Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1920-04-16

u uunuTeu duu ully iHouSuHu u"iihiS
for that string. Tell me everything
about t--everything. at once"
l could only repeat what | had told
him already. When had opened the
safe on Sunday the pearls were there.
When had opened II again on the fol-
lowing Saturday the pearls were gone.
"Of course you told the police at
once"
] explained to him why had not
done so. and my reason seemed to
satisfy him.
go on with your story" he calmly
well In hand again. After the first
shock at hearing of the loss of the
pearls he showed no sign OF emotion
or displeasure.
He listened intently as told him Of
my second meeting with Barbara
Bradford when | had learned that the
Bradford wall safe had been looted,
too. and the papers distracted con-
corning the annullment of Claire's
first marriage. He nodded his head
slightly when | told him of the anOny-
nous notes found on the floor In
both apartments.
did you hear the whispers. tooT
he questioned.
Eyes" l answered. 81 heard them
several times Barbara has heard
them. and the laundress. too"
A look of unspeakable relief came
over his face.
I'm glad to know that others have
heard them besides myself. When a
man gets old his nerves sometimes
play him strange FRANKS. The wills
pers seemed 90 unreal and incredible
mat l reared that | was suffering from
the hallucinations Of old age. Now
that know that the whispers are real,
there is nothing to fear"
and" ] observed, 81 believe, I am
almost positive. can explain the
origin of the Whispers"
Tell me-" he cried. his manner now
entirely changed. He seemed elated
at discovering that his brain was still
dependable. 1t was as If burden had
suddenly been lifted from him.
Here was my opportunity. German
had utterly refused to credit my story
of secret passage and had ridiculed
II. There had been no way that !
could prove it. nor was II possible for
German to have investigated the walls
OF the Granddeck. even If he had
placed any credence in my story. With
my great-uncle II was different. AS
the occupant of the apartment he
would have every right and Oppor-
tunity to explore and verify my state
ments. told him how, while specu-
lating as to the origin of the Whispers
] had observed the discrepancy In the
measurements of the apartment and
had verified my deduction that there
was space enough for a passageway
big enough for a man to traverse In
the wall between the room ! had oc-
cupied and the long hail. He listened
intently as ! described the plan of the
rooms In detail and nodded his APP
proval.
"And what is more" | added tri-
umphantly. Barbara Bradford and ]
by pushing tie wall panel in my room
back and then sliding II along. We
were inspecting II when we heard the
shot in the apartment below. ] closed
the panel and ran downstairs and have
had no opportunity since to investi-
gate hut ] am sure the passage Is
there. ! am convinced that II was the
sound of voices there that made the
Whispers | suspect II was used by
whoever left the anonymous notes In
the room and that the person or per-
sons who looted the safes entered and
escaped by that means. would not
he surprised If II was not by means of
this passageway that the murderer Of
Miss Lutan escaped. after he had left
his revolver In the drawer Of my
dresser"
My great-uncle shook his head per-
pIexedly.
ut sounds mprobable-too much
like romance. They do not build
modern apartment buildings with Sc
cret passageways. Space is far too
valuable. and besides, all plans have
to be filed with the city's bureau Of
buildings"
"But it's there" cried desperately.
II saw It. Barbara Bradford saw It."
"Well." he comforted me, 1--WE will
soon find out about 1t. have many
matters to attend to today. but tomor-
row ] shall go up to the apartment,
and II there Is such a passageway ]
shall find II and see where II leads"
'"Then you are not staying In the
apartment"
mo. ! shall remain at hotel until
my wife returns"
At this juncture a prison attendant
approached and informed him that the
time Of his visit was up. Imperiously
my great-uncle waved the man away.
Somehow the possession Of great
wealth carries with II a manner of ex-
pecting obedience from every one that
generally Is successful. The man
Withdrew mutterinp To himself and