Barbour County index., 1910-07-06
CHAPTER IX.-Continued.

They stared at each other across
the big library table, with young eyes
all at once hard. suspicious. And
then Gertrude held out both hands to
him appealingly.
I'VE must not" she said brokenly.
"Just now, with so much at stake. it
lis shameful. | know you are as ig-
norant as am Make me believe it,
Halsey."
Halsey soothed her as best he could.
and the breach seemed healed. But
long after l went to bed he sat down
stairs in the living room alone, and l
knew he was going over the case as
he had learned it. Some things were
clear TO him that were dark TO me.
He knew, and Gertrude. too, why Jack
Bailey and he had gone away that
night. as they did. He knew where
they had been for the last 48 hours,
and why Jack Bailey had not returned
with him. 1t seemed to me that with
out fuller confidence from both the
children-they are always children to
me-I should never be able to learn
anything.
AS l was finally getting ready for
bed, Halsey came upstairs and knocked
at my door. When l had got into a
negllgee-I used to say wrapper be-
fore Gertrude came back from school
Il let him in. He stood in the door
way a moment, and then he went into
agonies of silent mirth. I sat down
on the side of the bed and waited in
severe silence for him to stop. but he
only seemed to grow worse. When
he had recovered he took me by the
elbow and pulled me in front of the
mirror
How to be beautiful" he quoted.
"'Advice to maids and matrons, by
Beatrice Fairfax!'" And then l saw
myself had neglected to remove
my wrinkle eradicators, and presume
my appearance was odd. I believe
that it is woman's duty to care for
her looks, but it is much like telling
necessary falsehood-one must not
be found out. BY the time got them
off Halsey was serious again, and
listened to- his story.
Aunt Ray" he began. extinguish
ing his cigarette on the back OF my
ivory hair-brush, II would give a LOT
10 tell you the whole thing But
cant, for a day or So anyhow But
one thing might have told you a Iona
time a ago If You had known II, yor
would not have suspected me for {
moment of-of having anything to dc
with ne attack on Arnold Armstrong
Goodness knows what | might do t
a fe'iow like that, if there was enough
p-ovocatinH, and had a gun in m!
hend-under ordinary circumstances
Tu'-l care a great dea! about Louis,
Armstrong. Aunt Ray. hope to mar
~ her sona day Is 1t likely woult
Kill her h~o.her?"
'Hu ttr whole thing is absurd"
aTgsel "And besides. Gertrude
sworn statement that you left befor
Arnold Armstrong came would clea
you a. once
Ea,ey got m and began to pac
tho room, and the air OF cheerfulnes
grouped like a mask.
''She can't swear it." he said finan!
"GeTtrude's story was true as far a
it went. bat she didn't tell everythin,
Arnold Armstrong came here at 2:3
came into the billiard room and lei
in five minutes. He came to bring
something"
'Halsey" I cried. you must tell N
the whole truth. Every time I Sc
a way for you TO escape you block
yourself with this wall of myster
What did he bring?'
"A telegram-for Bailey" he sal
''lt came by special messenger fro
town. and was-most important Bale
had started for here and the messe
ger had gone back to the city tt
steward gave it TO Arnold. who hs
been drinking all day and couIdr
sleep. and was going for a stroll
the direction of Sunnyside"
-And he brought it?"
Yes"
81 can tell you-as soon as certa
things are made public. 1t is only
matter of days now" gloomily
"And Gertrude's story of a tel
phone?"
Poor Trude!" he half whispere
-Poo- loyal little girl! Aunt Ra