The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1910-07-29
CHAPTER XVl.-Continued.

az was not sleeping Well she be-
ran partly. ! think, because | had
slept during the afternoon. Liddy
brought me some hot milk at ten
o'clock and slept until II. Then |
wakened and got to thinking about
things and worrying, so | could not
go to sleep.
Il was wondering why | had not
heard from Arnold since the-since
saw him that night at the lodge. |
was afraid he was Ill, be-
cause-he was to have done
something for me, and he had not
come back. 1t must have been three
when | heard some one rapping |
sat up and listened, to be quite sure,
and the rapping kept up. l was eau
tous, and was about to call Liddy
Then suddenly I thought | knew what
II was The east entrance and eircu-
lar staircase were always used by
Arnold when he was out late, and
sometimes, when he forgot his key. he
would rap and ! would go down and
let him in. l thought he had come
back to see mel didn't think about
the time, for his hours were always
erratic. But | was afraid | was too
weak to get down the stairs. The
knocking kept up, and just as | was
about to call Liddy. she ran through
the room and out into the hall. | got
up then feeling weak and dizzy, and
put on my dressing gown. If it was
Arnold knew | must see him.
1T was very dark everywhere, but
Of course, | knew my way. felt along
Tor the stair-rail and went down as
quickly as ! could. The knocking had
stopped, and / was afraid | was too
ate. got to the foot of the stair
case and over to the door on to the
east veranda. ! had never thought of
anything but that it was Arnold, until
i reached the door. 1t was unlocked
and opened about an inch. Everything
was black; 1t was perfectly dark out
sloe felt very queer and shaky.
ihen | thought perhaps Arnold had
used his key; he did-strange things
sometimes, and turned around. Just
as reached the foot of the staircase
thought | heard some one coming
my nerves We're going anyhow, there
ID the dark and could scarcely
"ahd. got up as far as the third
UT fourth step; then | felt that some
one was coming toward me on the
staircase. The next instant hand
met mine on the stair-rail Some one
urushed past me, and screamed
ihen | must have tainted"
mat was Louise's story. There
could be no doubt of its truth, and the
.uihg that made it inexpressibly awful
70 HE was that the poor girl had crept
ao"h TO answer the summons of a
p.other who would never need her
A'nuiy olilees again, Twice, now, with
.u' apparent cause, some one had en-
ereu the house by means of the east
en'rahee; had apparently gone his
'as uhhlndered through the house,
~ T1u gone out again as he had entered
'au TINS unknown visitor been there
~' INC ulSnl ATnOlu AIlH-
.'ohs was murdered? Or a fourth,
Do uihe Mr.. Jameson had locked
''ne one in the clothes chute?
sleep was impossible. | think. for
any OIL us. We dispersed finally to
ya'ne and dress, leaving Louise little
S sae worse for her experience. But
90 e' mined that before the day was
as9 t She must know the true state of
~ another decision made, and
,,. pu' 1t into execution Immediately
~ breakfast. | had one of the
haof seu bedrooms in the east wing,
uack along the small corridor, pre-,
IT, eu lor occupancy, and from that
M On Alex, the gardener. slept
h. one man in that barn of a
bous was an absurdity, with things
tba. Peu'hg all the time, and must say
anr A'eS was as unobjectionable as
n. oHe could possibly have been.
NC next morning, also. Halsey aud
tha naae an exhaustive examination Of
Al a.. ieuiar staircase. the small entry
fross ioot, and the cardroom opening
..nu IT. There was no evidence Of
as unusual the night before, and