The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-07-02


, direction" l cried impolitely. "You
must be Ahi"
4 My strainng eyes had located a
small, obong blotch in the curve of
the tower not more than twenty feet
from where | stood, and on a direct
line with my balcony. True, could
not at first see face but as my eyes
grew a little more accustomed to the
darkness, ! fancied could distinguish
shadow that might pass for one.
, 81 didn't know that little window
was there" cried, puzzled.
at ism IT," she said "It is secret
loop hole, and it isn't Lere except in
) times of great duress. See! can close
it." The oblong blotch abruptly dis
! appeared, only to reappear an instant
) later. | was beginning to understand.
Of course it was in the beleaguered
east wing! ~ hope didn t startle GU
q moment ago"
} resolved to be very stiff and formal
about it. "May | enquire, madam,
I what you are doing in my hou-my
castles"
"You may"
"Well," said I, seeing the point,
what are you doing here?"
~ am living here" she answered
distinctly.
} $50 / perceive" said I, rather too
distinctly.
"And | have come down to ask
simple tiny little favor of you, Mr..
) Smart" she resumed.
"You know my name9" / cried, sur
prised.
81 am reading your last book Are
you going'"
"Just moment, please" l called
)ut, struck by splendid idea. Reach
l ling inside the window / grasped the
Y lanthorn and brought its rays to bear
Y upon the-perfectly blank wall! |
a stared open-mouthed and unbelieving
7 "Good heaven! Have been dreaming
= all this!" l cried aloud
!, My gaze fell upon two tiny holes in
the wall, exposed to view by the bright
e Hight of my lamp They appeared to be
! precisely in the center of the spot so
r recently marked by the elusive oblong.
= Even as i stared at the holes, slim
+ Iobject that ! at once recognized as a
t finger protruded from one of them and
v wiggled at me in merry but exceed
e lingly irritating manner.
n Sensibly l restored the lanthorn to
n Its place inside the window and waited
flor the mysterious voice to resume.
t care you so homely as all that?' l
{ demanded when the shadowy face look
: led out once more. Very clever of me ,
e ! thought.
g "I am considered rather cookbook
: ling" she replied, serenely. "Please
S Idon t do that again. 1t was very rude
f of you, Mr.. Smart -
ooh. I've seen something of you be-
+ lfore this" ! said "You have long,
n beautiful brown hair-and a dog. :"
t She was silent.
Y AZ am sure you will pardon me If l
= very politely ask who you areg'' L went
e lon.
= "That question takes me back to the
favor. Will you be so very, very kind
t as to cease bothering me, Mr.. Smarts
t lit is dreadfully upsetting, don't you
d know, feeling that at any moment you
; may rush in and"
v "I like that. In my own castle,
Itoo!''
II "There is ample room for both OF
|us,u she said sharply. 81 shan't be
a here for more than month or SIX
}. weeks, and l am sure we can get along
!, very amably under the same roof Tor
that length of time if you IL only for
Y lget that / am here"
~ can't very well do that, madam.
o You see, we are making extensive re-
+ pairs about the place and you are prov
ling to be a serious obstacle. l cannot
| grant your request 1t will grieve me
h Enormously if l am compelled to smoke
y you out, but fear"
t "Smoke me out!"
e "Perhaps with sulphur" went on
|. Iresolutely. "It is said to be very
defective.
+ "surely you will not do anything SO
horrid."