The weekly times-record., 1913-09-04
The Siege
of the
Seven Suit0rS
Continued from Page 11.)

(COUCl0ucO from rage 11.)
and descended by one Of the regular
stairways.
blew out my candle and stood with
my back to the wall Of the long corri.
dor on which opened the various store
rooms. the heating plant. laundry and
other accessories of the modern house.
My ghost was coming in haste-n
haste that did not harmonize with the
stately tread of the spooks Of popular
superstition. A slower pace and l
should doubtless have fed before him,
but quick. light steps echoed in the
dark corridor and l gathered courage
from the thought that ghosts create
echoes no more than they cast shad-
Ows
As the steps drew nearer l prepared
myself to spring upon him. must un-
consciously have taken a step, for he
paused suddenly, stood still for mo.
ment, then turned and scampered back
the way be had come. After him I
went as fast as could run. The ce-
ment paved corridor was four or FIVE
feet wide, and l plunged through the
dark at my best speed. At the end Of
the corridor was pretty certain Of my
Quakry. and I made ready to grappte
with him. Then as plunged into the
wall my hands touched mans face
and for q moment clutched the collar
of bis coat He had been waiting for
me to strike the wall, and as be slip
ped out of my grasp he ran back to-
ward the coal cellar. had struck the
wall with q force that knocked the
wind out of me, but got myself to-
kether with the loss Of only an INSTANT
and renewed pursuit. had no fear
but that if be attempted to reach the
open by means Of the coal hele should
catch him on the ladder. and sprnted
for all l was worth to make sure OF
him.
Ny neeting grasp Of the mans col.
lar aud the agility with which he had
slipped from my clasp had settled the
ghost question. and had now resolv'
ID the intruder into common thief.
As l reached the old stairway he
VAS mounting it two steps at a time,
- judged from the sound. had
hoped to catch and dispose of him
without alarming the house. but it
seemed inevitable now that the chase
would end in such fashion as to
arouse the company assembled In the
library. .....
I heard him stumble and fall head
long at the door above. Then be shot
o6 into the still darkened hall, and
when had gained the top lost track
OF him for moment. ! paused and
vas about to strike a match when he
resumed his fight, and l was forced
b grapple with the fact that some one
else was pursuing him. l held my
match innsbruck upon this new dis.
closure and stepped back within the
concealed doors and waited. Up and
down the hall two persons were run.
ming, and when they reached the ends
Of the corridor l heard hands tonch
the wall and the sound of dodging.
and then almost instantly the two run.
ners flashed by me again. The hall
was 80 dark that l saw nothing. but
~ the runners passed the door felt
the rush Of air caused by their flight.
Three or four times this had hap
pened. and then. still without having
made a light, l thrust out my foot at
the next return Of the unseen run.
ners. Some one tripped and fell head.
long, and l promptly dung myself
upon him.
Ny prisoners resistance engaged
ny best attention a moment. but when
I had sat upon his legs and got bold
of bis struggling hands some one stole
softly by me. My prisoner. too. heard
and was attentive. Not only did I ex.
perience the same sensation az on tho
previous night Of a passing near BY.
but was conscious Of the same faint
perfume, as Of a flower scent bait
caught In a garden at night. that had
added to my mystifcation before.
Then without the slightest warning
the lights flashed on and a door closed
somewhere. but it was not the hidden
one leading down into the remnant of
the old house. for my prisoners head
and shoulders lay across its threshold.
He sighed deeply, bringing my daze
wits back to him, and l found mysel
gazing into the blinking eyes Of Lord
Ar-owood. s%' II lg.
"Bounders. say. Boundersw he
gasped. re 'a@r
IN the circumstances, Lord AFRO
wood. should not call names. WNl
you tell ME what you mean by running
through this house In this fashion? :?
Stand mp and give an account OF your
self" ,... w.. s. Ms;ssJ = sfs
II helped him to his feet and bent
over the stair rail leading down to the
third floor. Evidently our strange
transactions beneath and above had
not disturbed the assembled suitors
and their hostess, but In common de.
cency Lord Arrowood must be dis
posed of promptly. There was no
doubt about that
II was an ass to try it." muttered
his lortls'Iip, pulling his tie into shape.