Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-04-16
The House of
| Whispers

My first impression was that there
was someone in the room, probably
the burglar. 1 hesitated about turn
ing on the light If he were armed
it would give him all the advantage.
Breathlessly I listened. Once more
there came three distinct raps. this
time apparently from somewhere out
side the room. 1 wondered if it had
been sounds like these that had so ter
rified the OLD couple.
Perhaps it was the echo Of someone
pounding in another apartment, the
noise being carried along by a water
pipe. The thought that it might be
the cracklfIg of some hidden steam or
refrigeratfng pipe suggested itself.
Both these theories I rejected. The
sound, whatever it was, had originated
close at hand.
1t came again. This time I was GER
tain that it was not due to footballs
as I had at first conjectured. I was
able, too, to locate more closely the
direction from which it came. The
window at the foot of the bed stood
open, and the sound seemed to float
in from somewhere outside. hurried
over to the window and thrust my
head out. At first I could see moth
ing, but even as L looked white arm
thrust forth from an adjacent window
on the same floor. 1t held a riding
crop and reaching out as far as was
possible it raped three times on the
sill of my window.
1t dawned on me at once that the
window next must belong to the Brad
ford apartment. 1t must be Miss
Bradford trying to signal to me.
Hello" 1 called out softly.
"Oh, is that you, Mr.. Nelson?" a re.
Heved voice whispered. 81 thought
you would never hear. I must see
you"
"Why didn't you phone me?"
81 couldn't. Someone might heal
me-"
whats the matter?''
"Tve had another letter."
''From those men in the parkT
81 suppose So"
''Tell me about it,
81 can't now. Can you meet me
somewhere tomorrow"
wherever you say''
''Do you rider"
'Yes, indeed"
i "I'll be in the cross lane that lead!
from McGowan's Pass tavern between
eight and eight-thirty."
'I'll be there"
Whether or not she heard me I dit
not know. She withdrew quickl,
from the room as if someone had en-
tered. I waited there in the window
for full hour in case she should wisl
to communicate with me again.
By and by the light in her windoy
was extinguished, but even then 1 sa
there at the window adjoining, hopin
in vain that she would seek to rene7
the conversation.
When at last I got into bed 1 wa
| in a jubilant mood. I had quite fol-
given Miss Bradford for cutting m
when she met me in company with he
mother and sister. 1t was enough fo
me to know that when trouble agai
threatened her she had decided t
. trust in me and had sought my aid.
I fell asleep at last and slept for
do not know how long. Opening m
eyes in the darkness I seemed to fee
the presence of someone in the room
There was the sound of footballs some
, where-muff1ed, seemingly some dis
tance off. I was almost certain
could detect muttered words. In
curious detached state of mind I lis
ened, wondering whether was awak
! or asleep. The footsteps seemed t
come closer, then recede. The viii:
, pering noise ceased. I sprang up, an
hastily lighting up all the rooms, e.
, plored them thoroughly. There wa
: no evidence anywhere of anyone
, presence. AS I lay there thinkin
about it, decided that my illusio
, must have been dream. due to m
thought of spirit rappings when I frs
! had. heard Miss Bradford's signal.
' I was still thinking about my exp,
: rience when awoke early the ne1
: morning. Springing lightly out {
5 bed, I stopped in utter bewildermen
: There, in the center of the room Q
the floor lay small white folded sli
: of paper. 1t could not have been
, dream, after all. I had heard foo
: steps and whispers. had not imai
f ined it. Someone had been in tt
: room while I slept. There was tt
n proof, the note they had dropped.
o Wondering If Miss Bradford ha
y found Gtil1 another unusual way {
l. communicating with me FASTENED
!. pick up the folded paper that lay G
q the floor, On the outside it bore n
name, in typewriting, "Mr. Spaldir
Nelson"
y With eager fingers 1 unfolded tt
4 paper, wondering what message it CO.
; tanned. AS I read it, I stood ther
" aghast. It ran:
"Why didn't you tell the poli'
J. about the pearls?"
q CHAPTER Nv.
A11,;oo tho o,ocS Tor