Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-07-14

small mustache. I remember wonder
ing why; he seemed to have a good
mouth and when he smiled his teeth
were above the average One never
messy upper lip that must get into
things, any more than one under
stands some women building up their
hair on wire atrocities. Otherwise,
he was very good to look at, stalwart
and tanned, with the direct gaze that
like. l am particular about Mr.. Bal
ley, because he was prominent fig
ure in what happened later.
Gertrude was tired with the trip
and went up to bed very soon. l
made up my mind to tell them moth
ing until the next day, and then to
make as light of our excitement as
possible. After all, what had l to tell?
An inquisitive face peering in at a
window; a crash in the night; a
scratch or two on the stairs, and half
a cuff-button! AS for Thomas and his
forebodings, it was always my belief
that negro is one part thief, one
part pigment, and the rest supersti-
ton.
1t was Saturday night. The two
men went to the billiard room, and l
could hear them talking as 1 went up
stairs. 1t seemed that Halsey had
stopped at the Greenwood club for
gasolene and found Jack Bailey there,
with the Sunday golf crowd. Mr.. Bal
ley had not been hard to persuade
probably Gertrude knew why-and
they had carried him off triumphant-
| ly. Iroused Liddy to get them some
| thing to eat-Thomas was beyond
reach in the iodge-and paid no at
tention to her evident terror of the
kitchen regions. Then / went to bed.
The men We're still in the billiard
| room when finally dozed off, and the
last thing / remember was the howl
Of dog in front of the house. 1t
walled a crescendo Of woe that trailed
off hopefully, only to break out afresh
from new point of the compass.
| At three o'clock in the morning |
was reused by a revolver shot. The
sound seemed to come from just out
side my door. For moment l could
not move. Them heard Gertrude
stirring in her room, and the next
moment she had thrown open the con-
meeting door.
20. Aunt Ray! Aunt Ray!'' she
cried Historically. Some one has
1been killed."
H. t0rl,in,,ac.,, r co;5 .1,on&1,, sVr,1,
goodness. there are some men in the
house tonight was getting into
my slippers and bath-robe, and Ger
trude with shaking hands was lighting
a lamp. Then we opened the door
into the hall, where, crowded on the
upper landing of the stairs, the maids,
white-faced and trembling, were peer
/ ing down, headed by Liddy. was
! greeted by series Of low screams
and questions, and tried to quiet
them. Gertrude had dropped on a
4 chair and sat there limp and shiv-
4 ering.
went at once across the hall to
i Halsey's room and knocked; then |
pushed the door open. 1t was empty;
4 the ped mad not been occupied!
q He must be in Mr.. Bailey's room =
1 said excitedly. and followed by Lid,
Idy, We went there. Like Halsey's, it
had not been occupied! Gertrude was
Ion her feet now but she leaned
against the door for support.
They have been Killed., she
1 gasped. Then she caught ne by the
farm and DRAGGED me toward the
stairs. They may only be hurt, and
+ ii find size said, her
eyes dilated with excitement 4
1 I don't remember how We got. down
1.-THE stairs; do remember expecting
IEeYery mcment to- be Nil He'd he cook
was at the telephone upstairs. calling
the Crossword club, and Liddy was
behind me, afraid to come and not