The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-05-06
CHAPTER XXI.
Under the Old Floorino.


Under the Old Flooring.
= STABLE BOY held Miss Octn-
"a Was horse ut the inn door.
"A Her face, her figure. her voice
Expressed outraged dignity as
she tested the saddle girth.
you need never tell me what had
happened to provoke your wrath. for
that 4 mona Of my ainir. bot wish to
sAy that your conduct and bea ring won
my highest approval. They had I'M
doubleday hidden the Jack Of clubs to
AVOID the druhbin@ ysu would have
administsrSd to the unfortunate man
who would have drawn that card II 1t
had been in tho pack
II was not In the slightest danger at
any time, Miss Hollister," I protested.
"By one OF those tricks of fate to
which you and ! are becoming so ac-
customed the card had fallen to the
floor unnoticed. II you had not arrived
so OPPORTUNITY the lost jack would have
been discovered, the cards reshufYied.
and very likely Mr.. Ormsby would have
been busting the inn floor with me at
this very minute"
~ refuse to believe any such thing"
declared Miss Octavin. who md mount
cd and continued speaking from the
saddle. "Your perfect confidence was
admirable. and | shudder to think Of
the terrible punishment you would
have given them"
II Miss Octavia wished TO view my
performances In this nattering light It
seemed unnecessary to object.
at was only n pleasant incident Of
the days work, Miss HOLSTER I'm 60
ing to engage squire and take to the
open road M soon as all this is over"
"As soon AS all what IL overf" she de-
handed, eying me keenly.
"Oh. the work I've undertaken to do
here. fiatter myself that have made
some progress. but within twenty-four
hours | dare say that we shall have
seen the end"
"Your words are not wholly lumi-
nous. Arnold"
ut is much better that 1t should be
so. You have trusted me 30 far. and
. Il huNt uu VI you INV
II say that the crisis Is near ut hand
In n certain matter that interests you
greatly. Won VIII understand that am
not strikiug iguornntly In the dark Z"
"If YOU krNw what | suspect Won
know, Ar"r'h Ames, you nre even
shrewhr" t.'T thought you, and you
b had nlrr'dv taken II high place In nv
/ regard"
] "Wil yuu tell me Just how you
came to visit the inn nj this particular
hour?'
Nothing could he simpler had
luncheon ut the house OF friend on
whom I called. Cecilia had left me
to continue her ride alone. and on my
way home I thought would ride by
the Prescott Arms to see how the
guests were faring You see"-she
paused and gave witch to her ha
to prolong my suspense-"you see.
own the Prescott Arms!'
With this she rode away, and no
caring to risk a further meeting witt
the angry suitors from whom Mis-
Octavia had rescued me by 30 marrow
a margin, set or across the field to
ward Hopehcld. From the stile saw
Miss Octavia In the highway half
mile distant, sending her horse alonI
at spirited canter. ! reached tn
house without further adventures, wa
served with cold luncheon In m
room. and by the time | had changes
my clothes Hiss Octayia sent me wor
that Pepperton had arrived.
Miss Octavia and the architect wer
conversing earnestly when I reache
the library. and from the abruptnes
with which they ceased on my Ell
trance ! Imagined that mad been tn
subject OF their talk. Pepperton Is nc
only one Of the finest architects Amer
lea has produced, but one Of the joll
est of fellows He grnsped my han
cordially and pointed to the fireplace.
so you've at last found one Of m
jobs to overhaul. have your 70
mustn't let this get out on me, oil
: man; IL would shatter my reputation
please observe that the fiue is draw
Ing splendIdly now" l answered. I"
ghost had been strolling up and dow
the chimney. but now that hay
found his lair he will not trouble Nil
HOLSTERS fireplaces again"
II have waited for your arrival, NJ
Pepperton, that we might have II
! benefit OF your knowledge Of the houi
, in following the trail Of this gho
, which Arnold has discovered. But "
must give Arnold credit for effectir
, the discovery alone and unaided. | d
/, stroyed the plans obtained from yol
, office 50 that Arnold might be full
: tested as to his capacity for managiI
, the most difficult situations"
p when MisS Octavla first referred
) me as Arnold Pepperton raised h
brOws u triile; the second !!a;e