The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-04-09

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my safe deposit boxes are full and
there Is no use hiring another one.
The jewels viii be all right where
they are. In case Of fire you can re-
move them to a place OF safety. This
Is the comblnatlon-see that you re-
member it-slx right, four left, two
right, eight left 6,42s.'
IN remember II" replied, men
tally repeating II over and over again.
"And now, my dear" said the old
gentleman, III you will get the keys
from my desk, we can permit our
nephew to depart"
My great-aunt left the room to do
his mission. The minute she was
safely out of hearing old Rufus whole
manner underwent a startling change.
Into his deep-set gray eyes came q
look OF terror. His face became ashen,
and the withered hand with which he
clutched my arm was trembling vio-
lentiy.
Listen, boy" he Missed, leaning for
ward that he might speak into my ear
and looking about apprehensively as If
he feared to be overheard Listen
there's something wrong here"
My first thought was that he had
been suddenly stricken with senila
denentia, but recalling his perfectly
rational conduct throughout the rest
Of the evening, dismissed the theory
as absolutely untenable. His fear,
whatever caused 1t, certainly seemed
very real
Something wrong?" l repeated
wonderingly. "What do you meant
What is lt2"
He clutched my arm in a still tight
en- grasp, and his voice, suppressed to
terrified whisper, became more In
slstent.
IL don't know" he breathed. ~ wish
| did" He glanced tlmorously about
and went on. "Fhere's something
wrongl / sense IT. feel 1t. l can
not find out what 1t is. All kinds Of
queer things happen. l am always
hearing voices-whispers, whispers,
whispers That is why we are going
away. My wife thinks it Is on ac-
count of my health. don't want her
to know. Please, please, Spalding,
find out what it is before we return.
| have no son. There is no one else
but you to do It, Solve the mystery
for me. Find out about the whispers.
Promise me you will. Ssh-not u
word to her! Not a word"
He withdrew his hold on my arm
and laid his finger on his lips as he
heard his wife returning, With a Wis
ible effort he Strengthened up, and
when she entered the room he appar.
emily had entirely recovered his self.
possession and was his natural self
again, a dignlfied, world-weary old
man.
Il can't find your keys, Rufus" said
my great.aunt, you had better gel
them yourself"
The minute he left the room she
FASTENED to my side and she, too, be-
gan to whisper mysterious warnings
exhibiting terror hardly less thar
her aged husbands.
This is house of mystery" she
announced. I'm always hearing
strange sounds here. He doesn't
linow"--with nod in the direction ole
Rufus had gone, "and l do not wan
him to. That is the reason am tax
Ing him away. Solve the mystery Of
II before we return. I'll pay you. II
make II well worth your while"
Her husbands shutting in the pass
age warned her of his return, and sh,
quickly dropped my arm. As he en-
tered she was telling me in quite nor
NAL tones to be sure to remember hel
TO my mother the next time I wrote
Old Rufus handed me the keys, ex
planning which was which.
And remember" said my great
uncle, as he escorted me to the door
"you are not to come until Sunda,
morning at ten, after we have gone
And remember the combination of tn,
safe-Rememberr
The insistent way IN which he re
peated the word conveyed to me force
I ihlS Aiut WHIT ne most wanted M
TO remember was the strange warnin,
he had given me, and as clasped hi
hand in parting ! tried by the firm
ness OF my grip TO let him know tina
understood.
Remember" repeated my aunt, toe
as she stood there in the door littl
behind him, at the same time givln
me a significant look.
Yet, puzzling as had been the cor
Duct of both OF them, my memoris
that night were not OF their warnin
nor of the combination of the SAT
nor OF the hour at which was {
arrive. They We're of the most bear
tiful eyes ever had seen and Of tn
haunting terror written i'm them.
CHAPTER H.
Sunday morning came at last.
II was hardly eight when | set q,