The Little River news., 1920-03-27
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER I.-Circumstances having prevented SpaldinS Nelson. clerk, joining the American forces going to France, he Is in a despondent mood when lie re- oeives an Invitation to dinner from his great-uncie, Rufus Gdston. On his way to the house he meets, under peculiar cir eumstances, a young girl, apparently in trouble, to whom he has opportunity to be d slight service. She lives in the same apartment building as Rufus Gas ton. and he accompanies her to the house. for a trip and want to leave Nelson in charge of the apartment. He accepts. Gaston and his wife tell their great nephew of mysterious whispers which they have heard in the house. CHAPTER II-On his way to the Gas ton apartment next Sunday Nelson again meets his accidental acquaintance of few days before, Barbara Bradford. she urges him not to allow the fact of t.4eir being acquainted to be knoWl. At the apartment Nelson meets the sups"intend- ent, Wick, and instinctively dislINes him. In a wall safe he finds a necklace Of magnificent pearls, worth small fortune. Meeting Barbara in the hallway she passes him without recognition. Dining in a restaurant he is conscious of the un- pleasant scrutiny of a stranger, but man whom he had seen before.
 CHAPTER III-Next day Nelson finds wall cafe Eis first idea of informing the police is TU. e&cte, Oor because of pe- cuIiar circur stances. He has been dis charged from his position without ade- quate explanation or reason, and feels hanSsek involved in something of myS- tery. He decides to conduct an invesh- gatien himself. That night Barbara sig nals from the window of her apartment, which is opposite his, and they arrange & meeting for next day. In the morning he finds note in his room, asking hlm why he had not informed the police Of the loss of the jewels.
 CHAPTER fV.-Barbara tells Nelson her sister Claire had some years before made runaway marriage With an ad, venturer, from whom she was soon parted and the marriage annulled. Claire is en- gagged to be married and someone know ing of her escapade has stolen documents concerning the affair from the Bradford apartment and demands 9 large sum of money for their return. threatening to forward them to Claires fianc. if the de- mands are not met. Neither SA.Oara nor her sister have the money to satisfy the demands. She tells Nelson she has also heard mysterious sounds in the fiat. They agree to meet frequently.
 CHAPTER V.-The Gaston laundress, the only person in the apartment besides Nelson. tells him she has heard whispers and footsteps. apparently in the wall He begins to suspect his great-uncle of some knowledge of the affair. Barbara tells him she also has heard the footsteps. In the morning he discovers his pockets have been searched during the night, in 
 someone in the apartment during the night
 CHAPTER VI-Nelson Invites Miss Nellie Kelly. telephone operator in the building, to dinner, hoping through her to find out something that will help him. During her temporary absence from the table Nelson is informed by the house detective that she is a known associate of criminals, and the wife of Lefty Moore" a convict in Sing Sing. He tells something of the affair to the detective James Gorman-and makes an appoint ment for the next day. Returning home he finds Claire Bradford in his apartment She tells him she was trying to trace the source of the whispers, which had also disturbed her.
 CHAPTER VII-Gorman agrees to take the case in a professional capacity. That evening Nelson discovers a concealed pas sageway in the wall of his apartment While he is Investigating Barbara joins him, making her way across ledge con- meeting the two apartments. He shows her the entrance to the passageway. and while they are, talking they hear apartment beneath them. Barbara has tens back and Nelson hurries to the scene Of the disturbance. He meets Wick at Ina door nf the flat he1nw
 Hadn't she a sweetheart now?" I asked
 Better make if plral." sneersd the doctor. 'Women of her type always have lot of men friends"
 "No men ever came to see her here. I'm positive of that" said Mir. Wick.
 "0f course not" said the roctor sar- casticaly. The reputation of the Granddeci apartments must be pro tected at all costs"
 As we talked two detectives in plain clothes arrived. They viewed the body and proceeded to question the doctor.
 "How was this woman Killed"
 "By a revolver shot right through the heart"
 "Who is she?"
 "DaiSy Lutan. the actress"
 "Who did tt?"
 'It must have heen a burglar" fn- teriected Mir. Wick. My theory is that she came in unexpectedly and found him at work"
 .Who found herr"
 '"fhese gentlemen" said the doctor : Including both Mir Wick and me with wave of his hand.
 The detectives turned to Mir. Wick first
 "Tcr us about It," one of them di rected.
 "mv name Is James Wick" he began as if he was reciting familiar lesson ~ am the superintendent of th, Grsndfleck apartments. was in Tn, elevator about half an hour ago wher I heard woman screaming and ther the sound of the shot took out m! revolver and got off at this floor to in yestigate. Al the door I found Mr E Nelson. He too. had heard th, screams and the shot and thought the. came from this apartment. 1 took ou nay pass key and we went in."
 "were there any signs of the bur giar?" asked the other man.
 "No. we looked all through in apartment and found no one"
 "Was anything missincF , waited with hated breath to hea f Wick would tell of having found th wall safe open. IT he did not I felt would be conclusive evidence tha there was something he was trying { conceal