The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-05-15


nuHIIIuI
greatly amused by Miss Octavia's seri
BUSINESS. but her amiable attitude to
ward me clearly puzzled him.
"lt takes good man 10 uncover a
thing try TO hide. | said nothing to
you. Miss HOLSTER. about the retention
within the walls OF this house OF parts
OF an old one that formerly occupied
the site for the reason that | thought
yon might refuse TO buy the estate.
The gentleman for whom | built Hope
field was superstitious. as many men
of advanced years are. rs to the build
ing OF new house. and as the site he
chose is one OF the finest In the country
! he compelled me to construct this house
(which is the most satisfactory | have
/ built-iu such manner that enough Of
I the old should be kept intact to soothe
I his superstitious soul with the idea
that be had merely altered an old
house. not built a new one. AS ii is
the architects business to yield to
such caprices. | obeyed him strictly.
SO there are two rooms OF an old farm
house hidden under the east wing. and
1t amused me once | had got into Ii TO
preserve part OF the old stairway and
connect the retained chambers with
the upper hall OF this house. had TO
patch the original stair, which was
only one flight. with discarded lumber
from the old house. but hatter myself
that | managed 1t neatly. ! even saved
the old nails to avert the wrath OF the
evil spirits. When the umbrella and
dyspepsia cure man died--for be did
die, as you know-l believed the secret
had died with him. as he was very SEN
sitive about his superstitions. Most of
the laborers on that part of the job
were brought from long distance and
| supposed they never really knew just |
what we were doing. might have
known. though. that II fellow as clev-
er as Ames got to pecking at the house |
the trick would be discovered. But the
chimney. old man-what on earth was
the matter with itT'
1T will never happen again. and
promised the ghost never to tell how
II was done"
"You were quite right In doing that.
Arnold. ghosts secrets should be
sacred; but let us now proceed to the
hidden chambers" said Miss HOLSTER.
rising without further ado
she summoned Cecilia. to whom we
explained matters briefly. and at Pep
perton.s suggestion the four of us went
directly to the fourth floor. so that
Miss 0ctavia might see the whole con
trivance In the most effective manner
possible
My awkward pen falters In the at
empt to convey any idea of Miss Oc-
ayia's delight In Pepperton's revela-
ion. She kept repeating her admira-
Ion OF his genius and her praise OF
ny cleverness. which. to protect Heze- ,
Slah. | was forced to accept meekly.
When In broad daylight Pepperton
onnd and pressed the spring In the
upper hall. and the hidden door opened
With slowness that Indicated real
zation OF its own dramatic value. Miss
)ctavia cried out gleefully. like child :
hat witnesses the manipulation OF a
lew and wonderful toy. :
BEYOND any question" she kept as
erting. beneath the chambers of the
Id house down there we shall find the u
zones OF that British soldier who per .
shed here or ii is even possible that y
chest OF hidden treasure Is concealed =
eneath the floor" .
We were lighting candles prepare
DRY TO stepping down into the dark
and Pepperton was plainly =
ard put TO keep from laughing y
Miss Octavia followed Pepperton !,
lowly. pansinG frequently to hold her =
andle close to the stair walls. whose =
nugh surfaces confirmed all that Pep.
erton had said of the preservation of !,
he old timhers | had brought a
andfnl OF candles. and when we had -
cached the dark rooms beneath
GIFTED these and set then up in the 81
lack corners OF the old rooms. in
Thich, Miss Octavia remarked not u
ven the well Daper had been disturb 10
!. The exit into the coal cellar and Il
)ncealed openings left for ventilation Il
hitch had escaped me before. were a
ow pointed out By the architect. who b
ept laughing at the huge joke of it all. -
MISS Octayia searched thoroughly
'r any signs of a trapdoor beneath a.
hich the bones of the British soldier &c
light repose. W
III | had foreseen her persistence in
lnging to the tradition of the i'll fated 81
riton should have taken the trouble b,
hide few bones under the flooring. in
lss octavia had brought a stick from oil
le coal room and was humping the