Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1920-04-15

home and the bowling doOrman was
swinging back the great iron doOr
for us. 1t had been my intention 10
announce my arrival, but recalling
that Miss Bradford had said that the
CASTOR apartment was on the same
floor AS hers, stepped with her into
the elevator. When it had descended,
leaving us together In the corridor.
she turned to me and offered her hand.
"Thank you 50 much, Mr.. Nelson
81 wish you'd let me help yOu,'
cried.
She shook her head.
swell, promise me one thing l In
sisted.
"What is it?"
"That you never again will go alone
to the park to meet those men,"
A tremor shook her body, and once
more look of terror crept into her
eyes.
81 can't promise that. must meet
them. l must! l must!"
reached out and took her hand.
"Promise me, then, that before you
20 again you will let me know"
"You must not try to stop my go
Ing" she cried desperately and free
ing her hand turned quickly and un-
locking her door left me standing
there alone, staring after her.
Perplexed beyond measure as to
tn Il of
pressed the bell and was admitted to
the Castor apartment and to the pres
ence Of my aged relatives.
Although I tried to pretend an in
terest in their conversation and absent
ly answered their questions about my
family, my thoughts kept constantly
recurring to the strange trouble OF
the girl across the hall, her plight in
teresting me far more than the pur-
pose for which my great-uncle had
sent for me. had expected that he
would brOach that subject himself, but
the coffee arrived and still the con-
versation had been limited to stilted
family chat. AS we returned to the
living room, l decided to give him a
lead:
"NIy mother wrote me" l began.
"Oh, YES" said old Rufus, looking
relieved.
"Yes, yes, of course" echoed Mrs.
CASTOR.
| waited for one or the other of
them to proceed but for some reason
they both seemed ut loss for words.
"You tell him, Rufus said my
great-aunt at last.
His tired old eyes studied my coun-
tenance carefully, searcbingly, as If
he was trying to read my soul.
"What is it?" l asked impatiently.
at is this" said old Rufus, speak
ing slowly and with effort. as if he
hated to disclose his intentions.
"Three days from now-that will be
Sunday morning-my wife and l are
going to Maine to be gone for some
months. We have leased furnished
cottage there and shall take our serv-
ants and our motor with us. We do
not like to leave this apartment wholly
untenanted. and 1t occurred to Mrs.
CASTOR that you might occupy 1t In
our absence"
am afraid my countenance at that
moment must have betrayed my con-
ste:nation. My great expectations
vanished, blew up, disappeared. They
did not want me for an heir but for Il
caretaker. What fool l had been to
imagine for one moment that this pc
nurious old couple had contemplated
doing anything for me. They wanted
me to do something for them. A sar,
castle refusal of their proffer trem'
bled on my lips but was stayed by my
great-aunt speaking:
ut will enable you to save your
room rent. Mr.. CASTOR will pay the
rent in advance before we so. There
will be no one here to serve your
meals SO you will have to get them
elsewhere, but will arrange with my
laundress to come in once day tC
make up your room, and you'll be un
| der no expense.
Her suggestion that l would have
no room rent to pay decided me. Tive
other considerations also influenced
me. 1t might be plan on the par
of the old people to try me out ant
see IL l was trustworthy, and then
dwelling under the same roof witt
Barbara Bradford, l might have op
portunitieS of seeing her again, ant
who knows. perhaps Of assisting hel
out of her mysterious plight.
~ shall be very glad indeed tt
come" l found myself saying. at
was nice of you both to think Of me-
Wen consider the matter settled.
announced old Rufus. I'VE are un
used to guests here, SO you had bette
come at ten on Sunday, an hour afte
we have started"
"Rufus," suggested my great-aun
apprehenslvely, "had you not bette
give him the combination of the wal
safe? My Jewels are there, and II
case there should be a fire"
"Why not take them with your"
interrupted.
''They are a nuisance when you ar
travelir~" she objected.