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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 1913)
ine bieire of the Seven Suitors By MEREDITH NICHOLSON CHAPTER XXII. Under the Old Flooring. A STABLE BOY held Miss Octa- via's horse at the Inn door. ' Her face, her figure, her voice expressed outraged dignity as he tested the saddle girth. "You need never tell me what had happened to provoke your wrath, for that is none of my affair, but I wish to ay that your conduct and bearing won my highest approval. They had un doubtedly hidden the jack of clubs to avoid the drubbing you would have administered to the unfortunate man who would have drawn that card if It had been in the pack." "I was not in the slightest danger at any time, Miss Holllster," I protested. "By one of those tricks of fate to which you and I are becoming so ac customed the card had fallen to the floor unnoticed. If you had not arrived so opportunely the lost Jack would have been discovered, the cards reshuflled. and very likely Mr. Ormsby would have been dusting the inn floor with me at this very minute." "I refuse to believe any such thing," declared Miss Oetavia, who had mount ed and continued speaking from the saddle. "Your perfect confidence was admirable, and I shudder to think of the terrible punishment you would have given them." If Miss Oetavia wished to view my performances In this flattering light It seemed unnecessary, to object. "It was only a pleasant Incident of the day's work, Miss Holllster. I'm go ing to engage a squire and take to the open road as soon as all this is over." "As soon as all what Is over?" she de manded, eying me keenly. "Oh, the work I've undertaken to do here. I flatter myself that I have made some progress, but within tweuty-four hours I dare say that we shall have seen the end." "Your words are not wholly lumi nous, Arnold." "It is much better that It should be so. You have trusted me so far, and I bav no intention of falling: you now. If I say that the crisis Is near at hand in a certain matter that interests you greatly, you will understand that I am not striking lgnorantly In the dark." "It you know what I suspect you know, Arnold Ames, you are even shrewder than I thought you, and you had already taken a high place in my regard." "Will you tell me Just how you came to visit the Inn at this particular hour?" "Nothing could be simpler. I had luncheon at the house of a friend on whom I called. Cecilia had left roe to continue her ride alone, and on my way home I thought I would ride hy the Prescott Arms to see how th fuests were faring. Yon see" an pauseif and" gave a twitch to her hat to prolong my suspense "you see, I own the Prescott Arms!" With this she rode away, and not caring to risk a further meeting with the angry suitors from whom Miss Oetavia had rescued me by so uarrow a margin, I set off across the field to ward Hopefield. From the stile I saw Miss Oetavia in the highway half a mile distant, sending her horse along at a spirited canter. I reached the house without further adventures, was served with a cold luncheon In my room, and by the time I had changed my clothes Miss Oetavia sent mo word that Pepperton had arrived. Miss Oetavia and the architect were conversing earnestly when I reached the library, and from the abruptness with which they censed on my en trance I Imagined that I had been the subject of their talk. Fepperton Is not only one of the finest architects Amer ica has produced, but one of the Jolll est of fellows. He grasped my hand cordially and pointed to the fireplace. "So you've at lust found one of my jobs to overhaul, have you? You mustn't let this get out on me, old man; it would shatter my reputation "Please observe that the flue Is draw ing splendidly now," I answered. "A ghost had been strolling up and down the chimney, but now that I have found his lair he will not trouble Miss llolllster's fireplaces again." "I have waited for your arrival. Mr. Pepperton. that we might have the benefit of your knowledge of the house in following the trail of this ghost which Arnold has discovered. But we must give Arnold credit for effecting the discovery alone and unaided. I de stroyed the plans I obtained from your office so that