The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-09-17
By WILLIAM
JOHNSTON
"
Copyright By
Little, Brown 4 Co.

We looked at each other despairing-
~. We both Of US realized that we
must be surrounded with some potent
evil forces working to accomplish our
ruin. The motive in the anonymous
letters that Miss Bradford had been
receiving had plainly been blackmail.
But what was the motive in my own
case? Why had someone stolen the
CASTOR pearls and then in al anony-
letter to me spoken of the theft?
! wondered, too, IL the successful at
tempt to discredit me at my place Of
business had not originated from the
same mysterious source.
Was my great-uncle Rufus to blame?
The suspicion Of him rose in my
mind and would not be dOwned. l re-
called the unusual pretext on which
he had sent for me after having paid
no attention to my existence for near
ly a year. l recalled his curious warn
ing and that Of his aged wife. re-
membered that they had insisted on
leaving the jewels behind against my
urgings, and that they had been In
sistent on my having the combination
of the safe. Could it be possible that
they also had some grudge against the
Bradfords, their %neighbors, and In
some way had got hold Of Claire Brad
ford's secret?
II think you said," / asked Miss
Bradford, that your family and the
Gastons were not acquainted in any
way"
No." she replied, 1--WE don't know
them at all. Why do you ask that?'
II was wondering il it could be pos
sible that my great-uncle Rufus could
have had any hand in all this. He's
a queer, secretive old chap
ITS probable that he and my father
might have known each other. Both
were in business here in the city for
many years. l never remember,
though, of hearing Dad speak Of him
wait, yes, I did once"
"When was that?"
1T must have been six or eight
years ago. There was something in
the papers about MI. CASTOR retiring
from business"
eagerly, wondering If some old feud
between the two men might not give
us a clue to %unravel the web OF mys-
terry.
"As nearly as l can recall his words
were, I see that old pirate CASTOR has
~o<ino1 xx.f<h h;, 1l.roftnn uoirS:D
ITO whom was he talking?'
II don't remember that, probably
| some man who was visiting at the
house. Dad always used to have a
lot of men about"
did he say anything elseY
That's all I remember, but l don't
| think the Gastons could have anything
to do with. it. This threatening my
sister Is more the sort Of thing a dis
| charged servant would do"
"Yes," I admitted, but find the dis
charged servant. Yours have been
with you for years."
"Oh, what are we going to do?' she
cried In desperation. II / don't get
those papers back, we'll all be ruined.
They'll give them to my sisters fance.
Her engagement will be broken. My
mother will die of disgrace and
shame"
"Don't be discouraged" I cried, try
ing to inspire in her a confidence l was
far from feeling myself. This is only
Sunday. We have until Wednesday
evening. I'll find some way OF trap
ping those rascals and making them
surrender those papers. Leave 1t to
] me-"
In spite of my reassuring words, dis
tress was still written on her counte-
nance. AS l debated how best to COM
]. fort her, she glanced at her wrist
| watch and exclaimed:
II must be going. They'll be alarm
ed about mt II l stay longer"
"When am I to see you again."
II don't know. That's hard to ar
range. My sister and ], r SO much
together"
"Can't / telephone your"
mo, that wouldn't do at all. Moth
er and Claire would both want to know
all about it and besides"
Besides what?~
II don't trust that girl at the switch
board. / think she listens to every
thing that IL said"
"They are Q prying lot" I admitted,
"including Nh. Wick. the Superintend-
emit"
II don't like him q bit"
"Nor ], but we must communicate
with each other somehow. If you find
out anything more you must let me
know at once. II I learn anything.
I'll let you know, and I'm going to dis
| cover 4 lot"
There's always U windows" she
suggested, ''they are close together.
/ can signal you when I'm alone, and
We can talk"
sTll be there In my room every eve
ming from ten o'clock on" l said,