, 1911-01-12

R~ MIxa<


fpTl1 DuC-
mercy's sake don't say I'm sick. Find
out what he wants, and from this time
m. instruct the servants that he 10
not to be admitted. I loaths that
man"
Gertrude came back very soon, her
face rather flushed.
HE came to ask us to get out" she
said, picking up her book with q Jerk.
"He says Louise Armstrong wants 10
come here, now that she 10 recover
Ing"
And what did you sayf"
az said we were very sorry We could
not leave, but we would be delighted
to have Louise come up here with us.
He looked daggers at me. And he
wanted to know n we would recon-
mend Eliza as a cook. He has brought
a patient. a man, out from town. and
Is increasing his establishmsnt-that's
the way he put It."
a wish him Joy Of Eliza" 1 said
tartly. did he ask for Halsey?"
yes. told him that we were on
the track last night, and that 1t was
only a question of time. He said he
was glad. although he didn't appear
to be. but he said not to be too san
guine."
DO you know what I believer" I
asked. ~ believe. as firmly as I be-
lieve anything. that DR.. Walker knows
something about Halsey. and that he
could put his finger on him. II he
wanted to-"
There were several things that day
that bewildered me. About three
o'clock MI. Jameson telephoned from
the Casanova station and Warner
went down to meet him. I got up and
dressed hastily. and the detective was
shown up to my sitting room.
NO news?" I asked, al he entered.
He tried to look encouraging without
success.
1T won't be long now. Miss Innes."
he said. -" have come out here on q
peculiar errand. which I will tell you
about later. First, I want to ask some
questions. Did any one come out here
yesterday to repair the telephone, and
examine the wires on the roof"
Yes" l said promptly; but 1t was
not the telephone. He said the wiring
might have caused the fire at the
stable. I went up with him myself.
but he only looked around"
Mr.. Jameson smiled.
Good for you!" he applaudsd.
Don't allow any one in the house
that you don't trust, and don't trust
anybody. AL are not electricians who
wear rubber gloves"
He refused to explain further. but
be got \ slip of paper out Of his
pocket-book and opened II carefully.
Listen" he said. You heard this
before and scoffed. In the light Of re-
cent developments ! want you to read
1t again. You are a clever woman.
Miss Innss. Just as surely a. l sit
here, there il something in this house
that is wanted very a~nxiously by q
Of people. The lines are clos
Ing up. Miss Innes."
The paper "a the one he had found
among Arnold Armstrong; effects,
and l recall 1t again:
by altering the plans for
rooms. may be possible. The best way,
In my opinion. would - to-ths plan
for--in one of the-rooms-ohim-
ney.
Il think l understand" I said
Some one is searching for
the secret room. and the Invaders"
And the holes in the plaster"
Have been in the progress Of
o. Neutrality-suspicious."
Herr" l asked.
Miss 1nnes." the detective said,
Getting up. 81 believe that somewhere
IL the walls of this house is hidden
some of the money. at least. from the
Traders bank. / believe. just as sure
l, that young Walker brought home
California the knowledge OF
something of the sort. and, falling IN
his effort to ~reinstall Mrs. Armstrong
and her daughter here, he. or a con
federats, has tried to break into the
house. On two occasions ] think ne
succeeded."
On three, at least" I corrected.
And then l told him about the night
before. 81 have been thinking hard
concluded, "and I do not believe the
man at the head Of the circular stair
case was DIR. Walker. don't think he
could have got in. and the voice was
not his"
Mr.. Jameson got up and paced the
noor, his hands behind him.
There is something else that puz-
Hes me-" he said, stepping before Lle.
Who and what Is the woman Nina
harrington? If 1t was she who came
here as Matte Bliss. what did she
Tell Halsey hat ser him racing to
DR.. Walkers, and then to Miss Arm.
strong? II we could ind that woman
We would have the whole thing"
MT. Jameson. did you ever think
mat Paul Armstrong might not have
died a natural death?"
That is the thing we are going to
NY to find out" he replied. And then
uertrude came in, announcing a man