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
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.