Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-19
CHAPTER XVIII.


INSIDE raised an unexpected STORM VI
protest from Gertrude and Haisey. !
was not prepared for 1t, ana scafceis
knew how to account FOR II. 10 me WI.
Jameson was far less formldaple un-
der my eyes where knew What ne
was doing, than he was off IN the Guy
twisting circumstances and mo1iVes
to suit himself and learning What ne
wished to know about events at sun,
INSIDE in some occult way. | was glaa
enough to have him there, when eA,
citement began to come thick anu
fast.
A new element was about to enter
into affairs: Monday or Tuesday aC
the latest would find Doctor Walker
hack in his green and white house IN
the village. and Louises attitude TO
him in the immediate future would
signify Halsey's happiness or Wretch-
edness. as it might turn out. Ihen,
too the return of her mother would
mean. of course, that she would nave
to leave us, and had become greatiy
attached to her.
From the day Mr. Jameson came
TO Sunnyside there was suptie
change in Gertrude's manner to me-
She was no longer frank with me, al-
though | think her affection never
wavered. At the time laid the change
To the fact that / had forbidden all
communication with John Bailey, ana
had refused to acknowledge any en-
sagement between the two. Gertrude
snent much OF her time wandering
through the grounds, or taking long
cross-country walks. Halsey played
golf at the Country Club day aiter
day, and after Louise left, which sue
did the following week, Mr.. Jameson
and / were much together. He plaSeu
a fair. game of cribbage, but ne cheat-
ed at solitaire
The night the detective arrived, SAT,
.,1rday, I had talk with him. tolu
him Of the experience Louise Arm
strong had had the night before on
the circular staircase, and about the
man who had frightened Rosie on
the drive. / saw that he thought the
information was important, and to my
suggestion that we put an additional
lock on the east wing door he opposed
strong negative. -
~ think it probable" he said, chat
our visitor will be back again and the
thing to do Is to leave things exactls
as they are. to avoid raising suspicion.
Then can watch for at least par
of each night and probably MI. lnnes
will help us out. would say as llttie
to Thomas as possible. me oid man
knows more than he is willing 10 au-
nit"
suggested that Alex, the gardener,
would probably be willing to heip' anu
Mr.. Jameson undertook to make Tue
arrangement For one night, however,
Mr.. Jameson preferred to Watch
alone. Apparently nothing occurred.
The detective sat in absolute darkness
on the lower step of the stairs doing,
he said afterwards, now and then.
Nothing could pass him in either oil
rection. and the door in the morning
remained as securely fastened as II
had been the night before. And yet
one of the most inexplicable occur
rences of the whole affair took place
that very night.
Liddy came to my room on Sunday
morning with face as long as the
moral law She laid out my things as
usual. but l missed her customary
garrulousness was not RECALLED with
the new cooks extravaganza as to
eggs. and she even forbore to mention
chat Jameson on whose arrival she
had looked with silent disfavor.
whats the matter. Liddy?" l asked
at last. Didn't you sleep last night?'
mo. Ma'am,' she said stiffly.
"Did you have two cups of coffee at
your dinner?" I INQUIRED.
mo, ma'am,' Indignantly.
/ sat up and almost upset my hot
water-I always take a cup of hot
water with pinch of salt, before
get up. It tones the stomach.
"Liddy Allen" 1 said. stop comb
ing that switch. and tell me what is
wrong with you"
Liddy heaved sigh.
"Girl and woman" she said, "I've
heen with you twenty-five years, Miss
Rachel, through good temper and bad
=" the ideal and what I've taken
from her in the way of sulks! -.but
guess can't stand it any longer. My
trunks packed"
"Who packed it?" I asked, expect
ing from her tone to be told she had
Weakened to find it done by some
ghostly hand.
Z did; Miss Rachel, you won't be
lieve me when I tell you this house is
haunted. Who was it fell down the
clothes chute? Who was it scared
Miss Louise almost into her grave?"'
"I'm doing my best to find out"
said. What in the world are vol
driving att" She drew long breath.
There is a hole In the trunk room
wall, dug out last night. It's bis
enough to put your head in, and the
p1aster's all over the place"
Nonsense" l said PLASTER is al
ways falling"
But Liddy clinched that.
Gust ask Alex" she said when HI
put the new cooks trunk there las
night the wall was as smooth as this
This morning it's dug out, and there
plastic, on the cooks trunk. Miss Ra
chel, you can get dozen detective
and put one on every stair in tn
house, and you'll never catch any
thing. There's some things you can
handcuff."
Liddy was right. AS soon as
could, l went up to the trunk room
which was directly over my bedroom
y1,f,, op STR ~ n