Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-07-31
CHAPTER w.
Whera Is HajSev2

of fascination. Then she put out her
hands blindly, and thought she was
going to faint.
"He has killed him!" she muttered
almost inarticulately; and at that, be-
cause my nerves were going, l gave
her a good shake.
what do you mean?" l said fran
tically. There was a depth of grief
and conviction in her tone that was
worse than anything she could have
said. The shake braced her, anyhow,
and she seemed to pull herself togeth-
er. But not another word would she
say: she stood gazing down at that
gruesome figure on the floor, while
I8ddy. ashamed of her flight and
afraid to come back alone. drove be-
fore her three terrified women-serv-
ants into the drawing room. which was
as near as any of them would ven
ture.
Q Once in the drawing room, Gertrude
COLLAPSED and went from one faintins
spell into another. had all | could
do to keep Liddy from drowning mel
with cold water, and the maids hud-
died in a corner, as much use as so
many sheep. In short time. although
1t seemed hours. car came rushing
up. and Anne Watson, who had wait
led to dress, opened the door. Three
men from the Greenwood club, in all
Kinds of costumes, hurried in. l rec
Eognized a Mr.. Jarvis, but the others
were strangers.
"What's wrong?" the Jarvis man
asked we made a strange pic
sture, no doubt. Nobody hurt, is
Hhere?" He was looking at Gertrude.
seWorse than that, Mr.. Jarvis"
said. 81 think it is murder
At the word there was commotion.
The cook began to cry, and Mrs. Was-
son knocked over chair. The men
were visibly impressed.
"Not any member of the family?'
MIR Jarvis asked, when he had got his
breath.
mo" I said; and motioning Liddy
No look after Gertrude, led the WI
with a lamp to the card room door.
One of the men gave an exclamation,
md thew all hurried across the room.
Mr. Jarvis took the lamp from mel
remember that-and then, feeling my
self getting dizzy and light-headed.
closed my eyes. When | opened the'i,
their brief examination was over, and
Mr.. Jarvis was trying to put me IN a
chair.
aYou must get upstairs" he said
firmly, "you and Miss Gertrude TOP
This has been terrible SHOCK III
his own home, too"
II stared at him without comprehen-
sion. "Who is it," asked win am.
Guilty. There was band drawn tgat
around my throat.
at is Arnold Armstrong" he saia,
hooking at me oddly, "and he has been
murdered-in his fathers house"
After a minute gathered myself to
pether and Mr.. Jarvis helped me into
the living room. Liddy had got Ger
frude upstairs, and the two strange
men from the club stayed with the
body. The reaction from the shock
and strain was tremendous; / was col
iansed-and then Mr. Jarvis asked me
question that brought back my wan
Herring faculties.
s.Where is Halsey?" he asked.
"Halsey," Suddenly Gertrude's
stricken face rose before me-the
emnty rooms upstairs. Where was
Halsey?
aHe was here, wasn't he?" Mr. Jar
Wis persisted. "He stopped at the
club on his way over"
ssI-don't know where he is said
1eebly.
One of the men from the club came
In. asked for the telephone and |
co,ld hear him excitedly talking, say
ing something about coroners and
astoctivee. Mr.. Jarvis leaned over
to me.
s.Why don't you trust me, Miss IN
nes?. he said "If l can do anything
will. But tell me the whole thing.
did. finally, from the beginning
and when told OF Jack Bailey's be
ing in the house that night, he gave
long whistle.
81 wish they were both here" he
said when I finished whatever MAD
mrank took them away, it would lool
better if they were here. Especial
Ky"
Especially what?'
Especially since Jack Bailey anc
Arnold Armstrong were notoriousl.
bad friends 1t was Bailey who go
Arnold into trouble last spring,
something about the bank. And then
too"
GO on" I said. "If there is any
thing more, ought to know"
There's nothing more" he saiC
evasively. There's just one thing
we may bank on, Miss Innes. An.
court in the country will acquit maj
who kills an intruder in his house a
night. If Halsey-"
why, you don't think Halsey di
it," I exclaimed. There was quee
feeling Of physical nausea comin
over me.
mo, no, not at ALL" he said wit
forced cheerfulness. Come Miss Il
mes, you're ghost of yourself, and
am going to help You upstairs and ca
your maid. This has been too muc
for you"
Liddy helped me back to bed, an
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