The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1910-07-08
CHAPTER VIl.-contfnued.

"Liddy," I called, go through the
house at once and see who is missing.
or If any one is. Wen have to clear
this thing at once. Mr. Jameson, if
you will watch here / will go to the
lodge and find Warner. Thomas
would be of no use Together you
may be able to force the door"
A good idea" he assented. But
there are windows, of course, and
there is nothing to prevent whoever is
in there from getting out that way"
Then lock the door at the top of
the basement stairs" suggested
and patrol the house from the out
side"
We agreed to this, and l had a
feeling that the mystery of Sunny
side was about to be solved / ran
down the steps and along the drive
Just at the corner ran full tilt into
somebody who seemed to be as much
alarmed as I was. 1t was not until
had recoiled step or two that rec
ognized Gertrude, and she me-
Good gracious, Aunt Ray" she ex-
claimed, what is the matter?''
There's somebody locked in the
laundry I painted. That is-unless-
you didn't see any one crossing the
lawn or skulking around the house,
did your
Il think We have mystery on the
brain" Gertrude said YEARLY. No,
l haven't seen any one. except old
Thomas, who looked for all the world
as if he had been ransacking the pam
try. What have you locked in the
laundry"
Il can't wait to explain" replied.
Il must get Warner from the lodge. If
you came out for air, you'd better put
on your overshoes." And then I no
ticed that Gertrude was limping-not
much. but sufficiently to make her
progress very slow, and seemingly
painful.
You have hurt yourself" I said
sharply.
Il fell over the carriage block" she
explained Il thought perhaps I
might see Halsey coming home. He
he ought to be here
l fastened to the lodge.
Where is Warner" I asked
II think he's in bed, MAJ am"
Get him up said, and for good
ness sake open the door, Thomas. I'll
wait for Warner"
IT'S kind O. close in here. ma'am,"
he said, obeying gingerly, and dtsclos-
ing a cool and fortable-looking in
terror perhaps you'd keer to set on
the porch an rest you'self."
1t was so evident that Thomas did
not want me inside that l went in.
Tell Warner he is needed in a hur-
ry," l repeated, and turned into the
little sitting room. I could hear
Thomas going up the stairs, could
hear him rouse Warner, and the steps
of the chauffeur as he hurriedly
dressed. But my attention was busy
with the room below.
On the center table, open, was a
sealskin travelling bag. 1t was filled
with gold-topped bottles and brushes,
and it breathed opulence, luxury, fem
ininity from every inch of surface.
How did it get there? l was still ask
ing myself the question when Warner
came running down the stairs and
into the room. He was completely but
somewhat anonymously dressed. and
his open, boyish face looked abashed.
He was a country boy, absolutely
frank and reliable, of fair education
and intelligence-one of the small
army of American youths who turn a
natural aptitude for mechanics into
the special field of the automobile.
and earn good salaries in a congenial
occupation.
What is it, Miss Innes?" he asked
Rnxiously.
There is some one locked in the
laundry" l replied. Mr.. Jameson
wants you to help him break the lock.
Warner, whose bag is this?"
He was in the doorway by this time,
and he pretended not to hear.
Warner" l called, come back
here. Whose bag is this?''
He stopped then. but he did not turn
around.
''It's-it belongs to Thomas" he
said. and fed up the drive.
To Thomas. A London bag with
mirrors and cosmetic jars of which
Thomas could not even have guessed
the use! However. l put the bag in
the back of my mind. which was fast
becoming stored with anomalous and
apparently irreconcilable facts, and
followed Warner to the house.
Liddy had come back to the kitch-
en-; the door to the basement stairs
was double-barred, and had a table
pushed against it; and beside her on
the table was most of the kitchen par
aphernalia.
Did you see if there was any one
missing in the house," | asked, Ignor'
ing the array of sauce pans. rolling
pins and the poker of the range.
Rosie is missing" Liddy said with
JUNCTION. She had objected to Rosie.
the parlor maid, from the start. Mrs,
Watson went into her room, and found
she had gone without her hat. People
.fat trust themselves dozen miles
ON the cssv. in strange houses, with
ven- 20 do0't know, needn't be