The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-04-03

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down, saw magazine that had es
capped my eye before and here you fint
me-"
Some one knocked at your door,"
81 thought so. You know. the serv
ants have an idea that the place is
haunted. and | thought that II | sal
here the ghost might take IT upon him
self to walk. confess to slight dis
appointment that II is only you who
have appeared. | suppose 1t wasn't
you who knocked at my door?"
mo" ! replied. laughing little at
her manner. mot unless 1t was you
who switched or the lights as l was
coming down from the fourth floor.
have been studying this chimney from
the roof. ! know something OF the
ways of electric switches. and they
don't usually move of their own &C.
cord
"Your coming to this house has been
the create Joy to me, Mr.. Ames. l
should not have imagined in a chance
look at you that you were psychical,
and yet such is clearly the fact. l as
sure you that | have not touched any
switch since | left my room. 1t was
unnecessary. ms | found the lights on.
And acquIt you of rapping. rapping
at my chamber door. Ii gives me the
greatest satisfaction TO assume that
the house is haunted, and at any time
you find the ghost | beg that you will
lose no time In presenting me-"
She wore remarkable lavender
dressing gown and a nightcap such as
had never seen outside a museum.
As she concluded her speech. spoken
In that curious lifting tone which from
the beginning had leftbme In doubt as
to the seriousness of all her statements,
she rose and, still casping her maya
zine, made me courtesy and was soon
mounting the stair.
| heard her door close a minute later,
and then, feeling that had earned
the right to repose, | went to my room
and to bed
slept late and on going down found |
the table set in the breakfast room |
Miss Octavia entered briskly, her slight
figure concealed by prodigious ging-
ham apron.
Good morrow, merry gentleman"
she began blithely. THE most delight
full thing has happened. Without the
slightest warning, without the faintest
intimation of their dissatisfaction, the
house servants have departed. with the
single exception of my personal maid.
who, being Swede and therefore singu-
a ri davnfH ~ hoI |
by the ghost rumors that have sent the
rest of my staff scampering over the
hills"
She lighted the coffee machine lamp
in her most tranquil fashion and beg
yed me to be seated.
II have already breakfasted," she
land Cecilia is even now
you an omelet with her own
hand. ! beg to reassure you as my
guest that the departure of the serv-
ints causes me not the slightest an
loyance. Cecilia is an excellent cook.
ind | myself shall not starve so long
Is | have strength to crack an egg or
lit stove lid. And besides, | still re-
ain my early trust In Providence.
10 not doubt that before nightfall a
orps Of excellent servants win again
'e on duty here. Very likely they are
ven now bound for this place. coming
rom the wet coasts OF Ireland, from
liverpool and from lonely villages in =
hope you will testify
o the fact that | faced this day in the
heeriest and most hopeful spirit !,
Not only shall l. do so. Miss Hollis
err" replied, trying to catch her own
ote. but II will throughout my life
i've me the greatest satisfaction to set
our cause Alright. To that extent let
ne be Horatio to your Hamlet"
THANK you. Milford" she returned, '
nth the utmost gravity. And may It
ay further that the incident gives the
taInp OF authenticity to my ghost? | 0
'as obliged to pay those people dou- 81
lie wages to lure them from the fslici-
es Of the city. and they must have B
cen a good deal alarmed to have left
D precipitately. You must excuse me /
ow. as II is necessary for me 70 do the G
astry cooks work this morning, that "
ldividual having lied with the rest. o.
nd II being incumbent on me to main
in my fee simple in this property. Il
make a dozen pies before high noon to
ut first | must visit the stables. In
here ! believe the coachman still "
ayers, having been prevented from bi
lining the stampede of the house serv- tn
Its by the painful twinges of govt"
With this she left me. and began eS
'cking at a grapefruit. 1t had been "
my mind as | dressed that morn M
& to play truant and visit the city. OF
was almost imperative that | take So
look at my office. and had resolved th
ION II plan which would, l believed. IN
We me the key TO the ghost mystery. ii
Pepperton had built that house be In
ust know whether he had contrived OF
y secret passages that would afford 10
lists and entrances not apparent to hs
e eye. 1t would be an easy matter Sc
run into the city. explain myself to tn
: assistant and get hold of Pepper
a. My mind was made up, and l had W;
en- consulted time table and chosen l
Q of the express trains. mi
CHAPTER XII. 81
Play Truant. IN