The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1910-11-25
IHE CIRCULAR STAIRCASE

| RIGGS came into the room difident
ly, but Mr.. Jameson put him at his
ease. He kept a careful eye on me,
however. and slid into a chair by the
door when he was asked to sit down.
Now, Riggs" began Mr.. Jameson
kindly. You are to say what you
have to say before this lady"
You promised you'd keep 1t quiet,
MI. Jameson" Riggs plainly did not
trust me. There was nothing friendly
in the glance he turned on me.
Yes, yes. You will be protected.
But, first of all, did you bring what
you promised?'
Riggs produced a roll of papers
from under his coat, and handed them
over. Mr.. Jameson examined them
with lively satisfaction, and passed
them to me. The blue-prints of Sun.
nyside," he said. What did | tell
you? Now. Riggs, we are ready"
I'D never have come to you, Mr..
Jameson" he began, "if it hadn't been
for Miss Armstrong. When Mr.. In
mes was spirited away, like, and Miss
Louise got sick because of 1t,
thought things had gone far enough.
I'd dom some things for the doctor
before that wouldn't just bear looking
into, but turned a bit squeamish."
did you help with THAR" / asked.
leaning forward.
mo, nam. I didn't even know of
it until the next day, when it came
out In the Casanova Weekly Ledger.
But / know who did 1t, all right. I'd
better start at the beginning.
When DR.. Walker went away to
California with the Armstrong family,
there was talk In the town that when
he came back he would be married to
Miss Armstrong, and we all expected
it. First thing l knew, I got a letter
from him in the west. He seemed to
be excited, and he said Miss Arm
strong had taken a sudden notion to
go home and he sem me some a
| was to watch for her, t see if she
went to Sunnyside, and wherever she
was, not to lose sight Of her until he
got home. / traced her to the lodge.
and ! guess / scared you on the drive
n night. Miss Innes."
And Rosie!" / calculated.
Riggs grinned sheepishly.
Il only wanted to make sure Miss
Louise was there. Rosie started to
run, and l tried to stop her and tell
her some sort of a story to account
for my being there. But she wouldn't
wait"
"And the brornn china-in the
basket?"
Wei, broken china's death to rub.
Der tires" he said. 81 hadn't any
complaint against you people here,
and the Dragon Fly was a good car"
So Rosie's highwayman was ex.
planned.
We'll, / telegraphed the doctor
where Miss Louise was and I kept an
eye on her. Just a day or SO before
they came home with the body I got
another letter, telling me to watch
for a woman who had been pitted
with smallpox. Her name was Car.
rington, and the doctor made things
pretty strong. II I found any such
waning oAouhut 4 was not LC
lose sight of her for q minute until
the doctor got back.
well, ! would have had my hands
full, but the other woman didn't show
up for a good while, and when she did
the doctor was home"
Riggs" ! asked suddenly, did you
get into this house a day or two after
| took it, at night?"
Il did not, Miss Innes. I have neve
been in the house before. Well, the
Darlington woman didn't show up un.
til the night Mr.. Halsey disappeared.
She came to the Office late, and the
doctor was out. She waited around.
walking the floor and working herself
into a passion. When the doctor
didn't come back, she was in an awful
way. She wanted me to hunt him,
and when he didn't appear, she called
him names; said he couldn't fool her.
There was murder being done, and
she would see him swing for 1t.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)