The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-08-07
The House of
Whispers

some way had got hold Of Claire Brad
fOrd's secret?
81 think you said," l asked Miss
Bradford, that your family and the
Gastons were not acquainted in any
way"
mo" she replied, I've don't know
them at all. Why do you ask that"
Il was wondering if it could be pos
sible that my great-uncle Rufus could
have had any hand in all this. He's
a queer, SeCretiye 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. / never remember,
though, of hearing Dad speak Of him
wait, yes, l did once"
"When was that?"
1T must have been six or eight
years ago. There was something in
the papers about Mr.. CASTOR retiring
from business"
what was it he said?" l asked
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 | can recall his words
we're, I see that old pirate Castor has
retired with his ill-gotten gains"
$40 whom was he talking"
81 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 else|
"That's all l 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 dis
charged servant would do"
Eyes" l 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. IF | don't get
those papers back, Well all be ruined
They'll give them to my sisters fiance
Her engagement will be broken. My
mother will die of disgrace and
| shame"
Don't be discouraged" ! cried, try
ling to inspire in her a confidence | 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 then
surrender those papers. Leave it tt
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 wis
watch and exclaimed: >
Il must be going. They'll be alarm
ed about me if / stay longer"
when am l to see you again?"
81 don't know! That's hard to ar
range. My sister and I are so muct
together"
Cant l telephone your"
"NO, that wouldn't do at all. Moth
er and Claire would both want to know
all about it and besides"
Besides what?"
81 don't trust that girl at the switch
board. | think she listens to every
thing that is said"
"They are prying lot" admitted
Including Mr.. Wick, the superintend
ent."
II don't like him a bit"
"NOr l. but we must communicat
with each other somehow. II you I'm
out anything more you must let m
know at once. If l learn anything
I'll let you know, and I'm going to dis
cover lot"
There's always our windows" sh
suggested, "they are close together
| can signal you when I'm alone, an
we can talk"
"rll be there in my room every eve
ming from ten o'clock on" l sale
"waiting to hear from you. I'll put
handkerchief on the sill when II
there"
"And I'll do the same"
Having reached this understanding
l walked with her to the park entranc
within sight Of the house. All tn
} way we had been talking over the pu;
cling circumstances Of the anOnymOu
notes and of the strange way in whic
they had been found on the floor. Mis-
Bradford had spoken again Of tn
) whispers she had heard.
"The voices were vague-just like
ghosts might be-" she said.
, eyes" l admitted, that's what the
sounded like. But there aren't an
| ghosts. If those whispers we're rea
some human being was making then
| I'm going to find out who it was, an
when we've learned that, we'll hay
learned lot about"
} | hesitated.
"AbOut whOm?" she questioned.
"I don't know yet" l answered.
was wondering about my grea
. uncle Rufus.
NnAnTER ~