Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-03-06
Copyright. 1910. by Meredith Nicholson

Her uleCe > lOSe dllo
led the way to the library. Cecilia
seemed in no wise depressed by her
aunt's fling at Mr.. Henderson, who
ever he might be, but threw the notes
upon the flames that blazed merrily in
the fireplace.
T suggested Immediately that as l had
come to Hopefield Manor to inspect the
fues I should now be about my bust
ness, but to my surprise Miss HOLSTER
evinced no interest whatever in the
matter. Her tone and manner implied
that the condition of her chimneys was
wholly negligible.
There is no haste, Mr.. Ames. l
have suffered all my life from the i'll
considered and hurried work Of pro-
fessional men. AS for my chimneys, I
beg that you give me the result of your
most serious deliberations. At this
hour 1 ride. Cecilia. will you dress i'm
mediately and accompany me-?
She disappeared at once. and l stared
mutely after her. l am by no means
an idler. and this cool indifference to
the value of my time would ordinarily
have enraged me, but I believe l laugh
ed, and when l turned to Cecilia
found her smiling.
Pm glad, MI. Ames, that you are a
person of humor. 1t is no joke that
my aunt is a believer in thoroughness.
and one of these days when b Is
ready to talk Of chimneyS she will
subject you to a most rigid examina-
ton"
"One Of these days? Why. have
looked at the timetable, and 1t is my
present intention to take the 1908
into town. have appointments at
my office for the afternoon. assure
you, Miss HOLSTER. that I'm a nan of
engagements. particularly at this sea-
son."
I remembered what Jewett had told
me of Fortner, the painter, and bis
detention at Newport by Miss Octavia
Hollister. l had no intention Of being
immured in any such fashion. and l
was about to protest further when
Cecilia took a step toward me and
after a glance at the door spoke in a
low tone and with great earnestness.
Mr.. Ames, l have every reason to
believe that you are a gentleman, and
in that confident belief I'm going to
ask a favor Of you. You have said
that you know Hartley Virgins we'll"
II know no man better. You might
not have inferred it from his manner
last night. but he was undoubtedly
surprised and embarrassed by my
presence and did not act quite like
himself"
81 think l understand the cause of
that. If l should ask you to see him
today and give him a message for me
could you do So"
1T will be an honor to serve you
and a very simple matter. as l should
see him on my own account if he is
still in the neighborhood."
HE is doubtless at the Prescott
Arms. My message is a verbal one.
Please urge him not to make any eff
fort to see me and not to call here
again. But at the same time, as the
chimney smoked Just is we were
about to be left alone last night. I
think-I think"-she hesitated a mo-
ment-"you may say that his interests
have not been jeopardized by his te-
merity in calling"
In her pause before concluding this
curious commission her eyes searched
mine deeply. and I felt that she had
not lightly intrusted me with this
singular errand. Her dark eyes held
Then she smiled. and her face showed
relief.
Ask for anything you want. Aunt
Octavia despises motors. so there's no
car here. but you will find plenty of
horses and traps. Order whatever
pleases you. l shall expect to meet
you at dinner if not at luncheon. and
so'-she smiled ~again-"will Aunt DC.
tavia."
She nodded to me from the door, and
l heard her running lightly upstairs.
Left to my own devices l rang the
bell and ordered the library fire extin.
guished and the hearth cleaned. This
required a little time. but the house
man obeyed me readily. and soon.
clad in my professional overalls and
jumper. l was going carefully over the
lue whose behavior had been so unac
countable the previous night. Guided
by the servant. l inspected the three
freplaces In the upper chambers that
were served by fues in this chimney
and finally dropped my torch and
plumb line from the chimney pot.
Never in all my experience had ! seen
better tlues. But l had the ashes
thrown out of the dump in the cellar
and found the chute in perfect order.
] learned by inquiry that the other
iues worked perfectly. but l never.
theless scrutinized them carefully.
My freedom Of the house afforded an
excellent opportunity for n study of
its beautiful construction. 1t was