Barbour County index., 1910-10-12
CHAPTER xxVlII.-continued

CHAPTER XXVlII.-Continued
Mr.. Winters and Alex disposed of
the tramp with a warning. 1t was eVl-
dent he had told us all he knew. we
had occasion, within a day or two, TO
be doubly thankful that we had given
him his freedom. When Mr.. jamie
son telephoned that night we had news
for him; he told me what | had not
realized before-that it would not be
possible to find Halsey at once. even
with this clew. The cars by this time,
three days, might re 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 as we were, things were hap
pening 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 it was CLASSY.
"Toothache?" I asked, not too gent
Iy. You deserve it. A woman of
your age, who would rather go around
with an exposed nerve in her head
than have the tooth pulled! 1t would
be over in a moment"
$50 would hanging" Liddy pro-
tested, from behind the hot-water bot
tie.
was hunting around for cotton and
laudanum.
"You have a tooth just like it your
self, Miss Rachel" she whimpered.
"And I'm sure DR.. Boyle's been trying
to take 1t out for years"
There was no laudanum, and Liddy
made terrible fuss when l proposed
carbolic acid. just because l had put
too much on the cotton once and
burned her mouth. I'm sure it never
did her any permanent harm; indeed,
the doctor said afterward that living
on liquid diet had been a splendid rest
for her stomach. But she would have
none Of the acid, and she kept me
awake groaning, so at last l got up
and went to Gertrude's door, To my
surprise it was locked
l 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
Lddy grumbling, with a sQueal now
and then when the pain stabbed
harder. Then, automatically, got the
laudanum and went back to her.
1t was fully half-hour before Lid.
dy's groans subsidized. At intervals ]
went to the door into the hall and
looked out, but saw and heard moth
Ing suspicious. Finally, when Liddy
had dropped into a doze, l even ven
tured as far as the head of the circular
staircase. but there fioated up to me
cnly the even breathing Of Winters
the night detective. sleeping Just in
side the entry. And then, far of,
heard the rapping noise that had lureC
Louise down the staircase that othe
my head, and very faint-three or fou
snort mumeu taps, a pause, and thel
again, stealthily repeated.
The sound of Mr.. Winters breath
ing was comforting; with the though
that there was help within call, some
thing kept me from waking him. di
not I'VE for a moment; ridiculou
things Liddy had said about a ghost
! am not at all superstitious, excep
perhaps, in the middle of the nigh
with everything dark-things like tha
came back to me. Almost beside m
was the clothes chute. could feel /
but could see nothing. AS stoo,
listening intently, 1 heard a soun
near me. 1t was vague. indeflnit
Then it ceased; there was an uneas
movement and grunt from the foC
OF the circular staircase, and silenC
again I stood perfectly still, hard
daring to breathe.
Then knew had been right. Son
ouc was stealthily passing the head
the staircase and coming toward N
In the dark. leaned against the wa
for support-my knees were givir
way. The steps were close now, al
suddenly thought of Gertrude. (
course 1t was Gertrude. / put out OF
hand In front of me. but touch,
nothing MY voice almost refused m