The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-06-09
Continued from Last Week.)

NSOhtlhucu lIUul lLdSl WSek.)
AS | returned to my own apartment
upstairs, nearing the top Of tho short
flight Of steps between the floors l
was astounded to see female figure
Hitting across the hall and entering
the Bradford apartment. Though had
opportunity for only brief glimpse.
recognized her ut once. 1t was Claire
Bradford
The door OF my apartment was
standing wide onen. remembered that
as / had run downstairs n few mo-
ments ago. had neglected to close
1t after me. From the direction In
which she had come. It was plain that
Claire Bradford had been paging an
other surreptitious visit to my quar-
ters What could have been her pur-
pose? There must have been some
strong impelling motive to make her
dare the perilous Journey along the
window ledge. and now, at the i'm.
minent risk of discovery, to pay me
q second visit began seriously to
doubt whether the explanation she
had offered me was the true one was
beginning to feel that there was more
than possibility that she was again
In the clutches Of the unscrupulous
rascal who had once been her hus.
band
Greatly puzzled, made hasty sur
vey Of the apartment, but could find
nothing that appeared to have been
disturbed. Going back to my own room
hastcned to place handkerchief out
OF my window as n signal to Barbara,
Tor l knew she would be anxious to
know the meaning Of the sounds we
had heard below. In n very few mo-
ments I heard the tap Of her riding.
crop on my sill and hurried to answer.
what was it?" she asked in an
excited whisper.
daisy Lutan, an actress, who lived
on the floor below, has been murdered
shot"
"Who did it?"
Il don't know. Mr.. Wick and went
into the apartment together. There was
no one there"
"Iiow terrible!' she exclaimed.
1T Is, indeed" I answered, "but II
may help us"
"What 10 you mcan?"
"With the police in the house max.
ing investigations, there'll be no more
threats from the blackmailcrs for a
while. They won't dare bother you
for the present"
do you really think so?" she ques-
toned with little sigh Of relief.
"I'm sure OF It,"
Have the police been called inn"
yes; two detectives are downstairs
now"
"1'm glad" she said "With the dc.
tectivcs here, they won't dare molcst
us, will thcy?"
"Of course not" answered. ais
your sister ut home?"
yes" she answered. "Our guests
have Just gone. Mother has retired
and Claire Is In the living room writ
Ing note. They heard nothing, so T
did not tell them anything about It,"
THAT was wise. They'll hear 1t soon
enough. Has your sister been In the
apartment all eveningY
"Shc hasn't been out all day unless
she went out Just to drop tie letter
she was writing down the mall chute
In the hall. Why do you ask?"
II was merely wondering if there
was any way she could learn of tho
murder"
"Ilow could she? Isn't that too ter
rlble about Miss Lutan7 But I mustn't
talk any longer. Good night"
wait n moment I cried. "There
arc some things I must discuss with
you before I meet Gorman How about
meeting me at the Astor at elevcn?"
II can't promise, but I'll try. Good
night"
There was nothing further that I
could do, and I felt sadly In need of
rest. Throwing Off my coat and waist
coat began making preparations for
bed. The notion took me to once more
Investigate the secret passageway. I
pushed sharply on the panel as had
done before, but this time I could not
bulge 1t. I tugged and worked and
pounded, but 1t stuck fast in spIte OF
all my efforts. AS was struggling TO
force 1t open, there came q sharp ring
at the bell Of the apartment. Az
was, in my shirt sleeves, I answered
it. The two detectives I had seen
downstairs stood there.
"What is it7" asked.
II arrest you for the murder OF DAT
sy Lutan," said one Of them, and with
fhat they sprang forward and pinioned