The newspaper., 1909-11-26


blanket"
She drew herself up quickly, as il
in protest, but she found nothing to
say. She stood smoothing the folds OF
her dead black dress, her face as
white as chalk above it, Then she
seemed to make up her mind.
Very well, Mr.. Innes,' she said
Perhaps you would better go. | have
done all could
And then she turned and went up
the circular staircase. moving slowly
and with a certain dignity. Below,
the three of us stared at one another
across the Intervening white blanket
Upon my word" Halsey broke out
this place is walking nightmare
have the feeling that we three out
siders who have paid our money for
the privilege of staying in this spook.
factory. are living on the very top OF
things. We're on the lid. so to speak
Now and then we get sight OF the
things inside, but we are not a part
OF them
DO you suppose" Gertrude asked
doubtfully. that she really meant that
blanket for Thomas?"
Thomas was standing beside that
magnolia tree" Halsey replied,
when l ran after Mrs. Watson. It's
down to this. Aunt Ray. Rosie's bas.
ket and Mrs. Watson's blanket can
only mean one thing: There is some
body hiding or being hidden in the
lodge. 1t wouldn't surprise me if we
hold the key to the whole situation
now. Anyhow. I'm going to the lodge
TO investigate"
Gertrude wanted to go, too. but she
looked so shaken that / insisted she
should not. / sent for Liddy TO help
her TO bed, and then Halsey and ]
started for the lodge. The grass was
heavy with dew. and. man-like. Halsey
chose the shortest way across the
lawn. Half way. however. he stopped
Wed better go by the drive" he
said. This isn't lawn; it's a field
Where's the gardener these days?-
There isn't any" / said meekly.
We have been thankful enough. so
far. TO have our meals prepared and
served and the beds aired. The gard
ener who belongs here is working at
the club"
Remind me tomorrow to send out
a man from town" he said 4 know
the very fellow"
record this scrap of conversation.
just as / have tried to put down any
thing and everything that had bear
ing on what followed. because the
gardener Halsey sent the next day
played an important part in the events
.f k. faxtr
eliminated as you know. by stirring
the country profoundly 1t that time
however. | was busy trying to keep
my skirts dry. and paid little or no
attention to what seemed then a most
trivial remark.
At the lodge everything was quiet
There was light in the sitting room
downstairs. and a faint CLEAN. as II
from a shaded lamp. in one of the up
per rooms. Halsey stopped and ex-
amined the lodge with calculating
eyes
Il don't know. Aunt Ray" he said
dublously: this is hardly woman's
AFFAIR II there's scrap Of any kind.
you hike for the timber Which was
Halsey's solicitous care for me. grt
into yernacular
"l'll stay right here I said. and
crossing the small veranda. now
shaded and fragrant with honey
suckle. ! hammered the knocker on
the door
Thomas opened the door himself
Thomas, fully dressed and in his Gus
tomafy health. had Tho blanket over
my arm.
. brought the blanket Thomas !
said: 4 am sorry you are so i'll
The old man stood staring ar mo
and then at the blanket His con
fusion under other circumstances
would have been ludlcrous.
What, Not liz" HaIsey said from
the step. Thomas. I'm afraid you've
been malingering
Thomas seemed to have been debat-
ing something with himself. Now he
stepped out on the porch and closed
the door gently behind MIN.
Il reckon you bettah come in Mis-
Innes.- he said speaking cautiously.
ITS got so | dunno what to do. and
it's boun' to come out some time er
ruther."
lie threw the door open then. and
stepped inside Halsey close behind.
In the sitting room the old negro
turned with quiet dignity to Halsey.