Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-03-06

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80, -
'""-~S> fA~-xs~
Seized the longs and Poker and Be-
gan Adjusting the Logs.
ceased utterly and without apparent
cause We were all aware OF a choking
a gaSping in the deep fue. which could
not be accounted for by any natural
stoppage incident to ChimneyS the
dislOdging of masonry or packing OF
SCOT. The former was hardly possible
and the house was not old enough to
make the latter theory plausible. From
my survey of the tlue on my arrival III
the afternoon | judged that this par
ticular chimney had been little used
The smoke now rolled out in pillows
and drove us back from the hearth |
seized the tOngS and poker and began
readjuSting the logs, without, how
ever, any hope of correcting Il difficulty
that lay patiently in the upper regions
of the flue itself. The smoke, after Il
courageous effort to rise, encountered
an obstruction of some sort and sbhed
back upon the hearth and out into the
room. My efforts to stop the trouble
by shifting the logs were futile, as |
expected them to be, and retreatcd
quickly, making, | fear, no very gal
liant appearance as | mopped my face
and eyes.
well" exclaimed Miss HOLSTER,
who had rung for servant to open
the doors and windows, this is GER
tainly most extraordinary. What so
luton do you offer, Mr.. Ames?"
THE matter requires investigation.
l can't venture an opinion until have
made thorough investigation The
night is perfectly quiet, and the wind
Is hardly responsible. | think we had
better abandon the room until | can
solve this riddle in the morning"
The prompt opening of the windows
and doors caused the slow dispersion
of the smoke, but the lights in the
room still shone dimly as through
fog.
Its beastly" calculated Virgins,
coughing. II didn't suppose Pepper
ton would put flue like that into
house. He ought to be shot
ut is Fortunate" said Miss Hollis
ter, that Mr.. Ames is on the ground.
He now has case that will test his
most acute powers of diagnosis"
The logs that had burned so brightly
before the chimney Choked still held
their flames stubbornly. and had ad,
vised against pouring water upon
them, fearing to crack the brick and
stone work. We were about to adjourn
to the drawing room Miss HOLSTER
and the others had in fact reached
the door, leaving me alone before the
hearth. Then, as | stood half blinded
watching the smoke pour out into the
room and more puzzled than | had
ever been before in any of my EN-,
pigments, the chimney. with a deep
Intake of breath, began drawing the
smoke upward again. The flames caught
and spread with renewed ardOr, ana
when the trio still lettering in the hall
returned in answer to my exclamation
of surprise. the iue had recovered its
compOsure and was behaving in a sane
and normal manner.
"A swallow undoubtedly fell into the
chimneypot and then got itself out
again" suggested Cecilia.
THE logs must have been wet. The
sap hadn't dried out yet" proposed
Virgins
"The wood was as dry as finder"
averred Miss HOLSTER. not without
irritation. And one swallow does not
make summer or chimney smoke
1t must have been changing current
of air ! was reading a book on bal.
looming tn" other day, and 1t is re
markahle how the air currents change
THAT is quite possible, rs the nh
cooIs rapidly after sunset at this sea
son. and that is bound to have an eff
feet on the quality and resistance Of
the atmosphere" | replied sagely
Perhaps" suggested Miss HOLSTER.
with one Of those hashcs Of animation
that We're so delightful in her, 1T was
a ghost. The presence Of a ghost iu
this house would give me the greatest
pleasure. should look upon ghosts
appearance at Hopeheld Manor as
great compliment If any reputable,
decent ghost should by any chance
take up his residence In this house /
should give bim every eHcoura cement
Miss HOLSTER seemed to have for
gotten the proposed game Of billiards