The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1910-05-19
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f6vOlv0t
iisy had disappeared
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Especially what?"
~ Especially since Jack Bailey and
mold Armstrong were notoriously
u friends. 1t was Bailey who got
sDsld iato trouble last spring
sbosthiag about the hank. And then.
49,.
sW ''0s o." I said. IF there ID any
u Aine more. I ought to know"
;s There's nothing more." he said
bsAsively. There's just one thing We
tsay bank on. Miss lnnes. Any court
= tie country will acquit . man who
Hills an Intruder In his house At
oight. II Halsey-"
why. you don't think Halsey did
] ~" exclaimed. There was . queer
1Dsling of physical nausea coming
ever me-
mo. NO. not at ALL" he said with
brood cheerfulness. Come. Miss In.
-. you're . ghost Of yourself, and
I am going to help you upstairs and
eli your maid. This has been too
IDuch for you"
About six O'Clock Gertrude came in.
0e was fully dressed. and sat up
1ssvously.
Poor Aunty!" she said. What .
SAocking night you have had" She
Name over and sat down on the bed.
md saw she looked very tired and
worn.
rs there anything new" I asked
Aaxiously.
Nothing. The car is gone. but War
ner"-he 10 the chaufeur-"Warner
b at the lodge and knows nothing
about it."
Well" 1 said, ff I ever get my
hands on Halsey Innes shall not let
60 until have told him few things.
When we get this cleared up, l am
going back to the city to be quiet.
q (De more night like the last two will
shd me. The peace Of the country
addlesticks!"
Whereupon told Gertrude Of the
5 noises the night before, and the figure
ea the veranda In the east wing. As
an afterthought I brought out the
pearl cuff-link.
@ Il have no doubt now" said, that
~ was Arnold Armstrong the night
4 before last, too. He had . key, no
doubt, but why he should steal into
G his fathers house I cannot imagine.
He could have come with my permis-
zion easily enough. Anyhow, whoever
Il was that night left this little sou.
! venir."
Gertrude took one look at the cuff
( link and went as white as the pearls
[ IN it: she clutched at the foot of the
bed and stood staring. As for me,
s was quite as astonished as she was.
Where did-you-hnd it," she
4 asked finally, with desperate effort
at calm. And while told her she
stood looking out of the window with
q look could not fathom on her face.
1t was = relief when Mrs. Watson
tapped at the door and brought me
some tea and toast. The cook was in
bed, completely demoralized, she re-
ported. and Lddy. brave with the day
light, was looking for footprints around
the house. Mrs. Watson herself was
Q wreck; she was blue-white around
the lips, and she had one hand tied
W. She said she had fallen down
lrs In her excitement. 1t was natur-
~ oe course. that the thing would
hock her, having been the Arm
a1olGu housekeeper for several years
~ Knowing Mr.. Arnold we'll
Gertrude had slipped out during my
talk With Mrs. Watson, and I 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 gone
back for more conventional clothing.
could hear Thomas in the pantry
alternately wailing for Mr.. Arnold,
Is he called him, and citing the
tokens that had precursed the murder.
The house seemed to choke me, and,
slipping q shawl around me, / went
out on the drive. At the corner by
the east wing met Liddy. Her skirts
were draggled with dew to her knees
and her hair was still in crimps.
Go right in and change your
Clothes" l said sharply. You're =
sight, and at your age!"
She had q golf stick in her hand,
and she said she had found 1t on the
lawn. There was nothing unusual
about 1t, but 1t occurred to me that q
golf stick with a metal end might
have been the object that had scratch.
cd the stairs near the cardroom.
took it from her, and sent her up for
dry garments. Her daylight courage
and selfimportance, and her shud-
aering delight in the mystery, irri-
tated me beyond words. After I left
her I made circuit Of the building.
Nothing seemed to be disturbed; the
A0Sse looked as calm and peaceful in
td0 morning sun as 1t had the day
had been coerced into taking it. There