The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-30
EVENING STORY
The Victim Below Stairs.
(By Jane Osborn.)

1Hc NlCll1A -o-10W SUITS.
(By Jane OSBORNE
1t was with strong spirit of filial
affection. mingled with just a shade
OF regret, that Baldwin Stone deter
mined to spend the two weeks of his
vacation with his mother in her small
city apartment. He might have join
ed one of his partners at the yacht
club, where there would have been
outdoor recreation, self-forgetfulness
and feminine society, all of which
would have come as part of well
come change to Baldwin after the
combining winter in his law office. But
these temptations he put aside. 1t
had about been determined that he
was to go to South America in the
autumn, and if he did he might not
return home for year Perhaps
much longer period would elapse be-
fore he saw the mother again. Hence
his determination to spend his entire
vacation with her.
After the first elatement over seeing
this big man-boy of hers there was
dinner in the spruce little dining
room, that was cool and airy in spite
of the fact that 1t looked out only
on the small court of the apartment
Then after dinner, as they fingered
for a little while over their coffee,
Mrs Stone showed a strange preoccu-
pation-traces of which her son had
caught before during the few hours
he had been home. He Queried with
his eyes.
Eyes, I am worried. Baldwin" she
answered, divining his meaning. 1T
is beginning to get on my nerves. L
think your knowledge of Spanish is
OF course, 1 don't allow myself to
brood over 1t, but the strangest walls
come up to these windows sometimes.
/ think it is Spanish, tho ] cannot tell.
am sure you could. Suppose we
stay here and see if they wifi begin. y
Cries from the apartment below 2.
Baldwin was inclined to make light
of the matter. Anything of that sort
should be referred to the janitor, the
superintendent or the police. You
shouldn't allow yourself to be dis
treSsed."
but 1 did ask the elevator man and
he looked so strange-at least I
thought he did. l asked him who
| lived in the apartment below and he
said, in that drawing voice of his;
| Miss and Mrs. Martin 1 asked him
| II either of them was Ill and he said:
m indeed, ma'am- Just that way
and when I. told him about the voices
he laughed and wouldn't do anything
| about it. 1 suppose II it is case
| one of those horrible cases where the
| girl is held against her will-the peo-
pie will have bribed him into secrecy
But can't help but think about it,"
Don't you remember what the
voice said Pr
| A low expressioniess voice from the
| court interrupted Martin, who stopped
| short There it is,'' whispered Mrs
| Stone and the mother and son drew
near to the window and listened in
| tently.
"Tengo mueho caIor," came the
voice in Spanish. 6 I am very warm,
4 interpreted Baldwin. That's perfect
iy clear" II feel much worse, little
! water, please. A drop of water, l an
| thirsty!" came in Spanish in the same
| eknrsssionless, but soul-stirrtng wom
ans voice.
| For a little while there was silence
Then the gruesome refrain broke on
again. Baldwin shuddered and put hi
arm around his mothers shoulder
Lets adjourn to the living room N
said. "You haven't said anything t
any one but the elevator man abou
your suspicious, have you?" he asked
| mol" whispered his mother.
well, don't and don't tell any on
what the voice says. Not even Matti
in the kitchen, ! am not quite certain
what I shall do. l suppose the-th
people who are keeping the girl Their
figure that no one understands Span
ish around here, and so they don
| take the trouble to silence her. Blu
they showed their dizziness there.
didn't realize that I should make US
of what little I know before going t.
South America in quite such telling
manner as this"
Adjourned to the living room in tn
front of the house, they heard no NOR
of the voice. They talked of man,
things. but always there was the pre-
occupation. Clearly neither had for
gotten-tho neither discussed It'll
unpleasant event that had just 70
cussed their attention.
They parted, to retire early.
Aren't you going to do anything
about it?" queried Mrs. Stones, VIII
! had long ago ceased to make opel
, suggestions to this grownup son o
he would Immediately report the mat
, ter to, the police, all she would d
was to let him go his own way.
1T am not quite sure what I shall
do" Baldwin replied. I'm the mean
, time you get to bed and trust me t
J do what is best. Good night. mother
kins.''
An hour later Baldwin, still dressed
stole from his room to the dinin
, room. He knelt down by the windov
many minutes and then heard tn
voice, perhaps lower, as if the win
QOW ndQ pccl partly NlVHE0' al
faint" came in Spanish this time
| s'Water; a little water. please"
Quietly he opened the window an
with feline movement that hardl
, suited his broad frame he crept dow
the fire escape. The window wa
partly closed below, but a soft, diff
, fused green light was cast about in
: side He crouched down beside tn
window, waiting for the wind to bIoy
the curtain far enough from the win
dow frame SO that he might catch
glimpse of the person within
What he saw was apparently
: room that served by day for Twin
room and by night as sleeping room
t The green light came from business
like reading lamp on Il e table. TIL
, wide couch at the side OF the rooI
was open, ready for its occupan
= Could it be that the victim slep
, there? At least the quarters wer
not those of a prisoner.