The Lamar register., 1910-05-25

Come in, Mrs. Watson the lawyer
said. But she shook her head and
withdrew: she was the only one in
the house who seemed to regret the
dead man, and even she seemed rath-
er shocked than sorry.
Before Mr.. Harton left, he told me
something of the Armstrong family.
Paul Armstrong. the father. had been
married twice. Arnold was son by
the first marriage. The second Mrs.
Armstrong had been a widow. with
a child. a little girl. This child. now
perhaps 20. was Louise Armstrong.
having taken her stepfather's name.
and was at present in California with
the family.
They will probably return at once"
he concluded. and part of my errand
here to-day is to see II you will relin-
quish your lease here in their favor"
I'VE would better walt and see II
they wish to come said. 1t seems
unlikely. and my town house is being
remodeled.'' At that he let the mat
ter drop. but It came up unpleasantly
enough. later.
At six o'clock the body was taken
away. and at seven-thirty. after an
early dinner. Mr.. Harton went. Ger
trude had not come down, and there
was no news of Halsey. Mr.. jamie
son had taken a lodging in the VII
lage. and I had not seen him since
mid-afternoon- 1t was about nine
o'clock, / think, when the bell rang
and he was ushered into the living
room.
sit down." I said grimly. Have
you found n clew that will incriminate
me. Mr.. JAMESON"
He had the grace to look uncomfort-
able. NO." he said. IF you had
killed Mr. Armstrong, you would have
left no clews. You would have had
too much intelligence"
After that we got along better. He
was fishing in his pocket, and after
minute he brought out two scraps
OF paper. Il have been to the club
house." he said. land among Mr.. Arm
strong's effects, found these. One is
curious: the other is puzzling.'
The first was sheet OF club note
paper on which was written, over and
over. the name "Halsey b. lines" 1t
was Halsey's flowing signature to
dot. but it lacked Halsey's ease. The
ones toward the bottom of the sheet
were much better than the top ones.
Mr.. Jameson smiled at my face.
His old tricks" he said. THAT
one is merely curious; this one, as
said before. is puzzling."
The second scrap. folded and re-
folded into a compass so tiny that the
writing had been partly obliterated.
was part of letter-the lower half of
sheet. not typed. but written in a
cramped hand.
by altering the plans for
rooms, may be possible. The best way
in my opinion would be to-the plan
form one of the-rooms-ch
ney.
That was all.
"Well?" said, looking up. There
is nothing in that. is there? A man
ought to be able to change the plan
of his house without becoming an OBJ
pect OF suspicion
There is little in the paper ITSELF"
he admitted: but why should Arnold
Armstrong carry that around. unless
1t meant something? He never built
a house. you may be sure of that. II
1t is this house. it may mean anything
from a secret room"
TO an extra bathroom" / said
scornfully. Haven't you a thumb
print. too?"
Il have" he said with a smile, land
the print of a foot in tulip bed, and
number of other things. The odd
est part is. Miss lines. that the
thumb-mark is probably yours and the
footprint certainly"
His audacity was the only thing
that saved me: his amused smile put
me on my mettle. and l ripped out a
perfectly good scallop before an
swered.
why did I step into the tulip bed?"
l asked with interest.
you picked up something" he said
good-humoredly. which you are 60
ing to tell me about later
Am /. indeed?" I was politely Gu
rious. with this remarkable insight