Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-05-14
CHAPTER VII.

It was the next evening tnat I made
my astounding discovery. when pure
chance led me plump into what both
Barbara Bradford and | recognized
at once as our first real clue to the
mysteries surrounding us.
My find came unexpectedly at the
end of an exciting day. AS may be
imagined l slept little in the hours
following my unexpected meeting with
Claire Bradford fh my rooms, coming
as it did right on top of detective
Germans revelations as TO rhe identity
of the telephone girl Coupled with
these circumstances was the fact that
if my hopes were realized. Barbara
would be within a very few hours
lunching with me for the first time.
I just had to see her before I met
German. The tale 1 was 80 unfold to
him was so improbable, so almost un-
believable, that wanted to go over it
with her step by step, in order to be
able to convince the detective that it
was the absolute truth.
1 could not help but realize how
preposterous it would sound in the
telling. Mr.. German could hardly be
blamed for believing that u'y mind had
been inf1amed by witnessing too many
movie thrillers. Yet l had proof.
There were the entries in my great
uncle's diary that l could show. I had
the anonymous notes. My story of the
strange whispers, if need be, could be
confirmed by the old .aIndress. by
Barbara Bradford, yes, and by Claire,
too. That is, if the reason Claire had
my room was the true one. 1t sounded
logical, and yet I did not place the
| confidence in her that l did in Barbara.
But what I relied on most of all to
convince German of the truth of my
preposterous tale was his own knowl-
edge of who the telephone girl was
Just when I had reached the deduc
ton that the band plotting against
US must have a coadjutor in the build
ing, he had come forward with the
knowledge that pointed toward the
person most apt to be involved.
I was pondering it all ever in my
mind as I left the house to meet Bar
bara. I was out on the street an(
just turning the corner when I remem
bered that I had spent most of the
money in my pocket the night before
Retracing my steps, I returned to m,
apartment and took some bills from
their hiding-place in the bookcase. A
/ emerged into the street again, be
came aware that across the street wa
man whose appearance seemed
vaguely familiar. AS | once NOR
turned the corner, walking briskly,
glanced back for a second look a
him and was SURPRISED to see him com
ing in my direction.
Then all at once my subconsciou
mind came to my rescue. I realize
when it was that I had seen him be
fore and what made his appearance
so familiar. AS l left the house no
ten minutes ago that very same MAJ
had been standing across the street
> AS 1 had turned back at the corne
he had been coming in my direction
Just as he was now.
{ He must be following me, trailin
, me, shadowing me. I determined t
test out my theory. At the next col
ner 1 turned sharply, glancing quickl
? back as did so. He was still follow
3 ing me, though on the other side c
the street and perhaps half bloc
away. ] went a few. steps out {
sight and then stopped as if to loo
j in shop window. He came hurryin
+ around the corner an instant late
r slowing down as soon as be spotte
= me again and walked on slowly pas
Y me as If not noticing me. 1 waite
q until he was some distance beyon
and retracing my steps quickly to th
avenue again stopped in the shelter {
Il a building to light cigar, purposel
r wasting a number of matches. ]
o hardly ten seconds he was back, cover
d Iy watching me from the ether side
g the street.
y There was no question about it. E
y was trailing me. But who could |
e having me shadowed? Certainly /
= was not in the employ OF the Bra
IL IOruS OF VI betcCLlNe NoAindH. ElIn'
he must be one of the band of plo
ters, or-I hated to voice my susI
u cion, but somehow the thought of n
d great-uncle Rufus kept obtruding
self. It would be just like the su
e picious old miser. If it was he wi
IS had planned all this deviunent, to p
e me in a position of trust and then
have me watched night and day.