The Jasper news., 1920-08-04

out Of her possession.
Third, would insert an adVertiSe-
meht offering a reward for the return
OF the jewels, so worded that only the
thief and myself would understand.
Fourth, l would try to locate the
Gastons and would question the hall
boys and telephone girl as to whether
they had surreptltiously returned.
Fifth, must try and discover what
was In the mysterious letter that had
led to my discharge. While this did
not seem to have any connection with
the other affairs that were troubling
me, II l was to remain In New York
and become better acquainted with
Barbara Bradford, as fondly hoped,
l meant to have nothing hanging over
me.
/ was about to get into bed, had
turned out the light, in fact, when 1
recalled the errand that had led meNto
open the wall safe. Il had more than
two hundred dollars In my trousers
pocket and l purposed putting II
where It would be safe. With the
feeling that II the jewels had disap-
peared, so might my money. pressed
the light button in the sitting room
and looked about for hiding place.
Recalling custom Of my mothers, 1
stepped over to the bookcase and TAX
ing a Macaulay's History, Volume
Three, from the shelf, placed between
the leaves all Of my money except
fifteen dollars. No burglar was likely
to find 1t there.
extlnguished the light and in the
darkness stepped back into my bed
room, and stopped stock still.
From somewhere In the room there
came three distinct taps, Instructive
ly / crouched in an attitude of self
defense and strained my ears to listen.
Ny first impression was that there
was someone In the room, probably
the burglar. hesitated about turn
ing llon the light. II he were armed
II would give him all the advantage.
Breathlessly listened. Once more
there came three distinct raps. this
time apparently from somewhere OUT
side the room. l wondered II 1t bad
been sounds like these that had so ter
rified the old couple.
Perhaps II was the echo Of someone
pounding in another apartment. the
noise being carried along by a water
pipe. The thought that II might be
the cracking of some hidden steam or
refrigerating pipe suggested itself.
Both these theories / rejected. The
sound, whatever 1t was. had originated
close at hand.
II came again. This time was GER
tain that 1t was not due to footballs
as had at first conjectured. was
able, too, to locate more closely the
direction from which It came. The
window at the foot of the bed stood
open, and the sound seemed to float
In from somewhere outside. hurried
over to the window and thrust my
head out. At first I could see moth
Ing, but even as I looked a white arm
thrust forth from an adjacent window
on the same floor. It held q riding
crop and reaching out as far as was
possible 1t raped three times on the
sill Of my window.
window next must belong to the Brad
ford apartment. 1t must be Miss
Bradford trying to signal to me.
Hello" I called out softly.
"Oh, Is that you, Mr.. Nelsonf' a re-
lleyed voice whispered. II thought
you would never hear. 1 must see
you"
0VVhv dtdnt& vov, ,,hnra x.osn
Il couldn't, Someone might hear
me-"
"What's the matterr'
~Ive had another letter"
"From those men In the parkr
II suppose So"
"Tell me about II"
II can't now. Can you meet me
somewhere tomorrow
wherever you say"
'Do you rider"
'Yes, indeed"
I'll be in the cross lane that leads
from McGowan's Pass tavern between
eight and eight-thIrty."
~Pll bo there"
Whether or not she heard me did
not know. She withdrew quickly
from the room as II someone had en-
tered. waited there in the window
for full hour in case she should wish
to communicate with me again.
BY and by the light In her window
was extinguIshed, but even then sat
there at the window adjoining. hoping
in vain that she would seek to renew
the conversation.
When at last got into bed was