The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-08-28
allow lid YOU get here?" l blurted,

allow did you get here?" l blurted,
my nerves still out of control.
1.-THE kitchen door. sir. had ridden
into the garden, and, seeing Aunt &C.
tavia heading for the stables and Ce-
ella ut the kitchen window, pedaled
boldly in. Cecilia wanted to borrow
my bicycle, and. being good little
sister, gave it to her. She also said
that you required food, so l told her
to 80 and l would carry you your
breakfast shall skip myself In min
ute. You may draw your own coffee.
Mind the machine. 1t tips If you are
not careful"
She went to the window and peered
out toward the stables.
"May ask, daughter Of kings,
where your sister has gone SO sud-
denlyy'
"Certainly! She's off for town to
chase q cook and few other people
to run this hotel. heard at the post
Office that the whole camp had desert
ed, 50 ran over to see what was do
ing. And just for that I've got to
walk home"
"But your aunt said that Providence
would take care Of the servant Ques-
ton. She expected a whole corps of
ideal servants to come straying In dur
ing the day"
Cecilia hasn't Aunt Octavia's conf
dence In Providence, so she's taking .
shot at the employment agencies. She
has left a note on the kitchen table to
inform Aunt Octavia that she had for
gotten an engagement with the dentist
and has gone to catch the 1913"
"That, Hezekiah, is a lie. 1t isn't
quite square to deceive your aunt that
way" remarked soberly.
Hezekiah laughed.
"You absurdity! Don't you know
Aunt Octavia yet? She will be perfect
~ overjoyed when she comes back and
finds that note from Cecilia. She likes
disappearance, mysteries and all that
kind Of thing. But it Is barely possi-
BILE that you will have to wash the
dishes. I can't, you see. for I'm not
supposed to come on the reservation ut
all-not until Cecilia has found hus-
band. Isn't it perfectly delicious?"
"All of that, daughter Of kings! I
think that as soon as can regain con-
fdence in my own sanity l shall like
It myself. But''-and l watched her
narrowly-"you see, Hezekiah. there IL
really a ghost, you know"
Her divine laugh dubbed mellowfy.
She had walked guardedly to the win
dow and turned swiftly with mockery
Of fear in her face.
AUNT Octavia approaches, and I
must be of. But that ghost, Mr.. CHM
ney Man-when you find him please let
me know. There are lot Of things I
want to ask some reliable ghost about
the hereafter"
With this she fed, and heard the
front door close smartly after her. An
instant later Miss Octavia appeared
and asked solictously how liked my
omelet.
1.-THE coachman has been telling mo
a capital ghost story. He believes
them to be benefcent and declares that
he will under no circumstances leave
my employment"
She sat down and folded her arms
upon the table. For the first time I
believed that she was serious. There
was, In fact, troubled look on her
sweet, whimsical face. 1t occurred to
me that the loss Of her servants was
not really the slight matter she had
previously made Of it,
"Mr Ames. will you pardon me for
asking you question of the most in
innate character? 1t is only after much
hesitation that do So"
bowed encouragingly, my curiosity
fully aroused. ~
"You may ask me anything in The
world, Miss HOLSTER"
'"Then l wish you would tell ms
whether-I can't express the dislike I
feel in doing this-but can you tell me
whether you have seen in the hands
Of my niece Cecilia small, very
email, silver backed notebook"
Eyes; ! have" l answered. greatly
surprised. F.,
"And may ask whether-and again
must plead deep concern as an e.
cuse for making such an inquiry
whether you by any chance saw her
making any notation In that bookr'
recalled the silver bound book per.
fectly, but had attached no Importance
to 1t, but II Cecilia's fortunes were 20
intimately related to it as Miss Hollis
ter's manner implied, l felt that ! must
be careful Of my answer. was trying
to recall the precise moment at which
I had entered the library the preceding
evening after Hume's departure. and
while was intent upon this my silence
must have been prolonged. ! felt
obliged to make an answer of some
sort and yet did not relish the
thought Of conveying information that
might distress and embarrass noble
girl like Cecilia HOLSTER. Something
In my face must have conveyed hint
Of this inner conflict to Miss Hollister.
for she rose suddenly. holding up her
hand as though to silence me- She
seemed deeply moved and cried In agt-