Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
BY MARY ROBERTS R1NEHARr


they had been for the last forty eight
hours. and why Jack Bailey had not
returned with him. It seemed to me
that with fuller confidence from both
the children-they are always children
to mel should never be able to learn
anything.
AS I was finally getting ready for
bed Halsey came upstairs and knock
ed at my door. When had got into .
9negligee-I used to say wrapper before
Gertrude came back from SCHOOL,
let him in, He stood in the doorway
moment, and then he went into
agonies Of silent mirth sat down on
the side of the bed and waited in Sc
we're silence for him to stop, bur he
only seemed to grow worse. When he
had recovered he took me by the ell
bow and pulled me in front of tho mir
ror.
How to be beautiful" he quoted.
Advice to maids and matrons, by
Beatrice Fairfax" And then saw
myself. 1 had neglected to remove my
wrinkle eradicators, and presume
my appearance was odd believe that
ut is a woman's duty to care for her
looks, but it is much like telling "a
necessary falsehood-one must not be
found out. By the time got them off
Halsey was serious again, ana I lis
tened to his story.
Aunt Ray" he began, extinguish-
fling his cigarette on the back of INV
ivory hair-brush, 81 would give & lot
to tell you the whole thing. Butt
can't, fer day or so, anyhow. But
one thing might have told you Il long
time ago. If you had known 1t, you
would not have suspected me for mo-
ment of--of having anything TO do
I with the attack on Arnold Armstrong.
Goodness knows what | might do to
a fellow like that, if there was enough
provocation, and / ahd gun in my
! hand--under ordinary circumstances.
4 Butt care great deal about Louise
Armstrong, Aunt Ray, 1 hope to marry
her some day. Is 1t likely | would kill
her brother?"
Her stepbrother.' corrected mo,
of course, it isn't likely, or possible.
Why didn't you tell me, Halsey:"
well, there were two reasons" he
said slowly. zone was that you had a
girl already picked out for me -
! Nonsense" 7 broke in, and fel. my.
self growing red. II had, indeed, ono OF
the-but no matter
'sAnd the second reason" he pur
sued "was that the Armstrong; would
have nonesof me-.
THE Armstrong;" | repeated
with old Peter Armstrong driving &
stage across the mountains while your
: grandfather was war governor
well, Of course. the war governor
. dead, and out of the matrimonial mar
llet,' Halsey interrupted. And The
present Innes admits himself he isn't
good enough for-for Louise
i Exactly I said despairingly, "and
of course you are taken at your owr
valuation. The Illnesses are not always
SO self-depreciatory."
mot always, no. he said looking al
me with his boyish smile, "Fortunately
Louise doesn't agree with her family
She's willing to take me, war COVER
nor or no. provided her mother con
sents. She isn't overly fond OF he
stepfather, but she adores her mother
And now, can't you see where thi!
thing puts me. Down and out, with al
Of them
But the whole thing is absurd
argued. "And, besides, Gertrude''
, sworn statement that you left hefor,
Arnold Armstrong came would clea
you at once
Halsey got Il pand began to pace th'
room, and the air of cheerfulness drop
ped like mask.
she can't swear it." he said finally
/. "Gertrude's story was true as far as |
went, but she didn't tell everything
ARNOLD Armstrong came here at two
thirty-came into the billiard room
and left in five minutes. He came L
ring-something.
"Halsey," l cried "you must tell m
! the whole truth. Every time see
: way for you to escape you block
! yourself with this wall of mystery
! What did he bring?"
"a telegram--for Bailey" he said
ut came by special messenger fror
S town, and was-most important
9 Bailey had started for here, and tn
}. messenger had bone back to the city
The steward gave it TO Arnold, VIII
+ had been drinking all day and couldn
sleep, and was going for a stroll in tn
|. direction of Sunnyside.'
u "And he brought it,"
Z Eyes"
e What was in the telegram"
!! 81 can tell you-as soon as certai
e things are made public, 1t is emily
. matter Of days now" gloomily
a And Gertrudes story of telephon
" message?"
I Poor Trude-" he half Whispers
e Poor loyal little girl, Aunt Ray, ther
was no such message. No doubt 70,
detective already knows that and di
h credits all Gertrude told him."
It and when she went back, it W.
/ to get-the telegram"
Probably" Halsey said slowl
IS when you get to thinking about
IS Aunt Ray. it looks bad for all three
n us, doesn't it? And yeti will tai
Il my oath none of us even inadvertent
killed that poor DEVIL
y 81 looked at the closed door in
it Gertrude's dressingroom, and lowere
2" my voice.
t, The same horrible thought keel
recurring to me-" whispered. "Hs
d, sey, Gertrude probably had your 7
1t volver she must have examined