The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-05-26

able to convince the detective that 1t
WAS the absolute truth
l could not help hit realize how
prcpoStcrouS 1t would sound i'm tho
telling. Mr.. German could hardly be
blamed Tor believing that siy mind had
been iniinmcd by witnessing too many
movie thrllcrS. Yet | had proof.
There were the entries in my great
unclc's diary that ] could show. had
the anonymous notes. Ny story of the
strange whispers, If need he, could be
confirmed by the old laundrcss, by
Barbara Bradford, yes, ard by Claire,
too. That is, if the reason Claire had
given TO account for her presence in
my room was the true one. 1t sounded
logical, and yet | did not place the
confidence in her that did in Barbara.
But what l relied On most of all to
convince Gorman of the truth OF my
prcposterous tale was his own knowl-
edge of who the telephone girl was.
Just when I had reached the dcduc-
tion that the band plotting against
us must have coadjutor in the build
ing, he had come forward with the
knowledge that pointed toward the
person most apt to be involved.
| was pOndcring 1T all over In my
mind as I left the house to meet Bar
Dara. | was out on the street and
just turning the corner when remeIn-
bered that I had spent most of the
money in my pocket the night before.
Retracing my steps, I returned TO my
apartment and took some bills from
their hiding-placc in the bookcase. AS
emerged into the street again, be-
came aware that across the street was
man whose appearance seemed
vaguely familiar. AS I once more
turned the corner, walking briskly, 1
glanced back for second look at
him and was SURPRISED to see him com
Ing In my direction.
Then all ut once my subconscious
mind came to my rescue. I realized
when 1t was that had seen him be-
fore and what made his appearance
so familiar. AS I left the house not
ten minutes ago that very same man
had been standing across the street.
AS / had turned back Mt the corner
he had been coming in my direction
just as he was now.
He must be following me, trailing
me, shadOwing me. I determined to
test out my theory. At the next cor
ncr turned sharply, glancing quickly
back as did so. He was still follow
ing me, though OH the other side OF
the street and perhaps half block
away. / went few steps out OF
sight and then stopped as if to look
in n shop window. He came hurrying
around me corner an instant later,
slowing down as soon rs he spotted
me again and walked on nlowly pasr
me as if not noticing ne. waited
until he was some distance beyond
and retracing my steps quickly to the
avenue again stopped in the shelter of
a building to light cigar, purposely
wasting number Of matches. In
hardly ten seconds he was back, covert
ly watching me from the other side Of
the street.
There was no question about 1t. He
was trailing me. But who could be
having me shadowed? Certainly he
fOrds or OF Detective German. Either
he must be one Of the band Of plot
ters, Or--I hated to voice my suspi-
cion, but somehow the t ought Of my
grcat-uncle Rufus kept obtruding it
self 1t would be just II the sus-
picious old miscr f 1t was he who
had planned all this devlment to put
me in position OF trust and then to
have mo watched night and day.
Whoever 1t was that inspired this
pursuit, I determined to lead my
shadow merry chase. Jumping into
a taxi bade the driver take me to
department store. Looking back I
saw tho shadow hastily entering an
other cab. Arrived at my destination
thrust fare and tip into the drivers
hand ana hurrylng inside managed to
catch an elevator just ascending. Ono
flight up l got out and redescended to
the main floor by staircase at the
rear, emerging thence on to a side
street. A second taxi took me to
the Twenty-elghth street subway sta
fion, and there, with no sign Of my
pursuer, ] took train to Times
square and went to the Astor to meet
Barbara Bradford, arriving on the dot
of one. She was there awaiting me
and we quickly found secluded table
In one Of tho less conspicuous rooms.
1--WE told Claire everything" she
SAID as soon as we were seated. ~
hope you're not angry with me-"