nt to go up and see her there, but other
things drove her entirely from my mind. I telephoned to the hospital
that day, however, and ordered a private room for her, and whatever
comforts she might be allowed.

Mrs. Armstrong arrived Monday evening with her husband's body, and the
services were set for the next day. The house on Chestnut Street, in
town, had been opened, and Tuesday morning Louise left us to go home.
She sent for me before she went, and I saw she had been crying.

"How can I thank you, Miss Innes?" she said. "You have taken me on
faith, and--you have not asked me any questions. Some time, perhaps, I
can tell you; and when that time comes, you will all despise
me,--Halsey, too."

I tried to tell her how glad I was to have had her but there was
something else she wanted to say. She said it finally, when she had
bade a constrained good-by to Halsey and the car was waiting at the
door.

"Miss Innes," she said in a low tone, "if they--if there is any attempt
made to--to have you give up the house, do it, if you possibly can. I
am afraid--to have you stay."

That was all. Gertrude went into town with her and saw her safely
home. She reported a decided coolness in the greeting between Louise
and her mother, and that Doctor Walker was there, apparently in charge
of the arrangements for the funeral. Halsey disappeared shortly after
Louise left and came home about nine that night, muddy and tired. As
for Thomas, he went around dejected and sad, and I saw the detective
watching him closely at dinner. Even now I wonder--what did Thomas
know? What did he suspect?

At ten o'clock the household had settled down for the night. Liddy, who
was taking Mrs. Watson's place, had finished examining the tea-towels
and the corners of the shelves in the cooling-room, and had gone to
bed. Alex, the gardener, had gone heavily up the circular staircase to
his room, and Mr. Jamieson was examining the locks of the windows.
Halsey dropped into a chair in the living-room, and stared moodily
ahead. Once he roused.

"What sort of a looking chap is that Walker, Gertrude?" he asked!

"Rather tall, very dark, smooth-shaven. Not bad looking," Gertrude
said, putting down the book she had been pretending to read. Halsey
kicked a taboret viciously.

"Lovely place this village must be in the winter," he said
irrelevantly. "A girl would be buried alive here."

It was then some one rapped at the knocker on the heavy fr