5rV
- -f
A
,
of the
Seven Suitors
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright, 1MI0. by Meredltb Nicholson
:J
HEZEKIAH
CHAPTER V.
The Strange Behavior of a Chimney,
THERE wa;i no reason lu the
world why nartley Wiggins
should not call upoo two la
dles living lu Westchester
county, and I must say that ho ap
peared to advantage in Miss Ilolllster's
library.
Do had got into his evening clothes
somewhere, perhaps at a neighboring
Inn or maybe at the house of a friend,
for he could not possibly have motored
into town and back sloe his it.tt view
irltfi'Cccllte in'tbe highway, tie had
Impressed the clerk at the Hare and
Tortoise with the idea that be had
left New York for a long absence, and
ho had apparently camped at the gates
of Hopefleld to be near Cecilia.
When he bad paid his compliments
to the ladies ho turned to me with an
almost Imperceptible lifting of the
brows, but he wn3 cordial enough. If
be was surprised or disappointed at see
ing me his manner did not betray the
feeling.
"Glad to see you, Ames. Rather
nice weather this."
"Even Dakota couldn't do better," I
affirmed with a grin, but be Ignored
the fling.
Cecilia stirred restlessly, and I felt
decidedly 111 at ease. Miss Hoi lister
crossed to the fireplace and poked the
logs.
Just what part Flezeklah Uolllster
jlaycd in the situation was beyond me.
If I had not witnessed Wiggins' clan
destine meeting with Cecilia matters
would have been clearer to my com
prehension, but his appearance at the
house after the colloquy I had over
beard from the brier patch was In It
self Inexplicable. Miss Ilolllstcr's sin
gular references to Tlezcklnh a person
about whom my curiosity was now a
good deal aroused added to the mys
tery that Infolded the library.
Responi-lve to Miss Ilolllster's ener
getic prodding, the flnniei In the fire
place leaped into the great throat of
the chimney with a roar. She turned,
her back to the blaze, and looked upon
her guests benignantly.
"If all your flues draw like that one
they are not seriously In need of doc
toring," I remarked.
"Flues nre nothing If not erratic," re
plied Miss Uolllster. The subject did
not appear to Interest hor, nor had
Bhe, by the remotest suggestion, refer
red to tho object of my coining. 1 had
6niffed vainly in tho balls above and
below for any trace of the stale smoke
which usually greeted tne at once on
my arrival at tho house of a client
"The house was built, you may not
know, for a manufacturer of umbrel
las, who died before he had occupied
It, in circumstances I may later dis
close to you, which accounts, Mr.
Ames, for that (Igure of Cupid under
a pink parasol on the drawing room
celling. At tho first opportunity I
shall remove it, as bnby Cupids nre ir
reconcilable with the militant love
making I admire. I consider umbrel
las detestable anil never carry ono
when I can command n mackintosh."
"When I'm on the ranch I wear a
clicker," said Wiggins. "It's bullet
proof, and that I have found at times
a decided advantage."
We discussed mackintoshes for at
least ten tnluutes with far more
sprjghtlinesa than 1 had hnngined the
subject could evoke. Then Miss Uol
llster, after a turn up nnd down the
room, paused beside mo.
"Mr. Ames," she said, "would you
care to Join me In a game of billiards?
I'm not In my best form, but 1 think
we might profitably kuock tho balls
for half an hour."
I acquiesced with alacrity. 1 assum
ed it to be Miss Ilolllster's purpose to
leave Cecilia and Wiggins alone. I
should be rendering Wiggins nnd Ce
cilia a service by withdrawing, and I
was glad of a chance to escape.
To my Infinite surprise they both pro
tested, not lu mero polite murmurs, but
with considerable Yehcraeuce.
"It's quite cool tonight, and I don't
believe lou ought to uso the billiard
room until tho plumber has fixed the
radiator," said Cecilia.
