The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-03-13

sprightllness than I had imagined th,
subject could evoke. Then Miss Hol
lister. after a turn up and down the
room. paused beside me-
MIR. Ames," she said, would you
care TO join me In game of billiards
I'm not In my best form, but | think
we might proftably knock the balls
for half an hour"
| ! acqulesced with alacrity. I assum.
ed 1t 10 be Miss HOLSTERS purpose to
leave Cecilia and Virgins alone.
should be rendering Virgins and Ce-
ella a service by Withdrawing, and
was glad OF chance to escape.
To my infinite surprise they both pro
tested, not In mere polite murmurs, but
with considerable yebemence.
ITS quite cool tonight, and / don't
believe you ought to use the billiard
room until the plumber has fixed the
radiator" said Cecilia.
"And II you knew Mr.. Ames' game
I'm sure you wouldn't care to waste
time on him." piped Virgins, whom |
had frequently vanquished in billiard
bouts mt the Hare and Tortoise, where,
/ may say modestly, | had long been
considered one of the most formidable
Of the clubs players.
Both he and Cecilia had risen, and
we stood. remember, just before the
hearth during this exchange At this
moment singular thing happened
The fire that had been sweeping In
broad wavelike curve into the chin
ney was checked suddenly. | had re-
peatedly remarked the admirable draft,
and vanished. The cessation Of the
draft was unmarked by any of those
prempnitory symptoms by which fire
usually gives warning OF evil inten-
lions. The upward current OF air had
ceased utterly and without apparent
cause. We were all aware OF a choking
a gusplng In the deep fiue, which could
not be accounted for by any natural
stoppage incident TO chimneys-the
dlslodging OF masonry or a 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 fiue on my arrival In |
the afternoon | judged that this par.
ticular chimney had been little used.
The smoke now rolled out In pillows
and drove us back from the hearth.
seized the tongs and poker and began
the logs, without, how
,ver, any hope OF correcting difficulty
hat lay patiently In the upper regions
II the fiue itself. The smoke. after a
effort to rise, encountered
N obstruction of some sort and ebbed
Jack upon the hearth and out into the
Dom. My efforts to stop the trouble
y shifting the logs were futile, as
them to be, and / retreated
quickly, making, | fear, no very gal
ant appearance as | mopped my face
nd eyes
well" exclaimed Miss HOLSTER,
Tho had rung for servant to open
he doors and windows, this is Ger.
llnly most extraordinary. What So
ltion do you offer, Mr.. Ames?"
THE matter requires investigation.
can't venture an opinion until have
lade a thorough investigation. The
light is perfectly quiet, and the wind
hardly responsible. think we had
etter abandon the room until can
Dive this riddle In the morning"
The prompt opening OF the windows
nj doors caused the slow dispersion ,
the smoke, but the lights In the ,
pom still shone dlmly as through a
".
"It's beastlyr calculated Virgins,
81 didn't suppose Pepper
IN would put Tue like that into
Duse. He ought to Toe shot!'
ut is fortunate" said Miss Hollis.
II, that Mr. Ames is on the ground.
e now has case that will test his !,
ost acute powers OF diagnosis.
The logs that had burned so brightly ,
fore the chimney choked still held
eir flames stubbornly, and | had nd /,
sed against pouring water upon /,
EN-. fearing to crack the brick and
one work. We were about to adjourn
the drawing room. Miss HOLSTER u
I'd the others had In fact reached
g door, leaving me alone before the
'arth. Then, as l stood half blinded
atching the smoke pour out into the
ON and more puzzled than l had
er been before in any of my EN-
oyments, the chimney. with deep
take of breath, began drawing the a
loke upward again. The flames caught c,
id spread with renewed ardor, and fl
hen the trio still lettering in the hall W
turned In answer to my exclamation 81
surprise, the flue had recovered its ii
mposure and was behaving In sane