Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-05-01

with the committee of the SuitorS had
driven from my mind practically every
consideration aud every interest not
conferred in Hopcfield Manor. NY
thoughts turned gratefully to the Aso-
lando. where only few days ago
had been precinitated INFO the StraugeSt
adventures my cvcut,eSS life had
known.
n strange face was visible NJ the
cashiers desk as CutnrSd the tea
room. | passed on. finding the place
quite full, bat | took it rs good omen
that the seventh table from the right
was unocrupicd, and hastily &pnropri.
ated ii. Aw8ilrrS> ~. cared Yurmuriug
There are No binds in last years nest,
and recommended lockcr-l .ampsou
sandwich whose contents the crl tod
me were secret, but ii proved to he
wholly palatahle. As | drank my tea
and ate the sandwich surveyed the
decorated menu card With interest and
found pleaSurahle excitement in liScov
ering an item directing attention t.
"IfcklcS In Uezekiah. IL cents" rhS
delightful Iiezckiah must. then, have
impressed herself upon the deus eN
machina OF the ASolando ON her brief
day there, thus to have won this rrco2-
the desserts. pechr Goethe with even
greater interest and satisfaction
Cecilia occupied my mind now. The
visit of the furious SuitorS to my office
had stirred in me thoughts and aSpira-
tons that had mover known harhoragc
In my breast before, The presumption
of those fellows had exceeded any
thing had known in my contact with
human kind. and instead of brighton
ing me away from llopedeld Manor
they had called my own attention to
the strategic Importance of my pres
ent position as guest in Miss Octa-
Was house
AS these thoughts ran through my
mind was finishing my pcchc Cccilic
q Spurn all sweets ordinarily when
became interested in the unusual con
duct of Il young woman who had en-
tered the front door hriSkly and walk
ed with n business like air to the cash
ier's desk. The girl within the wicket
rose promptly. opened the screen and
without pIrley Of amy sort emptied
the contents of her till into the vis-
itor's reticule. With a nod and n
smile and 4 moments careless survey
of the room, the girl departed, swing
ing the rrticule in her hand A long
roll she carried under her arm con
I; ! 10. -
Octavia HOLSTERS Swedish maid, and
the roll beyond prradventure contain
ed the plans she had obtained at Pep.
perton's office.
The girl was we'll featured, neat of
figure and becomingIy gowned, and as
l watched her leave the shop the light
ness of her step, something smooth
and flowing in her movements, inter
ested me- l did not know what bust
ness she had to be rObbing the Aso-
lando money drawer but it was alto.
gether possible that she was the Hope
field ghost,
On the whole, when | had finally
torn myself away from my assistant
who made no attempt to conceal his
doubts as to my sanity. and had set
tied myself in the 4:li express with
the afternoon papers was fully salts
fled with the days adventures. ! had
told the coaChman in the morning not
to trouble to meet me on my rct.Hn
and | engaged the village iiverymon
to drive me TO the house for hire
There's Il heap o talk In the VII
lage." he observed. They do say the
old ladys cracked, if may so speak
of her, and that there's ghosts in the
house. And the conduct of the gentle
men at the Prescott is most remark
able. The words passed that they re
all dippy about the young Miss Hollis
ter that lives with her aunt ! reckon
all rich people are Il bit cracked. 1t
BaSsford Holistcr-hc's the old lady'a
brother-hc's Just as bad as any of EN-.
Yesterday he sat in the village street
countin' the number Of people he saw
chcwin' gum. Told our doctor in the
village he was figurin' the amount Of
horsepower the American people put
into gum CheWin' every year and OK
p'NtS w llii'l HpiilC way VI iNllJ II w
run machinery It's harmless, Doc
says. He calls it just the HOLSTER
idioSyncrasy, If that's the word But
| reckon it's idiotsyncrasy all right
wish you good luck of your place, sir"
He evidently believed me to be some
sort of upper servant. and this added
to my joy Of the day. With my good
humor augmented by the interview |
entered the house \ strange footman
admitted me. and | went to my room
at once without meeting any one else.
The man followed me with pencil
ed note. signed with Cecilia's initials.
requesting my presence below as soon
as possible. as she wished to see me
before dinner The thought that she
wished to see me at any time filled me
with citation, and her few lines,
scratched on correspondence card,
al, a