Arnold might be fully tested as to his capacity for managing the most diflicult situations." When Miss Oetavia first referred to me as Arnold, Pepperton raised his brows a trifle; the second time he glanced at me laughingly. He seemed greatly amused by Miss Octavla's serl ousness, but her amiable attitude to ward me clearly puzzled him. It takes a good man to uncover a thing I try to hide. I said nothing to yon, Miss Holllster, about the retention witliiu the walls of t Lis bouse of jmrts of im old one that formerly oocupieJ the site for V.w. reason that I thought you might refuse to buy the estate. The gentleman for whom I built Hope hold was superstitious, as niauy uieu of advaucett years are. as to the build ing of a new house, and as the site he chose Is one of the finest iu the country he compelled me to construct this house which is the most satisfactory I have tiullt In cmtli innTinnr thilt ammKrh ftl the old should be kept intact to soothe his superstitious soul with the ides' that he had merely altered an old house, not built a new one. As it u the architect's business to yield to such caprices, I obeyed him strictly So there are two rooms of an old farm house hidden under the east wing, and it amused me once I had got into It tc preserve part of the old stairway and connect the retained chambers with the upper hall of this house. I had tc patch the original stair, which was only one flight, with discarded lumber from the old house, but 1 flatter rayselt that I managed it neatly. I eveu saved the old nails to avert the wrath of th evil spirits. When the umbrella and dyspepsia cure man died for he did die, as you know I believed the secret had died with him, as he was very sen sitive about his superstitions. Most ol the laborers on that part of the Jot were brought from a long distance, and I supposed they never really knew Just what we were doing. I might have known, though, that if a fellow as clev er as Ames got to pecking at the houst the trick would be discovered. But tht chimney, old man what on earth wa the matter with it?" "It will never happen again, and 1 promised the ghost never to tell how It was done." "You were quite right In doing that. . ,1 1 t 1,1 U- , , : sacred: but let us now proceed to the i hidden chambers." said Miss nolllster. rising without further ado. She summoned Cecilia, to whom w explained matters briefly, and at rep perton's suggestion the four of us went directly to the fourth floor, so that Miss Oetavia might see the whole con trlvance In the most effective mannei possible. My awkward pen falters in the at tempt to convey any Idea of Miss Oc tavla's delight in Tepperton's revelu tlon. She kept repeating her admira tion of his genius, and her praise ol my cleverness, which, to protect Ileze klah, I was forced to accept meekly When in broad daylight Teppertoti found and pressed the spring in th upper hall, and the hidden door opened with a slowness thnt indicated a real lzatlon of Its own dramatic value, Miss Oetavia cried out gleefully, like a child that witnesses the manipulation of a new and wonderful toy. "Beyond any question," she kept aB sertlug, "beneath the chambers of th old house down there we shall find th bones of thaV British Boldier who per lihed here, or It la even possible that I chest of hidden treasure Is concealed beneath the floor." We were lighting candles prepara tory to stepping dowu into the dark stairway, and Pepperton was plnlnlj hard put to keep from laughing. Miss Oetavia followed Pepperton slowly, pausing frequently to hold hei candle close to the stair walls, whos rough surfaces confirmed all thnt Pep perton had snld of the preservation ol the old timbers. I had brought a handful of candles, and when we had reached the dark rooms beneath I lighted these and set them up In th black corners of the old rooms. U which, Miss Oetavia remarked, no1 even the wall pnper had been disturb td." Th'e'exlt into the coal cellar and concealed openings left for ventilation which bad escaped me before, were now pointed out by the architect, who kept laughing at the huge joke of It all. Miss Octavia searched thoroughly for any signs of a trapdoor beneath which the bones of the British soldier might repose. If I had foreseen