Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-13
CHAPTER v.
oertrude's Engagement.


duced themselves as the coroner of
the county and two detectives from
the city. The coroner led the way at
>pnce to the locked wing, and with the
aid Of one Of the detectives examined
the rooms and the body. The other
detective, after short scrutiny Of the
dead man, busted himself with the
outside Of the house. It was only aft
or they had got fair idea of things
% they were that they sent for me.
! received them in the living room,
and had made up my mind exactly
rvhat to tell. had taken the house
Sr the summer, said, while the Arm
ropgs were in California. In spite
q rumor among the servants about
orange noises-I cited Thomas-noth-
ing had occurred the first two nights.
On the third night believed that
some one had been in the house; !
had heard crashing sound, but be-
ing alone with one maid had not in.
vestigated. The house had been
locked in the morning and apparent
~ undisturbed.
Then, as clearly as could, related
how, the night before, shot had
reused US; that my niece and / had
investigated and found a body; that
did not know who the murdered man
was until Mr.. Jarvis from the club
informed me, and that knew Of no
reason why Mr.. Arnold Armstrong
should steal into his fathers house at
night. should have been glad to al
low him entree there at any time.
"Have you reason to believe, Miss
Innes," the coroner asked, that any
member Of your household, imagining
Mr.. Armstrong was burglar, shot
him in self-defense?"
IT have no reason for thinking 3d.
said quietly.
"rYour theory is that Mr.. Armstrong
was followed here by some enemy
and shot as he entered the house?"
Il don't think have a theory" ]
said. "The thing that has puzzled me
is why Mr.. Armstrong should enter
his fathers house two nights In sue
cession, stealing in like thief, when
he needed only to ask entrance to be
admitted"
The coroner was Q very silent man;
he tookssom notes after this, but he
seemed anxious to make. the next
train back to town. He set the In
quest for the following Saturday, gave
Mr.. Jameson, the younger of the two
detectives. and the more intelligent
looking, few instructions, and, after
gravely shaking hands with me and
regretting the unfortunate affair. took
his departure, accompanied by the
other detective.
was just beginning to breathe
freely when Mr.. Jameson, who had
been standing by the window, came
over to me.
"The family consists of yourself
alone. Miss Innes?"
"My niece is here" said.
"There is no one but yourself and
your niece?"
my nephew" had to moisten
my lips.
ooh, nephew. I should like to
see him, II he is here"
"He is not here just now" said as
quietly as could. "I.expect him
at any time"
"He was here yesterday evening, ]
believer"
Moves"
Didn't he have guest with him ?
Another mani"
"He brought friend with him to
stay over Sunday, a Mr.. Bailey"
"Mr. John Bailey, the cashier Of the
Traders bank. believe" And knew
that some one at the Greenwood .clst
had told. when did they leave?"
VERY early-1 don't know at jus,
what time"
Mr.. Jameson turned suddenly and
looked at me.
said. you say your nephew, and MT
Bailey were in the house last night
and yet you and your niece, with somee
women servants. found the body
Where was your nephew?"
I was entirely desperate by tina,
time.
II do not know" ! cried, ''but be
sure of this: Halsey knows nothing
Of this thing, and no amount of cir
cumstantial evidence can make an in
nocent man guilty"
'Sit down." he said, pushing for
ward a chair "There are some things
have to tell you, and, in return
please tell me all you know. Believe
me. things always come out. In the
first place, Mr.. Armstrong was shot
from above. The bullet was '1ired al
close range, entered below the shout
der and came out, after passing
through the heart, well down the
back. In other words. believe the
murderer stood on the stairs and fret
down. In the second place, 1 found
on the edge Of the billiard table 8
charred cigar which had burned itsel
partly out. and cigarette which hat
consumed itself to the cork'tip. Meth
er one had been more than lighted
then put down and forgotten. Have
you any idea what It was that made
your nephew and Mr.. Bailey leave
their cigars and their game, take out
the automobile without calling the
chauffeur, and all that at--let me see
certainly before three O'clock in the
morning?''
Il, don't know" I said, but depend
un5it. Mr.. Jameson. Halsey will zbe
back himself to explain everything"
i sincerely hope SO, hesaid. "Miss
Times, has 1t occurred to you that Mr.
Bailey might know something Of
this?"