The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-03-27
CHAPTER II.-Continued.


mitted.
The elevator boy reported your ar
rival" he continued. but he wasn't
quite sure it was you. The fact that
You were chatting with the young
lady bothered him, and me, too. Mr..
Castor told me you were a stranger
in the city. and l didn't expect to find
you knowing one of the BradfordS.'
1t was on the tip Of my tongue TO
say, We'll, you see | do know her"
when | recalled her request that
would not recognize her until we had
been introduced in some fashion. |
cOntented myself with saying merely ::
well, 1 hope you are satisfied now"
"Of course, Mr.. Nelson, of course"
he answered, though his looks belied
his words. Manifestly he was still
puzzled over my acquaintance with
Miss Bradford.
u hope you will find it comfortable
here" he said, plainly trying 10 con-
tinue the conversation. IF there's
ever anything the matter. just call me
on the house phone; Mr.. Wick, the
name is"
Il WILL" l said, and he Cnwillingly
withdrew.
IF there's ever anything the mar.
ter Was there something
sinister in the superintendent part
ing remark? Once more the warn
ings of my relatives flashed into my
mind. What was wrong in the house?
Why did he anticipate that / might be
calling him up? Why did he exhibit
such an interest in me and in my
acquaintance with the girl across the
hall? Somehow the mans whole as
pect had impressed me unfavorably.
l carried my bag back to my bed
room and unpacked it. The various
attachments in the bath looked so in
viting that | stripped and amused my
self for half an hour testing the va
riety of showers and sprays provided.
Downing my bathrobe | leisurely
smoked an excellent cigar from box
old Rufus had thoughtfully-or per-
haps thoughtlessly-left open on his
desk, and then returned to the inspec-
ton of my new quarters.
As II was Sunday, / had whole
day of leisure before me, and l felt
that if / was to clear up the mystery
that had driven the old couple out, il
was incumbent on me to make mi
mute study of my surroundings. Only
in the little rear sitting room was
there any atmosphere of nominees. All
The rest of the place was done in the
best department store style, even 10
he richly bound sets of standard au-
thors which lined the walls of the liv-
ing room, most of which l found had
their pages uncut.
My search of the place-and ii was
thorough, extending even to the empty
Oanisters in the pantry and kitchen
revealed nothing whatever that gave
any hint as to the cadse or explana-
ton of old Rufus fears. The place
seemed the least likely of all places
in the world TO hide any mystery, just
a great. modern. luxurious apartment
equipped with every possible device for
the comfort and convenience OF Its oc-
cupants. II would have to be an up
to-date ghost to find itself at home
here.
But watt Perhaps the safe held
some clue to the problem they wanted
me to solve. But where was the safel
| had not noticed it anywhere In my
repeated journeys through the rooms.
I made another tour looking for II.
More than likely 1t had been located
in some inconspicuOus place purpOsely.
But where? At last / located 1t. be-
hind faded crayon portrait Of Mrs.
CASTOR. in the little sitting room.
I lifted the picture to the floor ard
stood hesitant before the safe. Should
{. or should / not, open It? The fact
hat they had given me the combina-
ion seemed to imply that l had a
,erfect right to inspect its contents.
six to the right. four 70. the left,
wo to the right. eight to theteft."
AS / turned The knob l repeated the
combination To myself. There was a
title click, and the steel door came
open. Reaching In / drew forth two
lld-fashioned jewel cases of leather,
10th securely locked. i took from my
Iocket the keys my great-uncle had
:iven Inc and toyed with them thought
'ully. Among them were two tiny
;eys that undoubtedly belonged to the
ewel cases. Had 1 the right to use
hem? I decided that / had.
The first case 1 opened contained. so
lr as my limited knowledge Of prec-
rus stones enabled me TO judge. moth
lg but bunch of cheap junk, bits
T finery from another century, coral
irrings ;hat Mrs. CASTOR may have
orn when she was little girl. combs
jet. amber beads. quaint hoop ear