The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-05-01

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there was suppressed scream, fol-
loved by a frightened gasp. The
figure on the chair turned quickly and
faced me. / saw that il was q woman,
a badly frightened woman, with her
hands clutching ut her heart. Almost
instantly / recognized her. 1t was not
Barbara Bradford, but her sister
Claire. She was clad in some sort of
dark house gown thrown over her
nightgOwn. Her slippered feet were
bare of stockings, and her hair hung
in great braid down her back.
AS l stared at her she sprang from
the chair and made rush for the
open window. / grabbed for her and
though she fought desperately | man
aged to hold her fast and 20 drag her
away from the window. After mo-
ment's futile resistance she suddenly
collapsed in my arms, moaning in q
tense whisper:
Let me. 90. please let me 60"
l placed her in chair, and still
keeping 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 moaned again.
Not until you tell me what you
were doing in my rooms" l answered
firmly.
81 did not know there was any one
here. l thought the apartment was
vacant. / thought the Gastons were
away"
But why did you Gomez"
81 can't tell thai" she mOaned. 81
can't! i can't"
You must" / repeated. 81 am GO
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 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 yOu?" she asked excited.
ly. How did you know who l was?'
II am friend of your sister,"
| answered. "She will tell YOU who
am. You must trust me. feel have
right to know what yon are doing
here. Won't you tell me?'
A strange look came into her eyes
and she shook her head.
you wouldn't understand. was
trying TO trace the whispers"
''The whispersw l criej excltedly
you have heard them, tJo?"
Often" she said. 81 heard them
tonight. Mother and Barbara were
out TO the theater. They seemed to
come from near the ceiling in my sis
ters room. They seemed to vanish
In the direction of this room.
| thought there was no one here. | de-
cided to creep along the ledge and see
If l could trace them"
"And did you succeed"
| She shook her head.
when | first came i'm this room
could still hear them. They seemed
to be coming from up near the ceiling
/ got up on chair and put my eal
TO the wall to listen. Then they
stopped altogether AMI then-you
came in. May l go now-before my
mother comes homer
"On one condition." 1 answered
that you tell your sister about YOU
having been here"
'Tll tell her if you wish me to-" she
replied, "and now, please may / GO
Could you let me out of your door.
See, | brought key to GU apartment
with me. don't think I dare make
that trip across the ledge tonight"
AS / escorted her to the door, my
mind in a whirl over the events of the
evening, / suddenly remembered how
important it was that should see hel
sister for a long talk before l KEEP
my appointment with German.
TEL your sister," l SAID to Clair,
Bradford as she departed, that ii Il
imperative that she meet nc at lunch
con tomorrow. l have news of the
utmost mportance-news that con
Germs all of us. Tell her TO meet me
at the Astor at one. She must come.
/ arm foil har che ranlioi