The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1912-07-30
| The Circular |
I'M Staircase |


But At that moment Louise reused
from her stupor to cough. and at the
end OF the paroxysm, AZ Rosie laid her
back, exhausted, she knew 10. That
was all Halsey wanted; TO him con-
sciousness wss recovery. He dropped
on his knees beside the bed. and tried
TO tell her she was all right, and We
would bring her around In q hurry.
and how beautiful she looked-only to
break down utterly and have TO
stop. And at that came to my
senses. and put him out.
This Instant" I ordered. as he hes
Itated. And send Rosie here"
When the doctor from Englewood--
the Casanova doctor. Or. Walker, be-
ing away-had started for Sunnyside,
and had got Thomas to stop trying
70 explain what he did not understand
himself. I had a long talk with the
old man, and this is what learned.
On Saturday evening before, about
ten o'clock, he had been reading in
the sitting room downstairs, when
some one raped at the door. The old
man was alone. Warner not having
arrived, and at FIRST he was uncertain
about opening the door. He did so
finally, and was amazed az being con.
fronted by Louise Armstrong. Thomas
was an old family servant. having
been with the present Mrs. Armstrong
since she was a child. and he was
overwhelmed at seeing Louise. He
saw that she was excited and tired,
and he drew her into the sitting room
and made her sit down. After while
he went to the house and brought
Mrs. Watson. and they talked until
late. The old man said Louise was in
trouble. and seemed frightened Mrs.
Watson made some tea and took IL to
the lodge, but Louise made them both
promise to keep her presence q secret
She had not known that Sunnyside
was rented, and whatever her trouble
was, this complicated things. She
seemed puzzled. Her stepfather and
her mother were still In California
that was all she would say about
them. Why she had run away no one
could imagine. Mr.. Arnold Armstrong
was at the Greenwood club. and at last
Thomas, not knowing what else to do.
went over there along the path. II
was almost midnight. Part way over
he met Armstrong himself and
brought him to the lodge. Mrs. Wat
son had gone TO the house for some
bed linen, 1t having been arranged
that under the circumstances Louise
would be better at the lodge until
morning. Arnold Armstrong and
Louise had a long conference, during
which he was heard to storm and be-
come very violent. When he left II
was after two. He had gone up TO
| the house-Thomas did not know why
and at three o'clock he was shot at
| the foot of the circular staircase.
The following morning Louise had
been III. She had asked for Arnold,
and was told he had left town.
Thomas had not the moral courage to
| tell her of the crime. She refused a
doctor, and shrank morbidly from hav'
ing her presence known. Mrs. Wat
son and Thomas had had their hands
full, and at last Rosie had been en-
listed to help them. She carried nee
essary provisions - little enough -
to the lodge. and helped to keep ths
secret.
Thomas told me quite frankly that
he had been anxious to keep Louise's
presence hidden for this reason: They
bad all seen Arnold Armstrong tina,
night, and he. himself. for one, wal
known to have had no very friendly
feeling for the dead man. AS TO the
reason for Louise's flight from Call
fornia. or why she had not gone tt
:hc Fs::hushs'. or &c seine OF he. PEG
! pie in town, he had no more informa
ton that had. With the death Of
her stepfather and the prospect Of
the immediate return of the family
things had become more and more
| impossible. l gathered that Thomas
was as relieved as l at the turn events
had taken. No. she did not know Of
either OF the deaths in the family.
Taken all around, had only substi
tuted one mystery for another. II
knew now why Rosie had taken the
basket Of dishes. I did not know who
had spoken to her and followed heI
along the drive. II knew that Louise
was in the lodge, did not know VIII,
she was there. II ! knew that Arnold
Armstrong had spent some time In the
lodge the night before he was muir
dered, ! was no nearer the solution o.
the crime. Who was the midnight in
truder who had so alarmed Liddy ant
myself? Who had fallen down the
clothes chute? Was Gertrude's lovel
a villain or a victim? Time was Il
answer all these things.