bed before she came to. There was something
grisly and horrible to me, seeing her there in almost the same attitude
and in the same place where we had found her brother's body. And to
add to the similarity, just then the hall clock, far off, struck
faintly three o'clock.

It was four before Louise was able to talk, and the first rays of dawn
were coming through her windows, which faced the east, before she could
tell us coherently what had occurred. I give it as she told it. She
lay propped in bed, and Halsey sat beside her, unrebuffed, and held her
hand while she talked.

"I was not sleeping well," she began, "partly, I think, because I had
slept during the afternoon. Liddy brought me some hot milk at ten
o'clock and I slept until twelve. Then I wakened and--I got to
thinking about things, and worrying, so I could not go to sleep.

"I was wondering why I had not heard from Arnold since the--since I saw
him that night at the lodge. I was afraid he was ill, because--he was
to have done something for me, and he had not come back. It must have
been three when I heard some one rapping. I sat up and listened, to be
quite sure, and the rapping kept up. It was cautious, and I was about
to call Liddy.

"Then suddenly I thought I knew what it was. The east entrance and the
circular staircase were always used by Arnold when he was out late, and
sometimes, when he forgot his key, he would rap and I would go down and
let him in. I thought he had come back to see me--I didn't think about
the time, for his hours were always erratic. But I was afraid I was
too weak to get down the stairs.

"The knocking kept up, and just as I was about to call Liddy, she ran
through the room and out into the hall. I got up then, feeling weak
and dizzy, and put on my dressing-gown. If it was Arnold, I knew I
must see him.

"It was very dark everywhere, but, of course, I knew my way. I felt
along for the stair-rail, and went down as quickly as I could. The
knocking had stopped, and I was afraid I was too late. I got to the
foot of the staircase and over to the door on to the east veranda. I
had never thought of anything but that it was Arnold, until I reached
the door. It was unlocked and opened about an inch. Everything was
black: it was perfectly dark outside. I felt very queer and shaky.
Then I thought perhaps Arnold had used his key; he did--strange things
sometimes, and I turned around. Just as I reached the foot of th