The Ordway new era., 1910-06-10
CHAPTER vIiI.-contInued.

Undoubtedly. Why, what could It
be but flight? Miss lnnes. let me re-
Bailey and Armstrong had quarrefed
at the club. learned this to-day.
Your nephew brought Bailey over.
Prompted BY jealous, insane fury.
Armstrong followed, coming across by
the path. He entered the billiard
room wing-perhaps rapping. and be-
ing admitted BY your nephew. Just
lnside he was shot, by some one on
The circular staircase. The shot fred.
your nephew and Bailey left the house
at once. going toward the automobile
house. They left by the lower road.
which prevented them being heard.
and when you and Miss Gertrude got
downstairs everything was quiet"
"But-Gertrude's story" STAN.
mered.
Miss Gertrude only brought for
ward her explanation the following
morning. do not believe 1t. Miss
Innes. It is the story Of loving and
Ingenious woman"
"And-this thing to-night?"
May upset my whole view Of the
case. We must give the benent Of
every doubt after all. We may. for
instance. come back to the figure ON
the porch: II 1t was q woman you saw
that night through the window. we
might start with other premises. Or
DIR. Innes' explanation may turn us
In a new direction. II is possible that
he shot Arnold Armstrong as a burg.
lar and then fed. frightened at what
he had done. In any case. however.
I feel confident that the body was
here when he left. Mr.. Armstrong
left the club ostensibly for a moon.
light saunter. about half after eleven
o'clock. 1t was three when the shot
was fred"
leaned back bewildered. II seemed
to me that the evening had been full
Of significant happenings. had I only
held the key. Had Gertrude been the
fugitive In the clothes chute? Who
was the man on the drive near the
lodge. and whose gold.mounted dress
ing bag had ! seen in the lodge sitting
room?
II was late when Mr. Jameson
finally got up to 60. went with him
to the door. and together we stood
looking out over the valley. Below
lay the village Of Casanova. with its
Old World houses. Its blossoming
trees and its peace. Above on the hill
across the valley were the lights of
the Greenwood club. II was even pos
sible to see the curving row Of paral.
lei lights that marked the carriage
road. Rumors that had heard about
the club came back-of drinking. of
high play. and once. a year ago. Of a
suicide under those very lights.
Mr.. Jameson left. taking a short
cut to the village. and still stood
there. II must have been after II,
and the monotonous tick OF the big
clock on the stairs behind me was the
only sound. Then I was conscious
that some one was running up the
drive. In q minute a woman darted
into the area Of light made by the
open door. and caught me BY the arm.
II was Rosfe-Rosie in . state OF col.
lapse from terror. and, not the least
important, clutching one of my Coal.
port plates and a silver spoon.
She stood staring into the darkness
behind. still holding the plate. got
her into the house and secured the
plate: then I stood and looked down
at her where she crouched trembling.
ly against the doorway.
WELL" I asked, didn't your young
man enjoy his meal?"
She couldn't speak. She looked at
the spoon she still heidi wasn't SO
anxious about It; thank Heaven, It
wouldn't chip-and then she stared at
me.
Il appreciate your desire to nave
everything nice for him." went on.
but the next time, you might take
the Limoges china. It's more easily
and less expensive"
II haven't . younG man-not here"
She had got her breath now, as I had
Euessed she would. II have been
chased by a thief. Miss 1nnes.'
Ibid he chase you out of the house
md back again?" I asked.
Then Rosie began to cry-not 81.
entity, but noisily, hysterically.
her by giving her a good