Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-07-22
The House of
Whispers


possible that there could De any III
explicable mystery about home In
modern, up-to-date apartment mouse
in the center of a civilized city. And
if there was a mystery, why did they
| stay there? Why didn't they mover
Yet as l pondered over the matter
l was convinced that both my great
uncle and his wife were rational. l
| dismissed without hesitation the the
ory that there could have been any
supernatural happenings to alright
them. 1t was probable, decided, that
their fears might have been played on
| by some conspiracy on the part OF
! their servants to induce them to spenu
| a season In Maine. Perhaps there
| was some specter from my great
uncle's past now rising to confront
him that he was seeking to hide from
his wife. 1t might be that she knew
of it or had received threats and was
trying to conceal the matter from hlm'
! There are few men of millions WITH
out some secret shameful pages In
| their lives. AS l remembered that
old Rufus Gaston's dollars had been
made in South America, all that had
heard and read of plots and counter
plots below the equator came buzzlng
into my brain. If such should be the
case. that some betrayed conspirator
now was seeking vengeance, more
than ever l welcomed the unexpected
chance that had thrown this oppor-
tunity for adventure In my prosaic
path.
Yet maybe their warnings were JUS
tilted. There was Barbara Bradford
who lived under the same roof, on the
very floor with them. She seemed TO
be caught In the web of some plot, to
he living in fear of some mysterious
peril.
Was she, I wondered, in any way
connected with the mystery that over
hung the CASTOR home? Did my great
uncle and his wife know herr Her
mission to the park had been to get
some papers. Could they have been
in any way involved with what was
menaclng my greatuncle's peace OF
mind? How I regretted now that /
had not asked the Gastons If they
knew Miss Bradford. How welcom-
ed the opportunity was now to have
of living in the same apartment house
| with her close at hand If ever could
serve her. i was glad now that cir
cumstanees had prevented my going
to France with Birge ard Roller.
! AS arrived at my greaT-uncle's cor
i ner, / saw Miss Bradford approaching
from the opposite direction. She was
in riding togs. l timed my steps to
reach the corner as she did. Would
she, | wondered, consider our strange
meeting a few evenings before sutf1-
cient introduction to justify her speak
ing to me.
| Good morning, Mr. Nelson" she
greeted me pleasantly. Making an
early call, aren't your
I'm coming here to live for WHILE"
I answered, falling into step with her.
"The Gastons are going to Maine and
have asked me to occupy their apart
ment while they are away"
AS we chatted we had entered the
building, and as before / went into
the elevator with her. AS I left her
at the door, wondering II she had had
any more encounters in the park, yet
hardly daring to ask, she turned to
me, half alphabetically and said:
"Mr. Nelson, since you've come to
live here in the house, must be care
inf
and my people will think 1t strange
If they see me speaking to you. You
understand, don't you? You must not
speak to me or recognize me until"
"Until what?" l cried eagerly.
"UJntil we can manage to be proper
ly introduced"
| "Yet," L insisted, "you promised to
let me help you"
81 have not forgotten. I'm grateful,
4 really l am. Perhaps l may call on
your services. 1 may have to. II l
do I'll find some way Of letting you
know"
"Some secret way" suggested, half
sarcastically.
Perhaps" she laughingly nodded as
we separated.
AS l took out the keys my great
uncle had given me and entered the
apartment, / looked about me with a
wholly new interest. That little word
"mine" makes a vast difference In the
way we regard things. Now that
these luxurious quarters were to be
my home, temporarily at least, / look
ed about curiously. Certainly at first
glance there was nothing mysterious
In the atmosphere. Setting my bag
down l began an immediate inspecT
ton of the rooms.
The CASTOR apartment, I discovered,
occupied one whole side of the sixth
floor Of twelve-story building.
Around the elevator shaft that came
up through the center was a small
square court with four doors, two
opening into the Bradford apartment
opposite and two into the one was
occupying. The east apartments were
known as Six A and the west as Six b.
The door by which l had entered led
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