The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-25

doors would prove no obstacles to
our disturbers.
Az before. Halsey watched the east
entry from ten until two He had
an eye to comfort. and he kept vigil
in a heavy oak chair. very large and
deep. We went upstairs rather
early, and through the open door Ger
trude and | kept up running fire
of conversation Liddy was brush
ing my hair, and Gertrude was doing
her own, with "A long free sweep oil
her strong round arms.
Did you know Mrs Armstrong
and Louise are in the village she
called.
me" replied startled. How did
you hear it,
Il met the oldest Stewart girl to-
day, the doctors daughter. and she
told me they had not gone back to
town after the funeral. They went
directly to that little yellow house
next to Doctor Walkers. and are APP
parently settled there. They took
the house furnished for the summer"
why, it's "a bandbox," l said. Il
cant imagine Fanny Armstrong in
such a place.
ITS true. nevertheless Ella Stew
art Says MTS HAS tBfd
terribly, and looks as If she Is hardly
able to walk"
| lay and thought over some of
these things until midnight The
electric lights wenE out then, fading
EiCwly until there was only red
hot loop to be seen in the bulb, and
then even that dieG away and we
were embarked on the darkness of
another night.
elapsed, during which my eyes were
becoming accustomed to the dark
ness. THEN I noticed that the win
dows We're renectins a faint pinkish
light; Liddy noticed it at the same
time, and ! heard her jump up. At
that moment Sans deep voice BOOM
ed from somewhere Just Below.
Fire" he yelled, THE stables
on fire."
j could see him in the glare dane
ing up and down on the drive. and
n moment 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 except
ing few sparks, there was no fire
nearer than hundred 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 hut blister
ed in the road Some gasolene ex-
ploded Just as the volunteer depart
ment got to work, which shook their
nerves as well as the burning build
ing. The stable. being on a hill, was
a torch 10 attract the population from
every direction. Rumor had IL that
Sunnyside was burning, and 1t was
amazing how many people threw
something over their night-clothes
and flew to the coniiagration. take
il Casanova has few 1res, and Sunny
side was furnishing the people. In
one way and another, the greatest ex-
element they had had for years.
The stable was OFF the west wing.
1 hardly know how / came to think
of the circular staircase and the un-
guarded door at it's fo.,. Liddy was
putting my clothes into sheets, prep
aratory to tossing them out the win
dow, when / found her, and l could
hardly persuade her to stop.
Il want you to come with me,
Liddy," ] said. Bring a candle and
a couple OF blankets
She Jagged behind considerly when
she saw me making for the east wing.
and at the top or the staircase she
baked.
II am not going down there" she
said firmly.
There is no one guarding the door
down there" l explained. Who
knows this may be a scheme 10
draw everybody away from this end
OF the house; and let some one In
here,
The instant I had said II was con-
WINGED | had hit on the explanation.
and that perhaps II was already too
late. seemed TO me as listened thar
/ heard stealthy footsteps on the east
porch, but there was so much shout
ing ouslde tht 1t was impossible to
tell. Iiddy was on the point Of re-
treat
Very we'll" said. then / shall
go down alone. Run back to Mr.. Hal
sey's room and get his revolver. Don't
shoot down the stairs II you hear a
noise: remember shall be down
there. And hurry"
ITO be contlnued.l