Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-08-11

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said. You and-and Jack left almost
at the time it happened. The detective
here thinks that you-that we-know
something about it."
''The devil he does!" Halseys eyes
were fairly starting from his head. II
beg your pardon, Aunt Ray, but-the
fellows a lunatic"
Tell me everything, won't you, Hal.
sey?" l begged. Tell me where you
went that night, or rather morning
has been terrible 48 hours for all
of us"
He stood staring at me, and could
see the horror of the situation dawn.
ing in his face.
Il can't tell you where went, Aunt
Ray" he said after moment. "As to
why, you will learn that soon enough.
But Gertrude knows that Jack and I
left the house before this thing-this
horrible murder-occurred."
Mr.. Jameson does not believe"
Gertrude said drearily. "Halsey, If
the worst comes, if they should arrest
you, you must-tell"
Il shall tell nothing" he said with
new sternness in his voice Aunt
Ray, it was necessary for Jack and
me to leave that night I cannot tell
you why-just yet. AS to where we
went, If l have to depend on that as
an alibi, I shall not tell. The whole
thing is an absurdity, trumped-up
charge that cannot possibly be seri-
GUS"
Has Mr.. Bailey gone back to the
city," I demanded, cor to the club?"
Neither" defiantly; "at the present
moment I do not know where he is."
"Halsey," I asked gravely, leaning
forward, have you the slightest sus-
picion who killed Arnold Armstrong?
The police think he was admitted
from within, and that he was shot
down from above, by some one on the
circular staircase"
Il know nothing of It," he main
tanned; but fancied I caught a sud
something that died as it came.
AS quietly, as calmly as l could, I
went over the whole story, from the
night Liddy and l had been alone up
to the strange experience of Rosie
and her pursuer. The basket still
stood on the table, mute witness to
this last mysterious occurrence.
There is something else," I said
hesltatingly, at the last. "Halsey, /
have never told this even to Gertrude,
but the morning after the crime
found, In tulip bed, revolver. It
1T was yours, Halsey."
For an appreciate moment Halsey
stared at me. Then he turned to Ger
trude.
My revolver, Trude!" he exclaimed.
why, Jack took my revolver with
him, didn't he?"
"Oh, for heavens sake don't say
that" l implored "The detective
thinks possibly Jack Bailey came back,
and-and the thing happened then"
He didn't come back" Halsey said
sternly. Gertrude, when you brought
down a revolver that night for Jack
to take with him, what one did you
bring? Mine?"
Gertrude was defiant now.
No. Yours was loaded, and 1 was
afraid of what Jack-might do. gave
him one have had for year or two.
1t was empty"
Halsey threw up both hands de-
spairingly
IF that isn't like grill" he said.
why didn't you do what I asked you
to, Gertrude? You send Bailey off
with an empty gun, and throw mine
in a tulip bed, of all places on earth!
Mine was a 50 caliber. The inquest
will show, of course, that the bullet
that killed Armstrong was a SO. Then
where shall l be?"
You forget" / broke in, chat I
have the revolver, and that no one
knows about it."
But Gertrude had risen angrily.
II cannot stand it; it is always
with me" she cried. "Halsey, did not
throw your revolver into the tulip
bed. think - you did-it-your-
self"
(TO BE CONTINUED)