Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-26
CHAPTER XII.
My Sefuddlement Increases,

troll. l have been unable to care for
them as l should like to do. This be-
ing the case, l have been obliged to al
low them to accept many favors from
my only sister Octavis This, in ordi-
nary circumstances. would not be re-
pugnant to my pride, but my sister is
a very unusual person. She must do
for my children in her own way, and
while l was prepared, in agreeing that
they should accept her bounty, for
some whimsical manifestation of her
eccentric character, did not imagine
that she would go so far as to shut me
out from all knowledge of her plans
for them. That, Mr.. Ames. is what
has happened"
His voice rose and fell mournfully.
He pufed his pipe for a moment and
continued:
There is now something forward
here which 1 do not understand.
have an idea that Octavia has contriv-
ed some prepOsterous scheme for
choosing husband for Cecilia that is
in keeping with her odd fashion Of
tranSacting all her business. | do not
know its nature. and by the terms of
her agreement Cecilia is not To dis
close the method TO be employed to
me-not even to me. her own father
You must agree. Ames. that that is
rather rubbing it in
But you don't assume that YOUR
daughter is not to be free agent In
the matter? You don't believe that
some unworthy and Improper man is
TO be forced upon herr"
That. sir, is exactly what l fear"
You will pardon me. but l cannot
for moment believe that Miss Hol-
lister would risk her niece'S happiness
even TO satisfy her own peculiar hu
NOR. Your sister is a shrewd woman,
and her heart. | am convinced. is the
kindeSt. Among the SuitOrS now
Camped at the Prescott Arms there
must he some one whom your daugh-
ter approves, and | see no reason why
he should not ultimately he her choice.
Now that you have preached the mat
ter. | make free to say that one of
these SuitorS Is an old friend of mine,
Hartley Virgins by name. and that
he is a man Of the highest character
and gentleman in the strictest sense"
He had been listening TO me with
the greatest compOsure, but at the
mention of Virgins name he started
and nervOusly clutched my arm.
THAT man may be all that you say"
he cried chokinsly, but he has acted
UNANIMOUSLY toward both my daugh-
tiers. He is a rogue and most despic-
able fellow. He has f1irted outrage
Ously with HcZekiah while at the same
time pretending to be deeply inter
ested in Cecilia
But. my dear sir, is it not possible
that you do him Il great wrong? May
1t not be the other way round that
Hezekiah is trifiing with Virgins az
fections? He's a splendid fellow, Hart
ley Virgins. but he's little slow,
that's all. And between two superb
young women ike your daughters a
man may be pardoned for doubts and
hesitation. The thing is bound TO
straighten itself out"
He tossed his head impatiently.,
Has it occurred to you that Oc-
tavia's interest in this Hartley Virgins
may he due to Il tritiing and inmate
rial factY"
Nothing beyond his indubitabIe
eligibility
Then let me tell you what | sus-
| pect Both his names contain seven
letters. My sister is slightly cracked
as to the number seven. swear to
you my belief that the fact that his
names contain seven letters each is at
the bottom of all this. Incredible, my
! dear sir. but wholly possible
! Then, such being the case, why
| doesn't she show her hand openly:
You send conjecture far when once
you entertain SO absurd an idea"
You think my assumption unlike
| Iy?" he asked eagerly.
II certainly do, Mr.. HOLSTER. You
may as well assume that. as Virgins
is specially favored in the number of
letters In his singularly prOSaic and IN
romantic name, it is Miss Hollister's
plan to keep him dallying seven years. "
He seized me by the arm and forced
ME back against the battlements, Their
stood of and eyed me fiercely.
You speak Of serving and of service
Will you tell me just why you are here
and what brings you into this affair
What are you doing in my sister:
house, where | have to come like 8
thief in the night to see one Of my
own children"
l fastened to declare my profession
and that had been summoned by Mis-
HOLSTER to examine her chimneys.
could not, however, tell him that unit
my arrival the chimneys had behaved
themselves admirably.
You've admitted your friendship 70
this Virgins person-thats enough
he said when | had concluded. Il ad
wise you TO leave the house at once.
tell you he's got TO be eliminated from
the situation. Understand that l d
not threaten you with violence, but
will not promise to abstain from visit
ing heavy punishment upon that fe
low. And you: chimney doctor:
am a man Of considerable knOwledg
OF the world. and say to you yer
candidly that I don't believe there
any such profession"