A
(
U " 'vf' ' 1
CHAPTER XXI.
Trouble at th Preacott Arm.
CECILIA'S band, that had rested
on the pommel of her saddle,
dropped to her side, and she
stood erect, her eyes wide with
wonder.
"What do you mean?" she gasped.
"I mean exactly what I hare said.
If it had been that strutting young
philosopher from the west you would
well, you would have allowed him to
sny what was In his mind. Am I not
right?"
"I wonder, I wonder" she faltered,
drawing away the better to observe
me.
"You wonder how much I know! To
relieve your mind without parleying
further, I will say to you tuat I know
everything."
"Then Aunt Octavla must have told
you, and that seems Incredible. It was
distinctly understood"
"Your aunt told me nothing. Not by
words did any one tell me."
"Not by words?" she asked, eyeing
me wonderlngly and clearly feeling
that I might be 'playing some trick
upon her. "Then can It be that Ileze
kiah but no! Ilezeklnh doesn't know."
"Trust Ilezeklah for not telling se
crets," I answered evasively. "Give
me credit for some imagination. The
air of Hopefleld is stimulating, and in
the few days I have spent in your
aunt's house I have learned much that
I never dreamed of before."
"I don't understand it You are
wholly Inexplicable."
"I am the simplest and least guileful
of beings, I assure you. Yet I havt
done some things here not in tho slight
est way related to chimney doctoring
and something else I expect to do for
which I believe you will thank me
through all the years of your life."
"Ah, if you really know, that is pos
sible 1" she sighed wearily. "I am very
tired of it all. I was very foolish ever
to have agreed to Aunt Octavla's plan.
You have seen those men. Any one of
them might, you know." And she
shrugged her shoulders Impatiently.
"Any one of them might be the sev
enth man. There, you see I do know.
And I mean to help you."
She was Immensely relieved. There
was no question of that. Gratitude
shone in her eyes, and then as I mar
veled at their beautiful dark depths
fear suddenly possessed them. The
change In her was startling. I caught a
fleeting glimpse of Hartley Wiggins
riding slowly with bowed head toward
the Inn.
It was plain that that glimpse of
him had touched Cecilia's pity. If I
had doubted the sincerity of her regard
for him before I spurned the thought
now. I was anxious to requlcken hope
In her.
"I have told you enough, Miss Hollis
ter, to make it clear that I am in a po
sition to help you."
"But there is always" she began,
then ceased abruptly and lifted her
head proudly "there is always Mr.
Wiggins' attitude toward my sister.
Not for anything lu the world would I
cause her the slightest uuhapplness.
You must see that, uow that you know
her."
I laughed aloud. Cecilia's concern for
Hezeklah's happiness was so absurd
that I could not restrain my mirth for
a moment. Displeasure showed prompt
ly In Cecilia's face.
'Tardon me, but maybe you don't
quite understand Ilezeklah," I said.
"Is it possible, then, that you do?"
she inquired coldly. "I imagine your
opportunities for seeing her have not
been numerous."
"Well, it lsu't so much a matter of
seeing her, when you've read of her all
your Ufo and dreamed about her. She's
In every fairy story that ever was writ
ten; she dances through tho mythol
ogies of all races. Hers is the kingdom
of the pure in heart Her mind is like
a beautiful bright meadow by tho sea
nd her thoughts the dipping of swal
low wings on lightly swaying grasses."
Cecilia's manner changed, and sh
smiled.
"You seem to have an attack of
something. It looks serious."
I helped her Into the saddle, and Bhe
looked down ot me with amusement in
her eyes. My prnlse of Ilezeklnh had
pleased her, and I felt, ns when we
journeyed together Into town, her kind
ly, human qualities. She snld:
"You nrj not coining limine for lunch
eon? Thou I filinll see you at 4. I hope
the hiding plin'e ofjlie gliot wJIIirove
-
The Siege
of the
Seven Suitors
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright. 1910, by Meredith NkboUoi
Interesting. Aunt Octavla has bu
hopes high, and I mny add that she hi
expressed the greatest admiration $;
you to me. On her ride this morning
she declared that great things are in
store for you. I hope so, too, Mr.
