Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-01-29

Pardon me, Mr.. Ames, but did my
shimneysa l didn't quite understand
We have been here only a week: the
weather has been warm, and ! believe
this fire had not been lighted before
today, You will pardon my frankness.
but ] can't quite understand why my
fessionally. l thought when you ap-
peared this afternoon that you were
guest-nothinG more-or less"
You had heard nothing of any trou-
BILE with the freplaces? Then | am Ia
the dark as much as you. AS | under
stood 1t. I was called here to examine
the hues; but, now that / think of IT.
she did not say explicitly that her
chimneys were behaving badly, though
that was, of course, implied. | natu-
rally assumed that she summoned me
here In my professional capacity. |
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-" Co
ella protested. My aunt is quite
capable of inviting a stranger to the
house. She met you. / believe, at the
Asolando. | hope you understand that
1t is only because / am In deep trou.
h1a MI pNnu frn,1Ia ~ Sho ~raua
nature. that l have vsntured to speak
to you In this way Of my aunt. for
whom 1 have all respect and affec-
tion.s
She had never, l was sure, been
o weller than at this moment. Her
eyes afled. but she lifted her bead
proudly. Whatever the trouble might
be l was sorry for 1t on her own ae-
count, and II 1t Involved Hartley Wig
gins my sympathy went out to him
also. On an impulse ] spoke OF him.
Il was surprised to meet Hartley
Virgins here. Hes a dear friend OF
mine, yos know. thought he had
gone to his ranch. he left the Hare
and Tortoise very abruptly a few nights
ago just after we had dined together.
He must be stopping somewhere in
the neighborhood,"
ITS quite possible. And there's an
Inn. you know. l fancy be drove over
from there"
II hadn't thought OF that-the Pres
cett Arms ! suppose you mean"
Che n1Al11A Ly,t oI,~ xr,. Ium.t -.
Interested In me. and when | found
myself FILLING dismaliy to divert her
thoughts to cheerfuier channels 1 rose
and babe her good night
The servant who had previously at
tended me appeared promptly when |
reached my room. bearing a tray. with
biscuits and II bottle OF ale. He gave
me an envelope addressed In a hand
l already knew as Miss Octa via's, and
l opened and read:
The following | either aetest or distrust,
so kindly refrain from mentioning them
while you are q guest of Bopefield Manor
Automobiles.
Mashed potatoes.
Whiskers.
Chopin's Concerto in E minor Top. ID,
Bishop 8 tO0dlutOf-
LimerIcks.
Cats. OCTAVIA HOLLlSTER.
Before ! slept | threw up my window
and stepped out upoh Il narrow bal
cOny that afforded n capital view of the
fields and woods to the enst. The night
was fine. with the sky bright With
stars and moon AS my eyes dropped
from the horizon to the near landscape
| saw a man perched on Il knoll In the
midst OF q cornfeid. He stood ms rigid
as n sentry on duty. or like a forlorn
commander counting the spears of his
tattered ba.taiions. | was not sure
that he saw me. for the balcony was
slightly Swallowed. but. ut any rate, he
was sharply outlined to my vision. His
derby hat and o%vercoat gave him an
odd appearance as he stood %brooding
above the corn. Then he vanished sud
denly. though as he retired toward the
high way | followed him for some time
by the shaking and jerking of the corn
stalks. ! determined to make every Of
fort to see Virgins the next day and
learn the exact status of his affair with
Cecilia HOLSTER.