Barbour County index., 1910-10-05
CHAPTER XVII.
Who Is Nina carrineton2


The four days, from Saturday to the
following Tuesday, we lived. or ex
listed, in state of the most dreadful
suspense. We ate only when Liddy
brought in a tray, and then very little
The papers, of course, had got hold
of the story, and we were besieged by
newspaper men. From all over the
country false clews came pouring in
and raised hopes that crumbled again
to nothing. Every morgue within 100
miles, every hospital, had been Wis
tied, without result.
The inaction was deadly. Liddy
cried all day, and, because she knew
! objected to tears, sniffled audibly
around the corner.
For heavens sake, smile!"
snapped at her. And her CHASTITY at
tempt at a grin, with her swollen nose
and red eyes, made me hysterical.
laughed and cried together, and pret-
ty soon, like the two old fools we
were, we were sitting togetho- weep
ing into the same handkerchief
On Tuesday, then, sent for the car
and prepared to go out. AS 1 waited
at the porte-cochere I saw the under
gardener, an inoffensive, grayish-
haired man, trimming borders near
the house. The day detective was
watching him, sitting on the carriage
block. When he saw me, he got up.
Miss Innes," he said, taking off his
hat, "do you know where Alex, the
gardener, is?" ...
"Why, no. Isn't he here?' I asked.
"He has been gone since yesterday
afternoon. Have you-employed him
long?"
only a couple of weeks"
"Is he efficient? A capable man."
81 hardly know" I said vaguely.
"The place looks all right, and know
very little about such things. 1 know
much more about boxes of roses than
bushes of them"
This man." pointing to the assis-
tant, Says Alex isn't a gardener. That
ne doesn't know anything about
plants"
That's very strange" l said. think
ing hard. why, he came to me from
the Brays, who are in Europe"
Exactly" The detective smiled.
Every man who cuts grass isn't a
gardener, Miss Innes, and just now it
is our policy to believe every person
around here a rascal until he proves
to be the other thing"
Warner came up with the car then
and the conversation stopped. AS he
helped me in. however, the detective
said something further.
"Not a word or sign to Alex, If he
comes back" he said cautiously.
/ went first to DR.. Walkers. l was
tired of beating about the bush, and ]
felt that the key to Halseys disap
pearance was here at Casanova, in
spite of Mr.. Jamieson's theories.
The doctor was in. He came al
once to the door of his consulting
room, and there was no mask of cor
diality in his manner.
please come in" he said curtly.
II shall stay here, think, doctor.
I did not like his face or his manner
there was a subtle change in both. H,
had thrown off the air of friendlness
and / thought, too, that he looked anx
ious and haggard.
"Dr. Walker" said, II have com,
to you to ask some questions. hop,
you will answer them. AS you know
my nephew has not yet been found"
so ] understand" stifly.
II believe. il you would, you coulC
help us, and that leads to one of m,
questions. Will you tell me what wa
the nature of the conversation yo,
held with him the night he was at
tackled and carried off?"
Attacked! Carried off!" he said
with pretended surprise Really, Mis-
lnnes, don't you think you exaggerate
understand it is not the first tim
Mr.. Innes has-disappeared."
"You are clubbing, doctor. This 4
q matter of life and death. Will yo,
answer my question:"
Certainly. He said his nerves wer
bad, and gave him a prescription TO
them. / am violating professiona
ethics when tell you even as much a
that"
l could not tell him he lied. 1 thinl
looked it. But hazarded a random
shot.
Il thought perhaps" said, watch
ing him narrowly, that it might b
about-Nina Darlington"
For a. moment thought he was &c