Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-12
CHAPTER iiI.
At Hopsfisld Manor.

~ lSS HOLLlSTERS summons
I'VE lay on my desk the next
morning and was Of the
briefcst. I was requested to
call at Hopefeld Manor at 4 O'Clock
the following afternoon. being Thurs
day. A trap would meet me at Kato-
nah. and 1t was suggested that come
prepared to spend the night, so that
the condition Of the fiues might be dis.
cussed and any necessary changes
planned during the evening. The note.
signed Octayia HOLSTER, was written
in a flowing hand on a wholly impec-
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
10 his whereabouts. His Office did not
answer. but Virgins Office had never
been responsive to the telephone so
this was not significant The more i
considered his conduct during the re
cltal OF my visit To the Asolando the
more ! wondered. and IN spite Of my
wish 10 ignore utterly Jewetts revela-
tions aS 10 Virgins summer abroad.
was forced to the conclusion that Jew
EFT had not lied ! had known Wig
gins long. and this was the first time
that ! lad ever been conscious Of any
Withholding Of confidence on his pnrt,
aud on my own had not merely con
fided all my hopes and aims To him.
but had leaned upon him often in
my pcrnIcEitics There was. indeed. a
kind OF hpyi-h Compnrt between us
that lyc should support each other
through ar difficulties His reserve
hid knew. di''i'ent aud sensitive
nature. Hur ' was wh9ll' possible that
80 his uGIi~ with Cecilia IIollister had
not p-oSrrred ne had ncJ tu his ranch
tlc"p tn ',ra-ilr iu spn.~iuu with his
disappointment. NV uGi was busy
with such -ponu.r'nuS as / sped to-
ward Kajoran. where found the trap
FROM UopprcId Manor awaiting me
IFS rath"- poor going over tho
hills: about h,r miles. sir" said the
driver as We set %.
This wu. the first week in October.
There WIS just z"St enough In the air
10 make top coat comfortable. The
team Of hlnc,.S spoke well for Miss
HOLSTERS stable. and the liveried
driver kept them moving steadily hut
eascd the u1cp rs we rose on the fire.
oueut slopes fn the shoulders uf the
pleasant Wre,rrvstrr hills Early
frusis haJ r,~gdr wrouvri heir mira
Gle in tho rni rar anl th" battle ban
ners OF wl.'nr- vanguard dashed
along the horizons 2 rriuicrd that my
business. vcNatiouS enough I'm many
WAYS. yet afforded me so charming an
putting as this.
Presently We climbed q hill that
shouidered lis way welt above its Eel
lows and rumc ont upon broad ridge.
where vs." entered AT once a noble
gnteway set IN an old stone wall and
struck or suartly along n fine bit of
macadam. The house. the driver in
Formed me. was q quarter of a mile
from the gate The way led through
n wild woodland. I'm which elms and
naples predominated. and before this
had grown murotonous We came ali
ruptly upon an Italian garden. beyond
(which rose the house. ! knew il al
once for one Of Peppertons sound per
formaupeS. Pepperton IS easily our
best man In domestic Tudor, and the
whole setting ~ HopedeId Manor-the
sunken garden. the superb view, the
billowinG fields and woodlands beyond
ALI testified 10 a taste which no lGno,