Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-15

hearth curing this exchange. At this
moment a singular thing happened.
The Ere that had been sweeping in a
broad wavelike curve into the chin
ney was checked suddenly. | had re-
peatedly remarked the admirable draft.
the faciIe grace OF the fame us it rose
and vanished. The cessation of the
draft was unmarked by any of thuse /
premonitOry symptoms by which fire
usually gives warning of evil intcn
lions. The upward current Of air hsG .
ceased utterly and without apparent .
cause. We were all aware Of a choking. +
q gssping in the deep fue, which could /
not be accounted for by any natural .
stoppage incident to chimneys-the /
dislodging Of masonry or q packing of
SCOT The former was hardly possible /
and the house was not old enough to
make the latter theory plausible. From
my survey Of the hue on my arrival in
the afternoon l judged that this par
ticular chimney had been little used.
The smoke now rolled out in pillows
and drove US back from the hearth. l
seized the tongs and poker and began
readjusting the logs, without, how
ever, any hope Of correcting a difficulty
that lay patiently in the upper regions
OF the fue itself. The smoke. after a
courageous effort to rise, encountered
an obstruction of some sort and ebbed
back upon the hearth and out into the
room. My efforts to stop the trouble
by shifting the logs were futile. as
expected them to be, and l retreated
quickly, making, l feAr. no very gal
liant appearance as mopped my face
/ and eyes.
We'll" exclaimed Miss HOLSTER
/ who had rung for a servant to open
| the doors and windows, this is GER
tainly most extraordinary. What So
luton do you offer, Mr.. Ames:"
The matter requires investigation.
/ can't venture an opinion until have
made n thorough investigation. The
night is perfectly quiet, and the wind
is hardly responsible. l think we had
better abandon the room until | can
solve this riddle in the morning"
The prompt opening of the windows
and doors caused the slow dispersion
of the smoke. but the lights in the
room still shone dimly as through
fog
Its beastiy" calculated Virgins,
coughing. Il didn't suppose Pepper
ton would put Il flue like that into a
house. He ought 10 be shot
1T is fortunate" said Miss Hollis
ter. that Mr. AmeS is on the ground.
He now has n case that will test his
most acute powers of diagnosis"
The logs that had burned so brightly
before the chimney choked still held
their flames stubbornly. and ! had ad-
vised against pouring water upon
them. fearing to crack the brick and
stone work. We We're about to adjourn
to the drawing room. Miss Hollister
and the others had in fact reached
the door. leaving me alone before the
hearth. Then. as | stood half blinded
, watching the smoke pour out into the
room and more puzzled than had
ever beea before in any Of my en-
! Payments. the chimney. with a deep
intake of breath. began drawing the
smoke upward again. The flames caught
and spread with renewed ardor. and
when the trio still lettering in the hall
Of surprise. the flue had recovered its
composure and was behaving i'll u sane
} and normal manner
"A swallow undoubtedly fell into the
= chimneypot and then got itself out
again" suggested Cecilia.
The logs must have been wet The
p sap hadn't dried out yet" proposed
t Virgins.
The wood was as dry as finder.
t averred Miss HOLSTER not without
J irritation. And one swallow does moi
e make q summer or n chimney smoke
1t must have been Il changing current
2 of air. / was reading a book on bal
= looming the other day. and it is re
markable how the air currents change
! THAT is quite possible. as the nj
. coos rapidly after sunset at this sea
Il son, and that is bound TO have an eff
G feet on the quality and resistance o
the atmosphere" ! replied sagely.
Il Perhaps" suggested Miss Hollister
with one of those flashes of animation
that were so delightful in her. 1T wa
a ghost. The presence of a ghost II
this house would give me the creates
pleasure. ! should look upon a ghost
appearance at Hopefeld Manor as
great compliment. II any reputable
decent ghost should by any chanc
take up his residence in this house
should give him every encouragement
Miss HOLSTER seemed TO have for
gotten the proposed game of billiards
The chtmney's lawless demonstrate
had, in fact, given a new turn TO tn
evening. We discussed ghosts for hal
an hour, and then, without having er
toyed any opportunity for a single pr
vate word with Cecilia, Virgins ros
to leave. he shook hands all aroun
and bowed from the door. 1t was i
my mind to follow, making a pretex
Of walking with him TO the station 0
Of helping him find his car, but notl
ing in his good night TO me encourage
such attentions, and as l pOndered tn
outer door closed upon my trresolI
ton.
At the stroke OF 10 Miss Holliste
rose and excused herself. I'VE breaI
fast at g, Mr.. Ames. / trust the hou
does not conflict with your habits"
/ assured her that the hour wa