The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-01-18


 looked at the timeta ble, and it is my present intention to take the 1908 into town I have appointments at my office for the afternoon. assure vou. Miss HoiIister, that Pm man of engagements, particularly at this seq son."
 I remembered what Jewett had told me of Fortner, the painter, and his detention at Newport by Miss Octav1a HolHster. I had no intention of being fmmured in any such fashion. and l was about to protest further when Cecilia took a step toward me and after a glance at the door spoke 1n low tone and with great earnestness.
 "Mr. Ames, have every reason to believe that you are a gentleman, and in that confident belief I'm going to ask a favor of you. You have said that you know Hartley Wiggfns we'll ?
 ''I know no man better. You might not have inferred it from his manner last night, but he was undoubtedly surprised and embarrassed by my presence and did not act quite like himself.''
 ''I think I understand the cause of that If I should ask you to see him today and give him message for me could you do so?"
 "It will be an honor to serve you and a very simple matter, as l should see him on my own account if he is still in the neighborhood."
 "He is doubtless at the Prescott Arms. My message is verbal one. Please urge him not to make any ef- fort to see me and notx to call here again. But at the same time, as the chimney smoked just as we were oI1 Ra hn IoR% oJa 1oS T1fO think-I think"-she hesitated a mo- ment-"you may say that his interests have not been jeopardized by his te- merity in calling"
 | In her pause before concluding this curious commission her eyes searched mine deeply, and I felt that she had not lightly intrusted me with this singular errand. Her dark eyes held mine an instans after she had spoken. Then she smiled, and her face showed relief.
 Ask for anything you want Aunt Octavia desptses motors, so there's no car here, but you will find plenty of horses and traps. Order whatever pleases you. I shall expect to meet you at dinner if not at luncheon, and so''-she smiled again-'fwiIl Aunt Oc- tavia."
 She nodded to me from the door, and I heard her running lightly upstairs.
 Left to my own devices I rang the bell and ordered the library fire extin- guished and the hearth cleaned This required a little time. but the house man obeyed me readily, and soon, clad in my professional overaIls and jumper, l was going carefully over the f1ue whose behavior had been so unac- countable the previous night Guided by the servant, 1 inspected the three fireplaces in the upper chambers that were served by dues in this chimney and finally dropped my torch and plumb line from the chimney pot Never in all my experience had I seen better hues. But I had the ashes thrown out of the dump in the cellar and found the chute in perfect order. I learned by inquiry that the other dues worked perfectly, but I never theless scrut1nized them carefully. My freedom of the house afforded an excellent opportunity for a study of its beautiful construction. It was modern in every sense, with no dark, mysterious corners in which gobIins might Turk.
 My professional laborS were finished. was quite ready for Miss Hollister's most searching inquiries. As for the library hue, I had decided that little care in piling the logs in the hearth would obVfate the possibility of any recurrence of the difficulty. And thereupon hurried to my room and after a tub (my vocation encouraged frequent tubbing) chose from the sta ble a neat trap for one horse. Thus equipped set out to find Wiggins at the Prescott Arms.
 As I drove into the entrance I saw Wiggins pacing the long veranda. He waved a hand and came out to meet me. and when I had rid myself of the trap he suggested that we take a walk.
 His manner was not cordial, and he wore the haggard look of a man on bad terms with his pillow. I attributed his appearance to preoccupatfon with his love affair. When we had withdrawn a little way from the inn he turned on me sharply.
 p he demanded.
 Well" I laughed.
 "Oh, you needn't take that tone about it! Your being here is something that requires explanation, and your being there"-he flung out his arm toward Hopefeld Manor-'your presence there is not laughing matter"
 My dear Wiggins, I came here in a spirit of friendship, and you treat me like a piclpocket. I must say that if you had not acted like clam the other night at the club, but had told me what was in the wind we might not be meet ing now like ancient enemies instead of old and intimate friends
 He voucASafed no reply, but threw himself down under a scarlet maple and began to whittle stick, while went on with my story, concluding with:
 And now I have finished my work, and after l have made my report l shall probably not meet her again. As for Miss Cecilia Hollister, I can only say, my dear Wiggins, that she is 8