Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-02-27

LIZ uoW uuS Il case IuuC Will test MS
most acute powers Of diagnosis"
The logs that had burned so brightly
before the chimney choked still held
their flames s%tubbornly, and 1 had ad-
vised against pouring water upon
them, fearing to crack the brick and
stone work. We were about to adjourn
to the drawing o Miss Hollister
and the others had in fact reached
the door, leaving me alone before the
hearth. Then. as 1 stood half blinded
watching h smoke pour out into the
room and more puzzled than had
ever been before in any of my en-
Payments, the chimney, with a deep
intake of breath, began drawing the
smoke upward again. The flames caught
and spread with renewed ardor, and
when the trio still lettering in the hall
returned in answer to my exclamation
OF surprise. the tlue had recovered it's
composure and was behaving in a sane
and normal manner
"A swallow undoubtedly fell into the
c%himneypot and then got itself out
again." suggested Cecilia.
"The logs must have been wet. The
sap hadn't dried out yet" proposed
Virgins.
THE wood was as dry as tindero
averred Miss Hollister, not without
irritation. And one swallow does not
make a summer or a chimney smoke.
1t must nave been a changing current
OF air. l was reading a book on bal
looming the other day, and it is re-.
markable how the air currents CHANGE
"That is quite possible, as the air
cools rapidly after sunset at this sea-
son, and that is bound to have an ef-
feet on the quality and resistance Of
the atmosphere" replied sagely.
Perhaps" suggested Miss Hollister.
with n Of those flashes of animation
that were so delightful in her, lit was
a ghost. The presence Of a ghost in
this house would give me the greatest
pleasure. should look upon a ghosts
appearance at Hopefield Manor as n
great compliment. If any reputable,
decent ghost should by any chance
take up his residence in this house l
should give him every encouragement"
Miss HOLSTER seemed to have for
gotten the proposed game of billiards.
The chimney's lawless demonstration
had, in fact. given a new turn to the
evening. We discussed ghosts for half
an hour, and then, without having en-.
joyed any opportunity for a single pri-
vate word with Cecilia, Virgins rose
to leave. he shook hands all around
and bowed from the door. 1t was in
my mind to follow, making a pretext
Of walking with him to the station or
of helping him find his car, but moth
ing in his good night to me encouraged
such attentions, and as I %pondered the
outer door closed upon my irresolu-
ton.
At the stroke of 10 Miss Hollister
rose and excused herself. 1--WE break
fast ut s, Mr.. Ames. 1 trust the hour
does not conflict with your habits"
l assured her that the hour was
wholly agreeable, and she gave me her
hand with great dignity.
When I turned toward Cecilia she
AoA AOtCu " a oCdI C1OoS ny Tic
hearth and was gazing dreamily into
the fire, now a bed Of glowing Goals.
1T was odd" I remarked.
"You mean the chimney"
Eyes. 1t was quite unaccountable.
I confess that I never knew a chin
ney's mood to change so abruptly"
She sat silent for several minutes
and then she lifted her head and her
eyes met mine.
Pardon me, Mr.. Ames, but did my
aunt ask you here to examine the
chimneys? didn't quite understand.
We have been here only a week; the
weather has been warm, and 1 believe
this fire had not been lighted before
today. You will pardon my frankness,
but 1 can't quite understand why my
aunt invited you here If you came pro-
fessionally thought when you ap-
peared this afternoon that you were a
guest-nothing more-or less"
"You had heard nothing of any trou-
BILE with the fireplaces? Then l am in
the dark as much as you. AS I under
stood 1t, | was called here to examine
the lues; but. now that | think Of it,
she did not say explicitly that her
chimneys We're behaving badly. though
that was, of course, implied. l natu.
rally assumed that she summoned me
here in my professional capacity. l
was a stranger to your aunt; she would
hardly have invited me otherwise. !
imagine, however, that your aunt acts
a good deal on impulse. Her asking
me here may have been only a whim.'
please don't imagine that your com
ing has not been agreeable to me-" c.
ella protested. My aunt is quite
capable of inviting a. stranger to the
house. She met you. l believe, at the
Asolando. hope you understand that
it is only because I am in deep trou.
BILE, Mr.. Ames. trouble of the gravest
nature, that l have ventured to speak
to you in this way of my aunt, for
whom l have all respect and affec-
ton"
She had never, l was sure. been
lOVelier than at his moment Har