Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-19

that is none of my affair. but wish to
say that your conduct and bearing won
my highest approval They had IN
doubtedly hidden the jack of clubs to
avoid the drubbing you would have
administered TO the unfortunate man
who would have drawn that card if it
had been in the pack"
Il was not in the slightest danger at
any time. Miss HOLSTER l protested.
BY one of those tricks of fate to
which you and l are becoming so &C
customed the card had fallen 70 the
floor unnoticed. If you had not arrived
SO oppOrtunely the lost jack would have
been discovered. the cards reshuffied
and very likely Mr.. Ormsby would have
been busting the inn floor with me at
this very minute"
Il refuse TO believe any such thing"
declared Miss OCtavia, who had mount
ed and continued speaking from the
saddle. Your perfect confidence was
admirable. and l shudder to think Of
the terrible punishment you would
have given them"
IF Miss Octavia wished to view my
performances In this flattering light it
seemed unnecessary to object.
1t WAS only pleasant incident OF
the days work. Miss Hollister. I'm go
ing to engage a squire and take TO the
open road as soon as all this is over.
las soon as all what is over" she de-
manded. eying me keenly.
oh. the work I've undertaken to do
here. fiatter myself that l have made
some progress. but within twenty-tour
hours dare say that we shall have
seen the end"
Your words are not wholly luui-
nous, Arnold"
1T is much better that It should be
so. You have trusted me so far. and
have no intention Of failing you now.
If say that the crisis is near at hand
in a certain matter that interests you
greatly, you will understand that I am
/ not striking ignorantly in the dark"
IF you know what | suspect you
know. Arnold Ames. you are even
shrewder than I thought you. and you
had already taken a high place in my
regard
will you tell me Just how you
came to visit the inn at this particular
7 hour"
Nothing could he simpler had
luncheon at the house of a friend or
whom 7 called. Cecilia had left me
10 continue her ride alone and on my
way home ] thought | would ride by
the Prescott Arms tu see how the
guests wore farinE You see she
paused and gave a twitch to her hal
To proiong my suspense-'you see,
own the Prescott Arms
With Tins she rode away. and not
caring TO risk a further meeting with
the angry suitors from whom Miss
OctaviA had rescued me by so narrow
a margin. set of across the field to
ward Hopefeld. From the stile | saw
Miss Octavia in the highway half q
mile distant. sending her horse along
at a spirited canter. | reached the
house without further adventures. wa,
served with n cold luncheon in my
room. and by the time l had changed
my clothes Miss Octavia sent me WORD
that Pepperton had arrived.
Miss Octavia and the architect were
conversing earnestly when ! reached
the library, and from the abruptnes:
with which they ceased on my en-
trance | imagined that / had been tbs
subject OF their talk. Pepperton is NO
only one OF the finest architects Amer
lea has produced. but one of the jolli
est Of fellows. He grasped my hanC
cordially and pointed to the fireplace.
SO you're at last found one Of my
jobs to overhaul. have yeu: YOJ
mustn't let this get out or me. ole
man; it would shstter my reputation!
Please observe that the fiue is draw
ing splendidly now" / answered. -
ghost had been stroIling up and dowI
the chimney, but now that | havt
found his lair he will not trouble Mis-
HOLSTERS irepisces again"
Il have waited for your arrival. Mr.
Pepperon, that we might have IN
benefit OF your knowledge of the hous,
in following the Trail OF this ghos
which Arnold has discovered But W.
must give Arnold credit for effectinI
the discovery alone and unaided de
strOyed the plans / obtained from you
office so that Arnold might be full.
tested as to his capacity for managing
the most difficult situations"
When Miss Octavia first referred L
me as Arnold. Pepperton raised hi
brows a triie: the second time h
glanced st ne iaugh.ng!y. lie scenes
greatly amused by Miss Octavis's SER
BUSINESS. but her amiabie attitude Il
ward me clearly puzzled him
1t takes a good man 70 uncover
thing l try TO aide. said nothing L
you, Miss HOLSTER, about the retepiiO
within the walls Of this house Of part
Of an Old one that formerly orcuplet
the site for the reason that though
you might refuse to buy the estate
The gentleman for whom / built Hopt
held was sUpersdtioUs, IS many me
Of advanced years are. AZ 10 the build
ing Of a new house. and as the site b
chose IS one Of the finest In the coUntr
he compelled me 10 construct this hoBs
/ which is the mos satisfactory ! haF
built-iB such manner that enough Q
the old should ne kept intact to sOoth
MS suPersdCous soul with the tde