Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-01-29
(Continued.)
HAPTE v.

Tho Strange Behavior Of a Chimney.
"HERE was nc reason In the
world why Hartley Virgins
should not call upon two la
dies living Ia Westchester
county. and l must say that he APP
peared to advantage in Miss HOLSTERS
library.
He had got into his evening clothes
somewhere. perhaps at a neigbboring
Inn or maybe at the house OF a friend,
for be could not possibly have motored
into town md hook since his interview
with Cecilia in the highway. He had
impressed the clerk at tbs Hare and
Tortoise with the idea that he had
left New York for q long absence. and
he had apparently eamped at the gates
Of Hopeaeid to be near Cecilia.
When he had paid bis compliments
to the ladies he turned 10 me with an
almost tmperceptibls lifting Of the
brows, but he was cordial enough. II
he was surprised or disappointed at See
ing me his m did not bstray the
feeling.
Glad 10 see you. Anea Rather
nice weather this"
Even Dakota couka't Do bstt&s."
affirmed with Z grin. but he Ignored
the ding.
Cecilia stirred resttessfy, and I felt
decidedly I'll at ease. kts Holitstee
croxsed 10 the fireplace and peAed ehs
legs.
Just what part Hexekiah HolI,ster
played In the situation was beyond ma.
II ] had not Witnessed WiRgins' elan
destine meeting with Cecilia matters
woBld have been clearer to my COM
prehension. but his appearance at the
house after the coiioquy l bad owe
heard from the brler patch was ~ It.
self inexplkabIe. Miss HOLSTERS sin
rtliar references to Hezekiah-a person
about whom my curiosity vas now a
good deal aroused-added to the mys-
terry that infolded the library.
Responsive to Miss HOLSTERS ener-
getic ~prodding. the flames In the FIRE
place ieaped into the great throat of
the chimney with a a She turned.
her back to the blaze. and looked upon
her guests b~enignantly.
IF all your 6ues draw like that ono
they are not seriously IN need of doc
toring." ! remarked.
"F1ues are nothing II not erratfc." re-
piled Miss Hoilister. The subject did
not appear to interest her. nor had
she. by the remetest suggestion, refer
red to the object OF my coming. ] had
shifted vainly In the balls above and
below for any trace OF the stale smoke
which usually greeted mo At once ~
my arrival at the house Of 4 ciisuk
THE house Was bsItlt, you may not
know. for a manufacturer Of umbrel-
las. who died before he had occupied
1t. In circutnstSn ces l may later dis
close to you. which accounts. MI,
Ames. fer that figure Of Cupid under
a pink parasei on the drn wing room
ceiling. At the nrst opportunity
shall remove II. n baby Cupids are r.
recoacllable with the militant love
making l admire. ! consider unbrsi-
las detestabis and never carry one
when | can command a macintosh"
when I'm On the ranch l wear 4
slicker." said Virginia. ITS bullet
proof. and that / have found at times
a decided advantage"
We discussed n~ackintoshss for at
least ten min utes with far more
sprishtliness than l had imagined the
subject could evoke. Then Miss Hoi-
lister. after a turn up and down the
room. paused beside me.
mir. Ames." she said. would you
care to Join me in n game Of billia rds7
I'm not In my best form. bat | think
we might probably knock the balls
for half an hour"
acQuiesced with alacrity. I assum-
ed It to be Miss HOLSTERS purpose to
leave Cecilia and Virgins alone. l
should Q <rendering Virgins and Ce-
ella a service by withdra wing. and !
was glad of a chance to escape.
To my infinite surprise they both pro-
tested. not In mere polite murmurs. but
with considerable vehemenee.
ITS quite Dol tonight. and l don't
believe you ought to use the billiard