Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-04-02
CHAPTER I.-contInued.

ly answered their questions about my
family, my thoughts kept constantly
recurring to the strange trouble of
the girl across the hall, her plight In
teresting me far more than the pur-
pose for which my great-uncle had
sent for me. had expected that he
would broach that subject himself, but
the coffee arrived and still the con-
versation had been limited to stilted
family chat. As we returned to the
living room, decided to give him
lead
MY mother wrote me-" 1 began.
"Oh, yes," said old Rufus, looking
relieved.
Eyes, yes. of course" echoed Mrs.
CASTOR.
waited for one or the other of
them to proceed but for some reason
they both seemed at a loss for words.
"You tell him. Rufus" said my
great-aunt at last.
His tired old eyes studied my coun-
tenance carefully, searcbingly. as If
he was trying to read my soul.
"What is it7" asked impatiently.
ut is this" said old Rufus, speak
ing slowly and with effort, as If he
hated to disclose his intentions.
"Three days from now--that will be
Sunday morning-my wife and 1 are
going to Maine to be gone for some
months. We have leased a furnished
cottage there and shall take our serv-
ants and our motor with us. We do
not like to leave this apartment wholly
untenanted. and 1t occurred to Mrs.
Castor that you might occupy 1t in
our absence"
am afraid my countenance at that
moment must have betrayed my con-
sternation. My great expectations
vanished, blew up, disappeared. They
did not want me for an heir but for a
caretaker. What fool had been to
imagine for one moment that this pc
nurious old couple had contemplated
doing anything for me. They wanted
me to do something for them. A sar-
castle refusal of their proffer trem-
bled on my lips but was stayed by my
great-aunt speaking:
ut will enable you. to save your
room rent. Mr.. CASTOR will pay the
rent In advance before we go. There
will be no one here to serve your
meals so you will have to get them
elsewhere, but will arrange with my
iaundress to come In once a day to
make up your room, and you'll be un-
der no expense"
Her suggestion that would have
no room rent to pay decided me. Two
other considerations also influenced
me. 1t might be plhn on the part
Of the old people to try me out and
see II was trustworthy, and then,
dwelling under the same roof with
Barbara Bradford. might have op-
portunities Of seeing her again, and
who knows. perhaps Of assisting her
out OF her mysterious plight.
II shall be very glad indeed to
come" found myself saying. at
was nice Of you both to think of me-"
"we1l consider the matter settled -
announced old Rufus. 1--WE are un-
used to guests here. so you had better
come at ten on Sunday, an hour after
we have started"
Rufus" suggested my great-auni
apprehensivelx, had you not better
give him the combination of the wal
safer My jewels are there, and ir
case there should be a fire"
'why not take them with your" ]
interrupted.
They are a nuisance when you ar,
travelip~" she objected.
"a safe deposit box would be bet
ter. then"
"No," said old Rufus shortly. "BotI
my safe deposit boxes are full ant
there Is no use hiring another one
The jewels will be all right wher
they are. In case Of fire you can re
move them to place of safety. Thi
Is the eombinntion-see that you re
member it-six right, four left, tw
right, eight left, GAPS"
'T'll remember It," replied, mer
tally repeating It over and over agair
"And now, my DEAR" said the oil
gentleman, ''lf you will get the key
from my desk, we can permit ou
nephew to depart"
My great-aunt left the room to
his mission. The minute she wa
safely out of hearing old Rufus whol
manner underwent a startling chang
Into his deep-set gray eyes came
look OF terror. His face became ashe
and the withered hand with which l
clutched my arm was trembling vi
lently.
Listen, boy" he Kissed, leaning 70
ward that he might speak into my e,
and looking about apprehensiveiy as
he feared to be overheard. Listen
there's something wrong here"
My first thought was that he hi
been suddenly stricken with semi
dementia, but recalling his perfect
rational conduct throughout the re
OF the evening, dismissed the theo
ns absolutely untenable. His fea
whatever caused 1t, certainly seem
very real.
something wrongT" 1 repeate
wonderingly. ''What do you mea
What Is it?"
He clutched my arm in n still tigl
or grasp, and his voice, suppressed
terrified whisper, became more
s.stsrt.
don't know" he breathed. 'T wi
did" He glanced timorously abo
and went on. There's somethi
Trongl 1 sense IT. feel It. I cs
NOT ind out what 1t is. All kinds
queer things happen. am uiwa