Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1920-08-19

measurements Of the apartment ana
had verified m. deduction thai there
I. was space enough for n pnssageway
big enough for Il man to traverse in
the wall between the room | had oc-
| cupied and the long hall. He listened
| intently as | described the plan of the
rooms in detail and nodded his APP
prevail.
"And what Is more" | added tri-
%umphantly, Barbara Bradford and
had Just discovered an opening into 1t
by pushing the wall panel in my room
| back and then sliding it along. We
were inspecting 1t when we heard the
shot in the apartment below. ! closed
the panel and ran downstairs and have
had no opportunity since to inHeSti-
rate, but I am sure the passage Is
there. | am convinced that 1t was the
sound of voices there that made the
whispers. I suspect 1t was used by
whoever left the anonymous notes In
| the ROOM, and that the person or per.
sons who looted the safes entered and
escaped by that means l wOul not
be surprised II 1t was not by means OF
this passageway that the murderer of
Miss Lutan escaped. after he had left
his revolver in the drawer of my
dresser"
My great.uncle shook his head per-
plexedly.
ut sounds improbable-too much
like a romance. They do not build
modern apartment buildings with Sc
cret passageways. Space Is far too
valuable, and besides, all plans have
to be filed with the city's bureau of
buildings"
but it's there" cried desperately.
II saw It.. Barbara Bradford saw It,
well" he comforted me, I'VE will
soon find out about 1t. | have many
matters to attend to today. but toinor-
row ! shall go up to the apartment,
and IL there Is such a p~assageway l
shall find 1t and see where It leads"
"Then you are not staying in the
apartment?'
mo, shall remain at a hotel until
my wife returns"
At this juncture a prison attendant
approached and Informed him that the
time of his visit was up. lmperiouSly
my great-uncle waved the man away.
Somehow the possession OF great
wealth carries with 1t a manner of eN-
pecting obedience from every one that
generally Is successful. The man
withdrew. muttering to himself and
left us undisturbed.
Now tell me about the murder
Mr.. CASTOR directed.
COncisely ! stated the facts as !
knew them. 1t was a shock to him to
hear that at least two of the trusted
attendants at the G%randdeck, Wick
and the telephone girl. were of the
criminal class.
"Tut, tut, tut" he exclaimed. Just
think of 1t! That's the worst of living
in q big city. You never know what
sort Of people there are about you
III call up Mr.. Kent, the owner Of the
building, this afternoon and have him
get rid Of them at OncA"
please don't" / cried. "GOrman
and ! are both convinced that Wick
and the girl know something about the
murder. Don't do anything to let
them know that they are under sus
picion. So long as they are employed
at the Granddeck we know where to
lay hands Oh them when we want
them"
That's So" he admitted. "Ill SAY
nothing for the present. AS | wont
be living there until after this iE
cleared up, It can make no difference
8. But, look here, young man, why doesn'
this Bradford girl come forward ant
clear you Of this charge? She wa
with you at the time. She knows 20,
didn't do It,"
Because | will not permit her to d.
So" ] replied with heat. 81 love Bar
bara Bradford !"
"That's It, is IT." he commented, CIV
ing me a aulzzIcal glance from unde
his bushy white eyebrows.
II wouldn't for all the world" ] con
tinued, "have her mixed up in this
Her sister IL TO be married toinorro"
and the scandal might stop the wed
ding; and besides I'm not going t.
have It known that she was ther
alone with me that might In my rooms
! love her too well for that. Some dn
l am going to ask her to be my wife.
He raised his eyebrows.
"And on what do you expect to maj
w" he inquired.
"Of course ! have said nothing n
yet" ! FASTENED to explain "Tve moth
ing to offer her"
mo" he agreed. "you've nothing
offer her"-und then with II mennln
glance he added Il little word that |
spite Of my predicament made N
heart sing with Joy and stirred my "a
} %sectstions niRhtly--"yOu've nOfhin