Ames."
She gave me her hand and rode
away.
The inn was a mile distant, and I set
off at a brisk pace, turning over in my
mind various projects for controlling
Jie characters now upon the stags In
such manner that Wiggins should be
come the seventh man. Cecilia could
not always run away from him with
out violating the terms of her aunt's
stipulation, and it was unlikely that
she would attempt further to guide or
thwart the pointing finger of fate. I
relied little upon any arrangement ef
fected among tho suitors to stand to
gether. Hume had already found a i
chance to speak. Lord Arrowood had
bitten the dust and turned his face
homeward, and AViggins had been near
the brink only that morning. It was
unlikely that any of the active candi
dates remaining would stumble upon
the key to the situation, which Heze
kiuh had given into my keeping.
It was well on toward 2 o'clock when
I approached the Inn. Before long the
suitors would depart for their after
noon call at the manor, which was an
established event of the day. Just as 1 1
was about to enter the gnte I was ar
rested by an imperious voice calling,
and John Stewart Dick came running
toward me. To my surprise he greeted
me cordially, even offering his baud.
"You thought you would come after
all. Well, I'm glad you did. I've decid
ed that there should be peace between
us."
In stature he was the shortest of the
suitors, but what he lacked In height
was compensated for by a tremendous
dignity.
"You have several times addressed
me, Mr. Ames, in a spirit of contumely
which I have hesitated to punish by
the chastisement you deserve, but I
am willing to let bygones be bygones.
I had intended to offer myself to Miss
nolllster this afternoon, with every .
hope of success, but I yield to you.
My only request is that you inform me
at once when you have learned her
decision."
He clapped on his cap and folded his
arms, clearly satisfied with the ex-1
presslons of surprise to which my feel-'
Ings betrayed me. Could it bo possible
that he had guessed the truth, perhaps
by deductive processes of which I was
ignorant? Whether he had reasoned
from some remark thrown out by Miss
Octavla as to the Influence of seven
in the affairs of life and her applica
tion of that fateful principle to the
choice of a husband for Cecilia, I could
nota guess, but assuming that he had
caught that clew, he might readily 1
enough have managed the rest. I must
not allow him to see what I suspected.
"My dear professor, there's an an
cient warning against the Greeks bear-'
Ing gifts. . You must give me time to
Inspect the horse."
"Are you questioning my good faith?"
"Be It far from me! I'm a good deal
tickled, though, by your genial as
sumption that If I offered myself to
this lady I should be declined with
thanks."
lie was again belligerent. It may
hnva w-nrrn,! tn Mm hnt i ...ihf
know ns much ns he. but at any rate trlbutes t0 tuo apostate, whose melan-
ho grinned. It was a saturnine grin I cho,y gr,n only deepened.
did not like. Henderson rallied for a flunl shot
"I'm starving to death nt tho door of , at1(me' , , , , , , .
an Inn, and you must excuse me. Have 1 A g0?.d "rsewhlpPIng what you
you seen Hartley Wiggins lately?" , deserve, he cried, leveling his finger
"I have indeed. He's taken to lonely "ie,
horseback rides. He's off somewhere Gentlemen," I began, not without iu
now. He hasn't the stamina for a con- ward, ?"aklnK. "you have spoken loud,
tent like this. One by one the autumn I nauKhty Jda . and in reply I
leaves are falling," he added, with spe- muf 8ay nt your vocal efforts sug
clal Intention, "and I have given you only melodies of the braying
your chance."
"Thanks, light bringing Socrates
from tho lands of the Ogalallas. For
so much courtesy I shall take pleasure
In reading all your posthumous works.
Let us cense being absurd."
With this I left him and entered the
low raftered ofllce. It was really a
plensant lounging room, unspoiled by
the usual hotel ofllco paraphernalia.
Dick had followed close behind, and ns
I paused, hearing voices raised ongrlly
In the dining room beyond, I turned to
him for an explanation. As the suitors
had been the only guests of the Inn
since their advent, I attributed the com
motion to strife In their own nrnks.
"You'd better take a. look' at those
fellows. I've quit them quite out of I
It. Iteineinber that," said Dick.