her persistence in clinging to the tradition of the ill fated Briton I should have taken the trouble to hide a few bones under the flooring. Miss Oetavia had brought a stick from the coal room and was thumping the floor with it even while Pepperton tried to discourage her further investiga-1 tlons. We were all ranged about her with our candles, and these, with the others I had thrust into the corners, lighted the room well. "I'm afraid you've seen the whole of It, Miss Holllster," said Pepperton. "The old house was built after the Revolution, I Judge, but your British Boldier was probably left banging to a tree and never burled at all." Miss Oetavia had been over the floors of the two rooms twice and was about to desist She made her last stnnd In the corner of the smaller room, and as we all stood holding our lights we were conscious that the dull, monotonous thump suddenly changed its tone. "Do you hear that, gentlemen?" She subdued her gratification in the rebuking glance she gave us. Calm and unhurried, she rested a moment on her stick, with the candle's soft glow about her, a smile Ineffably sweet on her face. "The timbers may have rotted away undernenth. We didn't raise these floors," said Pepperton, but we both dropped to our knees and brought all the candle light to bear upon the floor ing. Dust and mortar, shaken loose in the destruction of the house, Oiled the cracks. Pepperton, deeply absorbed, continued to sound the corner with his knuckles. "It really looks as though these boards had been cut for some purpose," he said, whipping out his knife. I ran to the kindling room nnd found a hatchet, and when I returned lie had dug the dirt out of the edges of the floor planks. Silence (n-ld us nil as I i set to pryiug up the boards, j "I beg of you to exercise the great- I est care, gentlemen. If bones are in terred here we must do them no sacri lege," warned Miss Oetavia. By this time we all, I think, began to believe that the flooring might reaily j have been cut in this corner of the old room to permit the hiding of some thing. The old planks clung stub bornly to their joists, but after I nna loowneu one u.e iu tll ne" 0 mled the rom Vpperton had. at MUs Octavla'- direction .brought a chisel and crowbar from the toolroom in the cellar, and he stood ready with these when I tore up the last board, disclos ing an obloug space about five feet long and slightly over three feet wide. We were all excited now. The edge of the bar struck, repeatedly against something that resisted sharply. It might have been a root, but when rep perton shifted the point of attack the same booming sound answered to the prodding. Pepperton now thought it might be only an empty cask or a boi of no interest whatever, but Miss Oeta via. hovering close with a candle, en couraged us to go on. We worked on silently, Teppertou loosening the Boil with the bar while 1 shoveled It out. In half an hour we had revealed a long, flat wooden surface, which to our anxious Imaginations was the lid of some sort of box. It must have been nearly 6 o'clock when we dragged out Into that candle lighted chamber a stout, well fashion ed box. The earth clung to Its sidei jealously, and it was bound with strips of brass that shone brightly where the scraping of our tools had burnished it. We pried off the heavy lock with a l . Urtlrtnltv oml n'hnn If I ! VJ "113 "tc right to the treasure trove with much "I should never forgive myself if I allowed this opportunity to pass. You must penult me to have the first look." (To lie Continued.) For the Weak and Nervous. Ti-nMl-out, weak, nervous mei and women would feel ambitious, energetic, full of life and always ave a good appetite, if they would do the sensible tliingfor health take Electric Bitters. Nothing belter for the stomach, liver or kidneys. Thousands say they owe their lives to this wonderful home remedv. Mrs. 0. Rhinevault, of Veslal Center. N. Y.. savs: "I re- card Electric Bitters as one of the irronlPftt. nt ffifts. I can never for. it h,a rinn fnn p.ni .... i 1 I u U..IUK fuuiKi. ami a dillerence it win make in your health. Only r.Oc and $1.00 Recommended by r. (.. I l ieke x Cif. ' " Barn Burns. Mrs. William Money is in re ceipl of a letter from Mr. David