Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-04-13
In Cold
Storage
By Alan Fo,hergin


Miss vcrla Bliss when she bccam
hrircss to the estate of Godfrey Wad
hams. her uncle. was piece Of citl
property she had never seen. She ha,
been content ~ rccciN" n regular
though varying income from this. leay
Ing the details OF the matter 90 hci
lawyer.
1T Is some kind Of n warehouse,
verda explained To cousin. "and. III,
lawyer has told me. 10 II In an out-of'
the-way locality among the river docks,
aud valuable only because II is adapted
10 the uses TO which u Is devoted. ]
have never seen Il. Mr.. Crumpton has
advised me to do ~. for there may BE-
an opportunity 10 sell or trade H. !
am 10 60 10 the city Tuesday, TO look
Il over for the first time"
yerda was greatly pleased at the
attention and interest bestowed upon
her. when she reached the Office Of her
lawyer that Tuesday morning. The old
attorney, Mr.. Crompton, was most ia
therly. and he tried to make Verda I'M
derstand the condition OF affairs with
out vexing that equable but inexperi-
enced mind Of hers.
Here Is the problem. Miss Bliss" he
stated: THE property. as such. Is shut
out from all business frontage. with
only a narrow courtway leading to II
over u maze Of railroad tracks. For
twenty years the old building. a steel
sheeted structure. has been used as n
warehouse and elevator. Your uncle
had regular clients among the canal
boat and lake steamer men. and did
something In the cold-storage line for
a time. Since he died we have had n
man named Delbridge IN charge. dis
charged this man last week. when
received absolute information that he
was holding back n part OF the income
charges. We will have to find some
honest and trustworthy person TO take
his place. go over the records. and n
we learn that the peculations have
been Of any magnitude and kept W
for years. We shall bring this Delbndge
TO time"
"And what Gun poor. inexperienced
me do In such tangler inquired
verda In pretty dismay.
you must decide what you want
done,- replied Mr.. Crompton. Il have
thought II best to have you visit the
property, and then determine whether
you wish the business continued under
a new manager. or cold out. with the
returns from the real estate and the
money invested otherwise. Mr.. Dare"
called out the lawyer, and his assistant
entered the room.
"Our Mr.. Dare win take you over
the property. Miss Bliss spoke Mr..
Crumpton. and verda scanned closely
the clear-eyed. pleasant-faced young
man who acknowledged the Informal
introduction with q courteous bow.
They were chatting like real friends
before they had covered two squares.
You can get a better idea Of the
location and environment OF the prop
erty on foot explained Elston Dare.
1--WE seem to be penetrating Q rath-
or nondescipt neighborhood." suggest
ed his fair companion- She kept eiose
TO her guido. for the narrow thorough
fares were congested with trucks and
carts. and the sidevalks almost Gov
cred with boxea. bales and hogsheads.
Once Miss Blair. gisncine back, mar
rowly scrutiniEed q man who lost him
self promptly as he noticed that he
was observed. Dare detected a slight
culver Of the dainty gioved hand hold
Ing his arm.
what was itr' he inquired solicit
ously.
"A man ! have noticed before" 70
piled Miss Bliss. Il am sure he and
another followed me when ! left the
depot"
you do not now see the one you just
diseoveredr'
"No. he has disappeared
They reached the grim, almost win
dowless structure on the riverside, and,
Interested In her new surroundings.
verda forgot her previous nervous
fears. Dare had key TO the great
padlocked door. He turned on the
electric light. II Illuminated a dark
spiral stairway.
IAN the rest Of the building. except
the little once NJ the top. has been
used for storage" he explained.
How chilly and damp h is." mur-
mured Miss Bliss. and she was quite
out Of breath when they reached a lit.
Tie pen Of a place holding a desk and
a safe. DARE bestowed his charge In
u chair and began to describe the bust
ness carried on.
Just now ali the elevator holds d
some stored grain" he told her. NY
plan would be. II you decide 20 con.
tinue the business. 20 resume the cold
storage department and utilize the
lower noor Of the elevator for short
time merchandise storage. I am In
structed to bring the books hack to the