Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-29
that sound? Where is Louise ?~

light We stood huddled together at
the head Of the circular staircase.
looking down into its shadows. There
was nothing to be seen, and it was
absolutely quiet down there. Then
we heard Halsey running up the main
staircase. He came quickly down the
hall to where we were standing.
There's no one trying to get in. I
thought I heard some one Shrek.
Who was it,"
Our stricken faces told him the
truth.
Some one screamed down there"
said. "And-and Louise is not in
her room"
With Jerk Halsey took the light
from Liddy and ran down the circular
staircase. I followed Kim, more slow
ly. My nerves seemed to be in state
of paralysis; could scarcely step. At
the foot of the stairs Halsey gave an
exclamation and put down the light.
Aunt Ray" he called sharply.
At the foot of the staircase, hud-
died in heap, her head on the lower
stair, was Louise Armstrong. She lay
limp and white, her dressings gown
dragging loose from one sleeve of her
night-dress, and the heavy braid of
her dark hair stretching its length a
couple of steps above her head, as if
she had slipped down.
She was not dead; Halsey put her
down on the floor and began to rub
her cold hands, while Gertrude and
Liddy ran for stimulants AS for me.
1 sat there at the foot of that ghostly
staircase-sat, because my knees
wouldn't hold me-and wondered
where it would all end. Louise was
still unconscious, but she was breath
ing better, and 1 suggested that we
get her back to bed before she came
to. There was something grisly and
horrible to me, seeing her there in
almost the same attitude and In the
same place where we had found her
brothers body. And to add to the
similarity, just then the hall clock,
far off, struck family three o'clock.
1t was four before Louise was able
to talk, and the first rays of dawn
were coming through her windows,
which faced the east, before she could
tell us cokerently what had occurred.
l give it as she told it. She lay
propped in bed, and Halsey sat beside
her, unrebuffed, and held her hand
while she talked.
Il was not sleeping WE'LL" she be-
gan, partly, think, because 1 had
slept during the afternoon. Liddy
brought me some hot milk at ten
o'clock and l slept until 10. Then
wakened and-I got to thinking about
things, and worrying, so l could not
go to sleep.
Il was wondering why I had not
heard from Arnold since the-since
saw him that night at the lodge. I
was, afraid he was i'll, be-
cause-he was to have done
something for me. and he had not
come back. 1t must have been three
when I heard some one rapping. I
sat up and listened, to be quite sure,
and the rapping kept up. was eau
tious, and I was about to call Liddy.
Then suddenly thought knew what
it was. The east entrance and circu-
lar staircase were always used by
Arnold when he was out late, and
sometimes, when he forgot his key, he
would rap and I would go down and
let him in. I thought he had come
back to sec mel didn't think about
the time, for his hours were always
erratic. But was afraid was too
weak to get down the stairs. The
knocking kept up, and just as was
about to call Liddy, she ran through
the room and out into the hall. got
up then, feeling weak and dizzy, and
put on my dressing-gown. If it was
Arnold, knew must see him.
1T was very dark everywhere, but,
OF course, knew my way. felt along
for the stair-rail, And went down as
quickly as / could. The knocking had
stopped. and was afraid was too
late. I got to the foot of the stair
case and over to the door on to the
east veranda. had never thought of
anything but that 1t was Arnold, until
I reached the door. 1t was unlocked
and opened about an inch. Everything
was black; 1t was perfectly dark out
side. l felt very queer and shaky.
Then I thought perhaps Arnold had
used his key; he did-strange things
sometimes, and turned around. Just
as reached the foot of the staircase
l thought I heard some one coming.
My nerves were going anyhow, there
in the dark, and could scarcely
stand. l got up as far as the third
or fourth step; then l felt that some
one was coming toward me on the
staircase. The next instant hand
met mine on the stair-rail. Some one
brushed past me, and screamed.
Then must have tainted"
That was Louise's story. There
could be no doubt of it's truth, and the
thing that made it inexpressibly awful
to me was that the poor girl had crept
down to answer the summons of a
brother who would never need her
kindly Offices again. Twice, now, with
out apparent cause, some one had en-
tered the house by means of the east
entrance; had apparently gone his
way unhindered through the house,
and gone out again as he had entered.
Had this unknown visitor been there
q third time. the night Arnold Arm
strong was murdered? Or fourth,
the time Mr.. Jameson had locked
some one in the clothes chute?
Sleep was impossible, think, for
any Of u.s. We dispersed finally to
battle and dress. leaving Louise little