The newspaper., 1909-11-12

nOrnlnS- 10 not DeneNe II, MISS
Innes. 1t is the story of a loving and
ingenious woman"
"And-this thing tonight"
May upset my whole view of the
case. We must give the benefit OF
every doubt after all We may. for
instance, come back to the figure on
the porch; if it was woman you saw
that night through the window, we
might start with other premises. Or
Mr.. Innes' explanation may turn us
in a new direction. 1t is possible that
he shot Arnold Armstrong as a burg.
lar and then fed, frightened at what
he had done. In any case, however,
/ feel confident that the body was
here when he left. Mr. Armstrong
left the club ostensibly for a moon
light saunter. about half after eleven
o'clock. 1t was three when the shot
was fired"
leaned back bewildered 1t seemed
to me that the evening had been full
of significant happenings. had | only
held the key. Had Gertrude been the
fugitive in the clothes chute? Who
was the man on the drive near the
lodge. and whose gold-mounted dress
ng-bag had l seen in the lodge sitting
room?
= II was late when Mr.. Jameson
7 finally got up to go. | went with him
TO the door. and together We stood
| looking out over the valley. Below
lay the village of Casanova, with its
Old World houses, its blossoming
trees and its peace. Above on the hill
across the valley were the lights of
the Greenwood club. It was even pos
sible to see the curving row of paral-
lei lights that marked the carriage
road. Rumors that had heard about
the club came back-of drinking, of
high play. and once. a year ago. of a
suicide under those very lights.
Mr.. Jameson left. taking short
cut to the village. and 1 still stood
there. 1t must have been after IL,
and the monotonous tick of the big
clock on the stairs behind me was the
only sound. Then l was conscious
that some one was running up the
drive. In a minute a woman darted
into the area of light made by the
open door. and caught me by the arm
1t was Rosie-Rosie in a state of COL
lapse from terror. and. not the least
important. clutching one of my Coal
port plates and silver spoon.
She stood staring into the darkness
behind. still holding the plate. l got
her into the house and secured the
plate: then | stood and looked down
at her where she crouched trembling
ly against the doorway.
Well | asked. didn't your young
man enjoy his meal?-
She couldn't speak. She locked at
the spoon she still heidi WASN'T SO
wouldn't chip-and then she stared at
me.
II appreciate your desire to have
everything nice for him. / went on.
but the next time. you might take
the Limoges china. It's more easily
duplicated and less expensive"
Il haven't a young man-not here"
She had got her breath now. as had
guessed she would. II have been
chased by a thief. Miss Innes"
Did he chase you out of the house
and back again." | asked
Then Rosie began to cry-not ST.
lently. but noisily. Historically. l
stopped her by giving her a good
shake.
What in the world is the matter
with you?" | snapped. Has the day
of good comomn sense gone by, Sit
up and tell me the whole thing"
Rosie sat up then. and SMILED.
Il was coming up the drive" she
began.
You must start with when you
went down the drive. with my dishes
and my silver" | interrupted. but.
seeing more signs of hysteria, | gave
Z in. Very well. You were coming up
the drive"
Il had a basket of-of silver and
dishes on my arm. and was carrying
the plate. because-because | was
afraid I'D break n PARKWAY up the
road man stepped out of the bushes.
and held his arm IKE this, spread out.
so l couldn't get past He said-he
said-'Not so fast. young lady: l
want you to let me see what's in that
/ basket"
She got up in her excitement and
took ho'd OF my arm.
1T was like this. Miss Innes." she
said. "and say you was the man.
When he said that. l screamed and
ducked under his arm like this. He
| ge