The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-05-14

not be difficult. BY short rope lad
ders they could easily reach either set
! Of rooms They would be so located
that there would be little difficulty for
them to devise mysterious sounds for
terrifying the people IN the apart
ments below. / recalled that In ev-
cry case the voices and the footsteps
seemed TO come from somewhere mp
near the ceiling, OF course II seemed
/ preposterous that a criminal band
would find lodging in luxurious
apartment house like this. yet. why
notl Tenants In these buildings knew
little about each other and cared less.
There was no exchange Of neighhorly
visits Once having gained access to
such q building By forged references.
50 long as they paid their rent prompt
", no one in the building would both
err his head about the character OF any
OF the other tenants.
This last theory seemed the most
| plausible. Besides II was the easiest
TO work on. II ought not to be dim
cult to ascertain who lived in the two
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 greatuncle's where
abouts. More than likely he had left
forwarding address for his mail with
her.
i With letter / 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 could buy stamps. As
we chhtted / began complaining how
lonely 1t was in the apartment and
wound up by inviting her to dine with
me that evening.
had anticipated ready acceptance
Of my invitation and was amazed to
find 1t firmly refused. In much con-
fused manner she advanced 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 If he
heard about It.
From an unexpected source, though
none the less unwelcome, 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 ingratiatlng manner that
was most repellent to me, Miss
Kelly'n 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 bust
ness basis, when into Wlck's face
came an ugly look, something almost
threatening.
"Of course Miss Kelly will be glad
to go with you" he repeated sharply.
Certainty" said the girl quickly,
before had chance to speak, "if
Mr.. Wick thinks 1t is all right. l will
| ne Ridu 10 20.
Her acceptance did not ring true
/ was convinced that 1t was unwilling.
ly given under some sort of com.
pulslOn from the odious Wick.
! met her, at her suggestion, in the
parlor of one of the less pretentlous
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 q 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. II
was my purpose TO give her such O
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 II would be well worth my
while TO win her good graces, cost
what It may. Calling taxi, l bad,
the chauffeur take us to the "whitt
Room" the very latest fashion In res
taurants, where hordes of hectic pur
suers OF pleasure were wont 10 assem-
bic TO dine and dance. / observed TN,
CLEAN OF satisfaction that came int
her eyes as she heard me mention oul
destination.
At first we talked, In Broadwa.
fashion, OF the theaters and restau
rants, Of the place we we're In, OF tn,
people ut the tables about us. bu
gradually I led the conversation Z,
Miss Kelly herself and to her worl
In the apartment
1T was funny, wasn't It." / said
about Mr.. Wick insisting on you
coming with met had a notion Ii
didn't Ike me-