The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-08-28

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dress and carried the foils up through
the trunk room. l had hardly reached
there before my father appeared. The
whole situation-my being there ana
al that-has distressed father.
"You think" she asked, that those
lights couldn't have winked out twice
by themselves while you were on the
! stairway?' .r.
Il am positive Of it. And somebody
"a being Of some sort-passed me on
the stairway. It might imaginaD'y
have been you"
but l tell you positively it was not
'"Then 1t might have been your father.
A man who can enter house at Will
might easily play any manner OF other
tricks. His disappearance after nao
gone down into the house with him
was just as mysterious as the ghost"
1T was natural for father not to want
you to know how he got in. The mo-
tive for that would be the fact that he
is not supposed to see me or commune
cate with me in any way"
1T must have occurred to you that
there is one member Of the HOLSTER
family we haven't mentioned in this
connection"
III you mean Hezekiah'-
"None otherv
III Hezekiah or my father should be
caught in the house while l am there
just now we should all pay dearly for
it. Believe me. this is true. Some day
you may know the why's and where
fores; ut present no one may know.
But why should Hezekiah wish to
prowl about there at night-to assume
for a moment that she is doing it,"
Her manner was wholly earnest. It
was plain that she had entered into
some sort Of compact with her aunt,
and no doubt the arrangement was In
the characteristic whimsical vein Of
which l had enjoyed personal expert
ence. did not wish to press Cecilia
for explanations she might not be free
to make, but l ventured a suggestion or
two.
"Hezekiah may be entering the house
and playing ghost for amusement,
merely in spirit Of childish rebellion
against the Introduction that forbids
her the house. That Is quite plausible,
Hezekiah being the spirited young per-
son we know her to be. And it may
amuse her, too, to plug the chimneys
80 vvyhD hn, cfc &c ninu3nCp
the visits of suitors. Without quite
realizing that such was her animus,
she may be the least-the very least
bit jealous!'
Cecilia flushed. and her eyes flashed
Indignantly She bent toward me ca
gerly.
"Please do not say such thing!
You must not even think it!''
"She may be little forlorn, alone
in your father's house over the hills ut
times When you are surrounded by ad-
mirers, and it is my assumption from
what, / have learned in one way and
another of your flight abroad last sum-
mer that some of these gentlemen now
established at the Prescott Arms are
known to her"
''0h, all of them, certainly"
"And Hartley Virgins among the
rest?"
'That, Mr.. Ames. is most unkind,"
she declared earnestly. "She has told
me that she was not in the least in
terested in Mr.. Virgins"
"And she told me the same thing, but
/ do not feel sure of it. But what IL
abe is? You ere not really interested
ii him yourselfr'
She did not vouchsafe any reply to
my statement. but changed the subject
abruptly. My description Of the ghost
had taken considerable time. and we
were now at the end Of our journey.
II count on finishing my errand and
taking the 2:O7,'' she remarked.
That's short time to allow your
self. I've heard that it's dreary bust
ness chasing the employment agen-
cies.'
mot II you know where not to go.
If you'll get me machine Of some
sort I'll be of at once"
II fear shan't conclude my own
business so soon, but If you will honor
me at luncheon
"Sorry, Mr.. Ames, but it's out Of the
question. hope to see you at dinner
tonight. And please
Eyes, Miss HOLSTER
please remember that you are Aunt
Octavia's guest and don't annoy her
BY failing to appear at dinner You
Anow you haven't fixed that chimney
yet"
Her smile left me we'll in the air,
stood staring after the very common
place cab as it rolled away with her,
my mind whirling chaos Of emotion.
The crowd jostled me impatiently, for
other people, not breathing celestial
ether from an hour Of Cecilia Hollis
ter's society, were bent upon the days
business.
ITO De continued.)