The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-04-16
CHAPTER li--contlnued.

"Qulte q proper precautlon," I adj
mItted.
eThe elevator boy reported your ar
rival" he continued. ''but he wasn't
quite sure II was you. The fact that
you were chatting with the young
lady bothered him, and me, too. Mr..
CASTOR told me you were, stranger
III the city, and l didn't expect to find
you knowing one Of the Bradfords."
II was on the tip OF my tongue to
say. sweil. you see | do know her."
when recalled her request that
would not recognize her until we had
been introduced In some fashion, /
eontented myself with saying merely:
-Weil, 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.
Il hope you viii find II comfortable
here" he said, plainly trying to con.
tlnue the conversation. ''If there's
ever anything the matter, just call me
on the house phone; MFR. Wick, the
name IS"
Il VIII | said, and he unwllllngly
withdrew.
M there's ever anything the mat
ter Was there something
sinister In the superintendent part
ing remark2 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 upf Why did he exhibit
such an interest In me and In my
acquaintance with the girl across the
ball? Somehow the mans whole as
pect had impressed me nnfsyorably,
carried my bag back to my bed
room and unpacked It. The various
attachments In the bath looked so In,
wiling that l stripped and amused my.
self for half an hour testing the va.
riety Of showers and sprays provided
Downing my bathrobe leisurely
smoked an excellent cigar from box
old Rufus had thoughtfully--or per
haps thoughtlessly--left open on his
desk, and then returned to the inspcc
ton OF my new quarters
As II was Sunday, ! had whole
day Of leisure before me. and fel
that IL was 10 clear up the myster!
that had driven the old couple out, /
was incumbent on me 10 make mi
mute study Of my surroundings. onl,
In the little rear sitting room wa
there any atmosphere OF nominees. Al
the rest Of the place was done in tn
best department store style. even /
the richly bound sets Of standard au
thors which lined the walls of the liz
ing room, most OF which found ha
their pages uncut.
My search Of the place--and Il wa
thorough, extending even to the empt
eanlsters In the pantry and Kitchen
revealed nothing whatever that CAV
any hint as to the cause or explains
tlon OF old Rufus fears. The plac
seemed the least likely OF all place
in the world TO hide any mystery, Jus
4 great. modern. luxurious apartment
equipped with every possible device Il
the comfort and convenience of It's o.
eupants. Ii would have 10 be an III
to-date ghost to find itself at hon
here.
But waltz Perhaps the safe he
some clue to the problem they wants
me 10 solve. But where was the saf,
i had not noticed II anywhere in N
repeated journeys through the room
1 made another tour looking for
More than likely II had been locat,
In some inconspicuous place purposel
But wheref AT last located 1t. b
hind faded crayon portrait Of Nj
CASTOR, In the little sitting room.
/ lifted the picture TO the floor al
stood hesitant before the safe. Shou
x or should ! not, open lit The ia
mat they had given me the combln
tlon seemed to imply that / had
perfect right to inspect its contents.
sSix to the right, four to the lie
swo to the right, eight to the left"
AS turned the knob repeated I
combination to myself. There was
little click. and the steel door cal
open. Reaching In ! drew forth I
e,d.fashinned Jewel cases Of ieath
both see1relv licked. / took from