Siege
The
of the
Seven Suitors
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
I no wi
W
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Ghost of Adaniram Caldwell.
"E gathered close about her
as she knelt beside the box.
My hand shook as I held
my candle, and I think Miss
Octavia was the only one In the room
who showed no Dervousness.
We all exclaimed In various keys as
the light fell upon the open chest.
The muGty odor of old garments greet
ed us at once. The box was well fill
ed, and Its contents were neatly ar
ranged. "It's his ragged regimentals!" cried
Cecilia, as we unfolded ad officer's
coat of blue and buff, sadly decrepit
and faded, "and he wis not a British
Midler at all, but an American pa
triot" Time and service had dealt even
more harshly with an American flag
on which the thirteen white stars
floated dimly on the dull blue field. It
had been bound tightly about a packet
of papers which Miss Octavia asked
Tepperton to examine.
"These are commissions appointing a
certain Adonlram Caldwell to various
positions In the Continental army.
Adonlram had the right stuff In him.
Here he's discharged as a private to
become an ensign, rose from ensign to
colonel and seems to have been in most
of the big dottlgs. 'For gallantry in
the recent engagement at Stony point,
on recommendation of General An
thouy Wayne' by Jove, that does rath
er carry you back!"
aim como'.'iiee 1 received as AJonrT;i:n
CalJwt 11 ;it various times ami from vari
ous personages of renown, both civilians
anl la the aiUUary s rv.Vv. 1 place them
under my hou.e now buildlnj;. where 1
liopo In Cod's care to end my days In
rice. I would In like case make like
choice again
Ten lint's following this were wholly
illegible, but just Ik? fore the d:ite (June
17, 17S:i) uiul the signature, which was
written large, was this:
God preserve these American states that
they endure in unity and concord forever!
We hud all been moved by the read
ing of this long lost letter, and Miss
Octaviu's voice had faltered several
times.
' "Mr. Wiggins once told uie that his
great grandfather had lived somewhere
iu Westchester county, but I fancy he
had no idea that IIoiefleld was the
Identical spot," remarked Miss Octa
via. "It seems incredible, and yet I
dare say the hand of fate Is iu it."
"Oh, it's so wonderful; so beyond be
lief!" cried Cecilia, reverently folding
the letter, which, I observed, she re
tained in her own hands.
"It's wonderful," added Miss Octa
via promptly, taking the sword, which
Tepperton had with difficulty drawn
from its. battered scabbard, "that even
a discerning woman like me could have
been so mistaken. I recall with humil
ity that last Fourth of July, at Berlin,
I reprimanded Mr. Wiggins severely
because his family had not been repre
sented Iu the war for American Inde
pendence. By the Irony of circum
stances It becomes my duty to present
to him the very sword that his admi
rable gteat-grandfather bore In that
momentous struggle."
Several copies of New York newspa
pers, half a dozen French gold coins,
the miniature of a woman's face,
which we assumed to be that of Roger
Wiggins' mother or sister, were briefly
examined; then by Miss Octavia's or
ders we carefully returned everything
to the chest. Several packets of let
ters we did not open.
"Arnold," she said when we had
closed the chest, "wl'.l you and Mr.
Pepperton kindly carry that box to my
room? No servant's hand shall touch
It, and I shall myself give it to Mr.
Wiggins at the earliest opportunity."
We had lost track of time in those
hidden rooms, preserved by the whim
of one man that the secret of another
might be discovered, and found with
surprise, after the chest had been car
ried to Miss Octavia's apartments, that
We had been 1b
Newport which" she" pronounced" the
most hidtvas pile of marble ou Ameri
can soil.
When we left the table at about halt
past 10 Miss Octavia Insisted that we
must visit the kennels. A friend had
Calf a dozen of these documents
traced Adonlram Caldwell's career tr It was after 7 o'clock
tha end nf the Revolution and his rl
a. m a i. i i i a i i . i hnura
"We shall have much to talk about
urement from the military service with
the rank of colonel. A sealed letter
attached to these commissions next
held our attention. It was addressed
"To Wliom It May Concern."
"I suppose It concerns us as much as
anybody," remarked Miss Octavia.
