The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-08-02


heard lecturing Hepsibah about put
ting too much butter on the toast. Her
high voice, pitched for Heppies old
ears, rasped me. Margery closed the
door. and we surveyed the room to-
gether.
The bed had been occupied. Its Gov
erings had been thrown back. as if its
occupants had risen hurriedly. The
room itself was in state of confusion.
| q rocker lay on it's side. and Miss
James clothing. folded as she had TAX
en- it off, had slid off on to the floor.
Her shoes stood neatly at the foot of
the bed. and a bottle Of toilet vinegar
had been upset, pouring stream over
the marble top of the dresser and
down on to the floor. Over the high
wooden manteI the Maitland who had
been governor of the state years ago
hung at waggish angle. and a clock
had been pushed aside and stopped at
half past l.
Margery picked up Miss James new
lace cap from the floor. 1t was crum-
pied and spotted with blood
''She has been killed." Margery safe
in choking voice.
Margery had more presence of mind
than l had
"Call Robert. the gardener" she
said. land have him help you search
the grounds and cellars. will take
Bella and go through Me house. Above
everything. keep it from Aunt Letitia
as long as possible"
1t takes a short time to search an
acre of lawn and shrubbery. There
anywhere outside the house. and from
Bella. as she sat at the foot Of the front
stairs with her apron over her head,
learned in a monosyllable that moth
ing had been found in the house. Mar
gerry was with Miss Letitia. and from
the excited conversation l knew she
was telling her-not narrowing details,
but that Miss Jane had disappeared
during the night.
The old lady was inclined to scott at
first.
( Look in the fruit closet in the store
! i
spring lock shut on her twice. She was
black in the face the last time we
found her"
II did look: she's not therew Margery
screamed at her.
Then she's out looking for stump
water to take that wart off her neck
She said yesterday she was going for
some"
But her clothes are all here" Mar
gerry persisted. I'VE think some one
must have got in the house."
IF all her clothes are there she's
been sleepwalking." Miss Letitia said
calmly I'VE used to have to tie her by
cord around her ankle and fasten it
to the bedpost. When she tried to get
up the cord would pull and wake her"
l sent for Hunter that morning. and
, he came at 3 o'clock. l took him
through the back entrance to avoid
Miss Letitia. l think he had been
skeptical until l threw open the door
and showed him the upset chair. the
old lady's clothing and the blood
stained lace cap. He took a crumpled
sheet Of note paper out of the waste
it in his pocket.
Before he left the room Hunter went
back and moved the picture that had
been disturbed over the mantel. What
he saw made him get a chair and.
standing on it. take the picture from
its nail. Thus exposed. the wall
showed an opening about foot square
and perhaps eighteen inches deep. A
metal door. opening in. was unfastened
and ajar. and just inside was copy of
a recent sentimental novel and a bot
tie of some sort Of complexion cream.
typical of the dear old lady. with the
heart of a girl and skin that was los
ing its roses. But there was something
else in the receptacle. something that
made Margery Fleming draw in her
breath sharply and made Hunter raise
his eyebrows a little and glance at me.
The something was a scrap of unruled
white paper and on it the figures elev-
en- twenty-five:
Harry Wardrop came back from the
city at 4 o'clock. while Hunter was in
the midst of his investigation. l told
him what had happened. and with this
new apprehension added to the shock
of the night before he looked as though
his nerves were ready to snap.
WardrOp was man of perhaps
twenty seven. as tall as l, although not
SO heavy, with direct blue eyes and
fair hair. altogether manly and pre-
possessing sort of fellow. l was not
surprised that Margery Fleming had
found him attractive. He had the blond
hair and offhand manner that women
seem to like. l am dark myself.
He seemed surprised to find Hunter
there. and not particularly pleased.
but he followed US to the upper door
and watched silently while Hunter
went over the two rooms. Beside the
large chest Of drawers in the main