O'llrien, at Osmond. N't'b., in which he stales that last nijiht. lire deslroyeti ins lare nam on his farm, destroying mnisderable grain and sixteen bead of horses. Mr. O'Brien has a large number of friends in this vieinily who will be sorry lo learn of bis mi: fori line. Best Medicine for Colds. When a druggist recommends a remedy for colds, throat, and lung troubles, you can feel sure thai lie knows what he is talking about. C. Lower, Druggist, of Marion, Ohio, writes of Dr. King's New Discovery: "I know Dr. King's New Discovery is the best throat and hr.ig medicine I sell. It c ..red my, wife of a severe bronchial cold after all other remedies failed." It will do the same for you if you are suffering with a cold or any bronchial, throat or lung cough. Keep a bottle on hand all the time for everyone in the family to use. It is a home doctor. Price 50c and $1.00. Guaranteed by E. ft. Ericke & Co. County Judge Allen J. Beeson today issued a marriage license to Mr. John W. Allen of Oklahoma City. Oklahoma, and Miss Virginia V. McDaniel of this city. The parlies will be married this even ing at the home of the bride's parents, J. E. McDaniel and wife, by Rev. W. L. Austin of the First Methodist church. EXCELSIOR Always Makes Good Official World's Record One Mile, 36 Seconds FUt Tht Flr$t Moloroyol to Attala Spd of iuu Mim rtr tiour. miles, 1.1M-5 in miles, tus mllrs. I.'k)3-5 :k mllm, ld.Ih .;, tulles, 2.:.n -.' W miles. Xt.ttt l-b mill's. :u7 3-5 7." milt's, :m : 00 Miles, 68.01 lyA 40$ Seconds Ui'fiirc hiivliiu semi nt once for mi r I'liKK AKTCATAI.i (i. $20 Discount for tho nnxt 10 dayt on Full Equlppod Motoroycltt. Write for imrtli'iilars. H. Stcinhaucr & Son PHONE Plattsmouth, Neb. Our Latest dUOGE FUMIGAN. He Is Presiding at the Trial of Roosevelt Suit Against Editor Newett. ROOSEVELT FAILED TO ASKRETRAGTIOH Judge Flanntgan to Rule on Im portant Point, Marquette, Mich., May 31. lawyers engaged in the suit of Theodora Roosevelt against George A. Newett, charging libel, are looking forward with great interest to a prospective ruling by Judge Flannigan construing section 10,425 of the Michigan com piled laws, bearing on libel. The law was deiigned to protect newspapers from the consequences of honest mis takes ard provided that demand for retraction of a libelous article should le made by the offended party. Colon1 Roosevelt made no such de- man,J. t admitted, and on this point I bllC ItKHI vauui 10 ai v IVUHIHK I VI 1(1 1 (ha mm 1 Avunvfa a n IaaIIiii fnw in teresting developments. The matter win whpn rm.nAt for Mr Newett ittempts to Bhow that the edl tor made hia charge of drunkenness In good faith and without malice, bellev Ing It to be true, Judge Flnnnigan will have to rule, assuming that the article was printed maliciously but In the absence of de mand for retraction, whether the al Ileged bad faith of Mr. Newett may he taken Into account In estimating dam ages. SAVES 2 BY TREADING WATER After Hour's Exertions Help Enables Hunband to Rescue Family. St. Paul, May 31.-Taking his wife and ten-year-old daughter In his arms and treading water far nearly an hour while they wore swept along by the Mississippi river current, Thomas Buchanan saved both their lives and his own. A leaky motorboat sank suddenly l'roin beneath the Buchanans while they were In midstream. Lowers Record at Conference- Meet. St. Louis, May 31. One Missouri valley conference record was broken and ano'her equalled at the prelimin ary annual events of the conference track and field meet. Bast of Purdue ran the 440-yard run In 0.49 4-5, one- fifth of n norond better than the pre vlous record, hold by Ouy Reed of Ne braska. Nicholson, Missouri hurdler negotiated the 120 yard high hurdles In 0:151-5. equalling the former record, i held by himself, Phoenix Stays Wet. Phoenix, Ariz., May 31. The womeu vote had no effect on the liquor elec tion In this city, nnd in consequence Phoenix remains an oasis for the thirs- Phoenix went wet by a majority of 352. Mesa and Temple both voted dry. It was the first time the women had an opportunity to air the franchise granted to them recently. Father Shoots Daughter by Accident. Tekamah. Neb.. May 31. Will Metz ler accidentally shot his thirteen-year, old daughter while engaged In hunting on his farm near here. The girl was following him through a wire fence when the trigger of the gun the father was carrying caught in the wires. BASEBALL SCORES National League. Brooklyn, 2-6; Boston, 1-7. Philadelphia. 