The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1910-10-07
IL Was Thomas.

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
vent around detected and sad, and /
saw the detective watching him close
ly 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 vas taking Mrs. Watson's place,
had finished examining the tea-towels
and the corners Of the shelves in the
cooling room, and had gone to bed.
Alex, the gardener. had gone heavily
up the circular staircase to his room,
and Mr.. Jameson was examining the
locks of the windows. Halssy dropped
into a chair in the living room and
stared moodily ahead. Once he reused.
What sort of a looking chap is that
Walker, Gertrudeg' he asked.
Rather tall, very dark, smooth
shaven. Not bad looking" Gertrude
cdio, Putllu6 ucWa lnC DOoh ohS nou
been pretending to read. Halsey
kicked a taboret viciously.
Lovely place this village must be
in the winter" he said irrelevantly.
"A girl would be buried alive here"
1t was then some one raped at the
knocker on the heavy front door. Hal
sey got up leisurely and opened it,
admitting Warner. He was out of
breath from running. and he looked
half abashed.
Il am sorry to disturb you" he said.
"But I didn't know what else to do.
It's about Thomas"
What about Thomas / asked.
Mr.. Jameson had come into the hall
and we all stared at Warner.
"He's acting queer, Warner ex-
planned. Hes sitting down there on
the edge of the porch, and he says he
has seen a ghost. The old man looks
bad. too; he can scarcely speak"
aHe's as full Of superstition as an
egg is of meat I said aHalsey, bring
some whisky and we will all go
down..
No one moved to get the whisky,
from which ! judged there were three
pocket TASKS ready for emergency.
Gertrude threw a shawl around my
shoulders, and we all started down
over the hill; I had made SO many
nocturnal excursions around the place
that / knew my way perfectly. But
Thomas was not on the veranda, nor
was be inside the house. The men
exchanged significant glances. and
Warner got a lantern.
He can't have gone far" he said
He was trembling SO that he couldn't
stand when / left"
Jameson and Halsey together made
the round of the lodge, occasionally
calling the old man by name. But
there was no response. No Thomas
came, bowling and showing his white
| teeth through the darkness. / began
to be vaguely uneasy, for the first
time. Gertrude, who raj never nerv.
GUS In the dark, went alone down the
drive to the gate, and stood there,
looking along the yellowish line Of the
road, while | waited on the tiny YER
anda.
Warner was puzzled. He came
around to the edge Of the veranda
and stood looking at 1t as If it ought
| to know and explain.
HE might have stumbled into the
HORSE he said, "but he could not
have climbed the stairs. Anyhow, he's
not Inside or outside, that / Ear see.''
the other members OF the party had
come back now, and no n had
feund any trace az the old a His
pipe, still warm, rested ON the edge
0f the rail, and inside on the table his
old gray hat showed that its owner
had not gone FAR.
He was not far. after all. From the