Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-23
CHAPTER XIX.-Continued.

luncheon at the house Of a friend on
whom I called. Cecilia lad left me to
continue her ride alone. and on my way
home thought would ride by the Pres
colt Arms to see how the guests were
faring. You see''-she paused 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 car
ing to risk further meeting with the
angry suitors from whom Miss Octavia
had rescued me by so narrow margin
set OF across the fields toward Hope
field From the stile / saw Miss Octavia
In the highway half a mile distant. send
ing her horse along at a spirited canter.
I reached the house without further ad-
ventures, was served with a cold lunch
con in my room. and by the time I had
changed my clothes Miss Octavia sent me
word that Pepperton had arrived.
Miss Octavia and the architect were
conversing earnestly when l reached the
library, and from the abruptness with
which they ceased on my y. entrance n',n,not II
their talk. Pepperton is not only one OF
the finest architects America has pro-
duced, but one Of the jOlliest OF fellows.
He grasped my hand cordially and pointed
to the fireplace.
to overhaul, have you! You mustn't let
this get out on me, old man; it would
shatter my reputation"
please observe that the f1ue is drawing
splendidly now" | answered. "A ghost
had been strolling up and down the
chimney. but now that I have found his
lair he will not trouble Miss HOLSTER
fireplaces again"
IT have waited for your arrival, Mr..
Pepperton. that we might have the bene-
fit Of your knowledge Of the house In fol-
lowing the trail Of this ghost which Ar
mold has discovered. But we must give
Arnold credit for effecting the discovery
alone and unaided. destroyed the plans
/ obtained from your office so that Arnold
might be fully tested as to his capacity
for managing the most difficult situa-
tions.''
When Miss Octavia first referred to me
As Arnold, Pepperton raised his brows a
trifle: the second time he glanced at me
Iaughingly. He seemed greatly amused
by Miss Octavia's seriousness. but her
amiable attitude toward ME clearly puz-
zled him.
1T takes a good man to uncover a
thing I try to hide. I said nothing to
you, Miss HOLSTER. about the retention
within the walls Of this house Of parts
Of an old one that formerly occupied the
site. for the reason that / thought you
might refuse to buy the estate. The gen
tleman for whom I built Hopefield was
superstitious. as many men OF advanced
years are, as to the building OF new
house. and as the site he chose is one OF
tie finest in the county he compelled me
to construct this house-which is the most
satisfactory have built-in such manner
that enough of the old should be kept In
tact to soothe his superstitious soul with
the idea that he had merely altered an
old house, not built new one. AS it is
the architects business to yield to such
caprices I obeyed him strictly. So there
are two rooms of an old farmhouse hid
den under the east wing, and 1t amused
me, once I had got into 1t. to preserve
part OF the old stairway and connect the
retained chambers with the upper hall OF
this house. ] had to patch the original
stair. which was only one flight. with dis
carded lumber from the old house, but
fatter myself that / managed it neatly.
I even saved the old nails to avert the
wrath OF the evil spirits. When the UNI
brellA and dyspepsia-cure man died-fOr
he did die, as you know-I believed the
secret had died with him. as he was very
OF the laborers on that part OF the job
were brought from long distance. and
l supposed they never really knew just
what we were doing. l might have
known, though. that IL fellow as clever
as Ames got to pecking at the house the
trick would be discovered. But the CHM
ney, old man-what on earth was the
matter with it?"
TT will never happen again. and
promised the ghost never to tell how 1t
was done"
You were quite right in doing that.
Arnold-a ghosts secrets should be sa-
cred: but let us now proceed to the hid
den chambers said Miss HOLSTER. ris-
ing without further ado.
She summoned Cecilia, to whom we ex-
planned matters briefly. and, at Pepper
toms suggestion. the four OF us went di-
rectly to the fourth floor. SO that Miss
Octavia might see the whole contrivance
in the most effective manner possible.
Ny awkward pen falters in the attempt
to convey any idea Of Miss Octavia's de-
light in Pepperton's revelation: she kept
repeating her admiration Of his genius
and her praise of my cleverness. which,
to protect Hezekiah. was forced to ac-
cept meekly When in broad daylight
Pepperton found and pressed the spring
in the upper hall and the hidden door
opened, with a slowness that indicated
a realization Of its own dramatic value,
Miss Octavia cried out gleefully, like