Graham guardian., 1913-07-11

caudidly that | don't believe there Is
any such profession "
"Then let me tell you." | replied. not
without heat. that am a graduate 10
architecture. I am your sisters guest,
and rs she is perfectly competent to
manage her own affairs ! shall stay
here as long as It pleases her to ask
me to remain. And now, one other
matter. How did you gain this roof
tonight, when by your own admission
you are not on such terms with your
sister as would justify you in entering
II openly?"
The moonlight did not fail to convey
the contempt in his face, but ! thought
he grinned as he answered quietly:
"You don't seem to understand,
young man. that you are entitled TO no
explanations from me. You strike me
as a singularly fresh young person. 1t
would be positive grief to me to feel
that my conduct had displensed you.
And now. as the night grows chill,
shall beg you to precede me into the
house by the way you came"
But first" ] persisted. "let me ask
question, 1t Is possible that you your-
self have some preference among your
daughters several suitors. Mr.. Hollis
ter. Would you object to telling me
which one you would choose for Miss
Cecilia 2"
beyond question the man for Ce
ella. II have any voice In the matter
IL Lord Arrowood"
"ArrOwo0dr' exclaimed "You sur
prise me greatly. ! saw him NJ the
inn. ana be seemed to me the most iu-
significant and uninteresting one OF lie
lot"
THAT proves you person of poor
gifts of discernment, Mr.. Ames." And
his tone and manner were quite rem
iniscent of his sisters ways. and his
further explanation proved him even
more worthily the brother of his sis
ter.
"As | was obliged" he began. "ow
ing to an unfortunate physical handi
cap. to abandon my art, that of a ma
rine painter. | have given my atten
tion for number of years to the
study of the Irish situation. | met
AFRO wood by chance In the highway
yesterday. and | found that he holds
exactly my ideas. which favor Irish
independence" This certainly had the
true Hollister touch.
"And so," Bassford Hollister con-
cluded, II naturally incline toward
Arrowood, though lie is so poor that
lie was Obliged to come over In tue
steerage to continue his wooing of my
daughter"
He let himself down into the dark
trunk room, waited for me courteousiy
and walked by my side to the STAIR
way, both of us maintaining silence.
was deeply curious to know how he
had entered and whether he expected
TO go down the front way and out the
main door. We kept together to the
third floor hall. could have sworn
to that. Then suddenly, Just as we
reached the stairway, out went the
lights, aud we were in utter darkness.
| smothered an exclamation, clutched
my matches and struck light. and
rs the stick famed slowly looked
about for Bassford Hollister. But he
had vanished as suddenly and COM
pletely as though trap had yawned
beneath us and swallowed him. !
fnrnz ha hfrI and IL
responded Immediately, flooding the
stair well to the lower hall, but nell
ther saw nor heard anything more Of
Holllster.
Astounded by this performance, con-
tinued on to the lower door TO have
by the library table. sat Miss Octavia,
Late hours, Mr., Ames" she cried
II supposed you had retired long ago"
Pardon my troubling you, but may
| inquire, Miss Hollister, how long you
have been sitting here2"
The clock on the stair began to strike
i2. and she listened composedly to n
few OF the deep toned strokes before
replying.
Just half an hour. thought some
one knocked at my door about an hour
ago. The lights were on and | came
down. saw a magazine that had es.
capped my eye before and here you find
me-"
Some one knocked at your doorT
81 thought so. You know, the serv
| ants have an idea that the place is
haunted. and | thought that II sat
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 It wasn't
you who knocked at my door?"
mo" | replied, laughing little at
her manner, mot unless 1t was you
who switched off the lights as 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 ac
cord"
"Your coming to this house has been
the greatest JOY to me, MIR Ames.
should not have imagined In chance
look at you that you were psychical,
and yet such IL clearly the fact | as