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

The hall was perfectly quiet. The door
leading down the hidden stair was inv1s-
ible, and l had not yet learned how 1t
might be opened from the hall. though
Mr.. Bassford HOLSTER had undoubtedly
left the house by this means after my
Interview with him on the roof. And re-
minded of the roof I opened the trunk
room door and peered in. The candle
light slowly crept into its dark corners,
and looking up / marked the presence OF
the trapdoor secure in the opening. AS
I stood on the threshold Of the trunk
piled room, my hand on the knob and the
candle thrust well before me. I heard
slight, furtive movement to my left
and behind the door. / was quite salts
fled now that / was about to solve some
Of the mysteries OF the night, and to
make sure / was unobseryed-for having
gone so far alone l wanted no partners
I'm my investigations-I listened to the
murmur OF talk below for a moment,
then cautiously advanced my. candle
further into the room. | was not yet so
valiant even after all my night prowl-
ings and explorations of hidden CHAM
bers. but that thrust the light In Well
ahead of me and bent my wrist so that
the candles rays might dispel the last
shadow that lurked behind the door be-
fore I suffered my eyes to look upon the
j
| tiousfy another, until the whole OF the
| trunkroom was well within range OF my
vision.
And there. seated on prodigious trunk,
frescced with labels of dozen foreign
| INNS I beheld Hezekiah!
AS l recall it size was very much at her
ease. She sat on one foot and the other
beat the trunk lightly. She was bare
beaded. and the candle light was making
acquaintance, with the gold in her hair.
4 GIL L. ,f.tk q tor a. m
day in the orchard, and with much gray
| ity, as our eyes met, she thrust hand
into Its pocket and drew out cracker
| I was not half SO surprised at finding
her there as ! was at her manner now
| that she was caught. She seemed neither
| distressed. astonished nor afraid.
well, Miss Hesekiah,' 1 said, Il half
suspected you all along"
Wise Chimney Man! You were little
slow about 1t. though"
II was indeed. You gave me run Tor
my money"
| She finished her cracker at the third
bite. slapped her hands together to free
them OF possible crumbs. and was about
! to speak. when she jumped lightly from
the trunk. bent her head toward the door.
and then stepped back again and faced
me imperturbably.
| "And now that you've found me. Mr..
Chimney Man. the jokes on you after
She laid her hand on the door and
swung 1t nearly shut. had heard what
she had heard-Miss Octavia was coming
upstairs! She had exchanged few
words with the Swedish maid on the
second-f1oor landing. and Hezekiah's
quick ear had heard her. But Hezekiah 8
equanimity was disconcerting-even with
her aunt close at hand she showed not
the slightest alarm. She resumed her
| seat on the trunk and her heel thumped
1T TRANQUILITY.
1.-The jokes on you. Mr.. Chimney Man.
because now that you've caught me play
ing tricks you've got to get me out OF
trouble
! what IL don't?"
"Oh, nothing she answered. indiffer-
emily. looking me squarely in the eye.
| But your aunt would make no end OF
a row. and you would cause your sister
to lose out with Miss Octavia. AS I'M
derstand 1t. you're pledged to keep OIL
the reservation. 1t was part Of the fam
\ lily agreement"
But I'm here, Chimney Pot, % what
are YOU going to do about it,