Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-04-24
CHAPTER XIII.
At tie Asolando Again.

SIA VII a. oASS " SPpSA Va" -
Office, where l learned that the
architect was out of town. But
his chief clerk greeted me cour-
teously. l told him frankly that l
wanted to look at the plans of Hope
field Manor to enable me to learn the
exact lines Of the chimneys. lie con-
fessed surprise that they were causing
trouble and expressed regret that they
were not in the office.
Miss HOLSTER sent for them this
morning, and l have just given them
to a young woman who bore a note
from her."
1 was taken aback to find that she
had anticipated me in my rush for the
plans of the house. Clearly l was
dealing with a woman who was not
only immensely amusing, but exceed
ingly shrewd as we'll. Could it be pos
sible after all that she was herself
playing ghost merely for her own en-
tertainment? She vas capable Of it.
But l had satisfied myself that she
could not have performed the tricks Of
which l had been the victim the night
1Eevious unless she possessed some
rare vanishing power like that of the
East Indian mystics.
MAY 1 ask who came for the
plans?'
Il judged the young woman to be a
maid. or perhaps she was Miss Hollis
ter's secretary
1 had given little heed during my
short stay at Hope6eld Manor to Miss
HOLSTERS personal attendant. l had
passed her in the halls once or twice,
a young woman Of twenty-five, l should
say, fair haired and blue eyed. She
might herself be the ghost now that l
thought Of it. But this seemed the
most unlikely hypothesis possible.
At my own Office my assistant pounc-
ed upon me w%rathfully. He was half
wild over the pressure of vexatious
business and had just been engaging
in a long distance conversation with a
country gentleman at Lenox which
had left him in bad temper. l was ex-
planning to him the seriousness of my
errands at Hopefeld, rather uncon-
L AOoAS II ~ AoSI ChoJ l
must return at once when the Office
boy entered my private room to say
that three gentlemen wished to see me
Immediately. They had submitted
cards, but had refused to state the ma
ture of their business. 1t was with a
distinct sensation of surprise that /
read the ame respectively Of Percival
B.. S~hallenberger. Daniel p. Ormsby
and John Stewart Dick.
"Show the gentlemen in," l said
promptly, greatly to the disgust Of my
assistant. who retired to deal with
several clients whom l had passed in
the reception room fiercely walking the
floor.
l had imagined all the suitors estab.
lished. at the Prescott Arms. AS the
three appeared clad in light automobil.
ing coats l could not forbear a smile
at their grim appearance. Shallen.
berger, the novelist, and Ormsby, the
knit goods manufacturer, were big
men. Dick, the Nebraska philosopher,
was much shorter, though Of compact
and sturdy build. They growled surlily
in response to my greeting. and Orms.
by closed the door behind them. Dick
seemed to be the designated spOkes.
man, and he advanced to the desk be
hind which l sat with a stride and
that advertised his belligerent
frame of mind.
"Mr. Ames,'' he began, I'VE have
come here to speak for ourselves and
certain other gentlemen who are stay.
ing for a time at the Prescott Arms"
Gentlemen Of the committee, wei,
come to our Office" I replied. greatly
amused by his ferocity.
My tone caused the others to draw
in defensively behind him.
"We want you to understand that
YOUR conduct in accompanying a lady
that l shall not name to the city is
an act we cannot pass in silence. Your
conduct in going to Hopefeld Manor
was in itself an affront to us, but your
behavior this morning passes all
bounds. We have come, sir, TO de.
mand IN explanation!'
At a glance this was a situation l
dare not take seriously.
"Mr. Dick and gentlemen of the com
mittee, you are meddlesome persons"
I said.
'Meddlesome.." cried Dick heatedly
and leaning toward me across my desk.
"Do l correctly understand. sir, that
you mean to insult u.s."
Nothing could be further from my