The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1910-08-26
CHATTER xvl.--cou.Inusd.

y was not sleeping WELL" she be
gan, partly, think, because ! had
slept during the afternoon. Liddy
brought mo some hot milk at ten
o'clock and slept until 12 Then |
wakened and--I got TO thinking about
things, and worrying, so could not
/ 80 TO sleep.
Il was wondering why | had not
heard from Arnold since the--slnee /
saw him that night at tho lodge /
was afraid no was III, be.
cause.-The was to have done
something for me, and he had not
come back. II must have been three
when ! heard some one rapplng, |
sat up and listened, to be quite sure
and the rappiug kept up was eau.
tloua, and | was about 10 call Llddy.
Then suddenly | thought | knew what
II was, The east entrance and circu.
lar staircase were always used by
Arnold when he was out late, and
sometimes, when he forgot his key, he
would rap and would go down aud
let him In, / thought he had come
back 70 SEQ mel didn't think about
the time. for his hours were always
erratic but I was afraid was too
weak TO get down the stairs. The
knocking kept up, ard Just as | was
about to cali Liddy abe ran through
the room and out into the hall | got
up then, feeling weak and dizzy, and
put on my dresslnggown. II II was
Arnold, | knew I must see him.
III was very dark everywhere, but,
OF course, knew my way felt along
for the stalr.rail. and went down as
quickly as ! could. The knocking had
stopped, and ! was afraid was too
late. got 10 the foot OF the stair,
case and over 10 the door on To the
east yeranda, | had never thought OF
anything but that II was Arnold, until
reached the door. II was unlocked
and opened about an inch. Everything
was black; Il was perfectly dark out.
side felt very queer and shaky.
Then ] thought perhaps Arnold had
used his key; no did.--strange things
sometimes, and turned around. Just
Ms ] 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 ms far al 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.rRil, Some one
brushed past me. and screamed
Then ! must have tainted"
That was Louise's story. There
could be no doubt Of Its truth, and the
thing that made II lnexpressibly awful
to me was that the poor girl had crept
down to answer the summons OF
brother who would never need her
kindly offices again. Twice, now, with,
out apparent cause. some one had en-.
tered the house by means OF the east
entrance. had apparently gone his
way unhindered through the house.
and gone out again as he had entered
Had this unknown visitor been there
third time, the night Arnold Arm.
strong was murdered? Or fourth,
the time Mr., Jameson had locked
some one In the clothes ehuteH
Sleep was impossible, think, for
any Of us, We dispersed finally to
battle and dress, leaving Louise little
the worse for her experience But I
determined that before the day was
over she must know the true state of
AFFAIRS. Another decision made, and
put Il into execution Immediately
after breakfast. had one OF the
unused bedrooms In the east wing
back along the small corridor. pre-,
paree for occupancy, and FROM that
time IN Alex. the gardener, silent |
there One man In that barn OF a
h2asu was an ahsurdity, with things
happening all the time. and must say |
that Alex was as unobiecuonable as |
any une could possibly have been.
The next morning. also. Halsey and
| made an exhaustive examination Of |
the circular staircase, the small entry
at its foot, and the eardroom opening
from H. There was no evidence OF |
anything unusual the night before, and |