Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-15

hearth curing this exchange. At this |
moment a singular thing happened.
The FIRE that had been sweeping in a
broad wavelike curve into the chin
ney was checked suddenly. | had re- 1
peatedly remarked the admirable draft. 4
the tacile grace OF the fame ms it rose 3
and vanished. The cessation Of the .
draft was unmarked by any Of Those I
premonitory symptoms by which fire /
usually gives warning of evil intcn I
lions. The upward current Of air had /.
ceased utterly and without apparent /
cause. We were all aware OF a choking. !
q gasping in the deep fue. which could /
not be accounted for by any natural
stoppage incident to chimneys-the
dislodging of masonry or q 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 due on my arrival in
the afternoon l judged that this par
ticular chimney had been little used.
The smoke now rolled out in pillows
and drove US back from the hearth. l
seized the tongs and poker and began
readtusting the logs, without, how
ever, any hope Of correcting a difficulty
that lay patiently in the upper regions
OF the fue itself. The smoke. after a
courageous effort to rise, encountered
( an obstruction Of some sort and ebbed
back upon the hearth and out into the
room. Ny efforts to stop the trouble
/ by shifting the logs were futile. as
/ expected them to be, and l retreated
| quickly. making, l feAr. no very gal
/ liant appearance as / mopped my face
and eyes.
We'll" exclaimed Miss Hollister.
/ who had rung for a 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.
can't venture an opinion until l have
made Il thorough investigation. The
night is perfectly quiet, and the wind
is hardly responsible. 1 think we had
better abandon the room until l 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 beastiy" calculated Virgins.
coughing. Il didn't suppose Pepper
ton would put a fiue Ike that into a
house. He ought TO be shot!''
1T is fortunate" said Miss Hollis
ter. that Mr. Anes 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 choEed still held
their flames stubbornly. and had ad
vised against pouring water upon
them, fearing to crack the brick and
stone work. We We're about to adjourn
to the drawing room. Miss Hollister
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 beea before in any of my en-
Payments. the chimney. with deep
intake Of breath. began dra wing 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 fiue had recovered its
composure and was behaving in u 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
2 make 4 summer or n chimney smoke
II must have been changing current
? of air. ! was reading. book on bal
. looming the other day. and it is re.
| markable how the air currents change. Sc
That is quite possible. as the ali
cools rapidly after sunset ut this sea.
4 son, and that is bound to have an eff
g feet on the quality and resistance OF
the atmosphere" | replied sageIy.
/ Perhaps suggested Miss Hollister
with one of those flashes of animation
that were so delightful in her. lit was
a ghost The presence Of a ghost III
this house would give me the greatest
pleasure. ! should look upon Il ghosts
appearance at Hopefeld Manor as :
great compliment. II any reputable
decent ghost should by any chance
take up his residence in this house
should give him every encouragement
Miss HOLSTER seemed to have for
gotten the proposed game Of billiards
The chimney's lawless demonstration
had, IN fact, given a new turn TO tn,
evening. We discussed ghosts for hal
an hour, and then, without having en-
1oyed any opportunity for a single pri
vate word with Cecilia, Virgins ros,
to leave. he shook hands all AROUND
and bowed from the door. 1t was il
my mind TO follow, making a pretex
Of walking with him to the station o
Of helping him find his car, but moth
ing IN his good night TO me encouraged
such attentions, and as 1 pondered tn
outer door closed upon my irresoIu
tion.
At the stroke OF 10 Miss Holliste
rose and excused herself I'VE break
fast at 8, Mr.. Ames. l trust the hou
does not conflict with your habits"
assured her that the hour wa
-hnIIv Oh r,a h.