Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1920-03-05

| EdNDtu
Last night heard footsteps and
whispers. thought at the time l
was dreaming. This morning ! found
this note on the floor"
"You heard whispers" she cried ex-
citedly. whispers that seemed to
come from up near the ceilIng?"
81 thought heard them. wasn't
sure"
81 know. she said, shuddering.
1--WE heard them-twice"
We looked at each other despairing-
! ly. 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 blacimail.
But what was the motive In my own
casef Why had someone stolen the
Gaston pearls and then In an anony-
nous letter to me spoken Of the theftf
| wondered, too, If the successful at
tempt TO discredit me at my place OF
business had not originated from the
same mysterious source.
Vas my great-uncle Rufus to blame?
Inc suspicion Of him rose in my
mind and would not he dOwned. ! re-
called the unusual pretext on which
he had sent for me after having paid
no attention TO my existence for near
ly year. | recalled his curious warn
ing and that of his aged wife. l re-
membered that they had insisted on
leaving the Jewels behind against my
urgngs. and that they had been In
sistent on my having the combination
Of the safe Could ii be possible that
they also had some gr,idge against the
BradfOrals, their neighbOrs, and In
some way had got hold of Claire Brad
forfs secret?
II think you said" l asked Miss
Bradford, that your family and the
Gastons were not acquainted in any
way"
No" she replied. I'VE don't know
them at all. Why do you ask that?"
IL was wondering IL It could be pos
sble that my great-uncle Rufus could
have had any hand in all this. He's
a queer, secretive old chap"
It's probable that he and my father
might have known each other. Both
were in business here in the city for
many years. never remember,
though, of hearing Dad speak Of him
wa t, yes, did once"
when was that?"
1t must have been six or eight
years ago. There was something in
the papers about Mr.. CASTOR retiring
from business"
what was il he said?" asked
eagerly. wondering II some old feud
between the two men might not give
us clue to unravel the web of mys-
terry ~.
"As nearly as can recall his words
were, Il see that old pirate CASTOR has
retired with his ill-gotten gains
ITO whom was he talking2"
IL don't remember that, probably
some man who was visiting at the
house. Dad always used to have a
lot of men about"
did he say anything else?"
That's all remember, but don't
think the Gastons could have anything
to do with II. This threatening my
sister is more the sort Of thing dis
charged servant would do"
"Yes," admitted, but find the dis
charged servant. Yours have been
with you for years"
"Oh, what are we going TO do?" she
cried i'm desperation. IF / don't get
those papers back, well all be ruined.
They'll give them to my sisters fiance.
Her engagement will be broken. My
mother will die Of disgrace and
shame"
Don't be discouraged" l 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 II to
me-"
In spite of my reassuring words, dis
tress was still written on her counte-
nance. AS I debated how best to COM
| IOTt neT, she siduNcu Ut hci WIiSt
watch and exclaimed:
II must be going. They'll be alarm
ed about me II stay longer"
"When am | to see you AGAIN.
81 don't know. That's hard to ar
range. My sister and l are so much
together"
Cant telephone you"
mo, that wouldn't do at all. Moth
er and Claire would both want to know
all about 1t and besides"
Besides whatT
81 don't trust that girl at the switch
board think she listens to every
thing that Is said"
"They are a prying lot" admitted.
Including Mr.. Wick. the superintend-
ent."
NJ don't like him bit"
"Nor I, but we must communicate
with each other somehow. II you find
out anything more you must let me
know at once. II learn anything
I'll let you know, and I'm going to dis
cover lot"
/