The dining room door was slightly I
ajar, and I flung it open.
Ormsby, Khallenbergcr, Henderson, i
Hume, Gorsu and Arbutlinot hud been !
engaged with cards nt n round table lu
nn alcove, but some dispute having ap
parently rl-en. they stood In their
place engaged In lu rliuonl ius debate.
As nenr ;t.s 1 couM determine, some om
( thetu-1 think it was Orinstiy-wish- ,
1 ed to abandon tho game, which had i
; been undertaken to determine in wliat j
' order they should be permitted to pay
i visits to Hopefleld in future, the calls j
j together having grown intolerable.
They were so absorbed that they failed !
! to note my appearance.
"It's no good, I tell you!" cried Onus
by. "There's no fairness In this unless
all take their chances together!"
"You ought to have thought of that
before we began. This was your
scheme, but because the cards are run
ning against you you want to quit. I
say we'll go on!" This from Hender
son, who struck the table sharply as he
coucluded.
"You knew Wiggins and Dick weren't
going In when we started, and you are
not . likely to get them In now. Your
anxiety to cut the rest of us out by
any means seems to have unsettled
your mind," shouted Oorse. "I say
let's drop this aud stand to our original
agreement that no man speak till the
ond of the fortnight."
"After that whole scheme has been
torn to pieces like paper! There's been
nothing fair In this business from the
start! We ought to have kept Arrowood
here and held together. And we ought
to have got rid of that Ames fellow
be didn't belong In this at all!"
Ortnshy's voice rose to a disagree
able squeak as he closed with this in
dictment of me. Shnllenlerger seemed
to be the only one of the group who
bad not lost his senses. He was In the
farther corner of the alcove, out of
light from the door, but I heard him
distinctly as he addressed the other
inltors with rising anger.
"We're acting like cads, and cads
of the most contemptible sort! I only
agreed to this game to satisfy Ormsby.
The idea of our sitting here to draw
cards to determine the order In which
we shall offer ourselves to the noblest
nnd most beautiful woman In the
1 world would be coarse aud vulgar If It
' were not so ridiculous! I'm out of it!"
I My interest in this colloquy had led
me further Into the room, nnd hearing
I my step they all turned and faced me.
Dick had continued at my side, but
the black looks they sent our way
They Failed to Note My Appearance.
were intended, I thought, rather for
me. My appearance roused Ormsby to
a fresh outburst.
i "You're responsible! If you hadn't
forced yourself upon the ladles at
Hopefleld there wouldn't have been
any of this trouble!"
"You're only an impostor anyhow.
You went to the house to fix a clilm
, ney and seem to think you're engaged
' to spend the rest of your natural life
there," protested Henderson,
i Then they dropped me and assniled
Dick.
"We'd like to know what you expect
to gain by dropping out. You got cold
feet mighty sudden," bellowed Ormsby.
' vioiso mm uenuerson paiu similar
I m ii
juiauaa auu mm. ;vul umuueni, iu
speak mildly, are susceptible of con
siderable improvement."
"You leave this neighborhood within
an hour,'' boomed Ormsby, and in bis
efforts to free himself from his chair
It fell backward with a crash that
echoed through the long room.
"Then summon the coroner by tele
phone, for I shall not be taken alive,"
I answered quietly, trying to recall my
youthful delight in Torthoa, Athos and
Aramts.
"Come along, let us put him out,"
Henderson was saying In an aside to
Ormsby
"You were playing a game here for a
stake not yours for tho winning," I
continued. "Now I suggest thnt you
abuti'e the puck you three, who are so
full .of valor-shuille the pack, I say,
nnd draw for the Jack of clubs. Who
ever Is the fortunate mini I shall tnle
pleasure In pitching through yonder
. vory charming cis eiui'iit."
I "Agreed!" cried Henderson, and the
three flung themselves Into their chairs.
I Thonhicrity of their ritviit had uii-
I Of
once, when I ruUreaJ the Jack ot
spades for the- Jack of clubs, a shud
der passed over me. They were down
to the last card, and Oruisby's hand
was ou it. j
Theu I locked at the floor to steady
myself, and hope leaped within me,
for there, by Oruisby's foot a large
and heavy one-lay an upturned card,
the Jack of clubs, whose lone symbol
magnified Itself enormously in my
amazed eyes.