6-1; New York, 8 5. Cincinnati, 4-5; St. Ijouls, 6-3. Chicago, 1; Pittsburgh, 2. American League. St. Ijouls, 4; Cleveland, 5. New York, 2-4: Philadelphia. 3 7. Boston. 31; Washington, 4 0. Detroit. 1-3; Chicago, 9 2. Western League. Lluco'n, 2-7; Denver, 8 8. WiehPa. 2-3; St. Joseph, 4 14. Touckn. 2 4; Ies Moines, 4 9. Omaha, fi-3; Sioux City, 3 1. The Weather. Shower mid cooler. . EW onuro Spreader ill! The Best Manure Spreader OH 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 Corn Planters and Cultivators! 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. 1. 0. EQEQSLE, SOUTH SIXTH SL, III PLATTSnOUTH Items of Interest to Old and New Residents of City Which Were New Forty Years Ago. The B. & M. R. R. company are extending their line down to the mek point, near Miekehvait's vineyard. We presume this is preparatory to puttiiiK in an ice bridge tin's winter. Three hun dred men are at work, and they expect to finish it in a week. Sam Barker, esq., has 1,500 head of Texas cattle at his ranch near Eight Miels drove. He ex pects to winter the greater por tion of this herd there. It, will take some corn, but that's the way to dispose of it and Mr. Barker and bis associates are public bene fuel or? iu this line. Wiley Black and Ed RutTner shot at and knocked down 1 geese mil of 15 Hie oilier day at one shot apiece. The other there were wounded, but gol away. If thai is not good shooting some body beat it, and send us word, and if one of these geese was not good eating, we've losl our taste. It is current ly reported that Edward A. Kirkpalrick was mar ried on the evening of the 17th. It may be that was what, made him look so happy out al Weeping Water Saturday. In fact, we did hear (hat Ed says I hey can't vole him onl of a wife, even if they do now ami limn out of an office. Come and see us, Edward, and tell us how you feel as a benedict. Julius Peppeiburg, an old and well known resident of I'latts moulli. lias relumed, and will open a branch house of I he cele brated linn of I,. Broin x Co., Sure drop, variable FORTY YEARS GO on WPfi NyBy WHILE THEY LAST! Plattsmouth, Nebraska IDEA n c Pbtffsrcouih, Neb. Cigar Manufacturers, Chicago, in this place, opposite the. Herald ofllee on Main street. This firm have every facility for conducting1 a large business, and they expect to open up a big trade in Ne braska and .western Iowa. Some soiled doves (crows) of the colored persuasion, got. in trouble on Wednesday and all parlies were hauled up before Justice Haines. We are credibly informed that court, witnesses and congregation had a high old lime; lint, Judge Haines threaten ed us with an injunction if we I old, and besides we have no types that will make some of t ho tilings tliey said there. Deacon I'ogram (W. Mickel wailei'left town early Tuesday morning for I lie Farmers' con vention at Weeping Water. The deacon had his old hat on, the same old grey coat, two coal smuts on his nigh cheek, and his on" Irouser leg in his boot; the bottom of the other was covered with fresh soil from his turnip patch. An old umbrella was grasped lovingly in his left dexter, nnd Ihe twining tendrils of some last year's grape vines hung around his right meat slinger. 9; Joseph Connor is now opening three separate grain establish ments besides the one at IMatts inouth. James Allison, the son of an tdd resident of Three (iroves, Cass county, who is well known throughout the county, operates the one at Ashland and makes it a success. John Living ston, the son-in-law of J. Adams, two miles south of lMatlsnioulh, and who is an old resident of Louisville precinct, runs that, sta tion. The one al Orcenwood is operated by an enterprising farm er, W. L. lrey, who is making a success of it. They are all Patrons of Husbandry ami have Ihe interest of the farmer at heart. II is a co-operative as sociation conducted under the management of Joseph A. Connor, and between them they ship a large portion of the grain of Cass county. in edge drop, high wheel 9 Planters!