Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-22

and looked Off across the hills enjoy
ing the loneliness of the sky, in which
the planets throbbed superbly. There
was nothing to be learned here. and
crept back to the trap door through
which 1 had come. made it fast and
continued on down to the library.
There somewhat to my surprise l
found that in my absence all but
Hume had taken their departure. AS
paused unseen In the doorway l
caught words that were clearly not in
tended for my ear.
Cecilia sat by the long table near the
fireplace. Hume stood before her, his
arms folded.
"You are kind You do me great
honor, Professor Hume, but under no
circumstances can l become your
wife,
1 retreated hastily TO the billiard
room, where l took n cue from the
rack and amused myself for perhaps
| fifteen minutes, when, hearing the
outer door close and knowing that
Hume had departed with his congee.
/ returned to the library.
Cecilia sat where | had left her. and
at first glance | thought she was read
| ing. But she turned quickly as |
! crossed the room. She held in her
I hand an oblong silver trinket not larg-
er than card case. A short pencil
similar to those affixed TO dance cards
was attached to it by a slight cord,
and she had. l inferred. been making
a notation of some kind on a leaf of
the silver bound booklet. Even after
she had looked up and smiled at me
her eyes sought the page before her
Then she closed the covers and clasp
ed the pretty toy in her hand. As
though to divert my attention she re
Cured at once TO the chimney in a
vein Of light irony.
You see" she said. there is ample
reason for your remaining here. You
would hardly find anywhere else so in
teresting Il test Of your professional
powers as Hopefeld Manor offers. The
house is haunted beyond question. and
l can see that you are not man tC
leave two defenseless women to the
mercy of ghost who drops down Chin
neys at will"
l suffered her chaff for several min
utes, then | asked point blank:
Pardon me. but have you the slight
est idea that Miss Octavia Is behind
this? 1t is not possible that she was
responsible last night. But she was
not on this floor awhile ago when the
smoke poured in here. | should be
glad TO hear your opinion"
IL saw that you suspected her before
you left the room, Mr.. Ames. and /
must say that the idea is In no way
creditable to you. II you entertain such
n suspicion you must supply motive.
and just what motive would you attrib.
ute TO my Aunt Octavia in this In
stance?"
Her tone and manner piqued me or /
should not have answered az | did
1T is possible" | said, that some OF
these gentlemen who came here tonight
were not to her liking. and it may have
occurred to her TO get rid OF them by
the obviously successful method OF
smoking them OUT
She rose. still clasping the little sill
/, yer backed notebook and looked me
over with amusement in her face and
: eyes.
You are almost too ingenious, Mr.
Ames. | hope that by breakfast time
you will have some more plausible so
luton of the problem Good night"
And So tightly clasping the little
book. she left the room followed
her to the door. and ut the turn Of the
stair she ganced down and nodded
Her face ns it hung above me for an
instant seemed transfsured with hap
DincSs.