Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1920-02-27


trying to recall the relationship.
"Mr. Gaston's great-nephew."
81 guess you are him, all right" he
said, in a manner Of evident relief.
I'm Mr.. Wick, the superintendent Of
the house."
"Of course" answered, feeling
rather foolish at my own veXation.
"Mr. CASTOR told me you were COM
ing in this morning" he fastened to
explain.
"He gave me a description of you"
Mr.. Wick went on, unperturbed, land
the boys in the hall were pretty sure
it was you that came in, but"
"But what?"
81 couldn't understand 1t. You didn't
announce yourself. 1t seemed funny,
your coming in with the young lady
from next door"
at just happened that way" ex-
planned, now understanding his mysti-
fication. II met her as l was COM
ing in"
"Twice," he said. rather insolently.
81 can't see that It is any of your
business" l retorted angrily. "if it
happened a dozen times"
His manner at once became apollo
getic, and he FASTENED to offer OBJ
sequious explanations.
"Mr. CASTOR asked me to take par
ticular notice. The other evening
when you were coming to dinner he
told me to tell the hall boys to lool,
at you closely so that they could iden
tify you as the right party when you
came In today. That was how II hap
pened. You see, sir, In house of
this sort we have to be careful. It
doesn't do to let strangers prowl about
without finding out who they are and
what they are doing"
quite a proper precaution," l ad-
mitted.
"The elevator boy reported your ar
rival" he continued, "but he wasn't
quite sure it was you. The fact that
you were chatting with the young
lady bothered him. and me. too. Mr.
CASTOR told me you were a stranger
In the city, and l didn't expect to find
you knowing one of the Bradfords."
1t was on the tip Of my tongue to
say, "Well, you see l do know her."
when recalled her request that
would not recognize her until we had
been introduced In some fashion.
contented myself with saying merely /:
"Well. hope you are satisfied now"
"Of course, Mr.. Nelson, of course"
he answered, though his looks belied
his words. Manifestly he was still
puzzled over my acquaintance with
Miss Bradford.
II hope you will find 1t comfortable
here" he said, plainly trying to con-
tinue the conversation. IF there's
ever anything the matter, just call me
on the house phone; Mr.. Wick, the
name is"
81 WILL" / said, and he unwillingly
withdrew.
. "If there's ever anything the mat
ter Was there something
sinister in the superintendent part
ing remark? Once more the warn
ings of my relatives flashed into my
mind. What was wrong in the house?
Why did he anticipate that might be
calling him up? Why did he exhibit
such an interest In me and In my
acquaintance with the girl across the
hall? Somehow the mans whole as
pect had impressed me unfavorably.
l carried my bag back TO my bed
room and unpacked it. The various
attachments I'm the bath looked SO in
viting that I stripped and amused my
self for half an hour testing the va
rIrty OF showers and sprays provided.
Downing my bathrobe / 1eisurely
smoked an excellent cigar from box
old Rufus had thoughtfully-or per-
haps thoughtlessly-lef open on his
desk, and then returned to the iDspec-
ton of my new quarters.
AS 1t was Sunday, ! had whole
day OF leisure before me, and | felt
that IL I was to clear up the mystery
that had driven the old couple out, II
was incumbent on me to make MI
mute study Of my surroundings. Only
in the little rear sitting room was
there any atmosphere OF hominess. All
the rest of the place was done in the
best department store style. even to
the richly bound sets of standard an
thors which lined the walls OF the iiv-
ing room, most of which l found had
their pages uncut.
My search Of the place-and II was
thorough, extending even to the empty
canisters In the pantry and kitchen
revealed nothing whatever that gave
any hint as to the cause or explana-
ton of old Rufus fears. The place
seemed the least likely of all places
in the world to hide any mystery, just
a great, modern. luxurious apartment,
equipped with every possible device for
the comfort and convenience of its &C.
cupants. 1t would have to be an up