The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1912-04-19

| from above The bullet was fred al
close range. entered below the shoul.
der and came out after passing
through the heart, well down the
hack In other words. hel.c-o .Ac
murderer stood on the stairs and fired
down. In the second place. found
on the edge OF the billiard table a
charred cigar which had burned itself
partly out, and a cigarette which had
consumed itself to the cork tip. Meth
| er one had been more than lighted.
then put down and forgotten. Have
you any idea what il was that made
your nephew and Mr.. Bailey leave
their cigars and their game, take out
the automobile without calling the
chauffeur. and all that at-let me see
certainly before three o'clock in the
morning."
Il don't know" I said. but depend
on 1t, Mr.. Jameson. Halsey will be
back himself TO explain everything"
II sincerely hope So" he said. Miss
Innes, has II occurred to you that Mr..
Bailey might know something Of
this?"
Gertrude had come downstairs and
! Just as he spoke she came In. saw
her stop suddenly. as II she had been
struck
HE does not" she said in a tone
that was not her own. "Mr. Bailey and
my brother know nothing Of this
The murder was committed at three
They left the house at a quarter be-
fore three"
How do you know that!" Mr.. Jam.
ieson asked oddly. do you know at
what time they lest!"
Il do" Gertrude answered firmly
AT a quarter before three my brother
and Mr.. Bailey left the house, by the
main entrance. I-was-there."
Gertrude" said excitedly, you
are dreaming! Why, at a quarter to
three"
Listen" she said. "At half-past
two the downstairs telephone rang.
had not gone to sleep, and I heard H.
Then / heard Halsey answer II, and
In few minutes he came upstairs and
knocked at my door, We've talked
for a minute. then put on my dress
ing gown and slippers, and went down.
stairs with him. Mr.. Bailey was in
the billiard room. We've all talked
together for perhaps ten minutes.
Then 1t was decided that-that they
should both 60 away"
Cant you be more explicit?" Mr..
Jameson asked. why did they go
away?"
Il am only telling you what hap
pened. not why 1t happened" she said
evenly. "Halsey went for the car,
and instead of bringing It to the house
and rousing people. he went by the
lower road from the stable. Mr..
Bailey was to meet him at the foot of
the lawn. Mr.. Bailey left"
Which way" Mr.. Jameson asked
sharply.
by the main entrance. He left
IT was quarter to three. I know
exactly"
THE clock in the hall is stopped.
Miss Innes." said Jameson. Nothing
seemed to escape him.
HE looked at his watch" she re-
piled, and ! could see Mr., Jamieson's
eyes snap. as /. he had made a dis
covery. AS for myself, during the
whole recital ] had been plunged into
the deepest amazement.
viii you pardon me for q personal
question: The detective was a
youngish man. and ! thought he was
somewhat embarrassed. What are
your-your relations with Mr.. Bailey?"
Gertrude hesitated. Then she came
over and put her hand lovingly in
mine.
Il am engaged to marry him." she
said simply.
! had grown 20 accustomed to sur
prises that ! could only gasp again.
and a. for Gertrude. the hand that
lay in mine was burning with fever.
"And-after that" Mr.. Jameson
went on. you went directly to bsd!"
Gertrude hesitated.
NO" she said finally. IL am not
nervous, and after had extinguished
the light. remembered something
had left Ia the billiard loom. and
felt my way back there through the
darkness"
win you tell me what II was you
had forgotten7"
81 cannot tell you" she said slowly.
IL did not leave the billiard room
at once"
WHY" The detectives tone was
imperative. This is very important
Miss lines"
II was crying" Gertrude said in a
low tone. when the French clock In
the drawing room struck three ! got
up and then-I heard a step on the
east porch, Just outside the cardroom.
Some one with a key was working
with the latch. and thought. of
course, OF Halsey. When we took the
house he called that his entrance, and
he had carried key for 1t ever since.
The door opened and was about to
ask what he had forgotten. when
there was fash and a report. Some
heavy body dropped. and. half crazed
with terror and shock. ! ran through
the drawing room and got upstairs-I |
scarcely remember how"
She dropped into a chair, and ! ]
thought Mr. Jameson must have I'm.