The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-07-31

quickly. making, fear. no very gal
liant appearance as l 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 a thorough investigation. The
night is perfectly quiet, and the wind
Is hardly responsible. l 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 a
fog. .''
Its beastlyw CALCULATED Virgins.
coughing. II didn't suppose Pepper
ton would put flus like that into a
house. He ought to be shot!'
1T is fortunate" said Miss Hollis
ter, "that Mr.. Ames is on the ground.
He now has a case that will test his
most acute powers Of diagnosis
The logs that had burned 80 brightly
before the chimney choked still held
their flames stubbornly, and l 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 l had
ever been before in any Of my en-
Payments, the chimney. with a deep
intake Of breath. began drawing the
smoke upward again. The flames caught
and spread with renewed ardor. and
when the trio still lettering in the hall
returned in answer to my exclamation
of surprise, the flue had recovered It's
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.
1.-THE logs must have been wet. The
sap hadn't dried out yet proposed
Virgins. - ,'..s,:,,. Z, I:
'"The wood was as dry as tinder."
averred Miss Hollister, not without
Irritation. And one swallow does not,
make a summer or a chimney smoke
1t must have been changing current
Of air. l was reading book on bal
looming the other day. and it is re-
markable how the air currents change"
THAT is quite possible. as the air
cools rapidly after sunset at this sea.
son. and that is bound to have an ef-
feet on the quality and resistance of
the atmosphere. replied sagely.
Perhaps suggested Miss Hollister,
with one Of those flashes Of animation
that were so delightful in her. lit was
ghost. The presence Of ghost in
this house would give me the greatest
pleasure. should look upon a ghosts
appearance at Hopefeld Manor as a
great compliment If any reputable.
decent ghost should by any chance
take up his residence in this house l
should give him every enconrag cement"
Z Miss HOLSTER seemed to have for.
gotten the proposed game Of billiards. 1
The chimney's lawless demonstration
had, In fact given new turn to the
evening. We discussed ghosts for half
an hour, and then. without having en-.
joyed any opportunity for single pri-
vate word with Cecilia, Virgins rose
to leave. He shook hands all around
and bowed from the door. 1t was in
my mind to follow, making a pretext
Of walking with him to the station or
Of helping him find his car, but moth
Ing in his good night to me encouraged
such attentions, and as pondered the
outer door closed upon my irresolu.
don.
At the stroke of 10 Miss Hollister
rose and excused herself. I'VE break
fast at 8, Mr.. Ames. l trust the hour
does not conflict with your habits"
l assured her that the hour was
wholly agreeable, and she gave me her
hand with great dignity.
When turned toward Cecilia she
had moved to q seat close by the
hearth and was gazing dreamily into
the fire, now a bed Of glowing Goals.
1T was odd" I remarked.
You. mean the chimney. ~. :.
Eyes. It was quite unaccountable:
I confess that never knew chin
ney's mood to change so abruptly"
She sat silent for several minutes
and then she lifted her head and her
eyes met mine.
"Pardon me, Mr.. Ames, but did my
aunt ask you here to examine the
chimneys? I didn't quite understand.
We have been here only a week: the
weather has been warm. and l believe
this fire had not been lighted before
today. You will pardon my frankness,
but I can't quite understand why my
aunt invited you here II you came pro-
fessionally. ! thought when you ap-
peared this afternoon that you were .
guest-nothing more-or less"
"You had heard nothing Of any trou.
bic with the freplaces? Then I I'm in
The dark as much as you. Al under.
stood It, I was called here to examine
the dueS: but, now that think Of It,