Graham guardian., 1913-08-15

II was Miss octavia, now just out
side the door,
Don't leave that trunk. Hezekiah,"
whispered. "rll do the best can"
Miss Octavia met me smilingly as
faced her in the hnll She had switch
ed on the lights, and my candle burn
ed yellowly In the white electric glow,
Miss Octavia held something In her
hand. 1t required no second glance to
tell me that she had found Hezekiah's
slipper.
"Mr. Ames," she began, "as you have
absented yourself from the library all
evening | assume that you have been
busy studying my chimneys and seek
ing for the ghost of that British SOL
dier who was so wantonly slain upon
the site OF this house"
T am glad to say that not only Is
your surmise correct. Miss Hollister,
but that have made great progress In
both directions"
"Do you mean to say that you have
really found traces OF the ghost?"
"Not only that, Miss Hollister, but
have met the ghost face to face-even
more, | have had speech with himf
Her face frightened. her eyes FASH
ed. 1t was plain that she was I'M
mensely pleased.
"And are you able to say from your
encounter, that he Is In fact British
subject, uneasily haunting this house
in America long after the Declaration
Of Independence and Washington's
farewell address have passed into lit
eratureT
"You have never spoken q truer
word, Miss Hollister; but, BY means
which | am not at liberty to disclose,
have persuaded him not to visit this
house again"
'Then." said Miss Hollister, II can
not do less than express my gratitude,
though | regret that you did not first
allow me to meet him. Still, dare
say that we shall find his bones bur
led somewhere beneath my fonnda-
tons. Please assure me that such IL
your expectation"
MISS ohob
take pleasure In showing You certain
hidden chambers In this house which
venture to say will afford you great
pleasure. have tonight discovered
link between the mansion os you
know II and an earlier house whose
timbers may indeed hide the bones of
that British soldier"
''And as for the chimney?"
"And as for the chimney. give yon
my word as professional man that II
will never annoy you again. and !
therefore beg that you dismiss the sub
ject from your mind"
saw that she was about to recur TO
the shoe she held In her hand and ut
which she glanced frequently with
quizzical expression. This, clearly.
was an Issue that must be met prompt.
ly, and knew OF no better way than
by lying. Hezekiah herself had plain.
ly stated on the morning OF that long.
eventfu day, when she walked into
the breakfast room In her aunts alb
sence and explained Cecilia's trip to
town. that II was perfectly fair to dis
simulate in making explanations to
Miss Hollister that. In fact, Miss Oc-
tavia enjoyed nothing better than the
Injection OF fiction into the affairs o.
the matter Of fact day. Here. the,.
was my opportunity.
"Ailss BoIllster,' began boldly. 18th,
slipper you hold In your hand belons>
10 me, and II you have no immediate
use for II I beg that you allow me 10
relieve you of It."
at is yours, Mr.. Amesl"
a lifting Of the brows, a widening OF
the eyes, denoted Miss Octayia's po'
lite surprise.
beyond any question 1t Is my PROP
erty." asserted.
"Your words interest me greatly, Mr.
Ames. AS you know, the grim hard
life OF the twentieth century pals upon
me, and am deeply interested In ev-
erythlng that pertains to adventure
aud romance. Tell me more, Ii you are
free to do so. OF this slipper which
now return to you"
l. received Hezekiah's worn little
pump Into my hands as though II were
nm object of high conservation.
"As I am nothing II not frank, Miss
Hollister. win confess to you that
this shoe came into my possession In
very curious way. One day Inst
spring was In Boston, having been
called there on professional business.
In the evening left my hotel for
walk, crossed the common, took o
turn through the public garden. where
many devoted lovers adorned the
benches. and then strolled aimlessly
along Beacon street.
II was passing house which have
not since been able to identify exact
ly, though | have several times revis-
tied Boston IN the hope of doing so,
when suddenly and without any warn
Ing whntever this slipper dropped at
my feet, All the houses in the neigh
borhood seemed deserted. with win
dows aud doors tightly boarded, and
my closest scrutiny failed to discover
any opening from which that slipper
might have been nung. The region is
so decorous and acts of violence are
so foreign to Its dignity and repose
that could scarce believe that | held
that bit OF tan leather In my hand
Nor did Its unaccountable preclpita-
ton into the street seem the act Of q
housemaid. nor could ! believe that a
nursery governess had thus sought d.
version from the roof above. | hesi-
tated for moment. not knowing how