The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-04-17
THE SIEGE OF THE
SEVEN SUITORS
Continued from Preceding Page


cate matter.
you caught me-" said Hezekiah
calmly. ''and now you've got to ge,
me out. and wish you good luck. and
besides. lost one of my shoes some
where and you've got to find that"
In proof OF her statement she sub
mitted shoeless. brown stockinged
foot for my observation.
1.-The one lost was like this" and
Hezekiah thrust forth a neat tan
pump rather the worse for wear. Il
was on the second door bit ago. she
began. land lost my slipper"
an what mischief, pray?"
"Mr. Ames." called Miss Octavia. her
voice close at hand.
Il wanted to see something in Ce-
elias room. so | opened her door and
walked in-that's ALL" Hezekiah re-
piled.
wicked Hezekiahi Coming into the
house is bad enough in all the. circum-
stances. Entering your sisters room
is a grievous sin
IF. Mr. Ames. you are still seeking
an explanation of that chimney's be-
hayior"-
1t was Miss Octavia. now just out
side the door.
Don't leave that trunk. Hezekiah.
| whispered III do the best ! cam
| Miss Octavia met me smilingly as
faced her in the hall. She had switch
ed on the lights. and my candle burn
ed yellowly in the white electric glow
Miss Octavia held something in her
hand. 1t required no second glance to
fell me that she had found Hezekiahs
slipper.
| "Mr. Ames.' she began. "as you nave
absented yourself from the library all
evening | assume that you have been
busy studying my chimneys and seek
| ing for the ghost of that British SOL
der who was so wantonly slain upon
the site of this house"
II am glad to say that not only Is
vour surmise correct. Miss HOLSTER.
but that have made great progress In
both directions"
do you mean to say that you nave
really found traces of the ghost?"
Not only that. Miss HOLSTER. but
have met the ghost face to face-eyen
more, | have had speech with him.!
Her face frightened. her eyes FASH
ed. 1t was plain that she was i'm
mensely pleased.
And are you able to say from your
encounter. that he is in fact British
subject uneasily haunting this house
in America long after the Declaration
of Independence and Washingtons
farewell address have passed into lit
erature?''
You have never spoken q truer
word. Miss Holister: but, by means
which am not at liberty to disclose.
have persuaded him not to visit this
mouse again.
Then" said Miss HolIister. II can
not do less than express my gratitude,
though | regret that you did not first
allow me TO meet him. Still. | dare
say that we shall find his bones bur
led somewhere beneath my foundd-
lions. Please assure me that such is
your expectation"
Tomorrow. Miss Hollister. | shall
take pleasure in showing you certain
hidden chambers in this house which
| venture to say will afford you great
pleasure | have tonight discovered
a link between the mansion as you
know it and an earlier house whose
timbers may indeed hide the bones Of
that British soldier"
And as for the chimney"
And as for the chimney. | give yon
my word as professional man that it
will never annoy you again. and |
therefore beg that you dismiss the sub
ject from your mind.
| saw that she was about to recur TO
the shoe she held in her hand and at
which she glanced frequently with
quizzical expression. This. clearly,
was an issue that must be met prompt
ly. and | knew OF no better way than
by lying. Hezekiah herself had plain
ly stated on the morning OF that long.
eventfu day. when she walked into
the breakfast room in her aunt's abb
sence and explained Cecilia's trip to
town. that it was perfectly fair to dis
simulate in making explanations to
Miss Hollistpr-that, In fact. Miss Oc-
tavia enjoyed nothing better than the
injection Of fiction into the affairs Of
the matter OF fact day. Here. then.
was my opportunity.
Miss HOLSTER" began boldly. .the
slipper you hold in your hand belongs |
to me- and II you have no immediate
use for 1t I beg that you allow me to
relieve you Of it.
1T Is yours, Mr.. AmesT'
A lifting Of the brows. widening OF
the eyes, denoted Miss Octayia's po-
lite surprise.
Beyond any question it is my prop
erty' asserted.
Your words interest me greatly. Mr..
Ames As you know. the grim hard
life of the twentieth century pals upon
me. and | am deeply interested in ev-
erything that pertains to adventure
and romance. Tell me more. II you are
free to do so. of this slipper which
now return to you"
Il