The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-09-21
1t Was Thomas.

tC reacn tnem. VI course, | expect 10
defray the expenses of the funeral but
his relatives must be found What do
you think frightened him, Mr. jamie
SOM"
ut is hard to say" he replied slow
ly, but I think we may be certain it
was fright, and that he was hiding
from something. I am sorry in more
than 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 WORKOUT wallet Of
his? Nearly 500! Almost two
months wages-and yet those darkies
seldom have penny. Well-what
Thomas knew will be buried with
him."
With the death of Thomas, felt
that climax had come in affairs at
Sunnyside. The night that followed
was quiet enough. Hslsey watched
at the foot of the staircase. and COM
plicated system of bolts on the other
doors seemed to be effectual
Once in the night l Weakened and
thought l heard the tapping again.
But all was quiet, and I had reached
the stage where I refused to be dis
turbed for minor occurrences.
The Armstrong; were notified of
Thomas death, and I had my first in
terview with DR.. Walker as a result.
He came up early the next morning,
just as we finished breakfast, in pro-
fessional looking car with a black
hood.
II must make q double excuse for
this early visit, Miss Innes," he said
as he sat down. The chair was lower
than he expected, and his dignity re-
quired collecting before he went on.
"My professional duties are urgent
and long neglected, and"-a fall to the
everyday Notwithstanding must
be done about that body"
"Yes," l said, sitting on the edge of
my chair. 81 merely wished the ad-
dress of Thomas people. You might
have telephoned, If you were busy"
| He smiled.
| II wished to see you about some.
thing else," he said. "As for Thomas
it is Mrs. Armstrong; wish that you
allow her to attend to the expense
About his relatives, l have already
notified his brother, in the village. II
was heart disease, I think. Thomas
always had a bad heart"
Heart disease and fright" l said
still on the edge of my chair. But the
doctor had no intention of leaving.
81 understand you have a ghost uI
here, and that you have the house
filled with detectives to exercise it,
he said.
For some reason felt I was being
pumped" as Halsey says. o"You
have been misinformed" replied.
What, no ghost, no detectives!" he
said, still with his smile. What dis
appointment to the vilage!"
| resented his attempt at playful
ness. 1t had been anything but joke
to us.
"Dr. Walker" I said tartly, q fai
to see any humor in the situation
Since | came here, one man has beer
shot, and another one has died from
| oAOCh uSlc nave DCtu I'LL uutIS IL
the house, and strange noises. If thai
is funny, there is something wrong
with my sense of humor."
You miss the point" he said, still
good naturally. THE thing that IL
funny to me is that you insist on re
naming here, under the circums
tances. I should think nothing would
keep you"
You are mistaken. Everything tha
occurs only confirms my resolution t
stay until the mystery is cleared"
~ have a message for you, Mis-.
Innes," he said, rising at last. Mrs
: Armstrong asked me to thank you TO
{ your kindness to Louise whose within
occurring at the time it did, put he
to great inconvenience. Alsu-ant
this is a delicate matter-she asked
( me to appeal to your natural sym
r pathy for her, at this time, and to asl
you if you will not reconsider your de
D cision about the house Sunnyside
her home; she loves it dearly, an
l. just now she wishes to retire here fc
F; quiet and peace"
she must have mad change
|. heart" l said ungraciously enoug
I Louise told me her mother despise
the place. Besides, this is no plat
l. for quiet and peace just now. An
u how, doctor while | don't care
force an issue, / shall certainly r
main here, for time at least"
For how long?" he asked.
5, MY lease is for six months. l shs
q stay until some explanation is foul
II for certain things. My own family
y implicated now, and l shall do ever
't thing to clear the mystery Of Arno
p Armtsrong's murder
" The doctor stood looking down, sls
70 ping his gloves thoughtfully again
er the palm of a well-looked-after har
re You say there have been intrude
In in the house?" he asked. "You q
d. sure of t.at, Miss Innes?"
Certain"
le "In what mart 2"