The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-01-18
CContinued.) CHAPTER VI.
[ Deliver a Message.

OE1SAF
 Deliver a Message.
 " WAS aroused at 6 o'clock the next
 morning by the sound of gun
 shots, and, springing out of bed,
 beheld in an open pasture be- yond the stable yard the indomitable Miss HoIhster engaged in the pleasing pastime of breaking clay pigeons with a fowIing piece. Her Swedish maid stood by with a formidable pad of pa per, keeping score. A boy pulled the trap for her, and she threw up her gun and blazed away with a practiced hand. Her sms1B @sAghE stense figure. awaiting the launching of the target. the quick upbring of the gun as she sighted, and the pause following the firing of the shot, in which she bent forward rigidly watching the result, were features of a picture which would not have missed.
 will write 1t down here and be done with 1t, that it had been my good fortune to know many delightful wo- men, but have never known one more interesting or charming than Miss Oc- tavia Hollister. The spirit of deathless youth was in her heart, and youth s gay pennants huttered about her as the reports of her gun fell cheerily upon
 
 a challenge to all indolent souls.
 I made myself presentable as quickly as possible and went forth to report to her. She nodded pleasantly as I greet ed her immediately after she had SCOT ed a capital shot. A second gun was pro- duced. and saw that it was not with out satisfaction that she observed my lack of prowess. One out of five was the best could do, whereas she smash ed three with the greatest ease.
 -If had known you would be up so early should have sent coffee to your room,'' she remarked as we walked to- ward the house. ''Very likely your lack of luck with the birds is attributa ble entirely to the impoverished state of your stomach"
 Breakfast was served on a delight ful Run porch that had not before seen. Cecilia appeared promptly, having, in fact. been gathering fall flowers for some time, l judged, from the consid- erable armful of chrysanthemums, as- ters. dahlias and marigolds which we found her arranging for the table. She seemed in excellent spirits and greeted us most amiably.
 The mail arrived and was placed by Miss HoIlister's plate before we left
 
 velope containing cuttings from clip ping bureau. and she unused aloud upon these as she read:
 This persistent story of a sunken gaIIeon off the Bolivian coast sounds plausible, but fear it is the work of some bright young journalist. Our min ister in that benighted country doesn't take any stock in it I had 8 cable from him yesterday"
 She handed Cecilia a number of let ters, which the girl opened and then to my surprise meekly turned over to her aunt Miss Holltster surveyed them critically.
 .'I thought she remarked, 'that that young Henderson who was so attentive to you at Madrid was an imposter, and this note settles the matter. He ftrted outraReous1y with Hezelxiah behind your back He asks if he may call upon you here. If he were the nephew of Colonel tAbner Henderson of Roa- noke, as he represented himself to be, he would not ask if he might call upon you. but would have appeared at once in his proper person to pay his ad- dresses. AS for these other gentlemen, we need not discuss them Their ac- tfons must speak for them"
 Miss Hollister, having thus dismissed her niece's correspondents, rose and led the way to the library. Cecilia seemed in no wise depressed by her aunt's fling at MT. Henderson, who eyer he might be, but threw the notes upon the flames that blazed merrny in the fireplace
 I suggested immediately that as had come to Hopef1eId Manor to inspect the aues I should now be about my busi- ness, but to my surprise Miss Hollister evinced no interest whatever in the matter. Her tone and manner implied that the condition of her chimneys was wholly negligible
 There is no haste, Mr- Ames- I have suffered all my life from the i'll considered and hurried work of pro- fessionaI men As for my chimneys, 1 beg that you give me the result of your most serious deliberations At this hour I ride. Cecilia. will you dress 1m- mediately and accompany meT
 She disappeared at once, and stared ruuteIy after her. l am by no means an fdIer and this cool indifference to the value of my time would ordinarily have enraged me, but l believe laugh ed. and when I turned to Cecilia found her smiling.
 Pm glad. MT Ames, that you are person of humor. It is no joke that my aunt is a believer in thoroughness, ready to talk of chimneys she will subject you to a most rigid examina- ~--=