Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-03-13

ment-''you may say that his interests
have not been jeopardi2ed by his te-
merity in calling"
In her pause before concluding this
curious commission her eyes searched
mine deeply, and felt that she had
not lightly intruSted ME with this
singular errand. Her dark eyes held
mine an instant after she had spoken.
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. | 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
| 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, | was going carefully over the
flue whose behavior had been so unac-
countable the previous night. Guided
by the servant. | inspected the three
f1replaces in the upper chambers that
were served by flues in this chimney
and finally dropped my torch and
plumb line from the chimney pot.
Never IN all my experience had | seen
better fines. But | had the ashes
thrown out of the dump in the cellar
and found the chute in perfect order
| learned by inquiry that the other
fues worked perfectly. but never
theless scrutinized them carefully
My freedom OF the house afforded an
excellent opportunity for "A study of
its beautiful construction. 1t was
modern in every sense, with no dark,
mysterious corners in which COLLINS
might Turk.
My professional labors were finished
l was quite ready for Miss HOLSTERS
most searching inquiries. AS for the
library fiue, | had decided that little
care in piling the logs in the hearth
recurrence OF the difficulty. And |
thereupon hurried to my room and
after a tub (my vocation encouraged
frequent tubbing) chose from the sta
BILE a neat trap for one horse. Thus
equipped | set out to find Virgins at
/ the Prescott Arms.
| AS | drove into the entrance | saw
| ITn
waved a hand and came out to meet
! me, and when had rid myself Of the
/ trap he suggested thai we take walk.
| His manner was not cordial, and he
/ wore the haggard look Of man on bad
/ terms with mis- pillow. ! attributed his
/ appearance to preoccupatlon with his
| love affair. When we had withdrawn
a little way from the inn he turned
| on me sharply.
"Well?" he demanded.
"Well," / laughed.
ooh, you needn't take that tone about
/ 1t. Your being here is something that
requires explanation, and your being
/ there"-he flung out his arm toward
4 Hopefield Manor-"your presence there
is not a laughing matter
my dear Virgins, came here in a
spirit of friendship, and you treat me
like a pickpocket | must say that II
you had not acted like clam the other
night at the club, but had told me what
was in the wind we might not be meet
ing now like ancient enemies instead OF
old and intimate friends"
He vouchsafed no reply, but thre"
himself down under scarlet maple
and began to white a stick. while
went on with my story, concluding
with:
And now | have finished my work
and after have made my report
shall probably not meet her again. A
for Miss Cecilia HOLSTER, / can only
say, my dear Virgins, that she Is Z
rarely beautiful woman, and that il
you wish to marry her you have ms
very best wishes for your success ane