The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-03-20

int III
plans for returning to town
he proposed that delay my departur,
until the following day. What h,
wanted, and he put II bluntly, was {
friend at court and as l had seeming
ly satisfied him,of my entire good faitf
and of my devotion to his interests he
begged that prolong my stay in Miss
HOLSTERS house, giving as my excuse
the condition of the chlmneys of Hope
field Manor He brushed aside my
plea of other engagements and appeal
ed to our old friendship. He was TAX
ing his troubles hard. and | felt that
he really needed counsel and support
In the involved state OF his affairs. |
did not see how my continued pres
ence under Miss HOLSTERS roof could
materially assist him, and the thought
OF remaining there when there was no
sense OF professional honor, but he was
SO persistent that finally yielded.
While we ate luncheon | sought by
every means to divert his thoughts to
other channels. After we were seated
in the dining room four other men fol-
lowed. exercising considerable care In
placing themselves ms far from one an.
other as possible. A few moments lat
er a motor hummed into the driveway,
and we heard its owner ordering his
chauffeur to return to town and hold
himself subject to telephone call. This
latest arrival appeared shortly in the
dining room and, surveying the rest of
us with a disdainful air, sought tn
BILE In the remotest corner OF the room.
Others appeared, until eight in all had
entered. The presence of these men at
this hour, their air of aloofness and
the care they exercised In isolating
themselves interested me. They APP
peared to be gentlemen. They were,
indeed, suggestive of the ampler met
ropolitan world. and one of them was
Enthusiastically a foreigner.
While Virgins appeared TO Ignore
them, l was conscious that he reviewed
the successive arrivals with every
these glum gentlemen seemed familiar.
could not at once recall him, but
In his manner leased my
memory for Il moment before | placed
him. Then It dawned upon me that
he was the third man | had met In
the field overhanging the garden after
my eavesdropping experience the day
before. l thought II as well, however,
not TO mention this fact. or to speak of |
the man had seen so grlmly posted In
the midst of the cornfeld. l was an |
observer. locker on, at Hopefield. and
my immediate business was the col |
lecting of information.
will you kindly tell me, Wiggy, who
these strange gentlemen are and just
what has brought them here at this
hour?'
Il know them-they are guests OF the
Inn. Most OF them were more or less
in our procession across
Europe last summer. The one in the
ian suit il Henderson-you must have
beard of him. The short dark chap of
countenance is John Stew
srt Dick, who pretends to be philoso-
,er. As for the others
He dismissed them with a jerk of the
read. My wits struggled with his ex-
1t is my wish to reduce in
ormation TO plain terms
Are these gentlemen, then, your RI
'als for the hand of Miss Cecilia Hol-
ister? IL so, they are a solemn band
# suitors, must confess"
sXnn houa hft Ap,ag pNha,, o,, !
uitors, assembled from all parts of the
world"
Mice looking fellows. except the
hap with the monocle. who has Just !,
rdered rather more liquor than gen
lemes should at this hour"
IT at is Lord Arrowood. | have
cared at times that Miss 0ctavia ia
ored him."
Possibly, but not likely. But how
ong is this thing going to last? II
on fellows are going TO hang on here !
ntil Miss Cecilia Hollister has chosen
ne OF you for her husband / shud-
er for your nerves. | imagine that $
ny one of these gentlemen is likely to :
egin shooting across his plate at any I
minute. Such situation would be-
ONE intolerable very quickly If | were ,
a the game and forced to lodge here"
Il hope" replied Virgins with heat, d
that you don't imagine these fellows
an crowd me out. I've paid for a !
1onth's lodging in advance, and II you
I'LL stand by me I'm going to win"
Spoken like man, my dear Wig
ms! You may count on me to the Z
weet or bitter end, even If pull down g
II the superb chimneys with which
hyperion adorned that house up yon- t
err" c
He silently clasped my hand. A lit
e later ! telephoned from the inn to S
" Office explaining my absence and L