Graham guardian., 1913-06-27
The Siege
of the
Seven SuitOrs
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright, lsIo, BY Meredith slshoSoo

'This fireplace is like geyser. Mr.
Ames." said Cecilia. land spurts smoke
at regular intervals As ! remember.
the clock on the stair was striking o
last night when the smoke poured out.
and there~-it is striking 0 nowi''
She tossed her head slightly, and this
was, thought In disdain Of the sus-
picion that must still have shown itself
little stnbbornly In my face
withdrew aguln 10 few minutes
and followed the great chimney's
course upward Miss Octavia's apart.
ments were Mt the front OF the house,
her sitting room windows looking out
upon the Italian garden. Her doors
were closed. but ! knew from my ex
animation In the morning that the fiue
Of her fireplace tapped the chimney
that rose from the drawing room and
had nothing whatever to do with the
library chimney.
From the fourth floor gained tho
roof by the route followed on my In.
spection of the house In the morning.
The smoke from the library chimney
was rising In the crisp. still air blithe-
ly. leaned upon the crenelations
and looked of across the hills. enjoy
Ing the loveliness of the sky. In which
the planets throbbed superbly. There
was nothing to be learned here, and
crept back to the trap door through
LII, \ In.I NE anh
continued on down to the library.
There somewhat to my surprise
found that In my absence all but
Hume had taken their departure. As
paused unseen in the doorway
caught words that were clearly not In
tended for my ear.
Cecilia sat by the long table near the
fireplace. Hume stood before her. his
arms folded.
You are kind. You do me great
honor. Professor Hume. but under no
circumstances can become your
wife,"
retreated hastily to the billiard
room. where took cue from the
rack and amused myself for perhaps
fifteen minutes. when. hearing the
outer door close aud knowing that
Hume had departed with his congee.
| returned to the library.
Cecilia SAT where ! had left her. md
al first glance thought she was read.
Ing But she turned quickly as |
crossed the room. She held In her
hand an ollonE silver trinket not larg.
or than card case. A short pencil
similar 10 those affixed to dance cards
was attached to II by slight cord,
and she had. inferred. been making
q notation OF some kind on leaf of
the silver bound booklet. Even after
she had looked mp and smiled at me
her eyes sought the page before her.
Then she closed the covers and clasp
ed the pretty toy In her hand. AZ
though TO divert my attention she re
CURED at once to the chimney In q
vein of light irony.
You see," sue said. there is ample
reason for your remaining here. You
would hardly find anywhere else SO m.
teresting test Of your professional
powers as HopeHeld Manor offers. The
house Is haunted beyond question. and
can see that you are not man to
leave two defenseiess women to the
mercy Of ghost who drops down Chin
neys at Will"
suffered her chaff for several min
utes. then asked point blank:
Pardon me. but hnve you the slight
est idea that Miss 0ctavia Is behind
this? II Is not possible that she was
responsible last night But she was
not on this floor awhile ago when the
smoke poured In here. should be
glad to hear your opinion
II saw that you suspected her before
you left the room. Mr.. Ames. and
must say that the idea is In no way
creditable to you. II you entertain such
suspicion you must supply motive.
and just what motive would you attrib.
ute to my Aunt octavia in this In.
stanceT
Her tone aud manner plqued me or
should not have answered as ] did
"lt is possible" said. "that some OF
these gentlemen who came here tonight
were not to her liking. and Il may have
occurred to her to get rid Of them by
the obviously successful method Of
smoking them out"
She rose. still claspIng the little sill
yer backed notebook. and looked me
over with amusement In her face and
eyes.
you are almost too ingenious, Mr..
Ames. | hope that by breakfast time
you win have some more plausible so
luton Of the problem. Good night"
And so, tightly clasping the little
book, she left the room. followed
her to the door, and at the turn of the
stair she ganced down and nodded
Her face as II hung above me for an
instant seemed trans6gured with hap
piness.