The Ordway new era., 1910-05-20
CHAPTER Iv.-continued.

Especially since JACK Balley anu
Arnold Armstrong were notoriously
bad friends. 1t was Bailey who got
Arnold into trouble last spring
something about the bank. And then
too"
Go on" said. III there is any
thing more. ought to know"
There's nothing more." he said
evasively. There's just one thing We
may bank on. Miss Innes. Any court
in the country will acquit man who
kills an intruder in his house at
night II Halsey-"
why, you don't think Halsey did
it," I exclaimed. There was queer
feeling of physical nausea coming
over me.
NO, no. not at ALL" he said with
forced cheerfulness. Come. Miss In.
mes, you're a ghost Of yourself. and
/ am going to help you upstairs and
call your maid. This has been too
much for you"
About six o'clock Gertrude came in
She was fully dressed. and sat up
nervously.
Poor Aunty!" she said. What q
shocking night you have had!" She
came over and sat down on the bed
and l saw she looked very tired and
worn.
rs there anything new" l asked
anxiously.
Nothing. The car is gone. but War
ner"-he Ia the chauffeur-"Warner
is at the lodge and knows nothing
about it,
Well" I said. III ever get my
hands on Halsey Innes shall not let
60 until have told him a few things
When we get this cleared up. I am
going back to the city to be quiet
One more night like the last two will
end me. The peace of the country
fddlesticks!"
Whereupon I told Gertrude OF the
noises the night before. and the figure
on the veranda In the east wing. Az
an afterthought l brought out the
pearl cufi.link.
II have no doubt now" said, "tha,
It was Arnold Armstrong the nigh,
before last, too. He had . key. nc
doubt, but why he should steal into
his fathers house ! cannot imagine
He could have come with my permis
sion easily enough. Anyhow. whoever
1t was that night left this little SOU
venir.'
Gertrude took one look at the cuff
link and went as white as the pearls
in II: she clutched at the foot OF the
bed and stood staring. AS for me.
was quite as astonished as she was.
Where did-you-find it," she
asked finally. with a desperate effor,
at calm. And while I told her she
stood looking out of the window with
a look could not fathom on her face
1t was a relief when Mrs. Watson
tapped at the door and brought me
some tea and toast. The cook was IL
bed. completely demoralized. she re
ported. and Liddy. brave with the day
light. was looking for footprints arount
the house. Mrs. Watson herself wa.
a wreck; she was blue-white arount
the lips. and she had one hand tiet
up. She said she had fallen down
stairs In her excitement. It was natur
al, OF course. that the thing woult
shock her. having been the Arm
strongs' housekeeper for several year,
and knowing Mr.. Arnold we'll.
Gertrude had slipped out during IN,
talk with Mrs. Watson, and | dressed
and went downstairs. The billiard
and card rooms were locked until the
coroner and the detectives got there
and the men from the club had gont
back for more conventional clothing
could hear Thomas in the pantr,
alternately wailing for Mr.. Arnold
as he called him, and citing tn.
tokens that had precursed the murder
The house seemed to choke me. and
slipping a shawl around me, I wen
out on the drive. At the corner b,
the east wing l met Liddy. Her skirt,
were draggled with dew to her knee,
and her hair was still in crimps.
go right in and change you
clothes" I said sharply. You're ,
sight, and at your age!"
She had golf stick in her hand
and she said she had found It on thu
lawn. There was nothing unusual
about 1t, but it occurred to me that {
golf stick with a metal end NIGH
have been the object that had scratch
cd the stairs near the cardroom.
took 1t from her, and sent her up fol
dry garments. Her daylight courage
and selfimportance, and her shud
dering delight in the mystery, irri
tated me beyond words. After lef
her l made a circuit Of the building
Nothing seemed to be disturbed; the
house looked as calm and peaceful IL
the morning sun as 1t had the day
had been coerced into taking it Thers