The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-08
HEZEKTAH
contiausd.1


 'em outI" he shouted and swept pro- fane1y by. The gete of the kennel yard stood open A familiar figure, running low. paused and then sprint ed uImb1y along the paddock fence. A white sweater WIS dfst1nguishabIe for n moment on a stone wall, then it fol lowed a pair of enchanted heels into oblivion
 Time had been passing swiftly, and ehs shadows were deepening. I re- traced my steps toward the terrace, hearing the cries of pursued and pur- EuerB growing fainter had not yet gained position rom which I could zee CeciTla, when a man appeared some distance ahead of me, walking guardedIy in one Of the garden plots. He came uncertainty, pausing to glance about yet evidently led toward the terrace by a definite purpose. All may be fair in love and war, but confess to a feeling of pity for John Stewart Dick as I watched him slowly advancing to his fate He was going boldly now, and felt sudden liking for him. nor can believe that he was other than manly fellow with sound brains and a good heart.
 I reasoned as marked his approach to the terrace that he had been loiter- ing in the neighborhood, probably watching Cecilia and Pepperton, and when the architect retired he had as- samed that the sixth man had spoken. The appearance Of his former com rades of the inn had doubtless dis turbed him as 1t had me; then, thanks to the resourceful Hexekfah, they had been routed. and the coast was clear.
 I watched him draw nearer to Cecilia as have watched deer go down to a lake to drink He would speak now, was confident of it, and I stole round to the side entrance and sent word to Wiggins to go to the drawing room and wait for me
 Miss Octavia and Pepperton still lin gered over their teacups. The row made by the fugftizes from her kennels had not. it seemed, penetrated to the library, and Miss Octavia bade me join the talk, which had to do, I remember, with some project for a national hall of fame that had incurred her charac- teristic displeasure- A hall of immor- tai rascaIs in piIlories she thought far HkeIier to please the masses.
 In fifteen minutes saw Cecilia cross- ing the hall She stopped. where could see her quite plainly and thrust --EA AoA4 414lO tue POCGeG OI nSE COdI. Out flashed the silver notebook She made swift notation with the pencil that nows knew, wrote the fate of the sixth man
 went out and spoke to her and walked besfde her to the drawing room door. where Hartley Wiggins was wait ing.
 Miss Octav1a had risen when re turned to the library. and it was time to dress for dinner
 Just 6 moment, Miss Hollister Something of great interest is about to occur" And I made excuses for de- taining her for perhaps five minutes, not more
 You have never yet deceived me, Arnold Ames, and such is my conf dence in you that if you tell me that something interesting will soon occur I have no reason to doubt you. It is worth remembering, however, that fowl is not improved by prolonged roast ing"
 heard Wiggins laugh in the hall, and Miss Octavia raised her head Then Cecilia came into the room and walked directly to her aunt.
 Aunt Octavfa, here is the little sIl- yer notebook you gave me in Paris. I have just written MT. Wiggins' name in it. and as have no further use for the book, I return it with my love and thanks"
 Without a word Miss Octavia turned to the wall and pressed the button twice
 William" she said as the butler ap- peared, you may serve Oriana 'o7, and be careful not to freeze it to death; and the hour for dinner is changed to B Arnold, you may yourself drive to Gooseberry bungalow for my brother and niece They dine with me to- night
 Hezekiah and built our bungalow in the orchard where on that October aft arnoon found her munching red ap- pie on the stone wall. She is the most scrupulous of housewives and only now hook me to task for scattering the 1earth with fragments of the notes from which this narrative has been written She has just been reading these last pages with meditative brown eyes and not without occasionally reaching for the pen and retouching some sentence in which, she says, soot from my chimney factoring days has clogged flk lks lhit Y Cecflfa and Wiggins live at Hopefeld across the fields. Miss Octaria insisted on this, for the reason that the sword of Hartley's great grandfather, found in the chest under the old house. gives him inalienable rights to the premises. Miss Octavia ---.a haar brother Bassford are travelling