The Circular Staircase - Page 114/154

"The creek?" Gertrude asked.

"The creek is shallow now. If it were swollen with rain, it would be

different. There is hardly any water in it. Now, Miss Innes," he

said, turning to me, "I must ask you some questions. Had Mr. Halsey any

possible reason for going away like this, without warning?"

"None whatever."

"He went away once before," he persisted. "And you were as sure then."

"He did not leave the Dragon Fly jammed into the side of a freight car

before."

"No, but he left it for repairs in a blacksmith shop, a long distance

from here. Do you know if he had any enemies? Any one who might wish

him out of the way?"

"Not that I know of, unless--no, I can not think of any."

"Was he in the habit of carrying money?"

"He never carried it far. No, he never had more than enough for

current expenses."

Mr. Jamieson got up then and began to pace the room. It was an

unwonted concession to the occasion.

"Then I think we get at it by elimination. The chances are against

flight. If he was hurt, we find no trace of him. It looks almost like

an abduction. This young Doctor Walker--have you any idea why Mr.

Innes should have gone there last night?"

"I can not understand it," Gertrude said thoughtfully. "I don't think

he knew Doctor Walker at all, and--their relations could hardly have

been cordial, under the circumstances."

Jamieson pricked up his ears, and little by little he drew from us the

unfortunate story of Halsey's love affair, and the fact that Louise was

going to marry Doctor Walker.

Mr. Jamieson listened attentively.

"There are some interesting developments here," he said thoughtfully.

"The woman who claims to be the mother of Lucien Wallace has not come

back. Your nephew has apparently been spirited away. There is an

organized attempt being made to enter this house; in fact, it has been

entered. Witness the incident with the cook yesterday. And I have a

new piece of information."

He looked carefully away from Gertrude. "Mr. John Bailey is not at his

Knickerbocker apartments, and I don't know where he is. It's a hash,

that's what it is. It's a Chinese puzzle. They won't fit together,

unless--unless Mr. Bailey and your nephew have again--"

And once again Gertrude surprised me. "They are not together," she

said hotly. "I--know where Mr. Bailey is, and my brother is not with

him."

The detective turned and looked at her keenly.

"Miss Gertrude," he said, "if you and Miss Louise would only tell me

everything you know and surmise about this business, I should be able

to do a great many things. I believe I could find your brother, and I

might be able to--well, to do some other things." But Gertrude's

glance did not falter.