The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-05-15
THE SIEGE OF THE
SEVEN SUITORS
Continued from Preceding Page

examined: then by Miss Octavia's or
ders we carefully returned everything
TO the chest. Several packets of let
tiers we did not open.
Arnold" she said when we had
closed the chest. will you and Mr.
Pepperton kindly carry that box to my
room? No servants hand shall touch
1t. and ! shall myself give 1t to Mr..
Virgins Mt the earliest opportunity"
We had lost track Of time In those
hidden rooms. preserved by the within
of one man that the secret Of another
might be discovered. and found with
surprise. after the chest had been car
ried TO Miss Octayia's apartments. that
1t was after 7 O'Clock We had been in
the hidden rooms for more than three
hours.
I'VE shall have much TO talk about
tonight. and l fancy we are all good
deal shaken. It's not often We receive
letter from a dead man. so we shall
admit no callers tonight unless. in
deed. Mr. Virgins should chance to
come" announced Miss Octayia. The
next time Hartley Virgins visits this
house he shall come as a conquering
hero"
Il hope So" replied Cecilia brokenly.
We were still at dinner when the
cards of Dick and the other suitors l
had last seen at the Prescott Arms
were brought in but Virgins made no
sign. and | wondered.
The man who looked after my needs
handed me note the next morning
which added fresh hazards to Cecilia's
already perilous plight.
Left with the gardener before Q
O'Clock by a boy from the village.
Said it was most confidential. sir
waited till he had left the room be-
fore opening it 1t read:
Gooseberry Bungalow.
Before Breakfast.
Dear Chimneys-Pep stopped here yes
terday 10 see B H. He and C. old pals.
Watch him. Where's Wig? H. H.
The information she conveyed was
startling enough We had been deal
ing with a company of suitors outside
the barricade. now came warning of
the presence of strange knight with
in the gates who greatly multiplied
the perils of the situation. The COM
pact among the suitors at the inn was
a thing of the past. and | now ex-
pected them to exercise all the in
genuity of which desperate lovers are
capable in pressing their claims. The
fact that both Virgins and Pepper
ton were old friends Of mine did not
make my task easier. I not only felt
it incumbent on me to prevent Dick.
the holder of the clew. from taking adj
vantage of it. but knowing Cecilia's
own attitude of mind and heart toward
Virgins | wished TO save Pepperton
the pain of rejection if it could be
done
But what did Hezekiah mean by the
question with which she ended her
note? If Virgins smarting under Ce-
elias treatment of him the day before.
had quit the field here was pretty
how'd -ye-do. Miss Octavia's refusal
to countenance telephones made it nee
essary for me to leave Hopefield TO
learn what had become of Virgins,
and | realized that | must act prompt
ly if saved the day for him. His con-
duct first and last had been spiritless.
and l was out of patience with him.
1t seemed impossible TO formulate any
plan amid these multiplying uncertain
ties. If Virgins had decamped Dick
knew it and would lay his plans ac-
cordingly. | felt that it was base in
gratitude on Virgins part to ask me
to watch his interests while he went
roaming indifferently over the country
One or two consoling reflections re-
NAMED. however-Dick believed me to
be sutton for Cecilia's hand. and this
doubtless caused him considerable I'M
easiness. and he did not know that
Pepperton. whose acquaintance with
had to be reckoned with. wished
Pepperton had kept out of it.
Breakfast that morning was inter
minably long. Miss Octavia was never
more thoroughly amusing. never more
drolly inadvertent She attacked Pep
architecture and in particular took him
to task for some house be had built at
Newport which she pronounced the
most hideous pile of marble on Ameri-
can soil
When we left the table at about half
past 10 Miss Octavia insisted that we
must visit the kennels. A friend had
Just sent her a fine Airedale. and she
wished TO make sure the kennel mas
ter was treating the dog properly. Lat
er we were all to ride.
made haste to excuse myself. say
ing that personal matters required at
tention.
Certainly. Arnold; you shall do as
you like. Mr.. Pepperton is difficult
bird to catch. so we hope for you at
luncheon. and of course we expect you
for dinner"
Pepperton looked at me inquiringly. |
| judged that he had known Miss DC
tavia a good many years-the tone of |
their intercourse was intimate. and vet |
he plainly was Mt loss to understand I
lust how came to be so thoroughly es