"What do you say, gentlemen? Shall
we open it?"
We all demanded breathlessly that
she break the seal, and we were soon
bending over her with our lights. The
Ink had blurred, and in spots rust had
Obliterated the writing:
I, Rogor Hartley Wigglna. some time
known aa Adonlram Caldwell
"Ilartley Wiggins!" we gasped. And
I felt Cecilia's hand clasp my arm.
Miss Octavia continued reading, and
as she was obliged to pause often and
refer illegible Hues to the rest of us I
3
if
"I'm going to b married."
Jnst sent her a fine Airedale, and she
wished to make sure the kennel mas
ter was treatiug the dog properly. Lat
er we were all to ride.
I made haste to excuse myself, say
ing that personal matters required at
tentlon.
"Certainly, Arnold; you shall do as
you like. Mr. Tepperton is a difficult
bird to catch, so we hope for you at
luncheon, and of course we expect you
for dinner."
Tepperton looked at me inquiringly,
I judged that he had known Miss Oc
tavia a good many years the tone of
their Intercourse was Intimate, and yet
be plainly was at n loss to understand
lust how I came to be so thoroughly es
Ublisbed In her good graces. I confew
"It's hit ragged regimentals!" cried
Cecilia.
have copied the following from the let
ter itself, with only slight changes of
punctuation and spelling:
I, Roger Hartley Wiggins, some time
known as Adonlram Caldwell, having now
resumed my proper name and being about
to marry and having begun the construc
tion of a habitation for myself wherein
to end my days, truthfully ect forth these
matters:
My father. Hiram Wiggins of Rhode Is
land, having supported the royalist cause
In our late war for Independence and an
gered by my friendliness to the patriots,
and he, with brothers and sister hav
ing returned to Kngland after the evac
uation of Boston, I Joined the Continental
troops under General I'utnam on Long
Island In July, 1776, serving in various
commands thereafter to the best of my
ability to the end. My father has
now returned to Khodo Island and has, I
lonrn, been making inquiries touching my
whereabouts and condition, so that I have
evry hope that we may become recon
cllcd. Yet as my services to the country
were against his wishes and caused so
tnuch harshness and heartache, nnd being
now come Into a part of the country
wiirro I am unknown, 1 nm decided to re
punse my rightful name, thnt my wife and
children may hear it and In the hope that
I may myself yet add to It soinu hon
or.
or Khali my wlfo or any children that
"i.'iy be horn to nm know from me
ba,iy blurred). Vet, not carliw: to lie
.ri.y iy Huonl, whl-'h I l"iie with Kome
crwilti.- t'.e-.ii li.'ti(in!!;ils cf resni" t
tonight, and I fancy we are all a good
deal shaken. It's not often we receive
a letter from a dead man, so we shall
admit no callers tonight unless, In
deed, Mr. Wiggins should chance to
come," announced Miss Octavia. "The
next time Ilartley Wiggins visits this
house he shall come as a conquering
hero."
'1 hope so," replied Cecilia brokenly
We were still at dinner when the
cards of Dick and the other suitors I
had last seen at the Trescott Arms
were brought In; but Wiggins made no
sign, and I wondered.
.
The man who looked after my needs
handed me a note the next morning
which added fresh hazards to Cecilia's
already perilous plight.
"Left with the gardener before 8
o'clock by a boy from the village.
Said it was most confidential, sir."
I waited till he had left the room be
fore opening it. It read:
Gooseberry Bungalow,
Before Breakfast.
Dear Chimneys Pep stopped here yes
terday to see B. H. Ho and C. old pais.
Watch him. Where's Wig? H. H.
The information she conveyed was
startling enough. We had been deal
ing with a company of suitors outside
the barricade, now caino warning of
the presence of a strange kulght with
in the gates who greatly multiplied
the perils of the situation. The com
part among the suitors at the inn was
n thing of the past, and I now ex
pected them to exercise all the In
genuity of which desperate lovers are
capable in pressing their claims. The
fact that both "Wiggins and Tepper
ton were old friends of mine did not
make my task easier. I not only felt
it Incumbent on nie to prevent Dick,
the holder of the clew, from taking ad
vantage of it, but knowing Cecilia's
own attitude of mind and heart toward
Wiggins I wished to save Tepperton
the pain of rejection if it could bo
done.