At this moment I became conscious
that something had occurred to dis
tract the attention of the other men.
who were staring at some oue who
had entered noiselessly.
"Gentlemen, you seem immensely in
terested in the turn of those cards. 1
am glad to have arrived at the critical
moment. Mr. Ormsby, will you kindly
lift the remaining card from the
table?"
Miss Octavla stood beside me. She
was dressed in a dark brown riding
habit the feather in her fedora hat
emphasized her usual brisk air.
Ormsby turned up the card. It was
the ten of diamonds.
"Gentlemen," I cried, pointing to the
card, "what trick is this? Can it be
possible that you have been trifling
with me In. a fashion for which men
have died the world over by sword and
pistol!"
"Kindly explain, Arnold, the nature
of this dlfllculty," Miss Octavla com
manded. "Simply this. Miss nolllster, if I
must answer. I had offered to fight
these three gentlemen In order. t was
agreed that the man who drew the
Jack of clubs from the pack with
which they had been playing should
bo my first victim. They have Bundled
their own cards and have drawn the
whole pack and there is no Jack of
clubs in the pack! The only possible
explanation Is one to which I hesitate
to apply the obvious plain Saxon
terras."
"It dropped out, that's all! You
don't dare pretend that we threw out
the Jack to avoid drawing It!" protest
ed Ormsby. though I saw from the
glances the trio exchanged that they
suspected one another. Ormsby and
Gorse bent down to look for the miss
ing card, but before they found It 1
stepped forward and drove my flat
upon the table with all tho power I
could put into the blow.
"Stop!" I cried. "I gave you every
opportunity to stand up nnd take a
trouncing, but I need hardly say that
after this contemptible knavery I re
fuse to soil my hands on you!"
"Do you insinuate" began Header
son, Jumping to his feet.
"Gentlemen," said Miss nolllster,
lifting the riding crop, "It Is perfectly
clear to me that Mr. Ames has gone as
far as any gentleman need go in pro
tecting his honor."
With one sweep of her crop she
brushed to the floor the three piles of
cards that lay on the table as they had
been stacked when drawn.
"Arnold," she said, with indescrib
able dignity, "will you kindly attend
me to my horse V
nerved riuT fT. a momenfT DArfagnau,
I was sure,' would have fought them
all, but I consoled myself as the cards
rattled on the bure table with the re
flection that, considering the fact that
I had never in my life laid violent
hands on a fellow being, I was cou
Jucflng myself with ndmlriiblo assur
ance. My weight has always hung
well within l.'W, and physicians have
told me (hat I was Incapable of taking
on flesh or muscle. Any one of these
men could easily toss me through the
window I had Indicated as a means of
their own exit.
Shallenberger caught my eye nnd in
dicated with a slight Jerk of the head
that I had better run before it was too
late. The painstaking cure with which
Henderson had fallen upon the cards
was disquieting, to put it mildly. Dick
nudged me In t he ribs and offered to
hold my coat."
"It will not bo necessary," I replied
carelessly. "Tender your services to
the other gentlemen. Come, gentle
menhurry. Let us not waste time
here."
"If Ormsby turns up the card you're
a dead num." Dick was muttering
gloomily.
"They're nil alike to me," I replied
loudly. "Mr. Ormsby Is very benutl
ful. I shall liopo not to disfigure him
permanently." But as I spoke my
tongue was a wabbly dry clapper in
my mouth.
I was bending over now. watching
the three men pick up the cards, and
i i n o Gontinued.)
THAT DEAR APPENDIX.
If colic or pain ventures night
your abdomen,
Some doctor will tell you it is a
bad onion;
Then, quick an a Hash, lie is
whetting a knife,
Quite euger to carve you and
lengthen (?) your life.
I've made up my mind it is best
(o keep muni;
To smile and look pleasant and
never act glum,
For the doctor, eonsarn him, is
right on the job,
Me of my appendix delennined to
rob.
