The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-10-08
ul,utra4loS.~
BY
lt'winnye.s


window ! could detect a figure stand
ing % a chair apparently feeling along
the wall near the ceiling. I recalled
with curiosity that it was from that
spot that the whispers / had heard
had seemed to come.
Inch by incn l edged noiselessly for
ward, my eyes on the intruder until at
last my fingers found the electric light
button. Az the light flooded the o.
there was a suppressed scream, fol-
lowed by q frightened gasp. The
figure on the chair turned quickly and
faced me. ] saw that 1t was = woman.
a badly frightened woman. with her
hands clutching at her heart. Almost
instantly / recognized her. 1t was not
Barbara Bradford. but her sister.
Claire. She was clad in some sort OF
q dark house gown thrown over her
n%ightgown. Her slippered feet were
bare Of stockings. and her hair hung
in a great braid down her back.
As ! stared at her she sprang from
the chair and made q rush for the
VPCH "lIuO". L SiduUCu iOT uCI Anu
though she fought desperately l man-
aged to hold her fast and to drag her
away from the window. After q mo-
ment's futile resistance she suddenly
collapsed in my arms, moaning in a
tense whisper:
Let me 60, please let me 60"
1 placed her in a chair. and still
keeping q tight hold on one Of her
arms. studied her. debating what to
do. What desperate motive could
have driven this girl to the daring
journey across the narrow ledge by
which she had gained access to my
quarters? Was she, l wondered, once
more in the power Of that evil ex-
husband Of hers, driven by fear Of him
to such desperate deeds.
Let me CO." she moancd again.
mot until you tell me what o
were doing in my rooms" l answered
firmly.
II did not know there was any one
here. I thought the apartment was
vacant. l thought the Gastons we're
away"
but why did you Gomez"
II can't tell that" she moaned. 81
can't! l can't!"
You must" l repeated. II am 60
ing to keep you here until you do tell
me-"
You must not keep me here" she
said. Il don't want my people to know
about my having been here. You look
like a gentleman. Please let me co."
Doesn't Barbara-doesn't your sis
ter know you are here?"
At my mention of her sisters name
an expression of amazement escaped
her.
Who are your" she asked excited
y. How did you know who l was?'
I am a friend Of your sister," l
answered. "She will tell you who l
am. You must trust me. l feel I have
q right to know what you are doing
here. Won't you tell me?"
A strange look came into her eyes
and she shook her head.
You wouldn't understand. I was
trying to trace the whispers"
THE whispers" l cried excitedly.
You have heard them, too?"
Often" she said. II heard them
tonight. Mother and Barbara were
out to the theater. They seemed to
come from near the ceiling in my sis
ter's They seemed to vanish
In the direction Of this room. l
thought there vas no one here. de-
cided to creep along the ledge and see
Il ] could trace them"
*And did you succeedr"
She shook her head.
when ] first came In this room I
could still hear them. They seemed
to be coming from up near the ceiling.
got up on q chair and put my ear
to the wall to listen. Then they
stopped altogether and then-you
came in. May ! 60 now-before my
mother comes homer
"On N condition." answered.
that you tell your sister about your
having been here"
It'll tell her II you wish mo to- she
replied. "and now. please may I gol
Gould you let me out OF your door,
See. ! brought Z key to u apartment
with me. I don't think I dare make
that trip across the ledge tonight.
~ ] escorted her to the door. my
mind 10 . whiri over the events Of the
evening. I suddenly remembered how
important It was that l should see her
sister FOR . long talk before I kept
ny appointment with German.
Tell your sister," ! said to Claire
Bradford 90 she departed. that II Il
imperative that she meet me u lunch.
ron Tomorrow. have news Of the
utmost impOrtance-news that con.
Germs al ~ ~ Tell her to meet me
at the AStoS q one. She must come
.11l I'll hsr." che replied.
ctlApTgR WI.
Il waa til next evening that ! made
ny Astounding discovery. when pure