Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-09-23
cHAPTEI vIlI-continusd.

where his rom is. He's only been
here I'm the Ganddeck a few days.
don't know mich about him.
And that's all you know about itT'
said the detective. turning TO me again.
I besltatet Should or should l
NOT tell then of the wall safe that l
had seen Mr. Wick closing? There was
no way | could prove it. Undoubtedly
Wick would deny having done so. IL
would be his word against mine. AS
s,lperintenlent his word would I'M
doubleday carry. decided II woulu
be best tc withhold my Information 10
a more p-opitious time.
"That's all know, except what MI
Wick has told you" ] said.
every we'll" said the detective IN
charge. You can go now ana you'
too. Doctor"
Mr. Wick was escorting the doctor
TO the door. The detectives had WIN
drawn to the room where the BODY lay
and were holding a whispered confer
ence. l stepped quickly to the wall
safe and making sure that l was I'M
observed tested the knob. 1t was Sc
curelv fastened. l congratulated my
self on having said nothing about it.
Wick, / felt certain, would deny nav
ing shut it, and there was no PROOF
that It had been opened when we had
entered.
As I returned to my own apartment
upstairs. nearing the top of the short
flight of steps between the floors l
was astounded to see female hgure
fitting across the hall and entering
tbe Bradford apartment. Though had
opportunity for only brief glimpse
I recognized her at once. 1t was Claire
Bradford.
The door of my apartment was
standing wide open. l remembered that
rs | had run downstairs a few mo-
ments ago, ! had neglected to close
II after me. From the direction In
which she had come. it was plain that
Claire Bradford had been paying an
other surreptltious visit to my quar-
tiers. What could have been her pur-
nose? There must have been some
strong impeIling motive to make her
dare the perilous journey along the
window ledge, and now, at the i'm
Hninent risk of discovery, to pay me
a second visit. / began seriously to
doubt whether the explanation she
had offered me was the true one. was
beginning to feel that there was more
than possibility that she was again
IN the clutches of the INSCRIPTIONS
rascal who had once been her hus-
band.
Greatly puzzled, made hasty sur
vey of the apartment, but could IND
nothing that appeared to have been
disturbed Going back to my own room
/ FASTENED to place handkerchief out
of my window as signal to Barbara,
for | knew she would be anxious to
know the meaning Of the sounds we
had heard below. In a very few mo-
ments | heard the tap of her riding
crop on my sill and hurried to answer.
"What was it?" she asked in an
excited whisper
"Daisy Lutan, an actress, who lived
on the floor below, has been murdered
shot"
"Who did it?"
'T don't know. Mr.. Wick and went
into the apartment together. There was
no one there"
"How terribIe!" she exclaimed.
at is, indeed" l answered, "but it
may help US"
'What do you mean"
"With the police in the house max
ing Investigations, there'll be no more
threats from the blackmailers for
while. They won't dare bother you
for the present"
"Do you really think SOP" she ques-
toned with little sigh of relief.
."I'm sure Of It,"
"Have the police been called in?"
ayes; two detectives are downstairs
now"
"I'm glad" she said. "With the de-
tectives here, they won't dare modest
us. win they?"
"Of course not" answered. us
your sister at homer
yes" she answered. "Our guests
have Just gone. Mother has retired,
and Claire Is in the living room writ
ing a note. They heard nothing, so |
did not tell them anything about It,"
"That was wise. They'll hear 1t soon
enough. Has your sister been In the
apartment all eveningT
"She hasn't been out all day unless
she went out just to drop the letter
she was writing down the mail chute
in the hall. Why do you ask2"
81 was merely wondering II there
was any way she could learn of the
murder"
GLOW could she7 Isn't that too ter
rihle about Miss Lutan? But mustn't
talk any longer. Good night"
"wait a moment" | cried. There
arc some things must discuss with
YOU before meet German. How about
meeting me at the Aston at eleven2''
~ can't promise. but I'll try Good
night :"
There was nothing further that