Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-16
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

You may be mistaken as to where you
left 1t. You would not be absolutely
positive that you left it on the dressing
tablet"
There is not the slightest question
about II. I had been looking at it just
before dinner. l had sent you a note, you
know. Immediately after you came back
and hurried down to see YOU
Yes. I recall that. You were in the
library when / came down. And l think
l remember having seen the little trinket
slightly smaller than q card case, silver
backed and only a few leaves. You had
1t In your hand the other night when l
came in after Mr.. Hume had left
She flushed slightly at this. but readily
acquiesced in my description. Miss Oc-
tavia's inquiry as to whether l had seen
the book came back to me. and no less
clearly her withdrawal of her question al
most the moment she had spoken it.
I felt the sudden infringement of Heze-
kiah's slipper upon my own conscience,
IL I may SO state the matter. Hezekiah.
playing ghost, had confessed to me that
she had visited Cecilia's room. Hezekiah,
amusing herself with the library chimney
and frightening the servants by stealing
into the forbidden house through the coal
hole. was q culprft to be scolded and for
ously filching an article of real value to
her sister. | did not like this turn of af-
fairs. I must get back to the roof, find
Hezelliah and compel her to return the
silver hook. Only by tactfully managing
this could ] serve well all the members
Of the house Of HOLSTER. But first 4
must leave Cecilia with a tranquil mind.
Il thank you for confiding this matter
to me, Miss HOLSTER. Please do not at
tach suspicion to any one until l have
seen YOU again..
But if you should be unable to re-
store
Il assure you that the book is not lost
It has been mislaid, that's all. l shall re-
turn it to you at breakfast | give you
my word
do you really mean it, she faltered
please keep this from Aunt Octavia! l
can't tell you how important it is that
she be kept in ignorance of my loss. The
consequences, g she knew. might be very
distressing.
I could not for the life Of me see what
great Importance could attach to those
few leaves of paper in their silver case,
but if Miss Octavia and HeZekiah were
interested in 1t as well as Cecilia, it must
have a significance wholly unrelated to
it's intrinsic value. 1t is the way of pro-
fessional detectives to suggest impossible
theories merely to conceal their own
plans and intentions, and as I had
reached a point where my tongue was as
tonishingly glib in subterfuge and eva
sion, / suggested that 1t might, perhaps,
have been one of the new servants, or.
indeed, the Swedish maid.
I'VE will look into the matter, Miss
HOLSTER. At breakfast l shall have
something to report. Meanwhile silence
Miss Octavia was carrying the invinci-
BILE John Stewart Dick away to the bill
lard room. He glared at me murderous-
~ as he trailed glumly after the lady of
~
about Cecilia again, and 1 yielded to
them willingly. AS l sauntered toward
the door Ormsby detained me a moment.
His manner was arrogant and he Kissed
rather than spoke.
I'm directed to command your pres
ence at the Prescott Arms tomorrow at
II o'clock. The business is important"
Il regret, my dear brother. that l
shall be unable to sit with you at that
hour IN committee of the whole. and for
two reasons. The first is that l am
paired with Lord Arrowood. You re-
fused to take him into your base COM
pact. and allowed him to be thrown out
of the inn for not paying his bill. The
act was deficient in generosity and gal
lantry."
Then 1 suppose you would think it
fine thing for such a pauper to marry a
like that-like that. I say" and
he jerked his head toward Cecilia.
Il consider a Lord of Arrowood as good
as the proprietor Of knitting mill any
day. II you press me for an opinion"
replied. amiably.
And this from a chimney sweep" he
sneered.
You fiatter me. my dear sir. I've re-
SCOT and become q gentleman
adventurer merely to prevent type that
long illumined popular fiction from be-
coming extinct. I advise you to fill the
void existing in the heavy-villain class:
believe me your talents would carry you
far. Study Dumas and forget the wool
market. and you will lead a happier life.
My second reason for declining to meet
you at the Arms at L. tomorrow is mere
ly that the hour Is inconvenient. I as
sumo that you mean to urge luncheon
upon me. and I never eat before 1. My
doctor has warned me to avoid early
If / would preserve my figure.
Of which you may well believe me justly
proud"
You're q coward. that's all there is to
that I dare you to comet
We'll. as think Of It, I'd rather be