The weekly times-record., 1913-09-04

effective. She appeared tonight charm
ingly gowned. but the bright twinkle IN
her eyes made 1t clear that no matter
Of dress could affect her humor or
spirit She greeted me, as she always
did, rs though our acquaintance were
a matter of years rather than OF days.
| even imagined that she seemed
pleased to find me back again. She
asked no questions as to my days oc-
cupations. but as we went in to dinner
sailed forth cheerfully upon descrip-
ton Of her own activities.
AFTER had baked my required
quota Of pies this morning l sought
recreation at the traps. The stable
boy who has been pulling the string
for me having struck work, 1t most
providentiaIly happened that espied
Lord Arrowood hanging on the edge Of
the maple tangle beyond the barn. l
summoned him at once and put him
to work managing the traps for me,
dnding him most efficient. He seemed
extremely respondent, and after had
satisfied myself that two out Of three
was not an Impossible record for one
of my years. I brought him to tho
house and made tea for him. I left tho
room for a moment-I had taken him
into the kitchen, where, during the In
cumbency Of the regular cook hardly
dare venture myself, and he made
himself comfortable quite near the
range. The pies on which I had been
engaged all morning lay cooling near
him. had composed twenty-nine
pies-I am an excellent mathematician
and could not have been mistaken in
the count. What was my amazement
to find after his lordshlp's departure
that one pie was missing!
His lordship was doubtless hungry"
I suggested. Even nobility must eat.
l passed Lord Arrowood in the high
way early this morning, sitting upon
a stone, with sundry items Of hand
baggage reposing beside him. have
rarely seen any one so depressed. Now
that the little matter Of the servants
has been adjusted. we must have a
care lest the newly arrived phalanx,
which Providence so kindly sent to
you today, Is not stampeded by any fur
ther manifestations Of the troubled
spirit of the unfortunate Briton who
was hanged on the Ate Of this house"
"Mr. Ames." replied Miss Octavia
impressively, that matter Is entirely
in your hands,"
But If I could see the plans Of this
house should be better able to grap-
pie with his ghostship."
had thrown this out in the hope
Of eliciting some remark from her
touching the Swedish maids visit to
Pepperton's Office, but Miss Octavi1
met my gaze unfinchingly.
"You are a clever man, Mr.. Ames.
and I have every confidence that you
will not only solve the mystery Of the
library chimney, but find the ghost
that switched of the lights on the stair
last night. lprefer that you should &C.
complish these feats without any help
from the plans. l myself have no sug-
gestions. I am gratified that you are
meeting the emergencies that have aris-
en- here with so much determination,
but 1t is what I should expect Of the
son of Arnold Ames of Hartford. Op-
portunity la all that any Of US need to
find ourselves truly great and If in the
ordinary course of our lives the gate
does not open freely we are justified in
picking the lock. When l determined
to seek adventures in my old age, re-
solved that l should miss no chance
and that should be prepared for any
beckoning of the hand of fate An
odd fancy struck me at the beginning
Of my new life that Boston would some
day be the starting point Of some In
teresting experience. This has not yet
developed, but in order that may be
prepared for anything that may occur
; l keep blue silk umbrella constantly
checked at the Parker House. The
presence Of the little brass check In my
purse is q constant reminder that Bos-
ton may one day call me-"
A discussion Of the Parker House
umbrella followed, Cecilia and join.
ing, and it proved so fruitful topic
that 1t carried US to our coffee
Three suitors were announced little
later, and slipped away without ex'
cuses, while Miss Octavia and Cecilia
adjourned to the library.
The ghost. had sworn, should not
battle me another night.
As l crossed the second floor hall
passed the Swedish maid walking to-
ward Miss Octavia's room. was
, somewhat annoyed to find on looking
over my shoulder to make sure Of hel
destination that she, too, had paused
! her hand on Miss Octavia's door. and
was watching me with interest. She
vanished Immediately, but to throw
her off the track l went to my OWL
room, closed the door noisily and ther
came out quickly and ran up to the
third floor. .....
| Bassford HOLSTERS mysterious exi,
had fingered in my mind as the most
curious incident Of the eventful Friday
night Having been baftled in my ef:
fort to get hold Of the architects