Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-11-18

with lamp 20 the cardroom door.
one or the men gave an exclamation.
and they all hurried across the room.
Mr.. Jarvis took the lamp from me
remember that-and then feeling my.
self getting dizzy and liEht.headed
closed my eyes When 7 opened them
their brief examination was over and
Mr.. Jarvis was trying 20 put me in a
chair. "a
You must get upstairs, ne said
firmly, you and Miss Gertrude, too.
This has been a terrible shock In
his own home. too" a
/ stared at him without comprehen-
sion. Who is it?" | asked with diff
ficulty There seemed a band drawn
tight around my throat.
1T is Arnold Armstrong" he said,
looking at me oddly. and he has been
murdered-in his fathers house
After a minute ! gathered myself
together and MIR. Jarvis helped me
into the living room. Liddy had got
Gertrude upstairs, and the two
strange men from the club stayed
with the body. The reaction from the
shock and strain was tremendous; |
was collapsed then Mr. Jarvis
asked me a question that broU ght
back my wandering faculties.
Where is Halsey?" he askedV
"Halsey," Suddenly Gertrudes
stricken face rose before me-the
empty room upstairs. Where was
Halsey?
He was here, wasn't he?" Mr. Jar
Wis persisted. He stopped at the club
on his way over"
don't know where he u.s." | said
feebly.
One OF the men from the club came
in, asked for the telephone and
could hear him excitedly talking. say
ing something about coroners and de-
tectives. Mr.. Jarvis leaned over to
me.
Why don't you trust me, Miss In
bes?' he said. III can do anything
! will But tell me the whole thing
] did. finally. from the beginning,
and when | told OF Jack Bsiley's be-
ing in the house that night he gave a
long whistle.
II wish they were both here" he
said when I finished. Whatever mad
prank took them away, it would look
better If they were here. Especially"
Especially what?"
Especially since Jack Bailey and
Arnold Armstrong were VIGOROUSLY
bad friends. It 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. II Halsey--"
Why. you don't think Halsey did
a." l exclaimed There was queer
feeling OF physical nausea coming
over me.
No no not at an he said with
forced cheerfulness. Come Miss In
mes, you're 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
shocking light you have had" She
came over and sat down on the bed
and I saw she looked very tired and
worn
rs there anything new" asked
an1iously
Nothing The car Is gone. but War
ner'-he il the chauffeur-'W Warner
is a. the lodge aud knows nothing
about It,"
We'll" ! said. III | ever get my
hands on Halsey lines I shall not let
go until have told him a few things
When we get this cleared Up. I am
going back 10 the city 10 be quiet
One more night like the. lzss two will
eud me. The peace 81 ftie country
hddlesticks,"
Whereupop l told Gertrude OF the
noises the night before, and the figure
on the versnda in the east wing A.
an ahertbought 7 brought out the
pearl cuh1ink
u have no doubt now" 7 said that
n was ArBeld Armstrong the night
before last 100. He had q key. no
doubt but why he should steal into
bis fathers house cannot imagine.
He could have come with my permfa
sion easily enough. Anyhow. whoever
II was that night left this little SOU,
venir"
Gertrude took one look ~ the Gun.
link and went as white as the pearIy
IN IL. she clutchcd At the foot OF tha
bed and stood staring ~ for me 7
was quite as astonished as she was
Where did--you-find IT." sbo
asked finally with a deguevafe efore
~ calm And while J told her she
stood looking out % the window with
a look I could not fsthom on her face
10 vas a relief when Mrs Watson
tapped az the door and brought ms
some tea and toast. The cook vas In
bed completely demorallzed. she re-
ported. and Biddy brave with the day
sight was looking for footprints around