Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1910-07-02
CHAPTER vIII.-continued

CHAPTER Vill.-Continued.
Undoubtedly. Why, what could 1t
be but flight? Miss Innes, let me re-
construct that evening, as 1 see it.
Bailey and Armstrong had quarreled
at the club. I learned this to-day.
Your nephew brought Bailey over
Prompted by jealous, insane fury,
Armstrong followed, coming across by
the path. He entered the billiard
room wing-perhaps rapping, and be-
ing admitted by your nephew. Just
inside he was shot, by some one on
the circular staircase. The shot fired,
your nephew and Bailey left the house
at once, going toward the automobile
house They left by the lower road,
which prevented them being heard,
end when you and Miss Gertrude got
downstairs everything was quiet"
'But-Gertrude's story 1 STAN
nered.
Miss Gertrude only brought for
syard her explanation the following
s,orning. 1 do not believe it, Miss
,Ines 1t is the story of a loving and
Ingenious woman"
"And-this thing tonight"
May upset my whole view of the
kase. We must give the benefit OF
Every doubt after all We may, for
T distance, come back to the figure on
lac porch; If it was a woman you saw
That night through the window. we
hight start with other premises. Or
Mr.. Innes' explanation may turn US
Ia a new direction. 1t is possible that
he shot Arnold Armstrong as a burg
lar and then fed, frightened at what
T. hw rvlr-
1 feel confident that the body was
here when he left. Mr.. Armstrong
left the club ostensibly for a moon
light saunter, about half after eleven
o'clock 1t was three when the shot
was fred"
I leaned back bewildered 1t seemed
to me that the evening had been full
of significant happenings, had 1 only
held the key. Had Gertrude been the
fugitive in the clothes chute? Who
was the man on the drive near the
lodge, and whose go1d-mounted dress
ing-bag had 1 seen in the lodge sitting
room?
1t was late when Mr.. Jameson
finally got up to go. 1 went with him
to the door, and together we stood
looking out over the valley. Below
lay the village of Casanova. with its
Old World houses, it's poisoning
trees and it's peace. Above on the hill
across the valley were the lights of
the Greenwood club. 1t was even pos
sible, to see the curving row of paral-
lei lights that marked the carriage
road Rumors that / had heard about
the club came back-of drinking, OF
high play, and once, a year ago, of a
suicide under those very lights
Mr.. Jameson left, taking a short
cut to the village, and 1 still stood
there. 1t must have been after IL
and the monotonous tick of the big
clock on the stairs behind me was the
only sound Then / was conscious
that some one was running up the
drive. In a minute woman darted
into the area of light made by the
open door, and caught me by the arm
1t was Rosie-Rosie in a state of col
lapse from terror. and, not the least
important, clutching one of my Coal
| port plates and a silver spoon.
She stood staring into the darkness
behind, still holding the plate. 1 go
her into the house and secured tbs
| plate; then 1 stood and looked dowI
| at her where she crouched trembling
| ly against the doorway
| WELL" asked, didn't your young
i man enjoy his meal?"
She couldn't speak She looked a
the spoon she still held-Iswasn't 81
anxious about it: thank Heaven.
| wouldn't chip-and then she stared a
4 me.
81 appreciate your desire to hav,
| everything nice for him." 1 went on
but the next time, you might TAX
the Limoges china It's more easil.
duplicated and less expensive
Il haven't a young man-not here
| She had got her breath now, as 1 ha,
guessed she would. II have beel
chased by a thief, Miss Innes-''
Did he chase you out of the hous
and back again2s 1 asked
Then Rosie began to cry-not 81
lently, but noisily, Historically
| stopped her by giving her a goo