His arms grew tired when he was about ten feet from

me and he dropped the lantern and hammer to his side,

and swore under his breath impatiently.

Then he began again, with greater zeal. As he came

nearer I studied his face in the lantern's light with interest.

His hat was thrust back, and I could see his jaw

hard-set under his blond beard.

He took a step nearer, ran his eyes over the wall and

resumed his tapping. The ceiling was something less

than eight feet, and he began at the top. In settling

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himself for the new series of strokes he swayed toward

me slightly, and I could hear his hard breathing. I was

deliberating how best to throw myself upon him, but as

I wavered he stepped back, swore at his ill-luck and

flung the hammer to the ground.

"Thanks!" I shouted, leaping forward and snatching

the lantern. "Stand just where you are!"

With the revolver in my right hand and the lantern

held high in my left, I enjoyed his utter consternation,

as my voice roared in the corridor.

"It's too bad we meet under such strange circumstances,

Morgan," I said. "I'd begun to miss you; but

I suppose you've been sleeping in the daytime to gather

strength for your night prowling."

"You're a fool," he growled. He was recovering from

his fright,-I knew it by the gleam of his teeth in his

yellow beard. His eyes, too, were moving restlessly

about. He undoubtedly knew the house better than I

did, and was considering the best means of escape. I

did not know what to do with him now that I had him

at the point of a pistol; and in my ignorance of his motives

and my vague surmise as to the agency back of

him, I was filled with uncertainty.

"You needn't hold that thing quite so near," he said,

staring at me coolly.

"I'm glad it annoys you, Morgan," I said. "It may

help you to answer some questions I'm going to put to

you."

"So you want information, do you, Mr. Glenarm? I

should think it would be beneath the dignity of a great

man like you to ask a poor devil like me for help."

"We're not talking of dignity," I said. "I want you

to tell me how you got in here."

He laughed.

"You're a very shrewd one, Mr. Glenarm. I came in

by the kitchen window, if you must know. I got in before

your solemn jack-of-all-trades locked up, and I

walked down to the end of the passage there"-he indicated

the direction with a slight jerk of his head-

"and slept until it was time to go to work. You can

see how easy it was!"

I laughed now at the sheer assurance of the fellow.




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