Graham guardian., 1913-10-03

coEthB W riSh lurtueI meeLing VIII
the angry suitors from whom Mis-
r Octavia had rescued me by so narroy
! margin. | set of across the field to
+ ward Hopeield. From the stile say
Miss 0ctavia In the highway half
mile distant, sending her horse aloni
at a spirited canter. | reached tn
house without further adventures, wa
served with cold luncheon In IN,
room. and by the time had change,
my clothes Miss Qctavia sent me wor,
that Pepperton had arrived.
Miss Octayia and the architect wer,
conversing earnestly when reached
the library, and from the abruptnes,
with which they ceased on my en-
trance imagined that I had been tn,
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 hand
cordially and pointed to the fireplace,
$50 you've at last found one of my
jobs to overhaul. have you? You
mustn't let this get out on me. old
man; 1t would shatter my reputationT r
"please observe that the due is draw
Ing splendlaly now." | answered. "A
ghost had been strolling up and down
the chimney. but now that ! have
found his lair he will not trouble Miss
HOLSTERS fireplaces again."
y 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 aud unaided. de-
stroyed the plans ! 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 tribe; the second time he
glanced at me laughingly. He seemed
greatly amused by Miss Octavia's seri.
BUSINESS, but her amiable attitude to-
ward me clearly puzzled him.
1t takes a good man to uncover a
thing try to hide. said nothing to
you. Miss Hollister. about the retention
within the walls Of this house CT parts
OF an old one that formerly occupied
the site for the reason that | thought
you might refuse to buy the estate
The gentleman for whom built Hope
field was superstitious, us many men
OF advanced years are, as to the build.
ing of a new house. and as the site he
chose Is one OF the finest In the country
he compelled me to construct this house
which Is the most satisfactory | have
built--in such manner that enough of
the old should be kept intact to soothe
his superstitious soul with the idea
that be had merely altered an old
house. not built new one. AS II is
the architect's business to yield to
such caprices. obeyed him strictly
house hidden under the east wing. aud
1t amused me once had got into II to
preserve mrt Of the old stairway and
connect the retained chambers with
the upper hall OF this house. had to
patch the original stair. which was
only one flight. with discarded lumber
from the old house. but fatter myself
that managed 1t neatly. ! even saved
the old nails to avert the wrath OF the
evil spirits. When the umbrella and
dyspepsia euro man died-for be did
die, MS you know-l believed the secret
had died with him. rs he was very SEN
sitiye about his superstitions. Most OF
the laborers on that part OF the job
We're brought from long distance. and
! supposed they never ready knew just
what we were doing might have
known, though. that II fellow as clev-
er az Ames got to pecking at the house
the trick would be discovered. But the
chimney. old man what on earth was
the matter with III"
1T will never happen again. and
promised the ghost never to tell how
II was done"
"You were quite right in doing that,
Arnold. 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 door. so that
Miss Octavia might see the whole con,
triyance In the most effective manner
possible.
My awkward pen faIters In the at.
tempt to convey any Idea of Miss Oc-
tavia's delight In Pepperton's reyela-
tion. She kept repeating her ndmira-
tion Of his genius. and her praise OF
my cleverness. which, ito protect Heze-
klah, was forced to accept rncekly.
When In broad daylight pepperton
found and pressed the spring in the
upperhall. and the hidden door opened
with slowness that indicated real
ization OF Its own dramatic value, Miss
octavia cried out gleefully, like child
that witnesses the manipulation of a
new and wonderful toy.
Beyond any question" she kept as
sertlng, beneath the chambers Of the
old house down there we shall find the
bones Of that British soldier who per
Ished here. or II is even possible that
a chest Of hidden treasure is concealed
beneath the floor"
We were lighting candles prepare
tory to stepping down into the dark
stairway. and PeppertoD was plainly
bard put to keep from laughing
Miss 0ctavia followed Pepperton
slowly. pausIng frequently to hold her
candle close to the stair walls. whose
rough surfaces confirmed all that Pep.