and that perhaps it was already toe
late. It seemed to me as | listened
that l heard stealthy footsteps on the
east porch but there was so much
shouting outside that it was impos
sble to tell. Liddy was on the point
| of retreat.
Very WELL" l said, then | shall &C
down alone Run back to Mr.. Halsey's
room and get his revolver. Dom
shoot down the stairs if you hear {
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 | crept dowr
the stairs, going very slowly, anc
listening with all my ears. Just at the
foot of the stairs l stubbed my toe
against Halsey's big chair, and had tt
stand on one foot in sOundless agony
until the pain subsidized to a dull ache
And them knew | was right. Some
one had put key into the lock. ant
was turning it. For some reason i
refused to work, and the key wa!
withdrawn. There was muttering o.
voices outside; l had only a second
Another trial and the door would
open. The candle above made tain
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 filled
the space between the newell post ant
the door. With a crash had turned
if on its side, wedg,ng it against
the door. it's legs against the stairs.
could hear faint scream from Ltdd!
at the crash and then she came dowI
the stairs on run. with the reYolYei
held straight out in front of her.
Thank God" she said, IN shakins
voice. Il thought it was you"
| pointed to the door, aud she un
derstoad. g..
Call out of the windows at th'
other end OF the house | whispered
run. Tell them not to wait for any
/ thing" g..
She went up the stairs at that, TIVE
It a time. Evidently she collidet
with the candle. for it went out, ant
/ was left in darkness,
| was really astonishingly cool
remember stepping over the chair ant
gIuing my ear to the door, and shall
never forget feeling it give an inch o
two there in the darkness, under
steady pressure from without. Blu
the chair held. although | could hea
an ominous cracking of one OF thu
legs. And then. without the slightes
warning. the cardroom window brok'
with a crash had my finger on TIL
| trigger of the revolver, and as
| - & .-..rt nEs 1ioht Lhrnugh thl