The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-08-28
beyond his indubitable

; rial factT'
Nothing beyond his indubitable
eligibility"
Then let me tell you what sus
pect. Both his names contain seven
letters. My sister is slightly cracked
as to the number seven. l swear to
you my belief that the fact that his
names contain seven letters each Is at
the bottom of all this. Incredible, my
dear sir, but wholly possible"
"Then, such being the case. why
doesn't she show her hand openly?
You send conjecture far when once
you entertain so absurd an idea"
You think my assumption unlike
Typ he asked eagerly
Il certainly do. Mr.. HOLSTER. You
may as we'll assume that as Virgins
Is specially favored in the number OF
letters in his singularly prosaic and un-
romantic name. it Is Miss HOLSTERS
plan to keep him dallying seven years"
He seized me by the arm and forced
me back against the battlements, then
stood of and eyed me fercely.
"You speak Of serving and Of service!
Will you tell me just why you are here
and what brings you into this affair?
What are you doing in my sisters
house, where have to come like
thief in the night to see one of my
own children?"
l fastened to declare my profession
and that had been summoned by Miss
HOLSTER to examine her chimneys. l
could not, however, tell him that until
my arrival the chimneys had behaved
themselves admirably.
you've admitted your friendship for
this Virgins person-thats enough,
he said when had concluded. II ad-
wise you to leave the house at once. l
tell you he's got to be eliminated from
the situation. Understand that do
not threaten you with violence, but l
will not promise to abstain from visit
ing heavy punishment upon that fel-
low. And you? A chimney doctor? l
am a man Of considerable knowledge
of the world, and say to you very
candidly that I don't believe there Is
any :-ch nrc:ecssion."
-"T6en let me tell you," l replied, not
without heat, that am a graduate In
architecture. l am your sisters guest,
and as she is perfectly competent to
manage her own affairs l shall stay
here as long as 1t pleases her to ask
me to remain. And now, one other
matter. How did you gain this roof
tonight, when by your own admission
you are not on such terms with your
sister as would justify you in entering
it openly?'
The moonlight did not fail to convey
the contempt in his face, but l thought
he grinned as he answered quietly:
."You don't seem to understand,
young man, that you are entitled TO no
explanations from me. You strike me
as singularly fresh young person. 1t
would be positive grief to me to feel
that my conduct had displeased you.
And now. as the night grows chill, l
shall beg you to precede me into the
house by the way you came"
But first" persisted, ''let me ask a
question. 1t is possible that you your
self have some preference among your
daughters several suitors, Mr.. Hollis
ter Would you object to telling me
which one you would choose for Miss
Cecilia?"
Beyond question the man for c.
ella, If have any voice in the matter,
is Lord Arrowood."
"Arrowood" l exclaimed. "You sur
prise me greatly. saw him at the
inn, and he seemed to me the most TO-
significant and uninteresting one Of the
lot" ."s%'"-'~
''That proves you a person Of poor
gifts of discernment, Mr.. Ames." And
bis tone and manner were quite rem
iniscent of bis sisters ways, and his
further explanation proved him even
more worthily the brother Of his SIS
ter. r.
"As I was obliged" he began, cow
ing to an unfortunate physical handi-
cap. to abandon my art. that Of ma
rine painter, l have given my atten-
don for a number Of years to the
study of the Irish situation. met
Arrowood by chance in the highway
yesterday, and found that he holds
exactly my ideas. which favor Irish
independence" This certainly had the
true HOLSTER touch.
"And TO-" Bassford Hollister con.
cluded, II naturally incline toward
Arrowood, though he is so poor that
he was obliged to come over in the
steerage to continue his wooing of my
daughter"
He let himself down into the dark
trunk room, waited for me courteously
and walked by my side to the stair
way, both Of US maintaining silence
l was deeply curious to know how he
had entered and whether he expected
to 60 down the front way and out the
main door. We kept together to the
third floor hall. could have sworn
| to that. Then suddenly, just as we
reached the stairway, out went the
lights, and we were in utter darkness.
I smothered an exclamation, clutched
my matches and struck light, and
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