The Emmett index., 1913-04-03

Dy themselves Wnlie you were o1 Tie
stairwayT'
Il am positive Of It. And somebody
"a being Of some sort-passed me on
the stairway. 1t might imaginably
have been you"
"But tell you positively it was not >
Then it might have been your father.
A man who can enter a house at will
might easily play any manner Of other
tricks. His disappearance after | had
gone down into the house with him
was just as mysterious as the ghost"
1T was natural for father not to want
you to know how he got in. The mo
tive for that would be the fact that he
is not supposed to see me or communi-
cate with me in any way"
1T must have occurred to You that
there Is one member OF the Hollister
family we haven't mentioned in this
connection"
-If you mean Hezekiab"-
None otherr'
Elf Hezekiah or my father should be
caught in the house while ] am there
Just now we should all pay dearly for
il. Believe me. this IL true. Some day
you may know the why's and where
fores; ut present no one may know.
But why should Hezekiah wish TO
prowl about there at night-to assume
for a moment that she Is doing it?"
Her manner was wholly earnest. Il
was plain that she had entered into
some sort OF compact with her aunt.
and no doubt the arrangement was In
the characteristic whimsical vein OF
which | had enjoyed personal expert
ence. | did not wish to press Cecilia
for explanations she might not be free
TO make. but / ventured suggestion or
two
"Hezekiah may be entering the house
and playing ghost for amusement,
merely in spirit Of childish rebellion
against the interdiction that forbids
her the house. That is quite plausible.
Hezekiah being the spirited young per
son we know her to be. And it may
amuse her. too. TO plug the chimneys
at a time when her sister is enjoying
the visits OF suitors. Without quite
realizing that such was her animus,
she may be the least-tbe very least
bit jealousr
Cecilia flushed. and her eyes flashed
Indignantly. She bent toward me ca
gerIy.
please do not say such thingi
You must not even think itr
"She may be a little forlorn, alone
in your fathers house over the bills at
times when you are surrounded by ad-
mirers. and 1t is my assumption from
what have learned in one way and
another Of your fight abroad last sum-
mer that some of these gentlemen now
stablished at the Prescott Arms are
known TO her"
.'Oh. all OF them. certainly"
And Hartley Virgins among the
rest?
THAT, Mr. Ames. is most unkind."
she declared earnestly. She has told
me that she was not in the least IN
terested in Mr. Virgins"
"And she told me the same thing. but
| do not feel sure of It But what II
she is? You are not really interested
in bim yourseIfr'
She did not vouchsafe any reply to
my statement. but changed the subject
abruptly. My description of the ghof
had taken considerable time. and "
were now at the end Of our journey.
II count on finishing my errand an
taking the 2.07." she remarked
That's a short time to allow you
self I've heard that it's a dreary bu
ness chasing the employment age
eies."
Not If you know where not to
If you'll get me machine of SOD
sort I'll be of at once"
Il fear shan't conclude my oVl
business so soon. but If yon will honor
ne at luncheon"-
Sorry. Mr.. Ames. but it's ont OF the |
question. hope to see you at dinner |
onight And please
Yes. Miss Hollister'-
please remember that you are Aunt /
)ctavia's guest and don't annoy her /
" failing TO appear at dinner. You 1
now you haven't fixed that chimney /
et.''
Her smile left me well in the air. | /
TODD staring after the very common
lace cab as 1t rolled away with her.
ny mind whirling chaos Of emotion.
he crowd jostled me impatiently, for
ther people. not breathing celestial
ther from an hour OF Cecilia Hollis
er's society. were bent upon the days
usiueSs-
To be Continued.