The newspaper., 1909-10-29


said when I finished. Whatever mad
prank took them away. 1t would look
better II they were here. Especially"
Especially what?"
Especially since Jack Bailey and
Arnold Armstrong were notoriously
bad friends. 1t was Bailey who got
Arnold into trouble last spring
something about the bank. And then,
too"
Go on" said. IF there is any
thing more, / ought to know"
There's nothing more" he said
evasively. There's just one thing we
may bank on. Miss Innes. Any court
in the country will acquit man who
kills an intruder in his house at
night If Halsey-"
Why. you don't think Haisey did
IT." l exclaimed. There was a queer
feeling OF physical nausea coming
over me.
NO. no. not at ALL" he said with
forced cheerfulness. Come. Miss In
mes. you're a ghost of yourself. and
! am going to help you upstairs and
call your maid. This has been too
much for you"
About six o'clock Gertrude came IN.
She was fully dressed. and | sat up
nervously.
Poor Aunty," she said What a
shocking tight you have had" She
came over and sat down on the bed.
and | saw she looked very tired and
worn.
is there anything new" I asked
nnxiously.
Nothing The car is gone. but War
IS at the lodge and knows nothing
about IL"
Well said. If ever get my
hands on Halsey lnnes shall not let
20 until ! have told him a few things.
When We get this cleared up. l am
going back 20 the city TO be quiet.
One more night like the last two will
end me. The peace OF the country
fiddiesticks,"
whereupon ! told Gertrude OF the
noises the night before. and the figure
on the veranda in the east wing As
an afterthought I brought out the
pearl cun-link
4 have no doubt now. said. that
Il was Arnold Armstrong the night
before last. too. lie had n key no
doubt but why he should steal into
his fathers house ! cannot imagine.
lie could have come with my permis-
sion easily enough Anyhow. whoever
81 was that night left this little SOU
venir"
Gertrude took one look at the cur.
link and went as white as the pearls
in it she clutchcd NJ the foot Of the
bed and stood staring, As for me. I
was quite as astonished as she was.
Where did-you-find it," she
asked finally. with a despe -ate effort
Mt calm. And while toli her she
stood looking out of the window with
n look ! could not fathom nn her face
II was a relief when Mrs Watson
tapped at the door and brought me
some tea and toast. The cook was in
bed completely demoralzed. she re-
ported. and Liddy. brave with the day
light. was looking for footprints around
the house. Mrs. Watson herself was
n wreck she was blue-white around
the lips. and she had one hand tied
up. She said she had fallen down
stairs in her excitement II was natur-
al. OF course. that the thing would
shock her. having been the Arm
strongs' housekeeper for several years
and knowing Mr.. Arnold well.
Gertrude had slipped out during my
talk with Mrs. Watson. and dressed
and went downstairs. The billiard
and card rooms were locked until the
coroner and the detectives got there,
and the men from the club had gone
back for more conventional clothing
could hear Thomas in the pantry
alternately wailinE for Mr. Arnold.
as he called him. and citing the
tokens that had precursed the murder
The house seemed to choke me. and.
slipping a shawl around me. l went
out on the drive. At the corner by
the east wing met Liddy Her skirts
were draggled with dew to her knees
and her hair was still in crimps
Go right in and change your
clothes" | said sharply You're a
sight. and at your agei"
She had a golf stick in her hand.
ami she said she had found IL on the
lawn There was nothing unusual
about il. but 1t occurred to me that
golf stick with n metal end might
have been the object that had scratch
ed the stairs near the cardroom. |
took 1t from her. and sent her up for
dry garments Her daylight courage