Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-05-29

shrewder than 1 thought you, and you
had already taken a high place in my
regard,
"Will you tell me just how you
came to visit the inn at this particular
hour?"
Nothing could be simpler. I had
luncheon at the house of a friend on
whom 1 called. Cecilia had left me
to continue her ride alone. and on my
way home I thought I would ride by
the Prescott Arms to see how the
guests were faring You see"-she
paused and gave a witch to her hat
to prolong my suspense-"you see, l
w the Prescott Arms!"
With this she rode away, and not
caring to risk a further meeting with
the angry suitors from whom Miss
Octavia had rescued me by so narrow
a margin, l set Off across the field to-
ward Hopefeld. From the stile l saw
Miss Octavia in the highway half a
mile distant. sending her horse along
at a spirited canter.< reached the
house without further. adventures. was
served with a cold luncheon in my
room. and by the time I had changed
my clothes Miss Octavia sent me word
that Pepperton had arrived.
Miss Octavia and the architect were
%conversing earnestly when l reached
the library. and from the abruptness
with which they ceased on my en-
trance l imagined that l mad been the
subject of their talk. Pepperton is not
only M Of the finest architects Amer
lea has produced. but one of the jolli-
est of fellows. he grasped my hand
cordially and pointed to the fireplace.
$50 you've at last found one Of my
jobs to overhaul, have you? You
mustn't let this get out on me old
man; it would shatter my reputation!'
please observe that the 1ue is draw.
ing splendidly now" 1 answered. "a
ghost had been strolling up and down
the chimney. but now that 1 have
found his lair he will not trouble Miss
HOLSTERS areplaces again"
Il have waited for your arrival, Mr..
Pepperton, that we might have the
benefit of your knowledge of the house
in following the trail of this ghost
which Arnold has discovered. But we
must give Arnold credit for %effecting
the discovery alone and unaided. I de.
stroyed the plans 1 obtained from your
Office so that Arnold might be fully
tested as to his capacity for managing
the most difficult situations"
When Miss Octavia first referred to
me as Arnold. Pepperton raised his
brows a trife; the second time he
glanced at me laughingly. He seemed
greatly amused by Miss Octavia's seri
BUSINESS, but her amiable attitude to-
ward me CLEARLY puzzled him.
1T takes a good man to GOV q
thing I try to hide. l said nothing to
you, Miss Hollister, about the retention
within the walls Of this house Of parts
of an old Il that formerly occupied
the site for the reason that 1 thought
you might refuse to buy the estate
The gentleman for whom 1 built Hope.
field vas superstitious, as many men
of advanced years are, as to the build
ing Of a new house, and as the site he
! chose is one of the finest in the country
he compelled me to construct this house
which is the most satisfactory l have
built-in such manner that enough OF
the old should be kept intact to soothe
his superstitious soul with the idea
that. he had merely altered an ole
house. not built a new one. AS it is
the architects business to yield tC
such caprices, l obeyed him strictly
SO there are two rooms Of an old farm
house hidden under the east wing, and
it amused me once 1 had got into it tc
preserve part Of the old stairway and
connect the retained chambers with
the upper hall Of this house. l had tc
patch the original stair, which was
only n flight, with discarded lumber
from the old house, but 1 1atter myself
that I managed it neatly. ! even saved
the old nails to avert the wrath of the
evil spirits. When the umbrella and
dyspepsia cure man died-for he die
die, as you know-I believed the secret
had died with him, as he was very sen
sitive about his superstitions. Most OF
the laborers on that part Of the jot
We're brought from a long distance, and
I supposed they never really knew just
what we were doing. l might have
known, though, that if a fellow as clev.
er as Ames got to pecking at the house
the trick would be discovered. But the
chimney old mon-what on Garth was
the matter with it?'
at will never happen again, and ]
promised the ghost never to tell how
1t was done"
"You were quite right in doing that,
Arnold. a ghosts secrets should be
sacred; but let. us now proceed to the
hidden chambers" said Miss HOLSTER
rising without further ado.