Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-01-16
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HrRnEAsDB YcnrRALn ASSOCIATION
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murdered the Sewerage children
| if they had been given the chance.
But there is no time to lose. Leave
one Of your men here to take
charge Of this wretched woman.
though don't think she will give:
much trouble-she seems half de-
mented. But handcuff her, for she
has already attempted suicide"
"But what are we going to do?"
Hutchins said, absolutely bewil-'
dered by these revelations and half
doubling Selden's sanity.
1--WE are going to Paynton.
Manor. and I pray heaven we are
not too late"
Colonel Graham-but why?"
Selden uttered a quick ejacula-s
ton, and pointed. Lord! We
haven't a moment to lose."
| Over the treetops a lurid glow
Lit the sky and showed through
the driving rain.
| "Can your man driver" lie,
faSked quickly, running to the car,
HE drove us here" Hutchins
replied, sensing something Of the
meaning Of that ominous glow.
| :"Then let him get in and drive
like mad to the village, and phone
for fire brigades from Grinfold and
Poolbridge." Selden cast a glance
of anger at the miserable woman;
who was muttering and sobbing on
the floor. '"This is your doing, I
expect. Come on, Hutchins, it's
quicker over the fields"
Selden led the way with unerring
instinct; for he had become accus-
toned to every inch Of the terrain
since he had been on the case. He
cut across one field into a track
that led out into the main drive.
where the house was in full view.
A great column Of smoke and
fame shot up as they approached,
and the sound Of shouting and run
ming feet came to their ears.
Heavens! Graham has dug his.
own grave if am not mistaken!"
Selden cried.
The Indian syce came running
towards them, followed by Coats.
my MASTER" the Indian painted:
''he is in his private room at the
top. We have tried to reach it,
but the staircase is on. fire."
Get ladder" Selden shouted,
for the cracking Of the fire was
now loud and insistent.
There is no ladder in the
place." Coats informed them. "The
Colonel would not have one here:
he was afraid Of attack"
One glance inside the hall door
was enough; within was a raging;
inferno. The servants, all Indians,
were gathering excitedly in a
group, making no effort to rescue
even the furniture.
The fire had started on the first
story, near the ColonePs private
stairway to his roof sanctun1, and
the first thing that the Indian on
duty had known was that volumes
of smoke were pouring down the
stairs. AccordingR to Graham's
stringent orders every door was
locked, and every window shut
tered and padlocked.
IF ever a man comprised his
own doom through over-caution,
Graham is the man." Selden said
bitterly.
IT don't understand q single
thing of what is happening"
Hutchins grumbled.
The distant sound Of fire engines
tearing up the drive overpowered
the noise Of the burning, and as
they watched a window cracked
and broke, and the burning shut
ter behind fell out on the. flower
bed below.
Selden turned to Hutchins. "Col-
onel Graham was in mortal dread
Of his life., He took every precau.
ton he could, as an old soldier.
He barred up his house from at
tack-he had trusty Indian SER
wants, and bloodhoundsN turned
loose--doubtless he felt secure
enough. But he had constructed
on the roof for complete security
q room out off by a, sliding stair
case and steel shutters. The fire
started just below the roon1--I'
think we can guess who started IT.
-and' he has been caught like a.
rat in q. trap"
! ITO Be COntinued)