But what did Ilezekiah mean by the
question with which she ended her
note? If Wiggins, smarting under Ce
cilia's treatment of him the day before,
had quit the field here was a pretty
how-d'-ye-do. Miss Octavia's refusal
to countenance telephones made It nec
essary for me to leave Ilopefleld to
learn what had become of Wiggins,
and I realized that I must act prompt
ly If I saved the day for him. Ills con
duct first nnd last had been spiritless,
and I was out of patience with him.
It seemed impossible to formulate any
plan amid these multiplying uncertain
ties. If Wiggins had decamped Dick
knew it and would lay his plana ac
cordlngly. I felt that It was base in
gratitude on Wiggins' part to ask me
to watch his interests whilo he went
roaming indifferently over the country.
One or two consoling reflections re
mained, however Dick believed me to
be n suitor for Cecilia's hand, and this
doubtless caused him considerable up
easiness, ami he did not know that
Tepperton, whose acquaintance with
Cecilia antedated the European flight,
had to lie reckoned with. I wished
Tepperton had kept out of It.
Breakfast th.it morning was Inter
minably long. Miss Octavia was never
more thoroughly mousing, never more
d roily inadvertent. S!ie attacked Tep
perton for aii the evIN In American
architecture In particular took him
to t '!: for "''!o !".:,. be bad built at
that as I glance back over these pages
It looks odd to me!
As I paced the hall waiting for a
horse to be saddled. Tepperton led me
out on the terrace above the garden.
"I'm bursting with a great secret, old
man. I'm going to be married."
"What!"
"I'm going to be married."
I grasped a chair to support myself.
This was almost too mut.ii. Could it
be possible that Hezeklnh had tnlscal
culated the list of rejections In the sll
Ter bound book, or that Cecilia herself
had bees deceived? Tepperton misread
my agitation and with a hearty laugh
clapped me on the shoulder.
"Oh, Tru not intruding on your pre
serves, old man! Cecilia Is the second
finest girl in the world that's all. I'm
engaged to Miss Gaylord of Stcck
bridge. Va telling a few old friends, In
advance of the formal announcement
to be made next week at a dance the
Gaylords are giving."
I crushed his hand in both my own
and. seeing that he misconstrued the
fervor of my emotion, I hastened to set
myself aright.
"You're a lucky dog as usual, Pep
But you don't understand nliout Cecilia
Ilolllsler. It's not I I'm not In the run
nlng at all, but Hartley Wiggins is
Tm here trying to help him score.'
"What's this? You're here to repre
sent Wiggy?"
"Well, he didn't exactly send me
here, but when I came I found that
Wiggy wasn't playing the game with
quite the necessary zItolojry. There
more required than appears a little of
the dah and sr-ip of the old adventur
ers-the ready tongue, the eager, thirsty
swor.i:"-
Teppertou pursed his lips and looked
me over carefully with a twinkle in ills
eye.
"You are contributing those element
You are Octavlaized-ls that It?" Tep
perton laughed until the tears came
"I prefer llollisterlzed as the broader
term. Brother Bassford has It, too,
and there's always Ilezekiah!"
"Ah, Ilezekiah the unpredictable! I
knew there was a skirt fluttering some
where. I paw her yesterday stopped
to see Bassford, who's a good old chap.
Ilezekiah of the teasing eyes was
whitewashing the chicken coop, and
Michelangelo couldn't have done it bet
ter." "Tep," I said, lowering my voice, "if
you love me keep closo to Cecilia all
day. You're an engaged man and In
practice. Give an imitation of devo
tion. Keep her out of doors keep
male human beings away from her.
Don't fall me in this. I've got to pull
off the greatest coup of my life today.
There's a band of outlaws hanging
round here who will propose to Cecilia
the first chance they got, and they
roust NOT. Wig's got to speak before
night or lose out forever. No not a
word of explanation. You've got to
take my word for It."
