Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-07-03

!unrheon ut t.-, hnU~n NJ = trirud an
whom called r"riliH had left me
to continue he" ri il, a,arr r'd ou my
way horne ! rh"ughr would ride ny
the Pros, ut Arms ~ sac how the
guests were flriu@ Yoa >e'"-Sh
paused and gave tvitrh 10 her hat
to prolons my suspenSe-"you see, /
own the l'reScotV Arms"
With this she rode away. and not
caring To risk further meeting with
the angry SuitorS from whom Miss
Octavia had rescued me by 50 narrow
Il margin. set OF across the ticld 10.
ward Hopetield. From H.. >tile saw
Miss Octavia in the hiyiN ny half
mile distant. sending her horse along
at spirited "antcr reached the
house without further adventures. was
served with a cold luncheon in my
room, and by the time l had changed
my clothes Miss Octavia sent me word
that Pepperton had arrived.
Miss Octavia and the architect were
conversing earnestly when l reached
the library. and from the abruptness
with which they ceased on my en-
trance | imagined that l mad been the
subject Of their talk. Pepperton is not
only one of the finest architects Amer
lea has produced but one of the JOLT
est of fellows. He SraSped my hand
cordially and pointed to the fireplace.
so you've nj last found one of my
jobs to overhaul. have YOU? You
mustn't let this get out on me. old
man: it would shatter my reputation"
please observe that the tlue is draw
ing spIendidly now" | answered "A
ghost had been strolling up aud down
the chimney, but now that have
found his lair he will not trouble Miss
HOLSTERS tireplaces again"
Il have waited for Your arrival, Mr.,
Pepperton. that we might have the
benefit of your knowledge of the house
in following the trail of this ghost
which Arnold has discovered. But we
must give Arnold credit for effecting
the discovery alone and unaidcd. l de
stroyed the plans obtained from your
office 50 that Arnold might be fully
tested as to his capacity for managing
the most difficult situations"
When Miss Octavia first referred to
me us Arnold. Pepperton raised his
brows Il tritle; the second time he
glanced at me laughingly. He seemed
greatly amused by Miss Octavia'S seri-
BUSINESS. but her amiable attitude to
ward me clearly puzzled him.
1T takes good man to uncover a
thing l try to hide. | said nothing to
you. Miss Hollister, about the retention
within the walls of this house of parts
of an Old one that formerly occupied
the site for the reason that l thought
you might refuse to buy the estate
The gentleman for whom | built Hope
field was SuperStitiOuS, as many men
of advanced years are, rs to the build
ing of IA new house. and as the site he
chose is one of the finest In the country
he compelled me to construct this house
which is the most satisfactory | have
built-in such manner that enough OF
the old should be kept intact to soothe
his superstitous soul with the idea
that he had merely altered an old
house, not built Il new one. AS it is
the architects business to yield to
such caprices, | Obeyed him strictly.
So there are two rooms of an old farm
house hidden under the east wing, and
it amused me once | had got into it to
preserve part of the old stairway and
connect the retained chambers with
Al all ,T boz 70
patch the original stair, which was
only one flight, with discarded lumber
from the old house, but l tiatter myself
that managed it neatly. ! even saved
the old nails to avert the wrath of the
evil spirits. When the umbrella and
dyspepsia cure man died-for he did
die, as you know believed the secret
had died with him, as he was very SEN
sitive about his SuperStitions. Most of
the laborers on that part of the job
were brought from Il long distance, and
l supposed they never ready knew just
what we were doing. l might have
known, though, that if n fellow as clev-
er as Ames got to pecking at the house
the trick would be discovered. But the
chimney, old man-what on earth was
the matter with it?'
ut will never happen again, and
promised the ghost never to tell how
it was DONE
you were quite right in doing that,
Arnold, ghosts secrets should be
sacred; but let us now proceed to the
hidden chambers" said Miss HOLSTER
rising without further ado.
! She summoned Cecilia, to whom we
explained matters briefly, and at Pep
| perton's suggestion the four of us went
! directly to the fourth floor. so that
| Miss Octavia might see the whole con
| trivance in the most effective manner
! possible.
My awkward pen falters in the at
/ tempt to convey any idea of Miss DC.
tavia's delight in PeppertOns revela-
! ton She kept repeating her admira'
ton of his genius, and her praise OF