Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-28

patiently in the upper regions OF the hue
itself. The smoke, after a courageous ef-
fort to rise, encountered an obstruction
of some sort and ebbed back upon the
hearth and out into the room. My ef-
forts to stop the trouble by shifting the
logs were futile, as / expected them to
be, ard I retreated quickly. making. ]
fear. no very gallant appearance as l
mopped my face and eyes.
well" exclaimed Miss HOLSTER, who
had rung for d servant to open the doors
and windows, this is certainly most ex-
traordinary. What solution do you offer,
Mr.. Ames?'
1.-The matter requires investigation.
can't venture an opinion, until u have
made a thorough investigation. The night
Is perfectly quiet and the wind is hardly
responsible. I think we had better aban-
don the room until l can solve this riddle
In the morning.
The prompt opening OF the windows and
doors caused the slow dispersion OF the
smoke. but the lights In the room still
shone dimly as through fog.
Its beastly.' CALCULATED Virgins
coughing Il didn't suppose SUPP ;e,o PepP Pass
He ought to be shot"
.'It Is Fortunate said Miss HOLSTER,
that Mr.. Ames is on the ground. He
now has case that will test his most
acnte powers of diagnosis
The logs that had burned SO brtentiy
before the chimney choked still held their
flames stubborrly, and I had advised
against pouring water upon them. fearing
to crack the brick and stonework We
were about to adjourn to the drawing
i'm fact. reached the door. leaving me
alone before the hearth. Then, as stood
half blinded, watching the smoke pour
out into the room, and more puzzled than
had ever been bfore in any Of my en-
pigments. the chimney, with a deep In
xotx <,fh
upward again: the flames caught and
spread with renewed ardor and when
the trio still lettering In the hall returned
I'm answer to my exclamation OF surprise,
the flue had recovered its composure and
was behaving in a sane and normal man.
ner.
There is. I imagine, nothing pertaining
to the life of man (unless it be rival cii-
mates, motor cars or pianos) that so IN
spires incompetent. irrelevant and imma-
terial criticism as hayward firepiaces. 1t
is part of my business to listen respect
fully to opinions. to receive with an ap-
pearance' Of credulity the THEORIES OF
others: and those advanced in Miss Hol-
listers library were not below the aver
age to which I was accustomed.
"A swallow undoubtedly fell into the
chimney pot and then got itself out
again. suggested Cecilia.
1.-THE logs must have been wet. The
sap hadn't dried out yet" proposed Wig
Cro be continued tomorrow.)
1.-The wood was as dry as finder,
averred Miss HOLSTER. not without irri-
tation. And one swallow does not make
summer or a chimney smoke. 1t must
have been a changing current OF air. i
was reading a book on ballooning the
other day, and it is remarkable how the
air currents change.
THAT is quite possible, as the air cools
rapidly after sunset at this season. and
that is bound to have an effect on the
quality and resistance Of the atmosphere,
replied. sagely.
Perhaps" suggested Miss Hollister
with one of those flashes Of animation
II was a ghost! Will you tell us, NY.
Ames, whether in your experience you
have ever known a chimney ghost?'
(To be continued tomorrow)