Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-12


She shrugged her shoulders. Cecilia
had no patience with ghosts. and we
were losing time. Ny conversation
with Cecilia was annoying Virgins. as
was plain from his nervousness.
Il went to my room for a moment
while Aunt Octavia was above. with
you, suppose, just after the chimney
gave another Of its strange demonstra-
tons. 1 remembered that l had left
my little silver bound book. that usu-
ally carry with me. on my dressing
room table. 1t contains a memoran-
dunn OF great importance TO me 1t
positively cannot be duplicated. Lam
sure IL was there when | came down
TO dinner. But II was not on nv dress
ing table or anywhere to be found"
You may be mistaken as 10 where
you left it. You would not be absolute
ly positive that you left it on the dress
ing table:'
There is not the slightest question
about it | had been looking at it just
before dinner. | had sent you a note,
you know. Immediately after you came
back and hurried down to see YOU
Yes; recall that You were in the
library when | came down. And
think 1 remember having seen the little
trinket-slightly smaller than a card
case, silver backed and only a few
leaves. You had II in your hand the
other night when ! came in after Mr..
Hume had left"
She flushed slightly at this. but readi-
ly acquiesced in my description. Miss
Octavia's inquiry as TO whether l had
seen the book came back 10 me and
no less clearly her withdra wal OF her
question almost the moment she had
spoken It.
] felt the sudden infringement of
Hezekiah's slipper upon my own con-
science. II ! may so state the matter.
Hezekiah, playing ghost. had confessed
to me that she had visited Cecilia's
room. Hezekiah. amusing herself with
the library chimney and frightening
1 the servants by stealing into the for
! hidden house through the coalhOle. was
a culprit TO be scolded and forgiven.
/ But what Of Hezekiah miSchievously
flching an article Of real value to her
sister? l did not like this turn Of
affairs. I must get back to the roof.
find Hezekiah and compel her to re-
turn the silver book. Only by tactful-
ly managing this could l serve well all
the members of the house Of HOllister.
But first I must leave Cecilia with a
tranquil mind.
Il thank you for confding this mat
ter to me. Miss HOLSTER. Please do
not attach suspicion TO any one until l
have seen you again"
But if you should be unable to re
store
Il assure you that the book is not
lost. Ii has been mislaid. that's all l
shall return 1t TO you at breakfast. l
give you my word
DO you really mean it," she fal-
tered. please keep this from Aunt
Octavia, ! cant tell you how impor
tant ii is that she be kept in ignorance
of my loss. The consequences. If she
knew. might be very distressing"
Miss Octavia was carrying the in.
vincibIe John Stewart Dick away tc
the billiard room. He glared at ME
murderouSly as he trailed glumly after
the lady OF the manor The Others
We're CrowdinC about Cecilia again. an6
l Welded to them willingly. As ]
sauntered toward the door Ormsby de
tanned me q moment. His manner
WIZ arrogant and he Kissed rather
than spoke.
Pm directed TO command your pres
ence at the Prescott Arms tomorrow
at IL o'clock. The business is impor
taut"
Il regret. my dear brother. that
shall be unable to sit with you at tina
hour in committee of the whole. ant
: for two reasons The first is that
: am paired with Lord Arrowood Yo,
: refused TO take him into your has
compact and allowed him to be throw
out OF the inn for not paying his bill
The act was deficient in generosity an,
;, gallantry"
Then l suppose you would think j
fne thing for such a pauper TO MARI
, a woman like that-like that. | say?
and he jerked his head toward Cecilia
Il consider lord Of Arrowood a
good as the proprietor OF a knittin
mill any day. If you press me for a
- opinion" replied aminbly
And this from a chimney sweep?
y he sneered.
You datter me, my dear sir. "
renowned SCOT and become a gentle
u man adventurer merely to prevent
type that long illumined popular fl
, ton from becoming extinct l advis
I you TO Ill the void existing in tn
heavy villain class Believe me. you
Il talents would carry you far. Stud
. Dumas and forget the wool marke
and you will lead happier life. II
4 second reason for declining to NEE
you at the Arms at IL tomorrow
merely that the hour is inconvenien
/ assume that you mean to urge lunch
. con upon me, and | never eat before
. My doctor has warned me TO avoi
early luncheons If would preserve N
figure. Of which you may well believ
me Justly. proud"
You're coward-that's all there
TO that I dare you TO come
We'll, as l think of ii, I'd rather /
dared than invited. II find it out;
convenient l shall drop in. But 20
needn't keep the wsfhes hot for m
Good