The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-04-12
CHAPTER VII.
! Meet Hexskiah.

| eon, anu On tue way DdCk 70
w the Inn, after inquiring my
plans for returning to town,
he proposed that delay my departure
until the following day. What he
wanted, and he put II bluntly. was a
J friend at court, and as had seeming
ly satisfied him Of my entire good faith
and Of my devotion to his interests he
begged that prolong my stay In Miss
HOLSTERS house, giving as my excuse
the condition of the chimneys OF Hope
field Manor He brushed aside my
plea Of other engagements and appeal.
ed to our old friendship. He was tax.
ing his troubles hard. and felt that
he really needed counsel and support
In the involved state Of his affairs. l
did not see how my continued pres
ence under Miss HOLSTERS roof could
materially assist him, and the thought
of remaining there when there was no
work to be done was repugnant to my
sense of professional honor, but he was
so persistent that finally yielded.
While we ate luncheon | sought by
every means to divert his thoughts to
other channels. After we were seated
In the dining room four other men fol-
lowed, exercising considerable care In
placing themselves as far from one an.
other rs possible. A few moments lat
er Il motor hummcd into the driveway.
and we heard its owner ordering his
chauffeur to return to town and hold
himself subject to telephone call. This
latest arrival appeared shortly In the
dining room and, surveying the rest OF
us with disdainful air. sought a Ia
BILE In the remotest corner OF the room.
Others appeared until eight In all had
entered. The presence of these men at
this hour. their air Of aloofness and
the care they exercised in isolating
themselves interested me- They APP
peared to be gentlemen. They We're,
indeed, suggestive of the ampler met
ropolitan world. and one of them was
Enthusiastically foreigner.
While Virgins appeared to ignore
them, l was conscious that he reviewed
the successive arrivals with every
manifestation of contempt. One of
these glum gentlemen seemed familiar.
| could not at once recall him, but
something in his manner leased my
memory for moment before placed
him. Then 1t dawned upon me that
he was the third man | had met in
the field overhanging the garden after
my eavesdropping experience the day
before. thought 1t as well, however.
not to mention this fact. or to speak Of
the man had seen so grimly posted In
the midst of the cornfeld. was an
observer, a locker on. at Hopeheld. and
my immediate business was the col
lecting Of information.
"Will you kindly tell me. Wiggy, who
these strange gentlemen are and just
what has brought them here at this
hour?"
II know them-they IRE guests of the
inn. Most of them were more or less
companions In our procession across
Europe last summer. The one in the
tan suit is Henderson-you must have
heard of him. The short dark chap OF
atrabiious countenance Is John Stew
art Dick. who pretends to be philoso
per. AS for the others
| he ulsmlsSeu tnein WIFI jerk VI th'
head. My wits struggled with his ex
PLANTATION. II Is my wish to reduce In
formation TO plain terms.
Are these gentlemen, then, your ri
walls for the hand of Miss Cecilia Hol
lister? If so, they are solemn ban'
of sultors, must confess"
"You have hit 1t. Ames. They ar
suitors, assembled from all parts Of tn
world"
Mice looking fellows, except tn
chap with the monocle, who has JUS
\ ordered rather more liquor than gen
\ tleman should at this hour"
THAT is Lord Arrowood. / hav
feared ut times that Miss Octavia IA
vored him."
POSSIBLY, but not likely. But no,
\ long is this thing going to last?
you fellows are going to hang on her
until Miss Cecilia HOLSTER has chose
y one Of you for her husband l shut
der for your nerves. imagine tbs
any one of these gentlemen Is likely
begin shooting across his plate at an
minute. Such a situation would b.
come intolerable very quickly II I wer
In the game and forced to lodge here. "
~ hope" replied Virgins with hea
"that you don't imagine these fellow
/ can crowd me out. I've paid for
y months lodging in advance. and IL yo
win stand by me I'm going to win"
"a spoken like man, my dear WI
n ginsl You may count on me TO Il
Il sweet or bitter end, even II pull dow
q all the superb chimneys with whiC
:" Pepperton adorned that house up 20
der"
He silently clasped my hand. A Il
tie later | telephoned from the inn
my office explaining my absence M
instructing my assistant to visit Sc
eral pressing clients, and - igstructC