The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1910-07-15
CHAPTER ~.


Where 10 Halsey7
Gertrude gazed at the face in a kind
OF fascination. Then she put out her
hands blindly. and | thought she was
going to faint.
II has killed him." she muttered
almost in~articulately; and at that, be-
cause my nerves were going. l gave
her a good shake.
What do you mean?" / said fran
tically. There was a depth Of grief
and conviction In her tone that was
worse than anything she could have
said. The shake braced her, any
how. and she seemed to pull herself
together. But not another word would
she say; she stood gazing down at
that gruesome figure on the floor.
while Liddy. ashamed of her flight
and afraid to come back, drove before
her three terrified women servants
into the drawing room, which was as
near as any Of them would venture.
Once In the drawing room. Gertrude
collapsed and went from one fainting
spell into another. l had all l could
do to keep Liddy from drowning her
with cold water, and the maids hud.
died In q corner. as much use as so
many sheep. In a short time, although
1t seemed hours, a car came rushing
up. and Anne Watson, who had waited
to dress, opened the door. Three men
from the Greenwood club. In all kinds
Of costumes. hurried in. / recognized
a Mr.. Jarvis. but the others were
strangers.
What's wrong?" the Jarvis man
asked-and we made a strange pic
ture, no doubt. Nobody hurt, is
there!' He was looking at Gertrude.
Worse than that. Mr.. Jarvis"
said. Il think II 10 murder"
At the word there was a commotion.
The cook began to cry, and Mrs. Wat
son Knocked over q chair. The men
were visibly impressed.
mot any member of the family?"
Mr.. Jarvis asked, when he had got
his breath.
NO." | said: and motioning Liddy
to look after Gertrude, l led the way
with a lamp to the cardroom door.
One OF the men gave an exclamation,
and they all hurried across the room.
Mr.. Jarvis took the lamp from mel
remember that-and then feeling my
self getting dizzy and light-headed l
closed my eyes. When ! opened them
their brief examination was over, and
Mr.. Jarvis was trying to put me in a
chair.
You nus get upstairs" he said
firmly, you and Miss Gertrude. too.
This has been a terrible shock. In
his own home. too"
stared at him without comprehen-
sion. Who is it," l asked with diff
ficulty. There seemed q band drawn
tight around my throat.
1T Is Arnold Armstrong" ne said.
looking ut me oddly, and he has been
murdered-in his fathers house."
After a minute l gathered myself
together and Mr.. Jarvis helped me
into the living room. Liddy had got
Gertrude upstairs. and the two
strange men from the club stayed
with the body. The reaction from the
shock and strain was tremendous; l
was coilapsed-and then Mr.. Jarvis
asked me q question that brought
back my wandering faculties.
Where is Halsey?" he asked.
"Halsey!" Suddenly Gertrude's
stricken face rose before me-the
empty room upstairs. Where was
Halsey?
He was here. wasn't he?" Mr.. Jar
viz persisted. He stopped at the club
on his way over"
"I-don't know whe.e he u.s." l said
feebly.
One Of the men from the club came
in. asked for the telephone, and |
could hear him excitedly talking, say
ing something about and de-
tectives. Mr.. Jarvis leaned over to
me.
why don't you trust me. Miss In
nes?' he said. III | can do anything
will. But tell me the whole thing"
l did. finally. from the beginning,
and when l told of Jack Bailey's be-
ing In the house that night he gave q
long whistle.
Il wish they we're Goth here" he
said when l finished. Whatever mad
prank took them ANY,. 1t would look
better II they were b ere. Especially"
CTo an cOATINUED.)