The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-08-05
CHAPTER vII.-continued.

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
che basement stairs" 1 suggested,
~and patrol the house from the out
side.'
We agreed to this, and I had
h teeling that the mystery of Sunny
5A1e was about to be solved. ran
down the steps and along the drive.
Just at the corner ran full tilt into
Jomebody who seemed to be as much
alarmed as I was. It was not until I
lad recoiled step or two that rec
1gnized Gertrude, and she me.
Good gracious. Aunt Ray" she ex-
claimed, what is the matter?"
There's somebody locked in the
laundry" painted. "That is-unless-
you didn't see any one crossing the
lawn or skulking around the house,
did you?"
Il think we have mystery on the
BRAIN" Gertrude said YEARLY. mo,
I haven't seen any one, except old
Thomas, who looked for all the world
as if he had been ransacking the pam
try. What have you locked in the
laundry?"
II can't wait to explain" replied.
Il must get Warner from the lodge. If
you came out for air, you'd better nut
on your overshoes." And then I no
ticed that Gertrude was limping-not
much, but sufficiently to make her
progress very slow, and seemingly
painful.
7 "You have hurt yourself" said
sharply.
81 fell over the carriage block" she
explained. II thought perhaps I
might see Halsey coming home. He
he ought to be here''
fastened to the lodge.
Where is Warner?" I asked.
I'll think he's in bed, ma'am."
Get him up" said, land for good
ness sake open the door, Thomas. I'll
wait for Warner"
ITS kind O. close in here, ma'am,"
he said, obeying gingerly, and discios-
Ing cool and comfortable looking in
terror. Perhaps you'd keer to set on
the porch an rest you'self."
1t was so evident that Thomas did
not want me inside that went in.
Tell Warner he is needed in hur-
~" I repeated, and turned into the
little sitting room. I 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
sealskin travelling bag. It, was filled
with gold.topped bottles and brushes,
land it breathed opulence. luxury, fem
Ainity from every inch of surface.
How did 1t get there? 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 q country boy, absolutely
frank and reliable, Of fair education
and intelligence one Of the small |
army Of American youths who turn q
natural aptitude for mechanics into
the special field Of the automobile,
and earn good salaries in q congeniall
occupation.
What is 1t. Miss Innes?" masked
anxiously.
There is some one locked in the
laundry" ! replied. Mr.. Jameson
wants you to help him break the lock.
Warner, whose bag is this p
He was in the doorway by this time,
and he pretended not to hear.
Warner" called, come back
here. Whose bag 10 this?',
Hssstopped then. but he did not turn
around.
Il belongs 70 Thomas, no
said aid Ned up the drive.
IA Thomas! A London boz With
niErcFs ala cosmetic jars of which
ThOmaS could not even have guessed
ne uss! However. i put tho bag in.1
the back of my mind, which va fast
sbecoming atprsd With "a alous ana
apparently iFTsconcilable facts. and
followed SWarne Ia tie hoass.
I ~ Ind cons lb,alliclk 6 the hitch.