The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1910-06-23

veetsd. and tAFssgA a sgiy strsV
M. lnnes called 40 thea sushsA q
- II vas alarmed. - 1u1g ths
boaAket at hin"
Halsey was ska0ioing IL cut -
~ forehead II . snail nifroe =
~ vail. It vas aoG much e a ID
NJ but 1t haA Nd freely. al his
assurance vas rathsr tssFifyiag.
Thomas M" ~ ~. over his
eAssSder Why. I thought I saw
1Aeoas out there - 20 DAAs that
eyesonic break out q tie door I'D
ovoe the porch"
could see that uAAsr pretsase of
e1anining his injury - Vas watch
tAg her through the mirror.
Il this one Of the sssvants' blank
81. Mrs. Watsoar' I asked. holding
~ IL luxurious folds TO the light
EVERYTHING else 10 locked away"
~ replied Which was true enough.
- 6oubt. I had rented the house
without bed furnishings.
II Thomas 10 ILL.," Halssy said.
Some member of the family ought to
% DOWN to see him. You needn't
bother, Mrs. Watson. I will take the
blanket"
0As drew herself up quickly. - Il
n Drotest. but she found nothing to
az. She stood smoothing The folds Of
~ dead black dress. her face -
white as chalk above 1t. Then she
seeaod to make up her mind.
Very well. Mr.. Innes." she said.
"Rsshaps you would better 20. have
dose all could"
And then she turned and went up
the circular staircase. moving slowly
and with certain dignity. Below.
The three Of u stared at one another
across the Intervening white blanket.
upon my word" Halsey broke out,
this place 10 . walking nightmare.
have the feeling that We three out
st1sfs who have paid our money for
the privilege Of staying in this spook-
factory. are living on the very top of
thiAgs. We're on the lid. 20 to speak
Now and then We get . sight of the
things inside. but We are not Q part
Of them"
DO you suppose" Gertrude asked
doubtfully. that she really meant that
blanket for Thomas?"
Thomas was standing beside that
magnolia tree" Halsey replied.
when | ran after Mrs. Watson. It's
down to this, Aunt Ray. Rosie's bas-
ket and Mrs. Watson's blanket can
only mean one thing: There is some
body hiding or being hidden in the
lodge. 1t wouldn't surprise me II We
hold the key to the whole situation
now. Anyhow. I'm going to the lodge
to investigate"
Gertrude wanted to go. too. but she
looked 10 shaken that insisted she
should not. sent for Liddy to help
her to bed. and then Halsey and
started for the lodge. The grass was
heavy with dew, and. man-like. Halsey
chose the shortest way across the
lawn. Half way, however he stopped.
Wed better go by the drive" he
said. This isn't lawn; it's a field.
Where's the gardener these days."
There isn't any" I said meekly.
I'VE have been thankful enough, 90
far, to have our meals prepared and
served and the beds aired. The gard
ener who belongs here is working at
the club"
Remind me tomorrow to send out
man from town." he said. II know
the very fellow"
I record this scrap Of conversation.
just as have tried to put down any.
thing and everything that had a bear
ing on what followed. because the
gardener Halsey sent the next day
played an important part in the events
Of the next few weeks-events that
eliminated as you know, by stirring
however. l was busy trying to keep
my skirts dry. and paid little or no
attention to what seemed then q most
trivial remark
At the lodge everything was qaist
There was light in the sitting room
downstairs. AND faint CLEAN, as II
from shaded lamp, in one of the up
per rooms. Halsey stopped and ex-
amined the lodge with calculating
eyes.
Il don't know. Aunt Ray" he said
obviously; this Is hardly q womans
affair. II there's scrap of any kind.
you hike for the timber" Which was
Halsey's solicitous care for me, put
into vernacular
TN stay right here" said, and
crossing the small veranda, now
shaded and fragrant with honey
suckle, hammered the knocker on
the door.
Thomas opened the door himself
Thomas, fully dressed and in his Gus
tomary health. had the blanket over
my arm.
Il brought the blanket, Thomas"
said; Il am sorry you are so ILL.,
The old man stood staring at me
and then at the blanket His con-
fusion under other circumstances
would have been ludicrous.
What! Not ill?" Halsey said from
the step. Thomas, I'm afraid you've
been malingering."