"I'll be the goat. Go ahead, but
build a fire under Wiggins. I can't
stay here forever."
Pepperton's engagement smoothed out
one wrinkle, and I felt sure that I
could trust him as an ally. The groom
was holding my horse In the porte
cochere, and I mounted nnd rode away
to the Trescott Arms.
I found Orinsby, Shallenberger, Ar
buthnot, Henderson, Hume and Gorse
fcluinly sitting In a semicircle before
the hall fireplace. Deepest gloom per
vaded the inn. I have rarely seen uitl-
auchoiy "so UarkTy stumped upon the
human countenance. They turned in
dilTereatly and glared as they recog
nized me. Shalleuberger alone rose
and greeted me.
"I hope there Is no bad news," he
said chokingly.
"Bad news?"
"I meau Miss Holllster-Mlss Cecilia.
We were all deeply grieved last night
to hear of her sudden Illness. There's
always something so terrible iu the
very name of diphtheria."
My wits had been so sharpened by
my late adventures that I readily ac-
unted for these false tidings. Dick
was absent. Dick alone would have
been equal to this diabolical plot for
keeping Lis rival suitors away from
Ilopefleld. The despair In those faces
taxed my gravity severely.
It is extremely sad, but the first
diagnosis was erroneous," I answered.
think it more likely to prove to be
chickeu pox when the truth Is known."
"Not diphtheria?"
"No immediate danger of diphtheria,
assure you," I replied, "though of
course with winter coming on and ail
that, one must be prepared for the
worst."
While he repeated this to the others
I Bought the clerk, who promptly hand
ed me a note which Wiggins had left
late the previous afternoon, to be de
livered In case I called. lie had gone
to apend a day or two with Orton, the
playwright, who was at his country
house, In the hills beyond Mount KIs
eo, rehearsing a new piece, in which a
Mend of Hartley's waa to star. I galn-
sd the telephone booth In one Jump,
tnd In five minutes I was bawling
rlldly Into Orton's ear. I had known
tihn well in the Hare and Tortoise, and
he answered my demand for Wiggins
with the heart breaking news that
Ilartley had ridden off with some oth-
r guests In the house, Orton daln't
Itnow whire.
"I threw them out. I've got to re
write my third act. I don't care wheth
er they ever come back." boomed Or
ton's voice.
"If you don't send Wiggins back to
me at ITopefleld as fast as lie can get
there, my third act Is ruined."
"What?"
"Tell Wiggins to come bnck on tho
un. Tell him the world s coming to
tn end any minute."
"Til be glad to get rid of blm," snap-
fed Orton, in the harried tone of a mat
whose third r.ct has wilted In r
Searsal.
fr
-NEW IDEA
(To be Continued.)
FORMER PLATTSMOUTH
PEOPLE ATTEND FUNER
AL OF MRS. HELPS
onuro Spreaders
The Best Manure Spreader
CI 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! 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.
0. B.
SOUTH SIXTH ST
wamm,
Pl2tifsr.:uih, I.'cb.
JUDGE BEESQN IS
SUES TWO MORE JUNE
WEDDING LICENSES
The olllce of Comity Judge Bee-
sou has been rushed for tho past
few days by I lie number of young
people desiring to outer into tho
bonds of wedlock, and to all tho
judge has granted the necessary
pennil for them to realize their
happiness.
This morning license was is
sued to (leorge A. Engelkemeier
if Neliawka ami Miss Mary Albert
of this city, who were married by
llev. Sieger oT St. Paul's church.
Yesterday Ocorge II. Culavan,
aged 2i, of Missouri Valley, Iowa,
ami Miss Lillian Oatewood, aged
IU, of Brooklyn, were callers at
the office ami secured the neces
sary permit to wed ami proceeded
to I lie home of llev. W. I,. Austin,
where they were united in the
bonds of holy wedlock.
A Fin New Auto.
The Journal editor and wife
were given a very pleasant auto
ride in the fine new Inter-Slate
car of our excellent friend. Major
Hall, on Monday evening, in com
pany with Mr. and Mrs. Hall and
the genial salesman and rep
resentative for this line car, Mr.