"And If you knew Mr. Ames' game
I'm sure you wMldn't care to waste
time on him," piped Wiggins, whom t
had frequently vanquished la billiard
bunts at the Hare and Tortoise, where,
1 may say modestly, I Lad long been
considered ono of the mop formidable
of the clnb' playorfl.,
Tlolli lie' a ti3 "Tec-Ilia had risen, and
we stood, I remember, just before the
hearth during this exchange. At till
moment a singular thing happened.
The tire that had been sweeping In n
broad wavelike curve into the chim
ney was checked suddenly. 1 had re
peatedly remarked the admirable draft,
the facile grace of the flu mo as it rose
and vanished. The cessation of the
draft was unmarked by any of those
premonitory symptoms by which a fire
usually gives warning of evil inten
tions. The upward current of air hnd
I'S. ,
I Seized the Tongs and Poker and Be
gan Adjusting the Logs.
ceased utterly and without appareni
cause. We were nil aware of a choking,
a gasping In the deep flue, which could
not be accounted for by any natural
stoppage Incident to chimneys tho
dislodging of masonry or a packing of
soot. The former was hardly possible
and the house was not old enough to
make the latter theory plausible. From
my survey of the flue on my nrrlval in
the afternoon 1 Judged that this par
ticular chimney had been little used.
The smoke now rolled out in billows
and drove us back from the hearth. I
seized the tongs and poker and began
readjusting the logs, without, how
ever, any hope of correcting a difficulty
that lay patently In the upper regions
of the flue Itself. The smoke, after n
courageous effort to rise, encountered
nn obstruction of some sort and ebbed
bnck upon the hearth nnd out into the
room. "My efforts to stop the trouble
by shifting the logs were futile, as I
expected them to be, and I retreated
quickly, making, I fear, no very gal
lant appearance as I mopped my face
nnd eyes.
"Well," exclaimed Miss Uolllster,
who had rung for a servant to open
the doors and windows, "this is cer
tainly most extraordinary. What so
lution do you offer, Mr. Ames?"
"The matter requires Investigation.
I enn't venture an opinion until I have
made a thorough investigation. The
night Is perfectly quiet, and the wind
Is hardly responsible. I think we hnd
better abandon tho room until I can
solve this riddle In tho morning."
The prompt opening of the windows
and doors caused the slow dispersion
of the smoke, but the lights In tho
room still shone dimly as through a
fog.
"It's beastly I" ejaculated Wiggins,
coughing. "I didn't supjiose Topper-
ton would put a fluo like that into a
house, lie ought to bo shot!
"It Is fortunate," said Miss Uollls
ter, "that Mr. Ames is on the ground,
lie now has a case that will test his
most acute owcrs of diagnosis."
The logs thnt had burned so brightly
before the chimney choked still held
their flames stubbornly, and I had ad
vised against pouring water npoo
them, fearing to crack the brick and
stono work. We were about to adjourn
to the drawlug room. Miss Uolllster
and the others hnd In fact reached
the door, leaving mo alone beforo tho
honrth. Then, as I stood half blinded
watching tho smoko pour out Into the
room and more puzzled than I hnd
ever been beforo in any of my era
ployments, tho chimney, with a deep
Intake of breath, began drawing the
smoke upward again. The flames ennght
and spread with renewed ardor, and
when the trio still loitering In tho hall
returned In answer to my exclamation
of surprise, the flue hnd recovered Its
composure and was behaving In a sane
aud normal nisnner.
"A swallow undoubtedly fell lutothe
chimneypot and then got Itself out
again," miggfsff.1 Cecilia.
"The logs must have been wet. The
sap hadn't dried out yet," proposed
Wiggius.
"The wood was as dry as tinder,"
averred Miss Ilollistor, not without
irritation. "And one swallow does not
make a summer or a chimney smoke.
It must have been a changing current
of air. I was reading a book on bal
looning the other day, and It Is re
markable how tho air currents change."
"That Is quite possible, as the air
cools rapidly after sunset at this sea
son, and that is bound to have an ef
fect on the quality and resistance of
the atmosphere," I replied sagely.
