Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-02-21

paused and gave a twitch to her hat
to prolOng my su~spense-"you see, l
own the Prescott Arms!'
With this she rode away, and not
caring to risk a further meeting with
the angry suitors from whom Miss
Oetavia had rescued me by so narrow
q margin, | set of across the field to-
ward Hopetield. From the stile | saw
Miss Octavia In the highway half a
mile distant. sending her horse along
at q spirited eanter. l reached the
house without further adventures. was
served with a cold luncheon In my
room. and by the time | had changed
my clothes Miss Octavta sent me word
that Pepperton had arrived.
Miss Octavia and the architect were
~conversing earnestly when / reached
the library, and from the abruptness
with which they ceased on my en-
trance l Imagined that l mad been the
subject Of their talk. Peppertop Is not
only one of the finest architects Amer
lea has produced, but n of the 1olll-
est of fellows. He Grasped my hand
cordially and pointed to the fireplace.
80 you've at last found one Of my
jobs to overhaul. hare your You
mustn't let this get out on me, old
man: 1t would shatter my reputationr"
please observe that the tue Is draw
Ing splendidly now" l answered. "A
ghost had been strolling up and down
the chimney. but now that l have
found his lair he will not trouble Miss
HOLSTERS freplaces again."
II have waited for your arrival. Mr..
Pepperton, that we might have the
benefit Of your knowledge Of the house
In following the trail OF this ghost
which Arnold has discovered. But we
must give Arnold credit for effecting
the discovery alone and unaided. | de.
stroyed the plans l obtained from your
office SO that Arnold might be fully
tested as to his capacity for managing
the most difficult situations"
When Miss Octavia first referred to
me as Arnold. Pepperton raised his
brows a tribe; the second time he
glanced at me laughingly. He seemed
greatly amused by Miss Octavia's seri-
Il but her amiable attitude to-
ward me clearly puzzled him.
1T takes a good man to uncover q
thing ! try to hide. 1 said nothing to
you. Miss HOLSTER. about the retention
within the walls of this house Of parts
Of an old one that formerly occupied
the site for the reason that l thought
you might refuse to buy the estate.
The gentleman for whom l built tioIe-
field WAS superstitious. as many men
VI advanced years are, as to the build
ing of u new house, and as the site he
hose Is one Of the finest in the country
he compelled me to construct this house
which il the most satisfactory l have
)uilt-in such that enough Of
he old should be kept intact to soothe
his superstitious soul with the idea
that he had merely altered an old
house. not built a new one. As 1t Is
the architects business to yield to
such caprices. l obeyed him strictly.
So there are two rooms OF an old farm
house hidden under the east wing. and
1t amused me once ! had got into 1t to
preserve part Of the old stairway and
connect the retained chambers with
the upper ball Of this house. ! had to
patch the original stair, which WINS
only one fight. with discarded lumber
from the old house, but fatter myself
that | managed it neatly. ] even saved
the old nails to avert the wrath of the
evil spirits. When the umbrella and
dyspepsia cure man died-for he did
die, as you know-I believed the secret
had died with him, us he was very SEN
sitive about his superstitions. Most Of
the laborers on that part Of the Job
We're brought from n long distance. and
what we were doing. | might have
known, though. that If a fellow as clev-
er as Ames got to pecking at the house
the trick would be discovered. But the
chimney. old man-what on earth was
the matter with itY'
ut will never happen again, and ]
promised the ghost never to tell how
1t was done"
you were quite right in doing that
Arnold, q ghosts secrets should be
sacred: but let us now proceed to the
hidden chambers" said Miss HOLSTER.
rising without further ado.
She summoned Cecilia. to whom We
explained matters briefly. and at Pep
perton's suggestion the four of Us went
directly to the fourth floor. SO tha'
Miss Octavia might see the whole con
t~rivance In the most effective manner
possible.
My awkward pen falters In the at
tempt to eOn-ay any Idea of Miss Oc-
tavia's delight in Pepperton's revela-
ton. She kept repeating her admira
ton Of his genius. and her praise OF
my c~leverness. which. to protect Hexe-
kiah. l was forced to accept meekiy.
When in broad daylight Pepperton
found and pressed the spring In the
upper hall. and the hidden door opened
with a slowness that indicated 3 real
ization Of its own dramatic value. Miss
Oetavia cried out Rleefully. like q child
that Witnesses the manipulation of 9
new and wonderful toy.
Beyond any question" she kept As
sorting. beneath the chambers Of the
old house down there we shall End the
bones of that British soldier who per
lshed here. or II IL even possible that
, nho.< ~ hyAAop troo.ur> 10 oorr>alnd