The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-09-18
CHAPTER Vlll-Continued.

81 guess So" said Wick. That's
here his room is. He's only been
pre in tie Granddeck a few days. I
INIT know much about him."
"And that's all you know about it?"
ID the detective, turning to me again.
hesltated. Should / or should /
\ tell them Of the wall safe that l
"A seen Mr. Wick closing? There was
way ! could prove it. Undoubtedly
Ick would deny having done so. 1t
mild he his word against mine, AS
neriptendent his word would I'M
nbtedly carry. l decided it would
hest to withhold my information to
more propitious time.
pThat's all / know. except what Mr..
HEX has told YOU" said.
"yery we'll" said the detective in
barge You can 90 now, and you,
b. Doctor"
Mr. Wick was CScOrting the doctor
tbp door. The detectives had with
rayn To the room where the body lay
hi we're holding a whispered confer
nee. stepped quickly to the wall
,fe and making sure that ! was nm
hsprypd. tested the knob. 1t was Sc
urpIy fastened. | congratulated my
plf on having said nothing about it.
Elrk I felt certain, would deny hav-
10 shut it, and there was no proof
bat If had been opened when we had
ntered,
As I returned to my own apartment
pstairs, nearing the top Of the short
lebt of steps between the floors l
rs aStounded to see a female figure
ittng across the hall and entering
he Bradford apartment. Though had
DpOrtunity for only a brief glimpse,
recognized her at once. 1t was Claire
radfOrd.
The door of my apartment was
landing wide open. | remembered that
| had run downstairs a few mo-
tents ago. l had neglected to close
after me. From the direction in
hich she had come, it was plain that
airp Bradford had been paying an
her SuTeptitiOus visit. to my quar-
prS. What could have been her pur-
Ose? There must have been some
rOng impeIlng motive to make her
are the perilOus journey along the
lndOw ledge, and now, at the i'm
linent risk Of discovery, to pay me
second visit. ! began Seriously to
Oubt whether the explanation she
ad offered me was the true one. | was
egnning to feel that there was more
ban a possibility that she was again
the clutches Of the INSCRIPTIONS
ascal who had once been her hus-
and.
Greatly puzzled, ! made haSty sur
ey Of the apartment, but could find
Othlng that appeared to have been
lsturbed. Going back to my own room
fastened to place q handkerchief out
my window as signal to Barbara.
pr knew she would be anxious to
now the meaning Of the sounds we
ad heard below. In a very few mo-
ents | heard the tap of her riding
pop on my sill and hurried to answer.
what was lt?" she asked in an
xcited whisper.
Daisy Lutan, an actress, who lived
the floor below, has been murdered
shot"
who did itT
y don't know. Mr.. Wick and went
lto the apartment together. There was
one there"
~HOw terrlblem she exclaimed.
II is, indeed" l answered, "but it
pay help u.s."
What do you mean?'
With the police in,the house MAX
9 Investigations there1l be no more
rpats from the bIackmailers for a
nue. They won't dare bother yOu
pr the present"
DO you really think SOP she ques-
cned with little sigh of relief.
I'm sure of it,"
have the police been called in?"
Yes; two detectives are downstairs
Ow.8
I'm clad" she said. with the de,
Pc'lFeS here, they won't dare modest
will theyT"
VI course not" / answered. as
Our sister at homer"
les" she answered. Our guests
I'VE Just gone, Mother has retired.
" tlaire Is IN the living room writ.
note They heard nothing, so I
J noI tell them anything about IT,"
inal was wise. They'll hear It soon
oush Has your sister been In the
aftlaent all EVENING""
she hasn't been out all day unless
went out Just to drop the letter
was writing down the mail chute
me hall. Why do you ask?"
was merely wondering if there
any way she could learn of the
4, ao% could she? Isn't that too ter
4. ~ a0ont Miss Lutan? But mustn't
\ any longer Good night
"alt moment" cried "Tbere
nome things ] must discuss with
y before ! meet German. How about
4 g'ng me at the Astor at elevenY'
j. cant s. promise, but I'll try. Good
MA ss was nothing further that |
\ - = 70 and l felt sadly in need of
+ IiaroWlng off my coat and waist.
4 = ! began making preparations for
~. ahe notion took me to once more
solsate the secret passagewsv I