"Perhaps," suggested Si iss Uolllster,
with one of those Hashes of animation
that were so delightful lu her, "it was
u ghoai. The presence of a ghost In
this house would give me the greatest
pleasure. I should look upon a ghost's
appearance at Ilopefield Manor as a
great compliment. If any reputable,
decent ghost should by any chance
take up his residence In this house I
should give him every encouragement."
Miss Ilollistor seemed to have for
gotten tho proposed game of billiards.
The chimney's lawless demonstration
had, in fact, given a new turn to tho
evening. We discussed ghosts for half
an hour, and then, without having en
joyed any opportunity for a single pri
vate word with Cecilia, Wiggins rose
to leave He shook hands all around
and bowed from the door. It was In
my mind to follow, making a pretext
of walking with hliu to the station or
of helping him find his car, but noth
ing in his good night to me encouraged
such attentions, and as I pondered the
outer duor closed upon my Irresolution.
At the stroke of 10 Miss Uolllster
rose nnd excused' herself. "We break
fast ut 8, Mr. Ames. I trust the hour
does not conflict with your habits."
I assured her that the hour was
wholly agreeable, and she gave me her
hand with great dignity.
When I turned toward Cecilia she
had moved to n seat close by the
hearth and was gazing dreamily into
tho fire, now n bed of glowing coals.
"It was odd," I remarked.
"You menn the chimney?"
"Yes. It was quite unaccountable,
I confess that I never knew n chim
ney's mood to change so abruptly."
She sat silent for several minutes
and then she lifted her head and ber
eyes met mine.
"Pardon me, Mr. Ames, but did my
aunt ask you here to examine the
chimneys? I didn't quite understand
We have been here only a week; the
weather has beeu warm, and I believe
this fire hnd not been lighted before
today. You will pardon my frankness,
but I can't quite understand why my
aunt Invited you here If you came pro
fessionally. I thought when you ap
peared this afternoon that you were a
ffuest uothlng more or less."
"You had heard nothing of any trou
hie with the fireplaces? Then I am In
the dark ns much as you. As I under
midst of a conilleld. He stood as rigid
as a sentry on duty, gr like n forlorn
commander counting the spears of his
tottered battalions. I was not sure
that he saw nie, for the balcony was
slightly shadowed, but, at any rate, he
was sharply outlined to my vision. His
derby hat and overcoat gave him an
odd appearance as he stood brooding
above the corn. Then he vanished sud
denly, though as he retired toward tb
highway 1 followed him for some time
by the shaking and jerking of the corn
stalks. I determined to make everv ef
fort to see Wiggins the next day and
learn the exart status of his affair with
Cecilia Ilollistor.
.It) He Continued.)
Local Wow
s
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From Monday's Pally.
F. J. Hcnuiiigs ami wife of near
.eiiar i.reei; were in uie my io-
i a'lemlinu; to Mime trading.
W. D.
were in
o sumo
hauls.
Wheeler and sun, Albert,
town Saturday attending
trading with the mer
it rcndci-s hogs Immune to Choleras tones them upi
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Ask us about MERRY WAR POWDERED LYE.
Vcir
PLATTSMOUTH.
A. W.1 White,
Dry Goods & Groceries
Phones : Ind. 206, Bell 71
NEBR.
James W. Holmes of Murray
ami! up Sal unlay ami attended to
some business matters in this city
for a short time.
Local Hews
Louie Thomas came in this afl
rnooii from Missouri Valley,
Iowa, when4 he hail been attending
to business mailers.
from Tuesday's Dully.
K. T. Younkei of Olenwood was
in tlie city yesterday for a few
hours attending to some mailers
of business.
I A. Horn was in Saturday
from the vicinity of (.edar Creek
oing the week-end shopping and
usitmg Willi mends.
County Commissioner 0. H.
Jordan of Alvo came in last
evening to attend the meeting of
I lie commissioners today.
('.. F. Met zee drove up Saturday
from his home, near Mynard, and
pent several hours in this city
wilh his many friends.
George A. Kafl'enberger and
wife were passengers this morn
ing for Omaha, whore they visited
for the day willi friends.
A
. J-'.' Seybert of C.ullom
is cilv today for a few
Mrs.
was in
hours visiting relatives arid at
lending to some trading.
