Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-09-22
CHAPTER xvI.--conrinued.


CHAPTER xvl.-Conrinued
u II was not sleeping WE'LL she be-
san, partly, / think, because I had
slept during the afternoon. Liddy
brought me some hot milk at ten
O'clock and slept until H. Then
wakened and-I got to thinking about
Killings, and worrying, SO could not
go to sleep.
Il was wondering why / had not
heard from Arnold since the-since /
saw him that night at the lodge.
was afraid he was i'll, be-
canse-he was to have done
something for me, and he had not
come back 1t must have been three
when heard some one rapping. /
sat up and listened, to be quite sure,
and the rapping kept up. | was eau
hious, and was about to call Liddy.
Then suddenly | thought knew what
1T was The east entrance and circu-
aar staircase were always used by
Arnold when he was out late, and
Nomcttmes, when he forgot his key, he
would rap and ! would go down and
let him in. I thought he had come
back to see mel didn't think about
the time, for his hours were always
erratlc. But ! was afraid I was too
weak to get down the stairs. The
Knocking kept up, and just as | was
about to call Liddy, she Fan through
the room and out into the hail. got
up then, feeling weak and dizzy, and
put on my dressing gown. II it was
Arnold, knew I must see him.
1T was very dark everywhere, but,
OF course. knew my way. / felt along
for the stair-rail, and went down as
quickly as could. The knocking had
stopped, and was afraid / was too
late. ] got to the foot of the stair
ease and over TO the door on to the
east Yeranda. / had never thought of
anything but that it was Arnold, until
u reached the door. 1t was unlocked
and opened about an inch. Everything
WAS black; it was perfectly dark out
hide. felt very queer and shaky.
Then ! thought perhaps Arnold had
used his key; he did-strange things
sometimes, and turned around. Just
~ / reached the foot of the staircase
thought heard some one coming.
MY nerves were going anyhow. there
IN the dark, and could scarcely
stand. got up as far as the third
or fourth step; then / felt that some
one was coming toward me on the
staircase The next instant hand
met mine on the stair-rail Some one
brushed past me, and screamed
Then Unjust have tainted"
That was Louise's story. There
could be no doubt of its truth, and the
{ thing that made it inexpressibly awful
TO me was that the poor girl had crept
down to answer the summons Of a
1 brother who would never need hel
kindly offices again. Twice, now, with
Nout apparent cause, some one had en-
tered the house by means OF the east
entrance: had apparently gone his
way unhindered through the house
G and gone out again as he had entered
Had this unknown visitor been there
e third time, the night Arnold Arm
4 strcng was murdered? Or a fourth
the time Mr.. Jameson had locked
BomeI one Ia the clothes chute?
! Sleep was impossible. think. fol
my OF us We dispersed finally tx
oathe and dress, leaving Louise littl,
y che worse for her experience. But
determined that before the day wa,
over she must know the true state 8
1airs Another decision I made. an,
put sSit into execution immediatel,
IL ~ TIL break fast. had one Of til,
nused bedrooms Ii the east wing
Bacl along the small corridor, pre
81 ffor sccu pancs and from tina
y ltilrne on Alex the gard slep
Sone man that barn Of
IA IuN hi m HnBurultXy WIN Lhtnr
9s Ii3s all the time. lnd must "a
4 as lnoh1 sctio nabls j
|saI 0ne could ossitl hare been
xkaIaination {
sSI i6lSa III emu
& 81 u openin