The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-07-31

YOU, but would have appeared at once
in his proper person to pay MS ad'
dresses AS for these other gentlemen.
we need not discuss thepl' The'r ac'
lions must speak for. them.
Miss Hollister, having thus dismissed
her niece's correspondents. rose anu
led the way to the library. Cecilia
seemed in no wise depressed by her
annt's fling at Mr.. Henderson. Who
over he might be, but threw the notes
mon the flames that blaZed merrlly 10
the fireplace.
suggested immediately that as ! mad
come to Hopefeld Manor to inspect the
Anes | should now be about my bust
ness. but to my surprise Miss HOLSTER
avinced 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. !
have suffered all my life from the III
considered and hurried work OF pro-
! fessional men. As for my 'chimneys'
bec that you give me the result OF your
most serious deliberations. At this
hour I ride. Cecilia. will you dress I'M
mediately and accompany me!'
She disappeared at once. and stared
mutelv after her. am by no means
an ,dier. and this cool indifference to
the value of my time would ordinarily
have enraged me. but ! believe laugh.
ed. and when turned to Ceclha
found her smiling.
"l'm clad, Mr.. Ames. that you are q
person of humor. 1t ia no joke that
nv aunt is a believer In thoroughness'
and one of these days when she IS
ready to, talk Of chimneys she Will
subject you to most rigid examina'
don"
zone Of these days? Why. l have
looked at the timetable, and it Is my
present intention to take the 1908
into town. ! have appointments at
nv Office for the afternoon. assure
you. Miss HOLSTER. that I'm a man OF
engagements, particularly at this sea-
SON." a .,,a
me Of Fortner. the painter. and his
detention ut Newport by Miss Octavla
HOLSTER. had no intention OF being
immured in any such fashion. and
was about to protest further when
Cecilia took step toward me and
after a glance at the door spoke In
low tone and with great earnestness.
"Nr. Ames. have every reason to
believe that you are gentleman. and
in that confident belief I'm going to
ask a favor Of you. You have said
that you know Hartley Virgins WE'LL"
II know no man better. You might
not have inferred 1t from his manner
last night. hut he was undoubtedly
surprised aud embarrassed b. my
presence and did not act quite like
himself"
II think l understand the cause Of
that. II ! should ask you to see him
today and give him message for ME
could you do SOP"
1T will he an honor to serve you
and a very simple matter. as | should
see him on my own account If he ts
still in the neighborhood.'
He Ia doubtless at the Prescott
Arms. My message is verbni one.
Please urge him not to make any ef-
fort to see me and not to call here
again. But at the same time. IS the
chimney smoked just as we were
about to be left alone last night,
think-I think"-she hesitated a mo-
ment-"you may say that his interests
have not been jeopardized by his te-
merity in calling"
In her pause before concluding this
curious commission her eyes searched
mine deeply. and ! felt that she had
not lightly intrusted me with this
singular errand. Her dark eyes held
mine an instant after she had spoken.
Then she smiled. and her face showed
relief.
ASK for anything you want. Aunt
Octavia desptses motors. so there's no
car here. but you will find plenty Of
horses and traps. Order whatever
pleases you. shall expect to meet
you at dinner II not at luncheon. and
so"-she smiled again-"will Aunt o.
tavia."
She nodded to me from the door, and
I heard her running lightly upstairs
Left to my own devices / rang the
bell and ordered the library Ore extin.
guished and the hearshsc}eaned This.
required little time. but the house
man obeyed me readily. and soon.
clad in my professional overalls and
jumper. was going carefully over the
due whose behavior had been 90 unac.
countable the previous night. Guided
by the servant. l inspected the three
freplaces In the upper chambers that
were served by 6ues in this chimney
and finally dropped my torch and
plumb line from the chimney pot.
Never In all my experience had seen
better dues. But had the ashes
thrown out of the dump In the cellar
and found the chute in perfect order.
l learned BY inquiry that the other
nues worked perfectly. but never
theless scrltinized them carefully.
My freedom Of the house afforded an
excellent opportunity for study Of
it, beautiful construction. It wan
modern in every sense, with no dark.
mysterious corners in which COLLINS