, 1910-11-17

1T is m%ystifying." I admitted. al
though I can think Of one possible ex-
PLANTATION. The path from the Green
road near the lodge gate. A woman
who wished to reach the Country
club. unperceived, might choose such
a method. There are plenty Of WON
en- there"
I think this gave him something to
ponder, for in a short time he said
good night and left. But I myself was
far from satisfied. / was determined,
however. on n thing. If my suspic-
ions-for I had suspicions-were true,
| would make my own investigations.
and Mr.. Jameson should learn only
what was good for him to know.
We went back to the house, and
Gertrude. who was more like herself
since her talk with Halsey. sat down
at the mahogany desk in the living
DOL to write a letter. Halsey prowl-
ed up and Town the entire EAST wing.
now in the cardroom. now in the bill
lard room, and nov and then blow
ing his clouds Of tobacco smoke
among the pink and gold hanging0o Of
the drawing room. After a little I
Joined him in the billiard room, and
together we went over the details Of
the discovery Of the body.
The cardroom was quite dark.
Where we sat, in the billiard room,
only one Of the side brackets was
lighted. and we spoke in subdued
tones, as the hour and the subject
seemed to demand. When I spoke Of
the figure Liddy and I had seen on
the porch through the cardroom win
dow Friday night. Halsey sauntered
into the darkened room. and together
We stood there, much as Liddy and I
had done that other night.
The window was the same grayish
rectangle in the blackness as before.
A few feet away in the hall was the
spot where the body of Arnold Arm
strong had been found. I was a bit
nervous, and i put my hand on Hal
sey's sleeve. Suddenly, from the top
Of the staircase above us came the
sound Of a cautious footstep. At first
I was not sure, but Halsey's attitude
told me he had heard and was listen
ing. The step. slow, measured, in
finitely cautious. was nearer now.
Halsey tried to loosen my fingers, but
I was in a paralysis of fright.
The swish of a body against the
curving rail, as IL for guidance, was
plain enough. and now whoever it was
had reached the foot of the staircase
and had caught a glimpse of our rigid
~silhouettes against the billiard room
doorway. Halsey threw me off then
and strobe forward.
WHO is it," he called imperiously,
and took a half dozen rapid strides to-
ward the foot Of the staircase. Then
| heard him mutter something; there
was the crash of a falling body, the
slam Of the outer door. and. for an
instant, quiet. I screamed, I think.
Then I remember turning on the
lights and finding Halsey. white with
fury, trying to untangle himself from
something warm and fleecy. He had
cut his forehead a little on the lowest
step of the stairs, and he was rather
a CHASTITY sight. He flung the white
object at me, and, jerking open the
outer door. raced into the darkness.
Gertrude had come IN hearing the
noise, and now we stood, staring at
each other over-of all things on
earth-a white silk and wool blanket,
exquisitely fine! 1t was the most un-
ghostly thing in the world. with its
lavender border and its faint scent.
Gertrude was the first to speak.
"Somebody-had It'll" she asked.
yes. Halsey tried to stop whoever
1t was and fell. Gertrude, hat blank
ct is not mine. I have never seen 1t
before"
She held 1t up and looked at 1t; then
she went TO the door on to the veran-
da and threw 1t open. Perhaps 100
feet from the house were two figures,
that moved slowly toward US as we
looked. When they came within range
Of the light, I recognized Halsey, and
with him Mrs. Watson, the house
keeper.