Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-02-03

ttttAiI toNuiu Abt hOott II Aht II
had risen and stood close behind Ce-
ella. whose gaze was bent rather &C
cuslngly upon me
A dark thought had crossed my mind.
As our eyes met l felt that she bad
read my suspicions and did not wholly
reject them. Henderson was vaiiantly
poking the logs. while one of two of
the other men ave him the benefit of
their advice. ] crossed the hall to the
dra wing room. but no one was there.
! went back to the billiard room. but
saw nothing of Miss Octavia. Cecilia
had rung for the fOotman. and | passed
him In the hall on his way to answer
her summons. ! stopped him with an
inquiry on my lips. but | could not ask
the question. Even in my perplexity
as to the cause Of the chimney's re-
markable performances ] did not so
far forget myself as to communicate
my suspicion to a servant
Nothing. Thomas" / said. and the
man passed on.
1t was possible. Of course, that Miss
Octavia knew more than she cared to
tell about the erratic ways of the II
brary chimney, or she might indeed be
the cause Of It's vagaries. Sufficient
time had elapsed after retirement from
the library to allow her to gain the
roof and clap a STOPPER on the chin.
Dey pot. This did not. however. nc
count for the fact that on the previous
evening she had been present In the
library when the snIne chimney had
manifested a similar sulkiness. vas
still pondering these things when |
beard loud laurhte, from the library
Ind on returning found the logs again
blazing In the fireplace. from which the
smoke r0re demurely in the fue.
This fireplace IL like = geyser, Mr..
Amea." said Cecilia. and spurts smoke
At regular intervals As l remember.
the clock on the stair was striking .
last night when the smoke poured out.
and there-it II striking 8 now"
She tossed her bend slightly. and thh
IA l thought. In dl-daip OF the sts-
picion that must still have shown itself
. little stubbornly in my face.
l withdrew again In = few minutes
and followed the great chimney's
course upward. Miss Octavia's apart
menta were ut the !-Gnt of the house,
her sitting room windows looking out
Upon the Italian garden. Her doors
we're closed. but I knew from my ex-
animation in the morning that the due
Of her fireplace tapped the chimney
that rose from the drawing room and
had nothing whatever to do with the
library chimney.
From the fourth floor l gained the
spection Of the house In the morning.
The smoke from the library chimney
was rising In the crisp. still air blithe-
~. l leaned upon the crenelatfons
and looked of across the hills. enjoy
Ing the loneliness of the sky. In which
the planets throbbed superbly. There
was nothing to be learned here. and |
crept back to the trap door through
which l had come. made it fast and
continued on down to the library.
There somewhat to my surprise !
found that In my absence all but
Hume had taken their departure. AS
l paused unseen in the doorway l
caught words that were clearly not IN
tended for my ear.
Cecilia sat by the long table near the
fireplace. Hume stood before her. his
arms folded.
you are kind. You do me great
honor. Professor Hume. but under no
circumstances can l become your
wife,"
retrented hastily to the billiard
room, where ! took a cue from the
rack and amused myself for perhaps
sfteen minutes, when. bearing the
outer door close and knowing that
Hume had departed with his congee.
l returned to the library.
Cecilia sat where ! had left her. and
at first glance | thought she was read
Ing. But she turned quickly as l
crossed the room. She held In her
hand an oblong silver trinket not larg-
er than q card case. A short pencil
similar to those affixed to dance cards
Wdo utluSbSo W ~ ny StlHbt toid'
and she had. | inferred. been making
a notation OF some kind N a leaf of
the silver bound booklet. Even after
she had looked up and smiled at me
her eyes sought the page before her.
Then she closed the covers and clasp
ed the pretty toy In her hand. An
though to divert my attention she re-
Cured at once to the chimney In q
vein Of light irony.
"You see." she said. there is ample
eason for your remaining here. You
would hardly find anywhere else so In
teresting a test Of yOnr professions
powers az Hopefeld Manor offers. The
house IL haunted beyond question. and
| can zee that you are not n Il to
leave two defenseleSs women to the
mercy Of a ghost who drops down chin.
neys at will"
| suffered her char for several min
utes. then | asked point blank:
Pardon me. but have you the slight
est idea that Miss Octavia IL behind
this? 1t Is not possible that she was
responsible last night. But she was
not ON his floor awhile ago when the
smoke poured in here. | should be
| glad to hear your opinion"
II saw that you suspected her before
| you left the room. Mr.. AmeS. and
must say that the idea is In no way
creditnble to you. If you %entertain such
a suspicious you must supply q motive