Win Held Swan and Fred Clark
of Union came up this morning to
attend to some business mailers
at the court house.
Mrs. 1'. F. (loos ami daughter,
Mrs. Olga Croscary, were pas
sengers yesterday for Omaha,
where they visited for a few
hours.
Fd Kuinniell and wife came in
this morning from their farm
near Mynard and were passeng
ers on the early lUirlingtou train
for Omaha.
Charles 0. lleeson, who is here
visiting his mother for a few days,
was a passenger yesterday after
noon for Omaha to look nfter
some business matters.
C. K. Heebuer, county commis
sioner from the Second district,
came in last evening on the Mis
souri Pacific to attend the 'com
missioners' meeting.
Ksther Hunter of Fremont was
.it t n l.
a visitor Here in me v . -. wu-
ertson home, returning to her
home yesterday afternoon.
(Ieorge J. Meisinger of Mynard
was in l no city yesterday lor a
few hours at tending to some trad
ing with the merchants.
John KafTenuerger was in town
Saturday for a few hours visiting
his friends and attending to some
trading with the merchants.
Mark While and wife drove up
yesterday from their home near
Rock Muffs and attended to 8ome
trading with the merchants.
. M. Holmes of Murray was a
visitor hero yesterday with rela-
Ilen lleckman, accompanied by
lives, returning to his home this his son-in-law, Louie Ilheinackle,
morning on the 8:'i5 train.
Btood It, I was. called here to examine
the flues; but, now Hint 1 think of It,
she did not say explicitly that licr
cliinnipys were behaving hadly, though
that was, of course, Implied. I natu
rally assumed that she summoned me
here In my professional capacity. . I
was a stranger to your aunt; she would
hardly have Invited mo otherwise. 1
imagine, however, that your mint acts
a good deal on Impulse. Her asking
me here may have been only a whim.
"Please don't Imagine that your com
lug has not been agreeable to me," Ce
cilia protested. "My nunt Is fpiitc
capablo of Inviting a Bt ranger to the
house. She met you, I believe, ut the
Asolando. I hope you understand that
It Is only beeauso I nm in deep trou
ble, Mr. Ames, trouble of the gravest
nature, that I hove ventured to spenk
to you In this way of my aunt, for
whom I have all respect and afTec
tlon."
She had never, I was sure, been
lovelier than nt this moment. Her
eyes Oiled, but she lifted her head
proudly. Whatever tho trouble might
bo I was sorry for It on her own ac
count, nnd If It Involved Hartley Wig
gins my sympathy went out to hlui
also. On nn Impulse I spoke of him.
"I was surprised to meet Hartley
Wiggins here. He's a dear friend of
mine, you know. I thought ho had
gone to his ranch. He left the Hare
nnd Tortoise very abruptly a few nights
ago Just after we hnd dined together.
He must be stopping somewhere in
the neighborhood."
"It's quite possible. And there's an
inn, you know. I fancy he drove over
from there."
"I hadn't thought of thnt-the Tres
cott Arms I suppose you mean."
She nodded, but sho was clearly not
Interested In me, and when I found
myself failing dismally to divert her
thoughts to cheerfuler channels I ros
and bade her good night
The servant who hnd previously at
tended me appeared promptly when 1
reached my room, bearing a tray, with
biscuits nnd n bottle of ale. He gave
me on envelope addressed In a hand
I already knew as Miss Octavla'a, and
I opened and read
The following I either detest or dtetruit.
kindly refrain from mentioning them
wnue you are a guest of Ilopefield Manor
Automobiles.
Mashed potatoes.
Wh Inkers.
Chopin's Conrerto In B minor (op. U).
nutiop's Coadjutor.
Llmorlcks.
Cats. OCTAVIA HOLLISTER.
Before I slept I threw up my window
and stepped out upon a nnrrow bal
cony thnt afforded a capital view of the
fields nnd woodn to the cast The night
wns fine, with tho sky bright wltb
stars nnd moon. As my eyes dropped
from the horizon to the near landscape
K.I Meeker drove in Saturday
from bis li e, west of Ibis city,
and alleiided to some business
mailers bore for a short time.
and bis grandson, were in the city
lo day looking after some busi
ness matters.
