Cheyenne record., 1920-12-02
BY WILLIAM JOHNSTON

Access to either apartment would
not be dimcult. BY short rope lad
ders they could easily reach either set
of rooms. They would be 30 located
that there would be little difficulty for
them to devise mysterious sounds for
terrifying the people in the apart
ments below. I recalled that in ev-
cry case the voices and the footsteps
seemed to come from somewhere up
near the ceiling. OF course II, seemed
prepOsterous that a criminal band
would ind lodging in a luxurious
apartment house like this, yet, why
notf Tenants In these buildings knew
little about each other and cared less.
There was no exchange of neighborly
visits. Once having gained access to
such building by forged references.
80 long as they paid their rent prompt
ly. no one in the building would both
er his head about the character Of any
Of the other tenants.
This last theory seemed the most
plausible. Besides 1t was the easiest
to work on. It ought not to be difi-
S0Al W uSScIt0Ln VIII uNcU LII tl,S IWO
apartments above. Undoubtedly my
best source Of information would be
Nellie Kelly, the telephone operator.
Perhaps. too, she might be able to in
form me Of my great-uncle's where
abouts. More than likely he had left
forwarding address for his mail with
her.
With a letter I had written to my
mother, descended to the main floor
and began conversation with Miss
Kelly by asking where was the near
est place that I could buy stamps. As
we chatted I began complaining how
lonely 1t was in the apartment and
wound up by inviting her to dine with
me that evening.
had anticipated a ready acceptance
of my invitation and was amazed to
find 1t firmly refused. In a much con-
fused manner she advanced a dozen
reasons, or rather pretexts. She did
not go out with the people Of the
house. Her mother would not like It,
She did not know me well enough.
Mr.. Wick would discharge her II he
heard about 1t.
| From an unexpected source, though
none the less unwelcome. I found an
ally. Mr.. Wick himself bobbed up
from somewhere, apparently having
overheard enough of our conversation
to know what 1t was abut.
"Why. Of course, Mr.. Nelson" he
began in an ingratiating manner that
was most repellent to me, Miss
Kelly'll be glad to go to dinner with
you. It's part Of her business to make
things pleasant for the tenants"
1t seemed to me that the girls eyes
flashed defiance at him and that she
was still inclined to refuse, and was
about to explain resentfully that my
Invitation was not issued ON q busi-
ness basis. when into Wick's face
came an ugly look, something almost
threatening.
"Of course Miss Kelly will be glad
to 20 with you," he repeated sharply.
Certainly" said the girl quickly,
before had a chance to speak. .if
Mr.. Wick thinks 1t Is all right, I will
be glad to co..
Her acceptance did not ring true.
was convinced that It was unwilling
ly given under some sort of com.
pulsion from the odlous Wick.
met her, at her suggestion. In the
parlor Of one Of the less pretentious
hotels. In the hour that had elapsed
since she left the apartment, she had
exchanged her neat black working
suit for more modish clothes. After
one quick glance at her transformed
appearance my mind was quickly
made up as to what sort of a restau-
rant to take her. 1t was manifest that
she was Of the type that would enjoy
to the utmost the costly whiri Of the
fashionable cafe of the moment 1t
was my purpose to give her such
delightful evening that she would be
wishing to spend others In the same
way, for felt certain that she. per-
haps better than anyone else. could
supply me the, information wanted
about the tenants in the building.
was sure 1t would be well worth my
while to win her good graces, cost
what 1t may. Calling a taxi. bade
the chauffeur take US to the white
Room" the very latest fashion in res
taurants, where hordes of hectic pur-
suers Of pleasure were wont to assem-
BILE to dine and dance. observed the
CLEAN Of satisfaction that came into
her eyes as she heard me mention our
destination.
At nrst we talked. in Broadway
fashion. Of the theaters and restau-
rants. of the place we were in, of the
ot hn tah oh h,Vk
gradually led the conversation to
Miss Kelly herself and to her work
In the apartment
ut was funny, wasn't it." said,
''about Mr.. Wick insisting on your