The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-01-30
The Siege
of the
Seven SuitOrs
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright, 1910. by Meredith Nicholson
Copyright. 1910. by Meredith Nicholson

my feet. Ali the houses in the neigh
borhood seemed deserted, with win
dows and doors tightly boarded, and
my closest scrutiny failed to discover
any opening from which. that slipper
might have been flung. The region is
so decorOus and acts of violence are
SO foreign to its dignity and repose
that could scarce believe that held
that bit of tan leather in my hand.
| Nor did it's unaecountable precipit6-
! ton into the street seem the act of
| housemaid, nor could I believe that
nursery governess had thus sought di-
version from the roof above. hest
tated for moment, not knowing how
/ to meet this emergency. Then I bold
" attacked the bell of the house from
which I believed the slipper to have
! proceeded. I rang until a policeman,
whose speech was fragrant of the Ir-
I ish coasts, babe me desist, informing
me that the family had only the pre-
vfous day left for the shore. The
house, he assured me, was utterly va
cant. That, Miss Hollister, is All there
+, is of the story. But ever since have
carried that slipper with me. It was
in my pocket tonight as I traversed
the, upper halls of your house, seeking
the ghost of that British soldier, and 1
had just discovered my loss when
heard you calling. In returning it you
have conferred upon me the greatest
lima giDable favor. I have faith that
some time, somewhere, shall ind the
owner of that slipper. Would you not
infer from it's dfminutive size and the
fine, suggestive delicacy of it's outlines,
that the owner is a person of aristo-
cratic lineage and Of breeding2 I will
confess that nothing is nearer my
FNraSaw a r
shall meet the young LADY, am sure
she must be young-Who wore that
slipper and dropped it, as it seemed,
from the clouds at my feet there in
sedate Beacon street, that most sol
emn of residential sanctuaries.' y
MT. Ames,'' began Miss HoIlister in
stantly, with an assumed severity that
her smile belied, IT cannot recall that
my niece Hezekiah ever visited in Bea-
con street, yet I dare say that if she
had done so and young man of your
pleasing appearance had passed be-
meath her window one of her slippers
might very easily have become de-
tached from Hezekiah's foot and fall
en- with a nice calculation directly in
front of you. But now, Mr.. Ames, will
you kindly carry your candle into that
trunk room?''
The foundations of the world shook
as I remembered the compact by which
Hezekiah was excluded from the house
and realized what her impending dis
covery would mean to Cecilia, her IA
Their and the Maynard Hezekiah too.
But was in for it. Miss Octavia in
dicated by an inperious nod that I was
to precede her into the trunk room, and
I strobe before her with my candle
held high.
But the sprites of mystery were still
abroad at HopefieId. The room was
unoccupied save for the trunks. Heze-
kiah had vanished. Instead of sitting
there to await the coming of her aunt,
she had silently departed without Ieav-
ing trace. Miss Hollister glanced up
at the trapdoor in the ceiling, and so
did /. It was closed, but I did not
doubt that Hezekiah had crawled
through it and taken herself to the
roof. Miss Octavia would probably or
der me at once to the battlements, but
worse was to come.
mfr. Ames.7' she said, twill you kind
ly lift the lid OF that largest trunkY'
1 had not thought of this, and shud-
dered at the possibilities
She Indicated the trunk upon which
Hezekiah had sat and nibbled her
cracker not more than ten minutes be-
fore. Could it be possible that when
I lifted the cover that golden head
would be found beneath? My life has
known no b1acker moment than that in
which flung back the lid of that trunk
I averted my eyes in dread Of the inn
bending disclosure and held the candle
close.
But the trunk was empty, incredibly
empty! NY courage rose again, and I
glanced at Miss Octavia triumphantly.
even jerked out the trays to allay any
lingering suspicion. Why had I ever
doubted Hezekiah7 Who was she, the
golden haired daughter of kings, TO be
caught in a trunk? She had slipped up
the ladder while 1 talked to her aunt
and was even now hiding on the roof,
but it was not for me to make so trea-
sonable suggestion. Miss Octavia
might press the matter further if she
liked, but would not help her to trap
Hezekiah.
Miss HOLSTER did not, to my surprise
and relief. suggest an inspection of the
roof. She nodded her head gravely
and passed out into the hall.
''Ndr. Ames, if 1 implied a moment
ago that I doubted your story of the
dropping of that tan pump from a
Beacon street roof or window, I now
tender you my sincerest apologies
She put out her hand, smiling charm
ingIy.
pray return to the occupations which
were engaging you when interrupted
you. You have never stood higher in
my regardHthan at this moment. To
morrow you may tell me all you please
of the ghost and the mysteries of this
house, and dare say we shall find the
bones Of that British soldier some
where beneath the foundations. AS
for that trihing bit of leather you hold
In your hand, it's rather passe for
Beacon street. The next time you tell
that story suggest that you play your