F. 11. T.
I. eland llriggs was a passeng
er on lie early Burlington train
for Omaha this inorninpr, where
he looked after some business
mailers and met. Floyd McDaniel,
who is reluming1 from his year's
work al Ihe Kearney Military
academy.
HEW
onuro Sproadors
The Best Manure Spreader
Oil THE MARKET TODAY!
This machine may be seen at my implement
department a new addition to my general black
smith and wagon business. I also handle the
AVERY Gorn Planters
and Cultivators! c
In fact it is my intention to carry a general line
of Farm Implements of all kinds. Call and see
me for whatever you may need.
I. B. IS
SOUTH SIXTH SL,
MISS ESTHER LARSON
ENTERTAINS FOR MISS
ETHEL BALLANGE
From Tuesday s Daily.
A number of young ladies were
very pleasantly entertained at a
linen shower by Miss Esther
f, arson at her home last evening,
which was in honor of Miss Ethel
Hallance, whose marirage to Mr.
Paul Morgan will occur on Wed
nesday, June i. Tho house had
been pre! lily decorated in hearts
and the spring flowers for the oc
casion. On Uieir arrival the
guests were put to work hem
ming dust cloths, which were
presented to the bride-to-be upon
their completion. An hour or so
was then devoted to card games,
in which Miss Florence White
captured I lie prize, a handker
chief. A two-courso luncheon
was served. Miss Ilernese Newell
assisting. The bride-to-be was
seated at u table which had been
appropriately decorated in hearts,
spring flowers and ribbons, the
packages containing the linen
pieces to be presented to her by
the guests being tied t ribbon
streamers and arranged in a
promiscuous manner about her
table.
SPLENDID TIME ENJOYEO AT
THE F. S.
E
Krom Wednesday'! Dally.
Last evening at the home of
Mr. and .Mrs. F. S. Ramsey a parly
of young people gathered to give
a mock wedding in honor of Miss
Hess Edwards. The bridal party,
which were Miss Ola Kall'enberg
er, the bride, and Miss (lladys Me
Maken, the groom, arrived at 9
o'clock in an automobile, and at
9:.'10 the wedding march, played
by Mrs. Ramsey, sounded through
the rooms and the bride, followed
by "Mr. Johnson," the best man,
who was Miss Mora Kaffenberger;
om Planters!
b
Sure drop, variable
WHILE THEY LAST!
mm mm
Plattsmouth, Nebraska
IDEA
i
Platttsmouth, l!eb.
Miss Wanda Ramsey, the brides
maid; Miss Maddox and the others
that were in the wedding party
Helen Egenberger, May Olenn,
Sophia Hild and Huth Roman, as
Mr. and Mrs. Karson; Margaret
Albert, Mrs. Johnson, Harold
Ramsey and John and Charles
Egenberger were the charming
little girls who very prettily car
ried the bride's train and ring.
While the wedding ceremony
was performed by Miss Mildred
Snyder, Mr. Larson slyly came in
on Ihe gathering and listened to
the ceremony. After the "wed
ding" delicious refreshments wero
served of ice cream, cake and
wafers. After several hours of
enjoyment the guests departed,
having had a delightful time.
CARDS OUT ANNOUNCING
THE MARRIAGE OF WELL
KNOWN YOUNG PEOPLE
Cards are out announcing the
wedding of Miss Elenor Critch
field of Omaha to Mr. George
Vogle, a well-to-do farmer of
South Bend. Miss Critchlleld has
been principal of the South Hend
schools for the past two years,
and in that capacity has been very
successful. She is a graduate of
Moane college academy and com
pleted the two-years' course iu
Moan college, specializing in
English literature. Miss Critch
lleld won first prize in a reading
contest among the Cass county
teachers during the teachers' in
stitute held at Weeping Water
last Hummer. She. is the oldest
daughter of Edward S. Critchfleld,
a deputy United Slates revenue
collector. They will be al home
at South Hend after July 1. The
news of Ihe wedding of Ibis young
lady, who has been one of tho
leading teachers of the county,
will be very pleasing to tier many
friends, who will join in wishing
Ihe happy couple a long and
happy life in their journey to
gether. Marshall, Dentist, Co ate block.
IN
edge drop, high wheel
43k
Eta
ft