The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-01-31


taken. She rose as crossed the room,
and from her manner judged that
she welcomed this chance of address,
ing me.
you have scorned the library to
night Has there been trouble? Is
Aunt Octavia alarmed about any
th1ngT
Cecilia was a beautiful, charming
woman of the world, but felt her
spell less tonight. .s4t may be that the
presence OF Hezekiah's slipper in my
inside coat pocket pressing rather In
sistsntly against my ribs acted as
eounterirritant.
'sYou are in difficulty. Miss Cecilia"
I said "sPlease tell me in what way
I may serve you.'
81 don't know why 1 should appeal
to YOU
''No reason is Necessary have told
You before that Eon need only to COM
mand me- We may be interrupted at
any moment Pray go on"
81 have lost an article of theegreatest
value 10 me. 1t has been taken from
my room"
For d moment only read distrust
and suspicion in her eyes as it occur
red to her that had access to every
part OF the house, but my manner
seemed % restore her confdence. And
she could not have forgotten. that her
own father had met her secretly on the
roof OF house, that was denied him
and that I was perfectly cognizant OF
the fact.
az am sure you can be of assistance"
she said There's something behind
this ghost story. Some one has been
in and about the house. You believe
that7'
Eyes. There has really been asort of
ghost, you know
She shrugged her shoulders. Cecilia
had no patience with ghosts, and we
were losing time. My conversation
with Cecilia was annoying Virgins, as
was plain from his nervousness
Il went to my room for moment
while Aunt Octavia wa A5o4e, with
you, suppose, just after the chimney
gave another of it's strange demonstra-
ttons. remembered that 1 had left
my little silver bound book, that1 usu-
ally carry with me, on nay dressing
room table 1t contains q memoran-
dunn OF great Importance to me. 1t
positively cannot be duplicated. I am
sure # was there when came down
to dinner. But it was not on my dress
ing table or anywhere to be found
You may be mistaken az to where
yeu lett tt You would not be absolute
" positive that you 1eft,it ON the dress
ing tablet
There L. noe the slightest question
about It I had been looking at it just
before dinner. 1 had sent you a note,
you know, Immediately after you came
back AID hurried down to see you
YES; recall that. You were in the
r
think Bemember having seen the little
Enthusiastically smaller thaR q card
ease, SILVER backed and only a few
leaves. You had Il in your hand the
other NIGHT when came in after Mr.
Hume had left.''
She flushed slightly at this but readi-
~ acQutesced In my descrir tion. Miss
Octavia's inquiry as to whether had
seen the book came back to me and
no less clearly her withdrawal OF her
question almost the moment she had
spoken IT,
fslt the sudden impingement OF
Hezezia1l's slipper upon my own con-
science, 1f may so state the matter.
Hezekah, playing ghost, had confessed
to me that she had visited Cecilia's
room Hezekiah, amusing herself with
the library chimney and frightening
the servants by Stealing into the for
hidden house through the coa1hole, was
a culprit to be scolded and forgiven.
But what of Hezekiah mischievously
6Iching an article of real value to her
sister, I did not like this turn of
affairs. I must get back to the roof,
find Hezekiah and compel her to re-
turn the silver book. Only by tactful-
II managing this could I serve well all
the members of the house or Hollister.
But first I must leave Cecilia with a
tranquil mind.
ST thank you for confding this mat
ter to me- Miss Hollister. Please do
have seen you again.
But if you should be unable to re-
store
II assure you that the book is not
lost. 1t has been mislaid, that's all. I
shall return it to you at breakfast. ]
give you my word
do you really mean it?" she fall
tered. 'PIease keep this from Aunt
Octaviai 1 can't tell you how impor-
tant it is that she be kept in ignorance
of my loss The consequences, If she
knew. might be very distressing
Hiss Oetavia was carrying the in
yincible John Stewart Dick away to
the billiard room. He glared at me
nlurderously as he trailed glumly after
the lady of the manor. The others
were erowding about Cecilia again, and
yielded to thems willingly. As /
sauntered toward the door Ormsby de-
tanned me a moment. His manner