The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1912-04-12
y M4RY ROBERTS RZVZT2Z4R7

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 II, Mr.. Jameson, Halsey will be
back himself to explain everything"
Il 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 left?"
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" I 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 It.
Then I heard Halsey answer Il, and
In few minutes he came upstairs and
knocked at my door. We've talked
for a minute, then I 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?"
II 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
1t was quarter to three. 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 l could see Mr.. Jamieson's
eyes snap. as II he had made a dis
covery. As for myself, during the
whole recital I had been plunged into
the deepest amazement.
viii you pardon me for a personal
question:" The detective was
youngish man. and I 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.
II am engaged to marry him." she
said simply.
prises that I could only gasp again.
and as for Gertrude. the hand that
lay in mine was burning with fever.
"And-after that" Mr.. Jameson
went on, you went directly to bed!"
Gertrude hesitated.
NO" she said finally. II am not
nervous, and after ! had extinguished
the light. 1 remembered something
had left In the billiard room. and
felt my way back there through the
darkness"
"Will you tell me what 1t was you
had forgotten?"
Il cannot tell you," she said slowly.
IL did not leave the billiard room
1T once"
"Why?" The detectives tone was
golf stick with a metal end might |
have been the object that had scratch l
ed the stairs near the cardroOm.
took It from her, and sent her up for
dry garments. Her daylight courage
and self-importance. and her shud'i
dering delight in the mystery. irri.
tated me beyond words. After ! left
her l made a circuit of the building.
seemed to be disturbed; the
house looked as calm and peaceful In
the morning sun as 1t had the day
had been ccerced into taking ~ There
was nothing to show that inside had
been mystery and violence and sud
den death.
In, one OF the tulip beds back Of the
house an early blackbird was pecking
viciously at something that glittered
in the light picked my way gingerly
over through the dew and stopped
down; almost buried in the soft
ground was a revolver! I scraped the
earth on II with the tip of my shoe.
and. picking It up. slipped 1t into my
pocket. Not until ] had got into my
bedroom and double-locked the door
did ] venture TO take II out ana ex.
anime IL. One look was all | needed.
II was Halsey's revolver. had un.
packed IL the day before and put II on