Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-08
CHAPTER XXI.
A Ladder Out Of Place.

J A Ladder Out Of Place.
At dinner Mr.. Jameson suggested
sending q man out in his place for
couple of days, but Halsey was GER
tain there would be nothing more,
and felt that he and Alex could man
age the situation. The detective went
hack to town early in the evening, and
by nine O'Clock Halsey, who had been
playing golf-as man does anything
to take his mind away from trouble
was sleeping sodndly on the big leath-
er davenport in the living room.
sat and knitted, pretending not to
notice when Gertrude got up and wan
dered out into the starlight. AS soon
as was satisfied that she had gone,
however. went out cautiously. had
no intention Of housekeeping, but Il
wanted to he certain that it was Jack
Bailey she was meeting. Too many
things had occurred in which Ger
trude was, OF appeared to be, involved,
to allow anything to be left in ques-
ton.
went slowly across the lawn, Skin
ed the hedge to break not far from
the lodge, and found myself on the
open road. Perhaps 100 feet to the
left the path led across the valley to
the Country club. and only little
way of was the foot-bridge over Cas-
anova creek. But just as was about
to turn down the path heard steps
coming toward me, and shrank into
the bushes. 1t was Gertrude, going
back quickly toward the house.
was surprised. waited until she
had had time to get almost to the
house before started. And then 1
stepped back again into the shadows.
The reason why Gertrude had not
kept her tryst was evident. Leaning
on the parapet Of the bridge in the
moonlight, and smoking a pipe, was
Alex, the gardener. 1 could have
throttled Liddy for her carelessness
In reading the torn note where he
could hear. And I could cheerfully
have choked Alex to death for his
audacity.
But there was no help for it;
turned and followed Gertrude slowly
back to the house.
The frequent invasions of the house
had effectually prevented any relaxa-
ton after dusk. We had redoubled our
vigilance as to bolt and window.
locks. but, as Mr. Jameson had sug-
gested, we allowed the door-at the
east entry to remain as before, locked
by the Yale lock only. To provide only
one possible entrance for the invader,
and to keep constant guard in the
dark at the foot of the circular stair
case. seemed to be the only method. :
In the absence of the detective.
Alex and Halsey arranged to change
off. Halsey to be on duty from. ten to
two, and Alex from two until six.
Each man was armed, and, as an
ditional precaution, the one off duty
slept in room near the head of the
circular staircase and kept his door
open, to be ready for emergency.
These arrangements were carefully
kept from the servantr who were only
commencing to sleep at night, and
who ressred, one and all, with barred
doors and lamps that burned full until
morning.
The house was quiet again Wednes-
day night. It was almost a week since
Louise had encountered some one on
the stairs, and II was four days since
the discovery Of the hole In the trunk
room wall. Arnold Armstrong and
his father rested side by side in the
Casanova churchyard, and at the Zion
African church, on the hill, new
mound marked the last resting-place
Of poor Thomas.
Louise was with her mother in
town, and, beyond a. polite note Of
thanks to me, we had heard nothing
from her. DR.. Walker had taken up
his practice again, and we saw him
now and then flying along the road,
always at top speed. The murder of
Arnold Armstrong was still unavenged,
and remained firm in the position l
had taken-to stay at Sunnyside until
the thing was at least partly cleared.
And yet, for all its quiet, it was on
Wednesday night that perhaps the
boldest attempt was made to enter
the house. On Thursday afternoon
the laundress sent word she would
like to speak to me, and I saw her in
my private sitting room, small room
beyond the dressing room.
Mary Anne was embarrassed. She
had rolled down her sleeves and tried
a white apron around her waist, and
she stood making folds in 1t with I'm.
gers that were red and shiny from her
soap-suds.
Well, Mary" l said encouragingly,
what's the matter? Don't dare to
tell me the soap is out"
No ma'am, Miss Innes." She had
a.nervous habit Of looking first at my
one eye and then at the other, her
own optics shifting ceaselessly, right
eye, left eye. right eye. until found
myself doing the same thing. mo
ma'am. I was askin' did you want the
ladder left up the clothes chute?"
The what?" I screeched, and was
sorry the next minute. Seeing her
suspicious were verified, Mary Anne
had gone white, and stood with hel
eyessshifting more wildly than ever.
There's a ladder up the clothes
chute, Miss Innes," she said. "Its
up that tight can't moye it, and l
didn't like to ask for help until spoke
to you"
1t was useless to dissemble; Mary
Anne knew now as well as did that
the ladder had no business to be
there. did the best could. how.
4 ever. ] put her on the defensive at
once.