The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-07-22

II
her stop suddenly, as II she had been
struck.
"He does not" she said in tone
that was not her own. "Mr. Bailey and
my brother know nothing Of this.
The murder was committed ct three.
They left the house ct q quarter be.
fore three"
How do you know that!'' Mr.. Jam.
ieson asked oddly. do you know at
what time they left?"
II do,"' Gertrude answered firmly.
"At q quarter before three my brother
and Mr.. Bailey left the house, by the
main entrance. Iwas-there."
Gertrude" I said excitedly, you
are dreaming! Why, at quarter to
three"
Listen" she said. eat half-past
two the downstairs telephone rang.
had not gone to sleep, and I heard it.
Then heard Halsey answer it, and
in few minutes he came upstairs and
Knocked at my door. We've talked
for minute. then put on my dress
ing gown and slippers, and went down.
stairs with. him. Mr.. Bailey was in
the billiard room. We've all talked
together for perhaps ten minutes.
Thon ~ xuoo doo3do.T %t,o% &6o% &I,o,,
should both go away"
Cant you be- more explicit?" Mr..
Jameson asked. "Why did they go
away?"
'1 am only telling you what hap
pened. not why it happened" she said
evenly. "Halsey went for the car,
and instead of bringing it to the house
and rousing people, he went by the
lower road from the stable. Mr..
Bailey was to meet him at the foot Of
the lawn. Mr.. Bailey left"
(Which way?" Mr.. Jameson asked
sharply.
"By the main entrance. He left
it was quarter to three. I know
exactly" .
"The clock in the hall is stopped,
Miss Innes," said Jameson. Nothing
seemed to escape him.
HE looked lat his watch" she re-
piled, and could see Mr.. Jamieson's
eyes snap, as If he had made dis
covery. AS for myself, during the
whole recital had been plunged into
the deepest amazement.
"Will you pardon me for a personal
question:" The detective was q
youngish man, and thought he was
somewhat embarrassed. What are
your-your relations with Mr.. Bailey?"
Gertrude hesitated. Then she came
over and put her hand lovingly in
mine.
81 am engaged to marry him." she
said simply.
l had grown so accustomed to sur
prises that could only gasp again,
and as for Gertrude, the hand that
lay in mine was burning with fever.
"And-after that" Mr.. Jameson
went on, you went directly to bed?"
Gertrude hesitated.
''No," she said finally. "II am not
nervous, and after had extinguished
the light, remembered something I
had left in the billiard room, and
felt my way back there through the
darkness"
"Will you tell me what 1t was you
had forgotten?"
II cannot tell you," she said slowly.
"I-l did not leave the billiard room
at once"
"Why?" The detectives tone was
imperative. "This is very important,
Miss Innes."
II was crying" Gertrude said in a
low tone. when the French clock in
the drawing room struck three got
up and them heard a step on the
east porch, just outside the cardroom.
Some one with key was working
with the latch, and thought, Of
course, of Halsey. When we took the
house he called that his entrance, and
he had carried key for it ever since.
The door opened and I was about to
ask what he had forgotten, when
there was flash and a report. Some
heavy body dropped, and, half crazed
with terror and shock, ran through
the drawing room and got upstairs
scarcely remember how"
She dropped into a chair, and
thought Mr.. Jameson must have fin.
ished. But he was not through.
"You certainly clear your brother
and Mr.. Bailey admirably" he said.
''The testimony is invaluable, especial.
~ in view Of the fact that your broth
er and Mr.. Armstrong had, believe.
quarreled rather seriously some itms
ago"
Nonsense" I broke in. Things are
bad enough. Mr.. Jameson, without in
venting bad feeling where 1t doesn't
exist. Gertrude, don't think Halsey
knew the-the murdered man, did
he?"
But Mr.. Jameson was sure Of hid
ground.
ero BE coNT1NuED)
/ A New sun.Defying Cloth.
II a a -