The Tupelo journal., 1910-08-26
CHAPTER xIx.-continued.

why was MT. Bailey not present
at the ~inquest?"
The detectives expression was Pc
culiar.
Because his physician testified
that he is i'll, and unable to leave his
bed"
iii" l exclaimed. "Why, neither
Halsey nor Gertrude has told me
that"
There are more things than that,
Miss Innes, that are puzzling. Bailey
gives the impression that he knew
nothing of the crash at the bank I'M
til he read it in the paper Monda
night, and that he went back and sur
rendered himself Immediately. l do
not believe it. Jonas, the Waterman
at the Traders bank, tells a different
story. He says that on the Thurs
day night before, about $3.50, Bailey
went back to the bank. Jonas ad-
mitted him, and he says the ash1er
was in a state almost of collapse.
Bailey worked until midnight, then he
closed the vault and wen away. The
occurrence was so unusual that the
Waterman pondered over it all the
rest of the night. What did Bailey
do when he went back to the Knicker-
booker apartments that night? He
packed a suitcase ready for instant
departure. But he held off too long;
he waited for something. My per-
sonal opinion is that he waited to see
Miss Gertrude before flying from the
country. Then, when he had shot
down Arnold Armstrong that night, he
had to choose between two evils. He
did the thing that would Immediately
turn public opinion in his favor, n
surrendered himself, as an innocent
man. The strongest thing against
him is his preparation for fight, and
his deciding to come back after the
murder of Arnold Armstrong. He was
shrewd enough to disarm suspicion as
to the graver charge"
The evening dragged along slowly.
Mrs. Watson came to my bedroom be-
fore l went to bed and asked ii | had
n arnica. She showed me a badly
swollen hand, with reddish streaks
running toward the elbow; she said
it was the hand she had hurt the night
of the murder a week before, and that
she had not slept well since. 1t looked
to me as if it might be serious, and |
told her to let DR.. Stewart see it.
The next morning Mrs. Watson
--~k .-r - %D-~~ an tho II froin ond
was admitted to the Charity hospital.
She was suffering from blood-poison-
ing. / fully meant to go up and see
her there, but other things drove her
entirely from my mind. / telephoned
to the hospital that day, however. and
ordered a private Dom for her, and
whatever comforts she might be al
lowed.
Mrs. Armstrong arrived Monday
evening with her husbands body, and
the services were set for the next
day. The house on Chestnut street,
in town, had been opened, and Tues
day morning Louise left us to go
home. She sent for me before she
went, and / saw she had been crying.
How can / thank you, Miss Innes?'
she said. "You have taken me on
faith, and-you have not asked me
any questions. Some time, perhaps, !
can tell you; and when that time
comes, you will all despise me-Hal-
sey, too"
/ tried to tell her how glad l was to
have had her, but there was some
thing else she wanted to say. She
said 1t finally, when she had babe q
constrained good-by to Halsey and the
ear was waiting at the door.
Miss Innes,' she said in a low
n IF they-if there is any attempt
made TOTO have you give up the
house, do it, If you possibly can. / am
afraid-to have you stay"
That was all. Gertrude went into
town with her and saw her safely
home. She reported a decided cool
ness in the greeting between Louise
and her mother, and that DR.. Walker
was there, apparently in charge of the
ARRANGEMENTS for the funeral. Halsey
disappeared shortly after Louise left
and came home about nine that night,
muddy and tired. As for Thomas, he
went around detected and sad, and ]
saw the detective watching him close
Iy at dinner. Even now / wonder
what did Thomas know? What did he
suspect?
At ten O'Clock the household had
settled down for the night. Liddy
who wzs taking Mrs. Watson's place
had finished examining the tea-towela
and the corners of the shelves In tn
cooling room. and had gone TO bed
Alex, the gardener. had gone heavily