The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-08-23
LnArIEn ~.



and she ran down the stairs
Ike a scared child. At the bottom she
c,utched the newell post and looked
behind fearfully.
whats the matter?" Edith demand
Cd. glancing uneasily over her Shout
der.
"Some one has been upstairs" Mar
oery painted. Somebody has been
STAYING in the house while we were
away
2 At the door of small room next to
what had been Allan Fleming's bed
room we paused. 1t was filled with
feminine knickknacks and mahogany
Longing chairs. Wherever possible a
male brocade had been used, on the
empire couch, in panels in the wall.
covering cushions on the window seat.
Il was evidently Margery's private
sitting room.
The linen cover that had been
thrown over the divan was folded
back, and a pillow from the window
seat bore the imprint of head. Mar
gerry had been right. Some one had
used the room while the house was
closed.
Might it not have been your IA
ther?" Edith asked when we stood
again at the foot of the stairs.
81 don't think So Margery said
wanly.
put them in a cab and saw them
start away Then 1 went back into
the house, as l had arranged to sleep
there and generally to look after
things Whatever scruples l had had
about taking charge of Margery Elem
ing and her affairs had faded with
Wardrop's detection and the new
mystery of the blue boudoir.
The lower floor of the house was
full Of people that night. local and
state politicians. newspaper men and
the usual crowd of the morbidly Gu
rious. Whatever panoply the death
scene had lacked. Allan Fleming was
lying in state now.
At, midnight things grew quiet.
found Bella in the basement kitchen
with all the lights burning full. and
stood at the foot of the stairs while
she scooted to bed like a scared rabbit
She was strange creature. Bella-not
so stupid as she looked. but sullen, mo-
|. rose" smouldering' about expresses
guest room in the third story had
been assigned to me. The telephone
bell rang just after got into bed
This is the Times-Pos Is Mr.. War
drop there!''
No"
who is this?''
This is John Knox"
The attorneyY'
"Yes."
Mi. Knox. are you willing to put
yourself on record that Mr. Fleming
committed suicide?''
u am not going to put myself on rec
ord at ALL"
Tonight's Star says you call it sui
clde and that you found him with the
revolver in his hand"
The Star lies"' | retorted. and the
man at the other end chuckled.
Many thanks" be said and rang off
went back to beG. irritated that |
mad betrayed myself Loss Of sleep
LOT two nights. however. had told on
me' In short time was sound
asleep
Weakened with difficulty. The wind
was blowing hard. and shutter was
oanelng somewhere below: | looked
uo"n into the well-like space beneath
me' II was one of those apparently
enance movements that have vital con-
sequences.
oeiow me on the wall across was a
.ectsngle of yellow light. reflected from
ne h norarv windOU OF the Fleming
a''oe. There was some one m me
house.
My first thought was burglars. My
second Lightfoot Luckily l had
brought my revolver with me from
freds that day. and it was under my
pilow. To get it, put out the light
ana open the door quietly took only
nnnute. was in pajamas. barefoot.
as on another almost similar occasion.
PQt was better armed than before.
.-ran into heap of folding chairs
.aat had been left by the undertaken.
Inc light was out in an instant. and
win concealment at an end. | broke
!or the door and threw 1t open. stand
lug there with my revolver leveled.
"e-the man in the room and l-were
ooih IN absolute darkness.
Who is here?" demanded.
only silence. except that seemed to
uear rapid breathing.
Speak up or I'll shoot" l said. not
SHnout an ugly feeling that he might
f-eVen probably was-taking careful
s'in oy my voice | reached cautious
10 the left and found the electric
SWITCH and turned it. The room was
s~pty, but portiere in a doorway at
right was shaking
:. ieaped for the curtain and dragged
aslue: to have door just close In