, 1910-12-01

versatfonal path led to It, and we all
felt that Jameson was tightening
the threads of evidence around John
Bailey. The detectives absence was
hardly reassuring; he must have had
something to work ON in town or he
! would a returned.
The papers reported that the cash
Ter of the Traders bank was i'll In his
apartments at the Krickerbocker-a
condition not surprising, considering
everything. The guilt of the defunct
president was no longer in douht; the
missing bonds had been advertised
and some Of them discovered In
every instance they had e Use as
collateral for large loans, n the
belief was current that not less tina 7
a million n a half dollars had been
realized: Every one connected with
the bank had been placed under ar
rest. and released on heavy bond.
Was he alone in his guilt. or was
the cashier his accomplish? Where
was the money? The estate of the
dead man was comparatively small
a city house on a fashionable street,
| Sunnyside, a large estate largely
~mortgaged, an insurance of $50, 900,
and some personal property-this was
all. h rest lost in speculation prob
ably, the papers said. There was one
thing which looked uncomfortable for
Jack Bailey: He and Paul Armstrong
together a promoted a railroad COM
pany in New Mexico, and it was ru-
mored that together they had sunk
large sums of money there. The bust
ness alliance between the two men
added to the belief that Bailey knew
something Of the footing. His unex-
planned absence from the bank on
Monday lent color to the suspicion
against him. The strange thing
seemed to be his surrendering himself
on the point of departure. To me, 1t
seemed the shrewd calculation of a
clever rascal. / was not actively an
tagonistic to Gertrude's lover, but
meant to be convinced, one way or the
other. I o NJ one on faith.
That night the Sunnyside ghost be-
"a to walk again. Liddy had beer
sleeping in Louise's dressing room on
a couch, and the approach of dusk
was a signal for her 10 barricade the
entire suite. Situated as it was, be-
yond the circular staircase, nothing
but an extremity of excitement would
have made her pass 1t after dark. l
confess myself that the place seemed
tome to have a sinister appearance. but
we kept that wing well lighted, and
until the lights went out at midnight
It was really cheerful, If one did not
know its history.
On Friday night, then, I had gone
to bed, resolved to 60 at once to sleep.
Thoughts hat insisted on obtruding
themselves I pushed resolutely to the
back of my mind, and I systematically
relaxed every muscle. \ fell asleep
soon, and was dreaming that DR..
Walker was building his new house
Immediately in front ri my windows;
! could heal the thuJppthump of the
hammers. and then l walked to a
knowledge that somebody was pound
ing on m door.
l was up at once, and with the
sound of my footstep on the floor the
low knocking ceased, to be followed
Immediately by sibilant whispering
through the keyhole.
miss Rachel, Miss Racrel!" some
body was saying. over and over.
"Is that you. Liddy?" I asked, my
hand on the knob.
Sol the love of mercy. let me int"
she said in a low tone.
She was leaning against the door,
for when / opened 1t, she fell In. She
was greenish-white. and she had a
red and black barred flannel petticoat
over her shoulders.
Listen" she said. standing In the
middle of the door and holding on to
me. "Oh, Miss Rachel, it's the ghost
Of that dead man hammering to get
/ int"
Sure ~enought, there vas q dull thud
-thud-thud-it came apparently
from the wall.
Its not a ghost" ! said decidedly.
IF 1t was a ghost 1t wouldn't rap; 1t
would come through the keyhole,"
Liddy looked at the keyhole. But 1t
sounds very much as though some one
is trying to break into he house"
Liddy was shivering violently.
told her to get me my slippers and
she brought me a pair OF kid gloves.
SO ! found my things myself and pre-
pared to call Halsey. As before. the
night alarm had found the electric
lights gone; the hall, save for Its
night lamp. was In darkness, as went
across to Halsey's room. hardly
know what / feared. but 1t was a re-
lief to find him thara. vsrv aonnd