The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-09-11

stared at Uln WITHOUT COmpTeneu-
sion. who is IT." 1 asked with diff
ficulty. There seemed band drawn
tight around my throat.
ut is Arnold Armstrong" he said,
looking at me oddly, land he has been
murdered-in his fathers house."
After a minute l gathered myself
| together and Mr.. 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-and then Mr.. Jarvis
asked me a question that brought
back my wandering faculties.
Where is Halsey?" he asked.
"Halsey!'' Suddenly Gertrude's
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"
'T-don't know where he is" said
feebly.
One of the men from the club came
in, asked for the telephone, and I
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
nes?" he said. III can do anything
will. But tell me the whole thing"
did, finally, from the beginning
and when l told Of Jack Bailey's be-
ing in the house that night he gave a
long whistle.
Il wish they were both here" he
said when finished. Whatever mad
prank took them away. 1t would look
better If they were here. Especially"
Especially what?"
Especially since Jack Bailey and
Arnold Armstrong were VIGOROUSLY
bad friends. 1t was Bailey who got
Arnold into trouble last spring
something about the bank. And then,
too"
"Go on" I said. "If there is any.
thing more, l ought to know"
There's nothing MORE" he said
evasively. There's Just one thing we
may bank on, Miss lines. Any court
in the country will acQuit a man who
kills an intruder in his house at
night If Halsey-"
why, you don't think Halsey did
IT," exclaimed. There was queer
feeling Of physical nausea coming
| over me.
mo, 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 I sat up
nervously.
Poor Aunty!" she said. what a
shocking night 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" I asked
anxiously.
Nothing. The car is gone, but War.
ner"-he is the chauffeur-"Warner
is at the lodge and knows nothing
about It,"
WELL" I said, IF ever get my
hands on Halsey Innes I shall not lei
go until have told him few things
When we get this cleared up, am
going back to the city to be quiet
One more night like the last two will
end me. The peace of the country
fddlesticks!"
Whefeupon I told Gertrude of the
noises the night before, and the figure
on the veranda in the east wing. Al
an afterthought I brought out the
pearl cuff.link.
Il have no doubt now" l said. that
1t was Arnold Armstrong the nigh,
before last, too. He had key, nc
doubt, but why he should steal into
his fathers house I cannot imagine
he could have have eowS with my permits
sion easily Enough. Anyhow, whoever
it was that night left this little sou
venir,"
Gertrude took one look at the cuff
, link and went as white as the pearls
in It.; she clutched at the foot Of thu
bed and stood staring. AS for me,
was quite as astonished as she was.
) Where did-you-find it?" sh'
J.. asked finally, with desperate effor
at calm. And while l told her sh
stood looking out Of the window will
5 look could not fathom on her face
1t was a relief when Mrs. Watso
o tapped at the door and brought m
e some tea and toast. The cook was 1
4. bed, completely demoralized, she n
ported, and Liddy brave with the da!
light, was looking for footprints aroun
r the house. Mrs Watson herself wa
wreck; she was blue-white aroun
the lips, and she had one hand tie
II up. She said she had fallen dow
I stairs in her excitement. 1t was natu
~ al of course, that the thing woul
!. shock her, having been the Arr
y strongs' housekeeper for several veal
and knowing Mr.. Arnold well.
Gertrude had slipped out during n
talk with Mrs. Watson, and / dresst
and went downstairs. The billial
and card rooms were locked until Il
coroner and the detectives got ther