F.I Thrall, wife ami niece, Miss
(irace Thomas, were passengers
this morning for Omaha, where
lliev spent the day taking in the
sights.
Henry Snoke and wife of Fagle
came in tins morning on i no fti.
1'. for a few hours' business trip,
and departed on No. 15 for
Omaha.
.iumes Robertson and wife drove
out lu Louisville this morning lo
iil wilh friends there and to
look alter some properly in.
teresls.
I.. D. Ilialt, the Murray mer
idian), eaiiiir op this morning and
was a passenger on No. 15 for
Omaha, where he was called on
business mallei's.
(ieorge I'. Meisinger, jr., drove
in Saturday from bis farm, near
this city, and visit oil with rela
tives, as well as at lending to some
I railing.
Fdilor C. L. Craves of the
I ' ii it 1 1 i Ledger came up this morn
ing on the early Missouri Pacific
train to atleinl lo some business
mailers at the court house.
John Helllicker and daughter,
of near Cedar Creek, were in the
city Saturday for a few hours at
tending to some trading wilh Hie
merchants.
Henry Marnuin Miller ami An-
Ion Nilka were passengers on tin
early Murlinglon train for Omaha
to attend to some business mat
ters and lake in (be sights in the
big city.
Joe Vitersnek of Alberton, Mon
tana, who has been here visiting
his parents, west of this city, de
parted yesterday afternoon for
Omaha, from which place he will
leave for his home.
J. V. Cox and family, who have
been here for some lime visiting
at the home of Mrs. Cox's parents,
John Brady and wife, departed
last evening on No. 2 for Chicago,
where I hey will reside in the
future.
Miss Mary Hobshcit, who is
teaching school near Osmond,
Neb., and Miss Margaret O'Brien
of that place, who have been visit
ing at tin4 William Morley homo in
this city, departed this morning
for their homes, Miss Anna Mor
ley aecomparvd them as far as
Omaha.
V. Calkin and son, Kien, of
Miller, Neb., who have been here
visiting at the home of Mr. Cal
kin's sister, Mrs. 11. L. l'ropst, at
Mynard, departed yesterday after
noon for their home. Mrs. l'rpost
accompanied them as far as
Omaha.
Charles Malous and wife of
Jiavelock ' came down Saturday
evening on No. 2 from I heir home
and visited over Sunday here with
relal ives.
Itaymond Cotton of Scotland, S.
I)., who has been a guest here nt
the Chris Wohlfarlli home for a
few days, departed on the early
Murliiigton train today for bis
mine.
Boys' Club Meets.
The Hoys' club of St. Luke's
parish met at the rectory last
night ami were enlertained by Mr.
William It. F.genberger. Dr.
Stewart Livingston was present
ami gave a very interesting talk
to tlii boys. Mrs. Wilson and
Miss Violet , ' I lodge served some
delicious refreshments which
were much appreciated by the
buys, and they feel deeply grate
ful to Mr. Fgenberger and Father
and Mrs. Wilson for the line lime
enjoyed last evening.
Frank Steppat ami wife came
in Saturday afternoon from their
home, near this city, and spent
several hours looking after some
week-end shopping.
Joe Meters, accompanied by Hoy
Iiinker. Anton llumla and Ezra
Crabill and family, were passeng
ers this morning for Olenwood,
where the gentlemen will go to
work on the contract of Mr.
Meters' in that city.
Cantain Isaac Wiles and wife
and Luke Wiles and family were
visitors yesterday in Olenwood,
where they were guests ut the
Dean home. Tho members of this
family suffered severely in the
tornado last Sunday.
Attention!
Wo can write you a Tornado
1'olicy for Five Hundred Dollars
for flvo years for 75 cents a I
year; larger ones at tho same
ratio. At this low rate you cannot
afford to be without insurance.
Windham Inveslment & Loan Co.
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