Of my share in discovering the
secret chamber they have been singularly silent. The inner
history has never been told. Mr. Jamieson got all kinds of
credit, and some of it he deserved, but if Jack Bailey, as Alex,
had not traced Halsey and insisted on the disinterring of Paul
Armstrong's casket, if he had not suspected the truth from the
start, where would the detective have been?
When Halsey learned the truth, he insisted on going the next
morning, weak as he was, to Louise, and by night she was at
Sunnyside, under Gertrude's particular care, while her mother had
gone to Barbara Fitzhugh's.
What Halsey said to Mrs. Armstrong I never knew, but that he was
considerate and chivalrous I feel confident. It was Halsey's way
always with women.
He and Louise had no conversation together until that night.
Gertrude and Alex--I mean Jack--had gone for a walk, although it
was nine o'clock, and anybody but a pair of young geese would
have known that dew was falling, and that it is next to
impossible to get rid of a summer cold.
At half after nine, growing weary of my own company, I went down-
stairs to find the young people. At the door of the living-room
I paused. Gertrude and Jack had returned and were there, sitting
together on a divan, with only one lamp lighted. They did not
see or hear me, and I beat a hasty retreat to the library. But
here again I was driven back. Louise was sitting in a deep
chair, looking the happiest I had ever seen her, with Halsey on
the arm of the chair, holding her close.
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