The Lamar register., 1910-10-26
TfIT CIRCULAR STAIRCASE
BE|R|IIIl1||||l|||e'|||

come to the house as a gardener, and
pursue his investigations as he could.
His smooth upper lip had been suff-
cient disguise, with his change of
clothes, and a haircut by a country
barber.
So it was Alex, Jack Bailey, who
had been our ghost. Net only had he
alarmed Louise-and himself, he ad-
mitted-on the circular staircase, but
he had dug the hole in the trunkroom
wall. and later sent Eliza into hysteria.
The note Liddy had found in Ger
trude's scrap-basket was from him,
and 1t was he who had startled me
into unconsciousness by the clothes
chute, and, with Gertrude's help, had
carried me to Louises room. Ger
trude, / learned, had watched all
night beside me, in an extremity of
anxiety about me.
That old Thomas had seen his mas
ter. and thought he had seen the Sun
nyside ghost. there could be no doubt.
OF that story of Thomas, about see
ing Jack Bailey in the footpath be-
tween the club and Sunnyside. the
night Liddy and l heard the noise on
the circular staircase-that, too. was
right On the night before Arnold
Armstrong was murdered Jack Bailey
he'd made an attempt to search for
the secret room. He secured Arnold's
keys from his room at the club and
| got into the house. armed with a golf
stick for sounding the walls. He ran
against the hamper at the head of
the stairs. caught his cuff-link in it,
and dropped the golf-stick with a
crash. He was glad enough to get
!, away without an alarm being raised,
and he took the "owl" train to town.
The oldest thing to me was that
Mr.. Jameson had known for some
time that Alex wGs Jack Bailey. But
the face of the pseudo-gardener was
very queer indeed when, that night.
in the cardroom. the detective turned
to him and said:
How long are you and I going to
play our little comedy. Mr.. Bailey?"
Well. It is all over now. Paul Arm
strong rests in Casanova churchyard.
and this time there is no mistake. l
went to the funeral. because I wanted
to be sure he was really buried. and
| looked at the step of the shaft
where ] had sat that night. and won
dered If 1t was all real. Sunnyside is
for sale-no. I shall not buy it. Little
Lucien Armstrong is living with his
stepgrandmother, who is recovering
gradually from troubles that had ex-
tended over the entire period OF her
second marriage. Anne Watson lies
not far from the man she killed. and
who as surely caused her death.
Thomas. the fourth victim OF the con
spiracy. is buried on the hill. With
Nina Darlington. five lives were sac
rificed in the course Of this grim con.
spiracy.
There will be two weddings before
long. and Liddy has asked for my
heliotrope poplin to wear to the
church. ! knew she would. She has
wanted II for three years, and she
was quite ugly the time I spilled cof.
fee on it. We are very quiet. Just the
two Of us. Liddy still clings to her
ghost theory. and points to my wet
and muddy boots in the trunkroom as
proof. am gray. admit. but
haven't felt as well in a dozen years
Sometimes. when I am bored. ring
Ior Llduy, ana we talk things over
When Warner married Rosie. Liddy
smiled and said what I took for faith
fulness in Rosie had been nothing but
mawkishness. ! have not yet outlived
Liddy's contempt because gave them
silver knives and forks as a wedding
gift.
So we sit and talk. and sometimes
Liddy threatens to leave. and often
discharge her, but we stay together
somehow. / am talking Of renting a
house next year. and Liddy says to be
sure there is no ghost. To be perfect.
ly frank. ! ne.er really lived until
that summer. Time has passed since
/ began this story. My neighbors are
packing up for another summer. Liddy
is having the awnings put up. and the
window-boxes filled. Liddy or no Lid
dy. I shall advertise tomorrow for a
house in the country. and | don't care
If 1t has a Circular Staircase.
THE END