Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-08-04
CHAPTER vII.-continued.

CHAPTER ViI.-Continued.
"Liddy," called. Ego through the
house at once and see who is missing,
or If any one Is. Well have to clear
this thing at once. Mr. Jameson, If
You will watch here will go to the
lodge and find Warner. Thomas
would be of no use. Together you
may be able to force the door,"
"a good idea" he assented. But
there are windows, Of course, and
there is nothing to prevent whoever is
In there from getting out that way"
Then lock the door at the top of
the basement stairs" / suggested,
and patrol the house from the out
side"
We agreed to this, and mad a
feeling that the mystery of Sunny
side was about to be solved. / ran
down the steps and along the. drive.
Just at the corner ran full tilt into
somebody who seemed to be as much
alarmed as was. 1t was not until l
had recoiled step CT two that rec
ognized Gertrude, and she me.
Good gracious, Aunt Ray" she ex-
claimed, what is the matter?"
There's somebody locked inc the
laundry" I painted. THAT is-unless-
you didn't see any one crossing the
lawn or skulking around the house,
did your
7 think we have mystery on the
fVro IN, ~ arf, Ia cpiH nil
! haven't seen any one, except old
Thomas, who looked for all the world
as il he had been ransacking the pan
try. What have you locked in the
laundry q
Il can't wait to explain replied.
II must get Warner from the lodge, If
you came out for air, you'd better put
on your orershoes.' And then I no.
ticed that Gertrude was limping mot
much, but sufficiently to make her
progress very slow, and seemingly
painful.
You have hurt yourself" said
SHARPLY.
II +, II over the carriage block. she
explained. II thought perhaps
might see Halsey coming home. He
he ought to be here"
4 fastened to the lodge
Where is Warner?" ] asked.
''I-I think he's in bed, ma'am'
Get him up ] said, and for good
ness sake open the door, Thomas. I'll
wait for WarIe:t."
IS kind O. close In here, ma am, !"
he said, obeying gingerly, and disclos-
ing a cool and comfortab le-looking in
terror Perhaps you'd keer to set on
the porch an rest you'self."
It was SO evident that Thomas did
not want me inside that I went in.
Tell Warner he is needed in hur-
~ repeated, and turned into the
little sitting room. / could hear
Thomas going UP the stairs, could
hear him rouse Warner, and the steps
of the chauffeur as he hurriedly
dressed. But my attention was busy
with the room below.
On the center table, open, was a
sealskin travelling bag. It was filled
with gold-topped bottles and brushes.
and 1t breathed opulence, luxury, fem
tninity from every inch Of surface.
How did it get there3 j was still ask
Ing myself the question when Warner
came running down the stairs and
into the room. He was completely but
somewhat anonymously dressed, and
his open, boyish face looked abashed.
He was country boy. absolutely
/! frank and reliable, Of fair education
and diligence one of the small
army Of American youths who turn a
natural aptitude for mechanics into
the special aeld of the automobile,
n md earn good salaries In a congenial
occupation.
hat Is Il, Miss Innes?" he asked
anxiouHly A. .55
There is some one locked in the
laundry replied. 81 II. Jameson
ants you to help him break tho lock
N arner. whose bag Ii this?
tteswas in the doorway by this time
81 ad ne pretended not to hear.
arner, called, come bach
mel hose bag is this n,
|sss teppeda then, but he did not TURF
loInd 8
81 belongs to Thomas, be
asss z z lgss Led up the drive.
isssss Thomas! London bap with
( HIT ors and cosmetic lars 81 which
l onaas csald not even have guessed
g ss@ Il
gsse lasss 1Aclt NY min ,ich was ~
ss& cQMinG III anomalous AND