Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1910-12-08
CHAPTER xxVIll.-Continued.


Mr.. Winters and Alex disposed of
the tramp with warning. 1t was evil
dent he had told us all he knew. We
had occasion, within a day or two, to
be doubly thankful that we had given
him his freedom. When Mr.. jamie
son telephoned that night we had news
for him: he told me what l had not
realized before-that it would not be
possible to find Halsey at once, even
with this clew. The cars by this time,
three days, might be scattered over the
union But he said to keep on hoping,
that it was the best news we had had.
And in the meantime, consumed with
anxiety as we were, things were hap
pening at the house in rapid success
sion
We had one peaceful day-then Lid
dy took sick in the night. l went in
when I heard her groaning, and found
her with a hot-water bottle to her
face, and her right cheek swollen un-
til it was CLASSY.
''Toothache?" l asked, not too gent
ly You deserve it. A woman of
your age, who would rather go around
with an exposed nerve in her head
than have the tooth pulled! 1t would
be over in moment"
$50 would hanging" Liddy pro-
tested, from behind the hot-water bot
tie.
was hunting around for cotton and
laudanum.
"You have a tooth Just like it your
self. Miss Rachel" she whimpered.
"And I'm sure Dr. Boyles been trying
to take it out for years"
There was no laudanum, and Liddy
made terrible fuss when I proposed
carbolic acid, just because l had put
too much on the cotton once and
burned her mouth. I'm sure 1t never
did her any permanent harm; indeed,
the doctor said afterward that living
on liquid diet had been a splendid rest
for her stomach. But she would have
none of the acid, and she kept me
awake groaning so at last / got up
and went to Gertrude's door. To my
surprise it was locked.
| went around by the hall and into
her bedroom that way. The bed was
turned down, and her dressings gown
and night-dress lay ready in the little
room next but Gertrude was not there
She had not undressed.
! don't know what terrible thoughts
came to me in the minute ! stood
there. Through the door I could hear
Liddy grumbling, with n squeal now
and then when the pain stabbed
harder. Then, automatically, | got the
laudanum and went back TO her.
1t was fully a half-hour before Lid
dy's groans subsidod At intervals
went to the door into the hall anC
looked out, but | saw and heard moth
ing suspicious. Finally, when Liddy
had dropped into doze, ] even ven
tured as far as the head of the circular
staircase, but there 6oated up to ms
only the even breathing Of Winters
the night detective. sleeping just in
side the entry And then, far off,
heard the rapping noise that had lureC
Louise down the staircase that othe
night, two weeks before. II was oyeI
my head. and very faint-three or fou
short muilled taps, a pause, and theI
again, steathily repeated
The sound OF Mr.. Winters breath
ing was comforting: with the though
that there was help within call, some
thing kept me from waking him. / dlt
not move for moment; ridieulou
things Liddy had said about "a ghost
! am not at all superstitious, except
perhaps, In the middle OF the night
with everything dark-things like tha
came back 10 me. Almost beside IN,
was the clothes chute. I could feel IL
but ! could see nothing As | stood
listening iutently. / heard souu,
near me. II was vague. Indefinite
Then Il ceased, there was an unyas,
movement and "A srunt from the foo
of the circular staircase. and sllenc,
again stood perfectly atll. hardu
daring to breathe
Then | knew I had been right som,
olC was atcalthily passing tho head q
the staircase and coming toward m
In the dark. / leaned against the wal
for suppert-my knees we're giyiu
vay The steps We're close now. AM
suddunW thought ul Gertrude. q
course It uaa Gertrude pat out on
Llad boo front OF me. but ! touches
upJA4ug My soicS almost refused me