The Little River news., 1920-03-17
Nlustrations
 by IrwinMyei;s

noises Tn the apartment. l nad StlIl a third theory.
 Suppose a band of criminals was located in the apartment house on the floor above the Bradfords and me?
 Access to either apartment would not be difficult By short rore lad ders they could easily reach either set of rooms. They would be so located that there would be little difficulty for them to devise mysterious sounds for terrifying the people in the apart ments below. I recalled that in ev cry case the voices and the footsteps seemed to come from somewhere up near the ceiling. Of course it seemed prepOSterOuS that criminal band would find lodging in q luxurious apartment house like this. yet, why not? Tenants in these buildings knew little about each other and cared less. There was no exchange of neishboriy visits. Once having gained access to such a building by forged references, so long as they paid their rent prompt ly. no one in the building would both
  of the other tenants.
 This last theory seemed the most plausible. Besides 1t was the easiest to work on. It ought not to be diffi- cult to ascertain who lived in the two apartments above. Undoubtedly my best source of information would be Nellie Kelly, the telephone operator. Perhaps, too, she might be able to in- form me of my great-uncle's where abouts. More than likely he had left forwarding address for his mail with her.
 With a letter I had written to my mother, 1 descended to the main floor and began conversation with Miss Kelly by asking where was the near est place that I could buy stamps. As we chatted I began complaining how lonely it was in the apartment and wound up by inviting her to dine with me that evening.
 had anticipated a ready acceptance of my invitation and was amazed to find it firmly refused. In a much con-
 
 reasons, or rather preteXts. She did not go out with the people of the house. Her mother would not like it. She did not know me well enough. Mir. Wick would discharge her if he heard about it.
 From an unexpected source, though none the less unwelcome, I found an ally. Mir. Wick himself bobbed up from somewhere, apparently having overheard enough of our conversation to .know what it was abut.
 "Why, of course, MT. Nelson," he began in an ingratiating manner that was most repellent to me, Miss Kellyll be glad to go to dinner with you. It's part of her business to make things pleasant for the tenants"
 It seemed to me that the girls eyes flashed defiance at him and that she was still inclined to refuse, and was about to explain resentfully that my invitation was not issued on a bus- ness basis, when into Wick's face came an ugly look, something almost threatening.
 "Of course Miss Kelly will be glad to go with you" he repeated sharply.
 Certainly said the girl quickly, before I had a chance to speak, Eff MT. Wick thinks 1t is all right, l will be glad to go"
 Her acceptance did not ring true. I was convinced that it was unwilling ly given under some sort of com pulsion from the odiOus Wick.
 I met her, at her suggestion, in the parlor of one of the less pretentiOus hotels. In the hour that had elapsed since she left the apartment, she had exchanged her neat black working suit for more modish clothes. After one quick glance at her transformed appearance my mind was quickly made up as to what sort of restau- rant to take her. It was manifest that she was of the type that would enjoy to the utmost the costly whirl of the 1 fashionable cafe of the moment. IL was my purpose to give her such a delightful evening that she would be wishing to spend others Tn the saihe way, for felt certain that she, per | haps better than anyone else, could supply me the information l wanted about the tenants in the building. was sure it would be well worth my while to win her good graces. cost what it may. Calling taxi, l bade | the chauffeur take us to the White Room," the very latest fashion in res | taurants where hordes of hectic pur- suers of pleasure were wont to assem- | ble to dine and dance. I observed the l gleam of satisfaction that came into | her eyes as she heard me mention our 1 destination.
 l At first we talked, in Broadway fashion, of the theaters and restau- rants of the place we were in, of the ! people at the tables about us, but | gradually I led the conversation to 1 Miss Kelly herself and to her work | in the apartment.
 ! Tt was funny, wasn't it." l said about Mir Wick insisting on your coming wit, he? 1 had notion he