South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-12
WHAT NIADGE'S THOUGHS CON
WINGED HER WAS A FACT

/ walked home from Mrs Durkee's
there was but one thought in my
mind. and that an overwhelming
desire to catch a glimpse Of the men
who had thrown so much mystery
about their renting of her house.
For her description OF the man
she had seen tailed exactly with
the appearance Of the foreigner,
real or pretended, whom l had seen
in a taxi next TO mine during a
blockade Of Fifth av.. and in whose
eyes. hauntingly familiar. was
sure / had caught a glance of
startled recognition.
Mrs Durkee had said that the
man had told her he had with him
his uncle. an elderly invalid" +
remembered the swathed. huddled
figure 1 had seen in the taxi. the
figure which had raised itself evil
IDENTITY TO look at me, and had been
pushed back with every evidence Of
quick dismay upon the part Of the
first man
1t was a preposterous thing, Of
course, that any one who knew me
should be coming disguised to the
house next mine. But l was get
ting used 10 the bizarre. the un-
usual I thought. a bit YEARLY.
that after my adventures of the
week preceding my return home
from Lillian's I wouldn't be sur
prised at anything in the world that
might happen TO me.
There might be a very real
menace also in the presence of these
mysterious men in the house next
door to me. Hidden securely IN the
odd Chinese vase in my room was
the important paper which my
father had sent to Allen Drake
through me, and which Mr.. Drake.
after deciphering the code it con-
tanned had given back to me,
charging me TO keep it safely until
it should be required of me.
\ Stern Determination
didn't understand in the least
what possible reason there could be
for some Of the arrangements which
had been made for the transfer and
keeping Of this mysterious code
Why my father should have allow
ed so long a time TO elapse between
the day he sent il to me and his
cable message instructing il deliver.
ed 20 Allen Drake. or why. when
Allen Drake had once deciphered il.
he hadn't destroyed it instead of
giving il back TO me. These were
questions over which I had puzzled
IL, D, En
swers to which / had given up solv-
ing. OF two things / was sure. l
was guarding the paper. and the
clique Of enemy spies. in which
Grace Draper WAS a leading spirit,
would stop at nothing 10 secure 1t if
they knew it We've in my possession.
Suppose they had found out
had the paper. and suppose the
Mysterious men who were TO be my
neighbors were the emissaries sent
TO secure it, The thought made me
SILVER, although the day was balmy
The curiosity which had been
aroused by Mrs. Durkee's nara
tive changed 10 stern determine
ton TO meet my new neighbors
face to face as soon as 1 could man
age 10 do So
I'll just Do That"
This was something easier plan
ned than accomplished. however.
The mysterious lessee had made
another condition with Mrs. Durkee
one which had annoyed her inquisi-
tive soul
II think it's a shame" she had
pouted. I'm not to get another
glimpse of them. But one of the
stipulations he made was that
and my personal belongings should
be out of the house before they ar
rive. The Japanese servant will
reach here a day ahead Of the 9TH
ers, and I'm 10 give the keys 10 him
and then depart. bag and baggage.
My handsome foreigner explained
this by saying that his uncle was
exceedingly nervous, and couldn't
bear chance encounter with
strangers. But I'm beginning 70
think it's mighty fishy myself. I do
hope they're not criminals i'm hid
ing. Why. Madge they may have
murdered somebody, and he bring
ing the body home in a trunk to
bury in my garden"
Her eyes-round as a startled
chud's-had held the beginning Of
real apprehension.
What blood and thunder movie
did YOU attend last 80 I had Knocked
why not imagine something worth
while They're probably the car