The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1910-09-22

=. srsumsnt In the library With : Eoman
before his disappsarance. Nsy cook das-
sp:sb slpps DR. NV W.iRsr: innc: 's fscs become. vid
ton. Evidsncs was secured from tramp
s. ouna ana s sso 0Is
empty box car.
CHAPTER xxviil-cent,nuss.
Mr.. Winters and Alex disposed of
the tramp with q warning. 1t was evi-
dent he had told us all he knew. We
had occasion. within . day or two. to
b doubly thankful that We had given
him his freedom. When Mr.. jamie
son tslephoned that night We had news
for him; he told me what I had not
realized before-that 1t would not be
possible to nnd Halsey at once, even
With this clew. Tho cars by this time,
three days, might be scattered over the
union. But he said to keep on hoping.
that It was the best news We had had.
And In the meantime, consumed with
anxiety - We were. things were hap
psning at the house in rapid success
sion.
We had one peaceful day-then Lid
dy took sick in the night. I went In
when heard her groaning. and found
her with . hot-water bottle to her
face. and her right cheek swollen un-
til 1t was glaASy.
"Toothache?" asked, not too gent
u. "You deserve 1t. A woman of
your age. who would rather 20 around
with an exposed nerve in her head
than have the tooth pulled! 1t would
bs over in . moment"
80 would hanging" Lddy pro-
TED h. from behind the hot-water bot
Tie.
Twas hunting around for cotton and
laudanum.
. You have q tooth Just like 1t your
self, Miss Rachel" she whimpered.
"And I'm sure Dr. Boyle's been trying
to take it out for years"
There was NO laudanum. and Liddy
made . terrible fuss when proposed
carbolic acid, 1ust because I had put
too much on the cotton once and
burned her mouth. I'm sure 1t never
did her any permanent harm; indeed.
the doctor said afterward that living
ON liquid diet had been q splendid rest
for her stomach. But she would have
none of the acid, and she kept me
awake sroaning, 80 at last I got up
and went to Gertrude's door. To my
surprise 1t was locked.
I went around by the hall and into
her bedroom that way. The bed was
turned down. and her dressing-gown
and night-dress lay ready in the little
room next, but Gertrude was not there.
She had not undressed.
don't know what terrible thoughts
came to me In the minute stood
there. Through the door could hear
liddy grumbling, with squeal now
ond then when the pain stabbed
harder. Then. automatically, got the
hudanum and went back to her.
It was fully half-hour before Lid
1y's groans subsided. At intervals I
vent to the door into the hall and
lDokah out, but saw and heard moth
,mS Xspicious. Finally, when Liddy
Md dropped into q doze. even ven-
thred as far al the head Of the circular
staircase, but there doated up to me
oaly the even breathing Of Winters,
lAe night detective, sleeping Just in
Me the entry. And then, far of,
heArd the rapping noise that had lured
s1ouise down the staircase that other
ksht, two weeks before. It was over
tny head, and very faint-three or four
Mort mumed taps, a pause, and then
k-S- -<>a1thf1v roro.tod
The sound Of Mr.. Winters breath
ms was comforting: with the thought
hat there was help within call, some
hing kept me from waking him. did
lot move for q moment; ridiculous
hings Liddy had said about ghost
am not at all superstitious, except,
yerhaps, in the middle of the night,
ith everything dark-things like that
lane back to me. Almost beside me
as the clothes chute. I could feel it,
ut l could see nothing. AS stood.
|stening intently. l heard sound
!,ar me. 1t was vague. indefinite.
aaen 1t ceased; there was an uneasy
!: oyement and q grunt from the foot
I'll the circular staircase, and silence
: ain. stood perfectly still, hardly
Irins to breathe.
IThen I knew I had been right. Some
&c was stealthily passing the head Of
staircase and coming toward me
the dark. I leaned against the wall
support-my knees were giving
hy. The steps were close now, and
hddenly I thought of Gertrude. OF
kursfnit was Gertrude. put out one
And Ii front Of me, but I touched
othing.- My voice almost refused me.