Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-14


seemed. from the clouds at my feet there
in sedate Beacon street, that most SOL
emn Of residential sanctuaries."
"Mr. Ames," began Miss HOLSTER, in
her smile belied, II cannot recall that my
niece Hezekiah ever visited in Beacon
street; yet l dare say that il she had
done so and young man of your pleas
ing appearance had passed beneath her
window, one of her slippers might very
kiah's foot and fallen with nice calcu-
lation directly in front of you. But now,
Mr.. Ames. will you kindly carry your
candle into that trunkroom?'
And / had been pluming myself upon
the completeness of my hollisterizatton'
There was nothing for me but to obey
and my heart sank as my imagination
pictured Hezekiah's discontinue when We
should find her seated on the huge TRUNK
| behind the door. And that stockinged
foot already called in appealing accents
to the shoe 1 held in my hand! The
foundations of the world shook as l re-
| membered the compact by winch Heze,
kiah was excluded from the house. anc
| realized what the impending discover!
would mean to Cecilia, her father and
the hayward Hezekiah. too! But | was
in for it. Miss Octavia indicated by ar
| imperious nod that l was to precede hei
| into the trunkroom, and l strobe before
her with my candle held high.
But the sprites of mystery were still
abroad at Hopefield. The room was un-
occupied save for the trunks. Hezekiah
had vanished. Instead OF sitting there
| to await the coming of her aunt, she hao
silently departed. without leaving = trace
Miss HOLSTER glanced up at the trap
door in the ceiling. and so did !. 1t was
closed, but did not doubt that Heze-
kiah had crawled through 1t and taken
| herself to the root. Miss Octavia would
probably order me at once to the battle
As,k ~
"Mr Ames,' she said, will you kindly
! lift the lid OF that largest trunk"
/ had not thought OF this, and l shud-
dered at the possibilities.
| She indicated the trunk upon which
Iezekiah had sat and nibblsd her cracker
not more than ten minuteS before. Gould
it be possible that when lifted the cover
that golden head would be found be-
meath? Ny life has known no blackel
moment than that In which | flung back
in dread OF the impending disclosure and
held the candle close.
But the trunk was empty, incredibly
empty! My courage rose again, and
glanced at Miss octavia triumphantly.
lingering suspicion. why had l ever
doubted HeIekiah? Who was she. the
golden haired daughter Of kings. to be
caught in q trunk? She had slipped up
the ladder while I talked to her aunt and
W08 even NOW ltutuB Oil tHc IOoip uuS ~
was not for me to make 80 treasohabfe
suggestion. Miss Octavia might press
the matter further II she liked. but
would not help her to trap Hezekiah.
Miss H0lnster did not. to my surprise
and relief, suggest an inspection OF the
roof She nodded her head gravely and
passed out into the hall.
'Mr. Ames, II implied q moment ago
that / doubted your story OF the drop
ping Of that tan pump from a Beacon
street roof or window. now tender you
my sincerest apologies"
She put out her hand. smiling charm
ingly.
pray return to the occupations which
were engaging you when I interrupted
you. You have never stood higher IN
my regard than at this moment. Tomor-
row you may tell me all you please OF
the ghost and the mysteries OF this house
and I dare say we shall And the bones
| Of that British soldier somewhere be-
meath the foundations. AS for that tri-
| fiing bit Of leather you hold In your hand.
hts rather passe for Beacon street. The
next time you tell that story I suggest
that you play your game of drop the
slipper from q window in Rittenhouse
Square, Philadelphia. Still, as 1 always
keep an umbrella In the checkroom OF
the Parker House. I would not have you
imagine that 1 look upon Boston as an
unlikely scene for romance. The last
time I was there a Mormon missionary
pressed q tract upon me in the subway,
and / can't deny that / found it i'm
mensely interesting"
Ito be continued tomorrow