Catoctin clarion., 1918-01-31
FREDERICK COUNTY, Md, THURSDAY JANUARY 81, 1913.
In Cold
Storage
4
By Alan Fothergin

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Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union.)
Among the possessions acquired by
Miss Verda Bliss when she became
heiress to the estate Of Geoffrey Wad-
hams, her uncle, was piece of city
property she had never seen. She had
been content to receive regular,
though varying income from this, leav-
ing the details Of the matter to her
lawyer.
1T Is some kind of warehouse
Verda explained to cousin, land, the
lawyer has told me, it is in an out-ofA
the-way locality among the river docks.
and valuable only because 1t is adapted
to the uses to which 1t is devoted.
advised me to do so, for there may be
an opportunity to sell or trade it.
am to 60 to the city Tuesday, to look
1t over for the first time"
Verda 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 un-
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 1t
over q maze Of railroad tracks. For
twenty years the old building, steel
sheeted structure, has been used as a
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
q time. Since he died we have had
man named Delbridge in charge. dis
charged this man last week, when l
received absolute information that he
was holding back part Of the income
charges. We will have to find some
honest and trustworthy person to take
his place, 60 over the records, and IF
we learn that the peculations have
been of any magnitude and kept up
for years, we shall bring this Delbridge
to time"
"And what can poor, inexperienced
me do In such a tangleT inquired
Verda in pretty dismay.
"You must decide what you want
done," replied Mr.. Crompton. II have
thought 1t best to have you visit the
property, and then determine whether
you wish the business continued under
a new manager, or sold 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 will take you over
the property, Miss Bliss" spoke Mr..
Crompton, and Verda scanned closely
the clear-eyed, pleasant-faced young
man who acknowledged the informal
introduction with cOurteOL. bow.
They We're chatting like real friends
before they had covered two squares.
you can get better idea of the
location and environment of the prop
erty on foot" explained Elston Dare.
1--WE seem to be penetrating rath-
er nondescript neighbOrhOod," suggest
ed his fair companion. She kept close
to her guide, for the narrow thorough
fares were congested with trucks and
carts, and the sidewalks almost COW
cred with boxes, bales and hOgshcads.
Once Miss Blair, glancing back, mar
rOwly scrutinized man who lost linn
self promptly as he noticed that he
was observed. Dare detected a slight
quiver Of the dainty glOved hand hold
ing his arm.
"What was it?" he inquired solicit
ously.
"A man I have noticed before" re-
piled Miss Bliss. II am sure he and
another followed me when l left the
depot"
"You do not now see the one you just
discovered2"
mo, 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. It illuminated dark
spiral stairway.
"All the rest of the building, except
the little Office at the top, has been
used for storage" he explained.
"How chilly and damp 1t is," mur-
mured Miss Bliss, and she was quite
out Of breath when they reached lit
tie pen of a place holding desk aud
a safe. Dare bestowed his charge in
a chair and began to describe the busi-
ness carried on.
"Just now all the elevator holds is
some stored grain" he told her. My
plan would be, If you decide to con-
tinue the business, to resume the cold
storage department and utilize the
lower floor Of the elevator for short
time merchandise storage. I am in
structed to bring the books back to the
office. We shall 60 over them thor
oughly and see how far the discharged
Delbridge has manipulated them,"
Dare had barely unlocked the safe
when the door was burst open. Three
men entered the room.
..Those two!" cried Verda, paling
and arising to her feet in consterna-
ton. "They are the men who followed
me from the depot"
The third Dare at once recognized
as Delbridge. the discharged manager.
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