The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-01-15
CHAPTER III.

H
morning and was of the
briefest. I was requested to
call at Hopefield Manor at o'clock
the following afternoon, being Thurs
day. A trap would meet me at Kato-
nah. and it was suggested that come
prepared to spend the night, so that
the condition of the dues might be dis
cussed and any necessary changes
planned during the evening. The note.
signed Octavia HoIlister, was written
in a flowing hand on wholly fmpec
cable note sheet stamped Hopefield
Manor, Katonah.
Before taking the train sought Wig
gins by telephone at his Office and at
the Hare and Tortoise, where he lodg-
ed, but without learning anything as
to his whereabouts. His office did not
answer, but Virgins Office had never
been responsive to the telephone, so
this was not significant. The more
considered his conduct during the re
citaI of my visit to the Asolando the
more wondered, and in spite of my
wish to ignore utterly JeYett's revela
tons as to Virgins summer abroad, I
was forced to the conclusion that Jew
EFT had not lied. / had known Wig
gins long, and this was the first time
that had ever been conscious of any
Withholding of confidence on his part,
and on my OVID had not merely con-
hded all my hopes and aims to him,
but 1 had leaned upon him often I'm
my perplexities. There was, indeed, q
kind of boyish compact between us
that we should support each other
through all difficulties. His reserve
hid, knew, a dimdent and sensitive
nature, and it was wholly possible that
hi t. In I'D
not prospered he had fed to his ranch
there to wrestle in seclusion with his
disappointment. Ny mind was busy
with such speculatfons as sped to-
ward Katonah, where found the trap
from Hopefield Manor awaiting me.
Its rather poor going over the
hills; about five miles. SIR" said the
driver as we set OF.
This was the first week In October.
There was just zest enough in the air
to make a top coat comfortable The
team of blacks spoke well for Miss
HOLSTERS stable, and the hverted
driver kept them moving steadily, but
eased the pace as we rose on the fire.
quent slopes to, the shoulders of the
pleasant westchester hills, Early
frosts had already wrought their mira
Gle In the foliage, and the battle ban
ners OF winters vanguard flashed
along the horizons. I rejofced that my
business, vexatious enough In many
ways, yet afforded me so charming an
outing as this.
Presently we climbed a hill that
shouIdered its way we'll above its fell
lows and came out upon broad ridge.
where we entered at once a noble
gateway set in an old stone wall and
struck of smartly along a fine bit OF
macadam. The house, the driver in
formed me, was a quarter OF mile
from the gate. The way led through
wild woodland, in which elms and
naples predominated, and before this
had grown monotonous we came alb
ruptly upon an Italian garden, beyond
which rose the house. I knew it at
once for one OF Pepperton's sound per-
formances. Pepperton il easily our
best man in domestic Tudor, and the
whole setting Of Hopefeld Manor-the
Sunken garden, the superb view. the
biflowing fields and woodlands beyond
all testified to taste which no igno-
rant owner had thwarted. The house
was Tudor, but in no servfle sense. It
was also Pepperton. lifted my eyes
with immediate professional interest
to the chimneypots on the roof. 1t oc-
CURED to me on he-instant that had
never before been called to retouch
any of Pepperton's work Pep knew
as much as l about fue construction.
had an immense respect for Pep. and
as my specializing in chimneys had
been a subject of frequent chatting be-
tween US, anticipated with a chuckle
the pleasure L should have later In
telling him that at last one of his dues
had required my services
CTo Be Coutinued.)