The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-08-27
The House of
Whispers

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possible that there could be any in
explicable mystery about a home in a
modern, up-to-date apartment house
in the center Of a civilized city. And
II there was a mystery, why did they
stay there? Why didn't they move?
Yet, as / pondered over the matter,
I was convinced that both my great
uncle and his wife were rational. 1
dismissed without hesitation the the
DRY that there could have been any
supernatural happenings to alright
them. It was probable, ! ( decided. that
their fears might have been played on
by some conspiracy on the part OF
their servants to induce them to spend
a season in Maine. Perhaps there
was some specter from my great
uncle's past now rising to confront
him that he was seeking to hide from
his wife. 1t might be that she knew
of 1t or had received threats and was
trying to conceal the matter from him.
There are few men Of millions with
out some secret shameful pages in
their lives. As l remembered that
old Rufus Gaston's dollars had been
made in South America, all that l had
heard and read of plots and counter
plots below the equator came buzzing
into my brain. If such should be the
case, that some betrayed conspirator
now was seeking vengeance, more
than ever I welcomed the unexpected
chance that had thrown this oppor-
tunity for adventure in my prosaic
path.
Yet maybe their warnings were jus
titled. There was Barbara Bradford,
who lived under the same roof. o the
very floor with them. She seemed to
be caught In the web of some plot. to
be living in fear Of some mysterious
peril. '
Was she, I wondered. In any way
connected with the mystery that over
hung the CASTOR home! Did my great
uncle and his wife know her? Her
mission to the park had been to get
some papers. Could they have been
in any way involved with. what was
menacing my great-uncle's peace of
mind? How ] regretted now that l
had not asked the Gastons If they
knew Miss Bradford. How l welcom-
ed the opportunity l was now to have
Of living in the same apartment house
with her, close at hand If ever I could
serve her. / was glad now that ctr
cumstances had prevented my going
to France with Birge and Roller.
AS l arrived at my great-uncle's cor
ner, l saw Miss Bradford approaching
from the opposite direction. She was
In riding toys. I timed my steps to
reach the corner as sh0 did. Would
she, l wondered, consider our strange
meeting a few evenings before sufi-
cient introduction to justify her speak
ing to me.
"Good morning. Mr.. Nelson" she
greeted me pleasantly. Making an
early call, aren't your"
I'm coming here to live for a while."
l answered, falling into step with her.
1.-The Gastons are going to Maine and
have asked me to occupy their 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 l left her
at the door. wondering il she had had
any more encounters In the park. yet
hardly daring to ask. she turned to
me, half alphabetically. and said:
"Mr. Nelson, since you've come to
live here In the house, I must be care
full. We have not been introduced,
and my people will think 1t 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?" I cried eagerly.
until we can manage to be proper
~ introduced"
"Yet," l insisted, "you promised to
let me help you"
Il have not forgotten. TIM grateful.
really ! am. Perhaps I may call on
your services. / may have to. II I
do. I'll find ONE way Of letting you
know"
"Some secret way" l suggested, half
sarcastically.
Perhaps" she ~laughingly nodded 40
we separated.
As l took out the keys my great
uncle had given me and entered the
apartment, ! looked about me with q
wholly new interest. That little word
mine" makes a vast difference in the
way we regard things. Now that
these luxurious quarters were to be
my home. temporarily at least. I look
ed about curiously. Certainly at first
glance there was nothing mysterious
in the atmosphere. Setting my bag
down ! began an immediate inspec-
ton Of the rooms.
The CASTOR apartment. I discovered,
occupied one whole side Of the sixth
Moor Of q t~welve-story building.
Around the elevator shaft that came
up through the center was Z small
! square court with four doors, two
opening into the Bradford apartment