Part 26 (1/2)
”I shall be very glad to,” said Chester, warh his conscience smote him for what he felt to be a false pretence
”I a to an old cabinet and pulling out a drawer, fro short and black which he cleverly thrust into the breast of his loosely-made, old-fashi+oned tail-coat ”Now I a with a pleasant, genial smile upon his countenance ”I have other treasures here down below, besides books Stored up and rarely brought out, bin after bin of very fine old wine I aly old port with me”
”No, no,” said Chester, ”you must excuse me I never drink wine at this time of day Let me dine with you some ti friend; I hope lass now Don't say no I feel to need it a little myself, for--don't thinkyou ofto an end, have upset lass of good old ould do ood”
”I am sure it would, sir,” said Chester, warlass”
”Hah!” cried the old ood I feel better already in anticipation Now, let me see--let me see”
He opened the library table drawer and took out a box of matches and an old-fashi+oned, curled-up twist of wax taper, such as was the acco-wax days, fifty years or so ago This latter he lit, and then hung a large old key upon his little finger
”The library next time you come, doctor; the cellar this time A very fine cellar of wines, lass now and then as a medicine This way I hope you will not mind the dust and cobwebs An old-fashi+oned notion, but books seees, and it is precious upon theht to have its cobwebs and its crust You will coet a bottle?”
”Oh yes,” said Chester, and he followed the oldto the back, past chest and shelf, to where there was the glass door opening on the stone flight leading down into the basement
”This way, my dear sir One moment; there should be a basket here
Yes, here we are; would youhted the old lass door, where it hung upon a hook, one of those cradle-like baskets in which a bottle of rich old wine can recline without destroying its fineness
”You see,” said the old man, ”I am a bit of a connoisseur I like to keep ht on down, my dear sir”
Chester did not hesitate, but led on down the stone stairs, holding the light on high, the tiny taper shi+ning back upon a pair of flashi+ng eyes and the wrinkles of a noonderfully wrinkled face, while in the shadows behind a thin, claw-like hand glided to the breast-pocket of the old-fashi+oned coat, to draw out one of those hty leaden knob
Chester bore the light; behind hiy walls the Shadow of Death
CHAPTER NINETEEN
BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH
The Shadow passed away
In anotherblow froorous arm, would have fallen upon the back of Chester's skull, and sent hiht of stairs; but the deadly weapon was thrust back into its owner's breast, and the fierce, vindictive expression passed froest of the row of bells hanging to their right, and Chester turned sharply round, taper in hand, to look questioningly at the old , ”how tireso quite alone,friend I always have to answer my own door I'm afraid that I must ask you to coht? Thank you; I will take it”
He blew out the clear little flalass door, and then set down the basket, before leading the way back into the library, where he glanced from the
”Dear me!” he said ”More books So very late in the day too They always come at aard times Pray sit down or look at so to interest you, I feel sure Yes--yes; I'ain ”Don't be so iood men, don't be so io now,” said Chester
”Oh, by no means,” said the old man ”I shall not be many moments
Pray take a book and my chair, there It is only the railway men I shall soon be done”
Chester did not take the chair, but began to inspect the dusty shelves, while he heard the front door open and after a time the sound of heavy feet upon the steps, and then the bump down of what sounded like a heavy chest Thento the tail-board of a van, and the steps again