Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-21
CHAPTER Xxx.

ment, fumbling at the old mans col
lar to loosen it, but Halsey caught his
hand
Let him Alone" he said. "You can't
help him; he is dead"
We stood there, avoiding each 9TH
er's eyes; we spoke low and reverent-
1y in the presence of death, and we
tacitly avoided any mention of the
suspicion that was in every mind.
when Mr.. Jameson had finished his
Icursory examination, he got UP and
busted the knees OF his trousers.
There Is no sign of injury" he
isaid, and know I, for one, drew a
hong breath of relief. From what
Warner says and from his hiding in
khe closet, I should say he was scared
10 death. Fright and weak heart, to
gether."
"But what could have done 1t Ger
krude asked. "He was all right this
levening at dinner. Warner, what did
he saw when you found him on the
IDorch?"
Warner looked shaken; his honest,
boyish face was colorless.
Gust what told you, Miss Innes.
He'd been reading the paper down
fstairs: had put up the car, and. feel
kng sleepy, came down to the lodge
Ito go to bed. AS went upstairs,
kThomas put down the paper and, TAX
Eng his pipe, went out on the porch.
tThen heard an exclamation from
him"
What did he say?" demanded jam
eeson.
[ ST couldn't hear, but his voice was
Ntrange; it sounded startled. waited
kor him to call out again. but he did
hot. 80 went downstairs. He was
Eitting on the porch step, looking
straight ahead, as If he saw some
thing among the trees across the
road. And he kept mumbling about
having seen ghost. He looked queer
land tried to get him inside, but he
Wouldn't move. Then thought I'd bet
her go up to the house."
| s'Didn't he say anything else you
could understand" 1 asked.
| HE said something about the grave
giving up it's dead"
Mr.. Jameson was going through
The old mans pockets. and Gertrude
WAS composing his arms, folding them
across his white shirt bosom, always
80 spotless.
Mr. Jameson looked up at me.
What was that you said to me
Miss lines, about the murder at the
house being a beginning and not an
end? By jove, | believe you were
right"
In the course of his investigations
the detective had come to the inner
pocket of the dead buffers black coat.
Here he found some things that inter
tested him. One was small fiat key,
with red cord tied to it, and the
tother was bit of white paper, on
(which was written something in
Thomas cramped hand. Mr.. Jameson
read it; then he gave it to me. 1t was
an address in fresh Ink
lucien Wallace, Ia Elm Street, Rich
field.
AS the card went around, think
both the detective and I watched for
amy possible effect it might have, but,
beyond perplexity, there seemed to be
hone.
"Richfield!' Gertrude exclaimed
e'Why, Elm street is the main street,
Hon't you remember, Halsey?"
"Lucien Wallace" Halsey said.
RThat is the child Stewart spoke Of
at the inquest"
Warner, with his mechanics in
stinct, had reached for the key. What
he said was not surprise.
yale lock-" he said. Probably a
key to the east entry"
There was no reason why Thomas,
an old and trusted servant, should not
pave had key to that particular
door, although the servants entry
twas in the west wing. But / had not
known of this key, and 1t opened up
Ia new field of conjecture. Just now,
however, there were many things to be
Rttended to, and, leaving Warner with
khe body. we all went back to the
mouse. Mr.. Jameson walked with me,
while Halsey and Gertrude followed.
Il suppose shall have to notify the
Armstrong; said. They will know
Thomas had any people and how to
reach them. OF course, / expect to de.
fray the expenses of the funeral, but
his relatives must be found. What do
you think frightened him, Mr.. ia.
mieson?"
ut is hard to say" he replied slow
Fly, "but / think we may be certain II
twas fright, and that he was hiding
From something. am sorry In more
khan one way; have always believed
that Thomas knew something or sus-
pected something that he would not
tell. Do you know how much money
there was in that wornout wallet OF
mis-? Nearly hundred dollars! Almost
two months wages-and yet these
|darkies seldom have penny. Well
what Thomas knew will be buried
with him."
Halsey suggested that the grounds
he searched, but Mr.. Jameson vetoed
the suggestion.
"You would find nothing" he said
"a person clever enough to get into
Sunnyside and tear hole in the wall
while watched downstairs is not tc
he found by going around the shrub
berry with lantern"
With the death of Thomas felt that
p climax had come in the affairs al
'Sunnyside. The night that followed
twas quiet enough. Halsey watched al
fthe foot of the staircase, and a comn,i
Gated system of bolts on the oti. al
Beemed to be effectual.
Once in the night l wakened ans