"
With the death of Thomas, I felt that a climax had come in
affairs at Sunnyside. The night that followed was quiet enough.
Halsey watched at the foot of the staircase, and a complicated
system of bolts on the other doors seemed to be effectual.
Once in the night I wakened and thought I heard the tapping
again. But all was quiet, and I had reached the stage where I
refused to be disturbed for minor occurrences.
The Armstrongs were notified of Thomas' death, and I had my first
interview with Doctor Walker as a result. He came up early
the next morning, just as we finished breakfast, in a
professional looking car with a black hood. I found him striding
up and down the living-room, and, in spite of my preconceived
dislike, I had to admit that the man was presentable. A big
fellow he was, tall and dark, as Gertrude had said, smooth-shaven
and erect, with prominent features and a square jaw. He was
painfully spruce in his appearance, and his manner was almost
obtrusively polite.
"I must make a double excuse for this early visit, Miss Innes,"
he said as he sat down. The chair was lower than he expected,
and his dignity required collecting before he went on. "My
professional duties are urgent and long neglected, and"--a fall
to the every-day manner--"something must be done about that
body."
"Yes," I said, sitting on the edge of my chair. "I merely wished
the address of Thomas' people. You might have telephoned, if you
were busy.
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