It bears
out the statement that the woman with the child, and the woman
who quarreled with Armstrong, are the same. It looks as if
Thomas had stumbled on to some affair which was more or less
discreditable to the dead man, and, with a certain loyalty to the
family, had kept it to himself. Then, you see, your story about
the woman at the card-room window begins to mean something. It
is the nearest approach to anything tangible that we have had
yet."
Warner took us to Richfield in the car. It was about twenty-five
miles by railroad, but by taking a series of atrociously rough
short cuts we got there very quickly. It was a pretty little
town, on the river, and back on the hill I could see the
Mortons' big country house, where Halsey and Gertrude had been
staying until the night of the murder.
Elm Street was almost the only street, and number fourteen was
easily found. It was a small white house, dilapidated without
having gained anything picturesque, with a low window and a porch
only a foot or so above the bit of a lawn. There was a baby-
carriage in the path, and from a swing at the side came the sound
of conflict. Three small children were disputing vociferously,
and a faded young woman with a kindly face was trying to hush the
clamor. When she saw us she untied her gingham apron and came
around to the porch.
"Good afternoon," I said. Jamieson lifted his hat, without
speaking. "I came to inquire about a child named Lucien
Wallace.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173