Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-03-12

Tie was so assured of her good judg
ment he knew that whenever this son
in-law came along there would be an
other man in the family. He hat
long ceased to bother his head about
the 6ylike buzzing Of fortune hunters
he had been father and mother ant
brother to the child. and with wisdom
She smiled at her father, gave hel
hand to Fitzgerald. who found Il
warm and moist from the ride. ani
glanced inquiringly at Breitmann.
"My DEAR" said her father. this Il
Mr.. Breitmann, my new secretary"
That gentleman bowed stiffiy. ant
the scars faded somewhat when he OBJ
served that her hand was extended ir
welcome This unconventionality rath
er confused him, and as he took the
hand he almost kissed 1t. She under
stood the innocence Of the gesture anc
saved him from embarrassment by
withdrawing her hand casually.
II hope you will like It here" was
the pleasant wish.
THANK you, shall"
"You are GermanT quickly.
II was born in Bavaria, Miss Kill
grew"
1.-The name should have told me-
She excused herself.
"Oho," thought Fitzgerald, with ma
licious exultancy; IF she doesn't in
terfere with your work.
But with introspection this exultan
cy grew suddenly dim How about
himself? Yes. here was q question
that would bear some close inspection
Was It really the wish to capture q
supposable burglar? He determined
then and there not to prolong his visit
| more than three or four days. just tc
satisfy her that there was no ghost ir
the chimney. Then he would return
to New York. He had no more right
than Breitmann to fall in love with
the daughter of n millionaire. Loving
her was not impossible. but leaving
at an early day would go toward
lessening the probability. He was moi
afraid OF Breitmann. He was for
eigner enough to accept at once hls
place and to appreciate that he and
this girl stood Mt the two ends Of the
world.
And Breitmann's mind, which had
up to this time been deep and unruf.
| fed as q pool. became strangely dis.
turbed
The time moved on to luncheon.
Breitmann took the part Of listener
and spoke only when addressed.
81 must tell you. Mr.. Breitmann,"
said Laurn. that ghost has returned
to u.s."
"a ghost?" interestedly.
"Yes. My daughter" said the ad.
miral tolerantly. believes that she
hears strange noises at night, tapping
and such like"
"Oh! politely. Breitmann broke bis
bread idly. It was too bad She had
not produced upon him the impression
that she was the sort Of woman whose
Imagination embraced the belief In
spirits. Where does this ghost do iti
tappingT"
I'm the big chimney in the library
she answered.
No one observed Breitmann's hand
as It slid from the bread. some OF
which was scattered upon the floor
The scars. betraying emotion such as
no mental effort could control. deep
ened. which Is to say that the skir
above and below them had paled.
might 1t not be some trial visit OF
your patron saint. SaLta ClausT ne
inquired. his voice well under control
Really. 1t Is no jest" she affirmed
"For several nights I have heard the
noise distinctly. muff1ed tapping IN
side the chimney"
Suppose we inspect 1t after lunch.
eon" suggested Fitzgerald.
1T has been DONE" said the ad.
miral. Outwardly he was still skepd'
cal. but a doubt was forming in bis
mind
1T will do no harm to try 1t again.
said Breitmann.
If Fitzgerald noted the subdued ex.
citement In the mans voice he charged
It to the moment.
Take my word for It." avowed the
admiral. "you will find nothing. Bring
the coffee into the library" he added
to the butler.
The logs were taken out Of the fire.
place. and as soon as the smoke
cleared the young men gave the inside
Of the chimney thorough going over
They could see the blue sky away up
above. The opening was large. but
far too small for any human being to
enter down II. The mortar between
the bricks seemed for the most part
undisturbed. Breitmann made the
6rst discovery Of any importance
Just above his height. standing IN the
chimney itself. be saw single brick
projecting beyond Its mates. He
reached up and shook It 1t was loose.
He wrenched 1t out and came back
into the light.
See! Nothing less than a chisel
could have cut the mortar that way
Miss Killigrew is right" He went
back and with the aid Of the tongs
poked into the cavity. The wall Of
tricks was four deep. yet the tongs
went through. This business had been
done from the other side.
Well" exclaimed the admiral. FOR
once at loss for proper phrase.
"You see. father2 l was right. Now.
what can It mean7 Who Is digging out
the bricks. and for what purpose? And
how. with the alarms all over the house,
to account for the footprints on the
1oorT"
1T Is quite likely that something Is
hidden In the chimney and some one
knows that 1t Is worth hunting for.
This chimney Is the original. ! should
judge" Fitzgerald addressed this OBJ
servation to the admiral.
Never been touched during my time
or my fathers. But we Gun soon find
out. Ill have a man up here. II there
Is anything In the chimney that ought
not to be there he'll dig 1t out and save
our mldnignt visitor any furtner troo'