The Rice belt journal., 1920-10-09


the safe this second time saw that 1t |
had been looted"
What" exclaimed my great-uncle,
starting from HIS seat, mot the |
pearls "
| nodded.
Everything. The casket with the
pearls was gone. The othel with the
trinkets was undiSturbed."
"GOOd heavenS" he exclaimed. MY
wife's pearls stolen! Why, boy, | paid
a hundred and fifty thousand dollars
for that string. Tell me everything
about it-everything, at once"
| could only repeat what ! had told
him already. When had opened the
safe on Sunday the pearls were there.
When had opened it again on the fol-
lowing Saturday the pearls were gone.
"0f course you told the police at
once"
I explained to him why | had not
done so, and my reason seemed to
satisfy him.
"Go on with your story" he calmly
directed. He seemed to have himself
we'll In hand again. After the first
shock at hearing of the loss OF the
pearls he showed no sign of emotion
or displeasure.
He listened intently as ] told him Of
my second meeting with Barbara
Bradford when had learned that the
Bradford wall safe had been looted,
too, and the papers distracted con-
cerning the annullment of Claire's
first marriage. He nodded his head
slightly when told him Of the anOny-
nous notes found on the floor in
both apartments.
"Did you hear the whispers, too|
he questioned.
"Yes." I answered, II heard them
several times. Barbara has heard
them, and the laundress, too"
A look of unspeakable relief came
over his face.
I'm glad TO know that others have
heard them besides myself. When
man gets old his nerves sometimes
play him strange pranks. The whis-
pers seemed so unreal and incredible
that feared that l was suffering from
| the hallucinations Of old age Now
| that know that the whispers are real,
there is nothing to fear"
"And," l observed, 81 believe, / am
almost positive, / can explain the
origin of the whispers"
Tell me-" he cried, his manner now
entirely changed. He seemed elated
at discovering that his brain was still
dependable. 1t was as If burden had
suddenly been lifted from him.
Here was my opportunity. German
had utterly refused to credit my story
of a secret passage and had ridlculed
it. There had been no way that |
could prove it, nor was 1t possible for
German to have investigated the walls
of the GranddeCk, even If he had
placed any credence in my story. With
nv great-uncle 1t was different. AS
the occupant Of the apartment he
would have every right and oppor-
tunity to explore and verify my state
ments. I told him how, while Specu-
lating as to the origin of the whispers,
had observed the discrepancy in the
measurements of the apartment and
had verified my deduction that there
was space enough for passageway
big enough for man to traverse in
the wall between the room | had oc-
cupied and the long hall. He listened
intently as l described the plan of the
rooms In detail and nodded his ap-
prOval.
"And whar is more" | added tri-
umphantly, Barbara Bradford and
had Just discovered an opening into II
by pushing the wall panel in my room
back and then sliding it along. We
were inspecting 1t when we heard the
shot in the apartment below. | closed
the panel and ran downstairs and have
: had no opportunity since TO investi
:. gate, but / am sure the passage is
there. ] am convinced that it was thu
= sound of voices there that made tht
), whispers | suspect it was used BY
whoever left the anonymous notes il
= the room, aud that the person or per
sons who looted the safes entered ant
: escaped by that means. would no
y. he surprised if II was not by means o
this passageWay that the murderer o
:, Miss Lutan escaped, after he had lef
his revolver in the drawer of m,
y dresser,
u NV great-uncle shook his head per
: plexedly.
II 1T sounds improbable-toU muc
W like romance. They do not bull
II modern apartment buildings with Sc
u cret passageways. Space is far to
valuable, and besides, all plans hay
:! to be filed with the city's bureau G
T, buildings"
"a "But its$lhere," | cried deSperatel!
e. 81 saw it. Barbara Bradford saw it.
le "Well," he coniorted me, I'VE wi
II soon find our about it, ! have man
II matters to attend to today, but tomol
~ row | shall go mp to the apartmen
and if there is such a passageway
lg shall find it and see where 1t leads"
X "Then you are not staying In tn
e, apartment?"
I'd mo, shall remain at hotel unit
,h my wife returns"
lg At this juncture prison attenda1
ty approached and informed him that I'll
IL time of his visit was up. Imperiousl
ed my great-uncle waved the man ava
IS Somehow the possession of gre;
IN wealth carries with ii a manner of q,