Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1910-10-15
CHAPTER xxvII.-continued.

Mr.. Winters and Alex disposed of
the tramp with warning 1t was evil
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 1 had pot
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 be scattered over the
union. But he said to keep on hoping,
that 1T 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. l went in
when 1 heard her groaning, and found
her with a hot-water bottle to her
face, and her right cheek swollen up-
til it was CLASSY.
"Toothache?' 1 asked, not too gent
ly 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 it out for years.
There was no laudanum, and Liddy
made terrible fuss when 1 proposed
carbolic acid. just because 1 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 grooming, so at last 1 got UP
and went to Gertrude's door. To my
surprise it was locked.
1 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.
l don't know what terrible thoughts
came to me in the minute 1 stood
there. Through the door l could heal
Liddy grumbling, with a squeal nov
and then when the pain stabbed
harder. Then, automatically, got the
laudanum and went back to her.
1t was fully a half-hour before Lid
dy's groans subsidized. At intervals
went to the door into the hall ant
looked out, but I saw and heard moth
ing suspicious. Finally, when Lidd.
had dropped into doze, l even ven
tured as far as the head of the circula
staircase. but there f1oated up to m
only the even breathing of Winters
the night detective, sleeping just in
. side the entry. And then, far off,
heard the rapping noise that had lure
Louise down the staircase that othe
, night, two weeks before. 1t was owe
short muffied taps, a pause, and the
again, stealthily repeated.
The sound of Mr.. Winters breatl
ing was comforting; with the though
: that there was help within call, som,
thing kept me from waking him. l di
: not move for a moment; ridiculou
I things Liddy had said about ghost
/ am not at all superstitious, excep
, | perhaps, in the middle of the nigh
: with everything dark-things like ths
came back to me. Almost beside NJ
= was the clothes chute. 1 could feel i
: but 1 could see nothing As 1 stoo,
listening intently, 1 heard SCUM
near me- 1t was vague, indefinit
n Then it ceased; there was an uneas
. movement and a grunt from the foS
of the circular staircase, and silenc
again 1 stood perfectly still, hard
4 daring to breathe
h Then I knew 1 had been right Som
: ono vas stealthily passing the head
; the staircase and coming toward ii
!. in the dark. 1 leaned against the wa
q for support-my knees We're giviI
: way. The steps were close now, ar
: suddenly l thought of Gertrude. {
: course it was Gertrude. / put out OF
hand in front of me, but 1 touche
nothing. My voice almost refused N