Hugh Cecil, of the llrm of Warga,
Cecil & Manners. Major is tho
proud possessessor of one of the
finest ears on tho market, and
the way he is learning to handle
it he has cause to be proud. Tho
lnler-Stale is a good one, and the
one Major has is a beauty.
T
From Wednesday's Dally.
A letter has just been receive
by Miss Beruirc Newell from
Miss lluth llouseworlh of Long
Beach, California, telling of the
incidents of the terrible disast
I lial. occurred there on May 2ith
Die report. of the deal b of Arthui
Helps at the time of the accident
Ilia! resulted iu the death of Mrs.
Helps was entirelv without foun
dation. Mr. Helps, as soon as be
received news of the destruction
of the pier, hastened to the scene
in his automobile and assisted
in removing tin dead and injured
in an endeavor to find the body
of his wife. He made several
trips lo the hospital Willi the In
jured ami a just passing the
place where tin men were work
ing on the ruins when his wile's
body was carried out. The fun
era! of Mrs. Helps was held at
Hie Kpii'opal church in Long
r.e;n !i Tuesday, .May 27, and was
allemird liy the enure naiis
inniilh colony in that. city. The
services were very impressive and
I he lloral tributes magnificent,
including a large wreath of laven
dar and while renlurias from the
Klks lodge of Plallsmoull). The
doctors who examined Mrs. Helps
staled her death was due to heart,
failure, as she was practically
uninjured by the collapse of the
pier and had only a small bruise
on her wrist.
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION
HELD ON SATURDAY. JUNE 29
There will be an examination
iu the civil service department at
this city on Saturday, June 28,
for the purpose of tilling a vac
ancy in the rural route out of
Murdock, iu this county. The
same day a similar examination
will be hebl at Weeping Water,
ami those taking Die examination
will be eligable to fill any vacancy
that may occur in any of the
rural routes of the comity. The
examinations will be held at the
poslollice buildings here and in
Wecpiiiif Water and anyone de
siring lo lake part can secure in
formal ion on I he subject by call
ing at the poslop.ice.
'SLIPPED ONE
OVER" ON FRIENDS
Last evening as the shades of
eventide were falling over tho
peaceful serenity of Main street
one of the popular young men of
the city was observed wheeling a
strange-looking machine up and
down the sidewalk and much ex
citement was created among his
friends as, on close inspection, it
was disclosed to be a baby car
riage containing a sleeping in
fant. J'ear was aroused that, the
young man had been successful
in "slipping one over" on his
friends, and the mailer was at
once investigated by a number of
the more curious, and it was de
cided that the youth in question
was just performing a friendly
olllce for one of his friends and
was not the proud possessor of
the sleeping infant.
I'.ilious? Feel heavy after din
ner? Miller lasle Complexion
sallow ? Liver perhaps needs
waking up. I loan's Itegulels for
bilious attacks. 2"r al all stores.
Ileniember tho Regalia Hahana
Cigar. Always tho best. Robert
Riclil or, manufacturer.
CASTORIA
Por Infants and Children.
The Kind You Have Always Bought
Bears the
Signature of
8 -BARGAINS-8
MRS. MAUDE KASPAR IS
MARRIED IN COUNCIL BLUFFS
Among the marriage licenses
issued yesterday in Council Jllufl's
we note that of Anton Hromak
and Mrs. Maude Kaspar of Oma
ha. Hot h of the contracting
parlies formerly resided in this
city, where Mrs. Kaspar conduct
ed a bakery for some time, later
selling out lo Kred If. Miiiiini, the
present owner, and the groom
was employed as a baker in the
establishment while here. Mrs
Kaspar removed to Omaha sev
eral months ago, and the wedding
was not wholly unexpected to
llmse intimately acquainted wilh
I lie parlies.
1'aiiuers, mechanics, railroad
ers, laborers, rely on Dr. Thomas'
l-lcb elic Oil. Line for cuts, bums,
bruises. Should be kept in every
home. 2."r and f)Oe.
IN
fi
b
oiti Planters!
Sure drop, variable edge drop, high wheel
WHILE THEY LAST!
Plattsmouth, Nebraska