"The fishing's quite good in season. Mr. Glenarm

used to take great pleasure in it. Bass,-yes, sir. Mr.

Glenarm held there was nothing quite equal to a black

bass."

I liked the way the fellow spoke of my grandfather.

He was evidently a loyal retainer. No doubt he could

summon from the past many pictures of my grandfather,

and I determined to encourage his confidence.

Any resentment I felt on first hearing the terms of

my grandfather's will had passed. He had treated me

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as well as I deserved, and the least I could do was to

accept the penalty he had laid upon me in a sane and

amiable spirit. This train of thought occupied me as

we tramped along the highway. The road now led away

from the lake and through a heavy wood. Presently, on

the right loomed a dark barrier, and I put out my hand

and touched a wall of rough stone that rose to a height

of about eight feet.

"What is this, Bates?" I asked.

"This is Glenarm land, sir. The wall was one of

your grandfather's ideas. It's a quarter of a mile long

and cost him a pretty penny, I warrant you. The road

turns off from the lake now, but the Glenarm property

is all lake front."

So there was a wall about my prison house! I grinned

cheerfully to myself. When, a few moments later, my

guide paused at an arched gateway in the long wall,

drew from his overcoat a bunch of keys and fumbled at

the lock of an iron gate, I felt the spirit of adventure

quicken within me.

The gate clicked behind us and Bates found a lantern

and lighted it with the ease of custom.

"I use this gate because it's nearer. The regular entrance

is farther down the road. Keep close, sir, as the

timber isn't much cleared."

The undergrowth was indeed heavy, and I followed

the lantern of my guide with difficulty. In the darkness

the place seemed as wild and rough as a tropical wilderness.

"Only a little farther," rose Bates' voice ahead of

me; and then: "There's the light, sir,"-and, lifting

my eyes, as I stumbled over the roots of a great tree, I

saw for the first time the dark outlines of Glenarm

House.

"Here we are, sir!" exclaimed Bates, stamping his

feet upon a walk. I followed him to what I assumed to

be the front door of the house, where a lamp shone

brightly at either side of a massive entrance. Bates

flung it open without ado, and I stepped quickly into

a great hall that was lighted dimly by candles fastened

into brackets on the walls.

"I hope you've not expected too much, Mr. Glenarm,"

said Bates, with a tone of mild apology. "It's very incomplete

for living purposes."




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