The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-14

carried her knowledge to Haisey the
afternoon Gertrude and I were look
ing for cues To the man | had shot
on the east Veranda Halsey had
been half crazed ny what he heard;
ii was evident that Louise was marry
ing pr Walker to keep the shameful
secret, for her mothers sake, Halsey.
always reckless. had gone at once 10
Dr. Walker and denounced him.
There had been scene, and he loft
on his way To the station to meet and
notify Mr.. Jameson OF what he had
learned. The doctor WAS active men
tally and physically. Accompanied,
perhaps. by Riggs. who had shown
himself not overscrupulous until he
quarrelcd with his employer. H.. had
gone across 10 tho railroad embank-
ment. and. by jumping in front Of
the car. had caused Halsey to swerve.
The rest OF the story we knew.
That was my reconstructed theory
of that afternoon and evening: IL was
almost Correct--not quite.
There was a telegram that morn
Ing from Gertrude.
Halsey conscious and improving
probably home in day or so.
GERTRUDE"
With ialsey found and improving
in health, and with at last something
to work on, | began that day Thurs
day. with fresh courage. Az Mr.. ia
mteson had said, the lines were clos
ing up. That l was TO be caught and
almost finished in the closing was
happily unknown 10 us all
II was late when ] got an. I Law
in my bed. looking around the four
walls or the room, and trying to IN
agine behind what one of them a Sc
cret chamber might lie. Certainly. In
daylight, Sunnyside deserved its name
never was a house more CHEEKY
and open. less sinister in general ap-
pearance. There was not a corner
apparently that was not open and
above board, and yet, somewhere be
hind Its handsomely papered walls
believed firmly that there lay a hid
den room. with all the possibilities il
would involve
/ made mental note to have the
house measured during the day, to
discover any discrepancy between the
| outer and inner walls, and I tried to
recall again the exact wording of the
! paper Jameson had found
The slip had said chimney" 1t
was the only clue, and house as
large as Sunnyside was fun Of them.
( There was an open fireplace in my
/ dressing-room, but none in the bed
! room. and as | lay there, looking
around / thought OF something that
! made me sit up suddenly. The trunk
/ room, just over my head, had an open
/ fireplace and brick chimney, and yet,
/ there was nothing of the kind in my
! room. L got out OF bed and examined
I the opposite wall closely. There was
( apparently no flue and [ knew there
/ was none in the hall just beneath
The house was heated by steam, as l
/ have said before. In the living room
! was huge open fireplace. but 1t was
/ on the other side.
Why did the trunk room have both
a radiator and an open fireplace ?
{ Architects We're not usually erratic
I 1t was not fifteen minutes before l
was upstairs. armed with a tape meas
| ure in lieu Of a foot rule, eager to
/ justify Mr. Jamiesons opinion Of my
Intelligence, and firmly resolved not
/ To tell him of my suspicion until |
7 had more than theory to go on The
hole in the trunk room wall still
yawned there. between the chimney
and the outer wall, examined II
again, with no new result. The space
between the brick wall and the plas-
ter and lath one, however. had a
new significance. The hole showed
determined IN inveetie.ata IVA, la,, ~,
the spare on Tho other sIde Of the
rnantel
,yorkad fa,.orishl,. rt5a,- nod
gona 70 tba ,.iIlaya 10 ,,o,t,ct - ho
In. her sr,, halfae +hat ~ s,or.
people sent short measure unless she
watched the scales. and that since
must watch tbs,rorna,s. ana t,k,,a,r
tbot what u.ortaa 10 a. ,n,,s. L
done before she came hack had