Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-04-02
Making ar
greeted me pleasantly.

have asked me to occupy tnelr apart
ment while they are away"
AS we chatted we had entered the
building, and as before l went into
the elevator with her. AS / left her
at the door, wondering if she had had
any more encounters in the park, yet
hardly daring to ask, she turned to
me, half apologetically, and said:
''Mr. Nelson, since you've come to
live here in the house, must be care
full. We have not been introduced,
and my people will think it strange
if they see me speaking to you. You
understand, don't you? You must not
speak to me or recognize me until"
until what?" 1 cried eagerly.
Until we can manage to be proper.
ly introduced"
"Yet," l insisted, "you promised to
let me help you"
II have not forgotten. I'm grateful,
really am. Perhaps may call on
your services. 1 may have to. If I
do, Pll find some way of letting you
know"
"Some secret way" suggested, half
sarcastically.
Perhaps" she laughingly nodded as
we separated.
AS took out the keys my great
uncle had given me and entered the
apartment, looked about me with a
wholly new interest. That little word
mime" makes vast difference in the
way we regard things. Now that
these luxurious quarters were to be
my home, temporarily at least, look
ed about curiously. Certainly at first
glance there was nothing mysterious
in the atmosphere. Setting my bag
down 1 began an immediate inspec-
ton of the rooms.
The CASTOR apartment, discovered,
occupied one whole side of the sixth
floor of twelve-story building.
Around the elevator shaft that came
up through the center was a small
square court with four doors, two
opening into the Bradford apartment
opposite and two into the one l was
occupying. The east apartments were
known as Six A and the west as Six B.
The door by which 1 had entered led
into lofty foyer, connecting by sliding
doors with great dining room, and be-
yond 1t, in the front Of the house, with
a reception or living room that ran the
entire width of the apartment. Back
of the elevator, with a separate door
for the servants use, were the kitchen,
the buffers pantry, servants sitting
room and two bedrooms. From the
foyer a long hall ran almost the length
of the building. On the servants side
it was blank as to doors, save for the
passage from the pantry to the dining
room, but on the other side several
doors opened into spacious sleeping
rooms, each with it's own bath. As ]
was wondering which of the bedrooms
my great-aunt had expected me tc
occupy, I noticed still another door
which I found led into a small bed
room on the servants side of the
house but unconnected with their
quarters. While it was less elabor-
ately furnished than the rooms oppo-
site, 1t was comfortable enough, and
it had spacious bathroom adjoining.
The fact that the bed here had been
left turned down was evidence enough
that it was intended for my occupancy
Returning to the foyer to get my bag
and unpack it, was startled by the
ringing of the front doorbell.
1 sprang eagerly to answer 1t. II
must be Miss Bradford. Probably she
had reconsidered and had decided tc
take me into her confidence. Who
else could it be? There v-as no one
else who knew I was in the apart.
ment. 1t must be Miss Bradford!
With an exclamation of welcome or
my lips flung open the door. A mar
stood there-an utter stranger. In my
disappointment 1 was almost CLOSING
the door in his face, but as If antici
pating my thought he quickly advanced
one foot over the sill and kept it there
"Well," demanded, almost savage
ly, "what do you want?"
"Oh, it is you, is it?" he replied, eye
ing me with what seemed to me 6
most insolent stare.
"What do you mean?" 1 asked, be
wildered. Certainly never had seer
this person before. He was short anC
stocky, with sparse nondescript hail
and weak. shifty blue eyes. His fac,
had an unhealthy pallor, as if he haC
lived long away from the sunlight
and was sunken in as If from under
nourishment, yet the breadth Of hi
shoulders and his huge rough hand
seemed to indicate physical strengtl
beyond the ordinary.
You're Mr.. Spalding Nelson, aren'
your
: 'That's my name," I answere,
shortly.
"Mr. Gaston's-" He paused, as
trying to recall the relationship.
{ ''Mr. Gaston's great-nepnew."
Il guess you are him, all right" h
, said, in a manner of evident relief
I'm Mr.. Wick, the superintendent O
the house."
l "Of course" 1 answered, feelin
' rather foolish at my own vexation.
$ 'Mr. CASTOR told me you were con
/. ing in this morning." he FASTENED t
explain.
"He gave me description of you,
I Mr.. Wick went on, unperturbed, "an
q the boys in the hall were pretty sur
it was you that came in, but"
"But WHAT"
: 81 couldn't understand it. You didn
announce yourself. 1t seemed funn,
I your coming in with the young lad
from next door,"
'It just happened that way" 1 e,
planned, now understanding his myst
fication. II met her as I was COZ
ing in."
, "Twice," he said, rather insolentl
= 81 can't see that it is any Of yol
- business" I retorted angrily, eff
= happened a dozen times"
IS His manner at once became apol
getic, and he hastened to offer O
" sequious explanations.
r 'Mr. CASTOR asked me to take pa