Charlevoix county herald., 1920-03-12

or my INVITATION ana was amazed 10
find II firmly refused. In a much con.
fused manner she advanced dozen
reasons, or rather pretexts. She did
not 20 out with the people Of the
house. Her mother would not like It
She did not know me well enough
Mr.. Wick would discharge her If he
heard about 1t.
From an unexpected source, though
none the less unwelcome, / found an
ally. Mr.. Wick himself bobbed up
from somewhere, apparently having
overheard enough of our conversation
to know what it was abut.
"Why, Of course, Mr.. Nelson" he
began In an ingratiating manner that
was most repellent to me, Miss
Kelly'll be glad to go to dinner with
you. It's part of her business to make
things pleasant for the tenants"
It seemed to me that the girls eyes
flashed defiance at him and that she
was still inclined to refuse. and was
about to explain resentfully that my
invitation was not issued on a bust.
ness basis, when into Wick's face
came an ugly look. something almost
threatening.
"Of course Miss Kelly will be glad
to 90 with you" he repeated sharply.
Certainly" said the girl quickly,
before l had chance to speak, ''if
Mr.. Wick thinks 1t is all right. l will
be glad to CO."
Her acceptance did not ring true.
I was convinced that 1t was unwilling.
~ given under some sort Of com.
pulsion from the odious Wick.
met her, at her suggestion, in the
parlor Of one Of the less pretentioua
n,elS. In the hour that had elapsed
ince she left the apartment, she had
exchanged her neat black working
suit for more modish clothes. After
one quick glance at her transformed
appearance my mind was quickly
made up as to what sort of restau-
rant to take her. 1t was manifest that
she was of the type that would enjoy
to the utmost the costly whirl OF the
fashionable cafe Of the moment. 1t
was my purpose to give her such
delightful evening that she would be
wishing to spend others in the same
way, for / felt certain that she. per-
haps better than anyone else, could
supply me the information / wanted
about the tenants In the building.
was sure it would be well worth my
while to win her good graces. cost
what II may. Calling q taxi, / babe
the chauffeur take us to the white
Room" the very latest fashion in res
taurants, where hordes Of hectic pur-
suers Of pleasure were wont/to assem-
BILE to dine and dance. l observed the
CLEAN Of satisfaction that came into
her eyes as she heard me mention our
destination.
At first we talked, In Broadway
fashion. OF the theaters and restau-
rants. of the place we were in, Of the
people at the tables about us, but
gradually / led the conversation to
Miss Kelly herself and to her work
in the apartment.
at was funny, wasn't it," ! said,
"about Mr.. Wick insisting on your
coming with met / had notion he
didn't like me-"
Hitherto my companion had been
most vivacious, chatting merrily, flash
ing back at my ssilies with clever bits
of that slangy repartee of which most
of the metropolitan business girls are
such clever mistresses. AT my last re-
mark quick change came over her
face. 1t was as If mask had been
set up between US behind which she
was hiding from me.
"I guess he likes YOU" spe answer
ed guardedly. II never heard him say
one way or the other"
"While we're talking about the
apartment" went on, ''did my great
uncle happen to leave a forwarding
address with you? There are come
things want to send him-som4
pearls they left behind-and he has
not written me yet where his address
will be-"
l had not intended to mention the
CASTOR pearls. / had slipped that
phrase in on the spur Of the moment.
but little was prepared for the as
founding effect my words had upon
her.
1.-The pearis!" she gasped, turning
white. you're going to send him the
CASTOR pearls Z"
There was note Of amazement, Of
incredulity In her tone.
Excuse me-" she said, rising ud'
expectedly, 81 gotta telephone"
Before could gather my wits to-
getber she had vanished, leaving me
sitting there, staring after her In dis
may. What did she-the telephone
about the CASTOR pearls7
How could she possibly know that
they were missing? / had told no one
no one except Barbara Bradford
about the rifled wall safe. How could
her excitement and perturbation be
accounted for except by the fact that
she knew Of their loss? was sitting
there, puzzling over her mysterious
conduct, when I became aware that