Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1920-04-22

really l am. Perhaps l may call u,
your services. l may have 10. II
do, I'll find ON way Of letting YOU
know"
Some secret way" l suggested. hal
sarcastically.
Perhaps" she laughingly nodded a:
we separated.
As | took GU the keys my great
uncle had given me and entered The
apartment. l looked about me with {
wholly new interest. That little wore
mime" makes a vast difference in IN,
way we regard things. Now thai
my home, temporarily ut least, look
Ell about curiouSly. Certainly nj first
glance there was nothing mysterious
in the atmosphere. Setting my bag
down l began an immediate inspec.
ton Of the rooms.
The Castor apartment. l discovered,
occupied n whole side of the sixth
floor OF a twelve-story building.
Around the elevator shaft that came
up through the enter was a small
square court with four doors. two
opening into the Bradford apartment
opposite and two into the one | was
occupying. The east apartments were
known as Six A and the west as Six B.
The door by which | had entered led
into q lofty foyer. connecting by sliding
doors with a great dining room, and be-
yond it. in the front Of the house, with
a reception or living room that ran the
entire width Of the apartment. Back
Of the elevator, with q separate door
for the servants use. We're the kitchen.
the buffers pantry, a servants sitting
roOIa and two bedrooms. From the
foyer a long hall ran almost the length
OF the building. On the servants side
il was blank as TO doors, save for the
passage from the pantry 10 the dining
room, hut or the other side several
doors opened into spacious sleeping
rooms. each with its own bath. AS l
was wondering which of the bedrooms
my great-uunt had expected me to
occupy. | noticed still another door
which | found led into a small bed
room on the servants side of the
house hut u~nconnected with their
quarters. While II was less elahor-
ately furnished than the rooms oppo-
site, ii was comfortable enough, and
Z. bnl n l,..;.,,- In.l,1, oI;,frEr,
The fact that the bed here had been
left turned down was evidence enough
that il was intended for my occupancy.
Returning 10 the foyer to get my bag
and unpack it. l was startled by the
ringing Of the front doorbell.
l. sprang eagerly to answer it. II
must he Miss Bradford. Probably she
had reconsidered and had decided to
take me into her confidence. Who
else could it be? There was no one
else who knew l was in the apart
ment. 1t must he Miss Bradford.
With an exclamation of welcome on
my lips | flung open the door. A man
stood there-an utter stranger. In my
disappointment | was almost closing
the door in his face, but as if antici-
patis my thought ne quickly advanced
n foot over the sill and kept it there.
We'll" | demanded, almost savage
ly, what do you WANT"
"Oh, it is you, is it," he replied. eye
ing me with what seemed TO me a
most insoient stare.
What do you mean:' / asked, he
'wIIderef. Certainly ] never had seen
his person before. He was short and
stocky, with sparse nOndescript hair
ana weak, Shifty blue eyes. His face
had an unhealthy pallor, as If he had
lived long away from the sunlight,
and was sunken In as If from under
nouriStiIneht yet the breadth of his
shoulders M his huge rough hands
seemed to Indicate physical strength
beyond the ordinary.
You're Mr.. Spalding Nelson, aren't
you!'
That's my name" l answered
shortly.
"Mr Gaston's-' He paused, as If
trying TO recall the relationship.
Mr.. Gaston's great-nephew.'
u guess you are him, all right" he
said, In a manner VI evident relief.
I'm Mr.. Wick, the superintendent of
the house
"Of course" ! answered, feeling
rather foolish at my own vexation.
Mr.. Castor told Tne you we're com
Ing In ms morning. he FASTENED to
explain.
IL gave me a description Of you"
MIR. Wick went on. unperturbed. "and
the boys in the hall were pretty sure
1t was you that came in, but
But "hatf'
! couldn't Understand 1t. You didn't
IA - - N ann NEAA