Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-08-12

I We looked at each other despairing-
/ ". We both of US realized that we
| must be surrounded with some potent
evil forces working TO accomplish our
ruin. The motive in the anonymous
letters that Miss Bradford had been
receiving had plainly been blackmail.
| But what was the motive in my own
| case? Why had someone stolen the
CASTOR pearls and then in an anony-
nous letter to me spoken of the theft?
l wondered, too, if the successful at
tempt to discredit me at my place OF
business had not originated from the
same mysterious source.
Was my great-uncle Rufus to blameF
The suspicion of him rose in my
mind and would not be downed. l re-
called the unusual pretext on which
he had sent for me after having pald
no attention to my existence for near
ly a year recalled his curious warn
ing and that of his aged wife. re-
membered that they had insisted on
leaving the Jewels behind against my
urgings, and that they had been in
sistent on my having the combination
of the safe Could it be possible thar
they also had some grudge against the
Bradfords, their neighbors, and in
some way had got hold of Claire Brad
ford's secret?
81 think you said" I asked Miss
Bradford, that your family and the
Gastons were not acquainted in any
way"
NO" she replied, 1--WE don't know
them at all. Why do you ask that?'
II was wondering if it could be pos
sble that my great-uncle Rufus could
have had any hand in all this. He's
a queer, secretiye old chap"
Its probable that he and my father
might have known each other. Both
were in business here in the city for
many years. 1 never remember,
though, of hearing Dad speak of him
wait, yes, 1 did once"
"When was that?"
ut must have been six or eight
years ago. There was something in
the papers about Mr.. CASTOR retiring
from business"
what was 1t he said?' I asked
eagerly, wondering if some old feud
between the two men might not give
US a clue to unrayel the web of pyRa
terry. a. {
"As nearly as 1 can recall hi# I'd
were, L see that old pirate GastoIFc@B
Re, L.,
ITO whom was he talking?"
81 don't remember that, probably
some man who was visiting at the
house. Dad always used to have
lot of men about"
did he say anything else?"
That's all remember, but I don't
think the Gastons could have anything
to do with it. This threatening my
sister is more the sort Of thing a dis
charged servant would do"
YES" l admitted, "but find the dis
charged servant. Yours have been
with you for years"
"Oh, what are we going to do!" she
cried in desperation. IF l don't get
those papers back, we'll all be ruined.
They'll give them to my sisters tiance.
Her engagement will be broken. My
mother will die of disgrace and
shame"
Don't be discouraged" I cried, try
ing to inspire in her confidence was
far from feeling myself This is only
Sunday. We have until Wednesday
evening. I'll find some way Of trap
ping those rascals and making them
surrender those papers. Leave it to
me-"
In spite of my reassuring words, dis
tress was still written on her counts
nance. AS debated how best to con-
fort her, she glanced at her wrist
watch and exclaimed:
II must be going. They'll be alarm
ed about me if l stay longer"
"When am l to see you againY
81 don't know. That's hard to ar
range. My sister and I are so much
together"
Cant I telephone you"
"No, that wouldn't do at all. Moth
all about it and besides"
Besides what?"
~ don't trust that girl at the switch
board. l think she listens to every
thing that is said"
"They are a prying lot" admitted,
"including Mr.. Wick, the superintend-
ent."
81 don't like him bit"
"Nor l, but we must communicate
with each other somehow. If you find
out anything more you must let me
know at once. If / learn anything,
I'll let you know, and I'm going to dis
cover lot"
"There's always our windows" she
suggested, they are close together.
can signal you when I'm alone, and
we can talk"