The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-08-26

$ The House Of
s. Whispers
S0G0090@@@@00 9909o00@gg0000US

tool for his vlllalniesf She could
have gained access to my room by
walking along tho ledge when all the
house was still. Yet this theory ex-
planned neither the theft Of the pearls
my great-uncle's peculiar actions, my
own discharge, nor the mysterious
noises in the apartment. 1 had still
third theory.
Suppose q band OF criminals was
located In the apartment house on the
floor above the Bradtords and met
Access to either apartment would
not be difficult. BY short rope lad
ders they could easily reach either set
of rooms. They would be so located
that there would be little difficulty for
them to devise mysterious sounds for
terrifying the people In, the apart
ments below. I recalled that In ev-
cry case the voices and. the footsteps
seemed to come from somewhere up
near the ceiling OF course It seemed
preposterous that a criminal band
would find lodging In a luxurious
apartment house like this, yet, why
not1 Tenants in these buildings knew
little about each other and cared less.
There was no exchange Of nelghborly
visits. Once having gained access to
such a building by forged references.
80 long as they paid their rent prompt
ly, no one In the building would both
er his head about the character Of any
of the other tenants.
This last theory seemed the most
plausible. Besides It was the easiest
to work on. II ought not to be dlfi-
cult to ascertain who lived IN the two
apartments above. Undoubtedly my
best source of information would be
Nellie Kelly, the telephone operator.
Perhaps, too, she might be able to In
form me of my great-uncle's where
abouts. More than likely be had left
forwarding address for his mail with
her.
With a letter l had written to my
mother, l descended to the main fiooT
and began a conversation with Miss
Kelly by asking where was the near
est place that could buy stamps. AS
we chatted l began complaining how
lonely 1t was in the apartment and
wound up by inviting her to dine with
me that evening.
had anticipated ready acceptance
of my invitation and was amazed to
find 1t firmly refused. In a much con-
fused manner she advanced a dozen
reasons, or rather pretexts. She did
not go out with the people Of the
house. Her mother would not like II.
She did not know me well enough.
Mr.. Wick would discharge her II he
heard about 1t.
From An unexpected source, though
none the less unweicome, found an
ally. Mr.. Wick himself bobbed up
from somewhere, apparently having
overheard enough of our conversation
to know what 1t was abut.
"Why, Of course, Mr.. Nelson" he
began In an Ingratiating manner that
was most repellent to me, Miss
Kelly'll be glad to go to dinner with
you. It's part of her business to make
things pleasant for the tenants"
1t seemed to me that the girls eyes
flashed defiance at him and that she
was still inclined to refuse, and was
about to explain resentfully that my
invitation was not issued on a bust
ness basis, when into Wlck's face
came an ugly look, something aimos
threatening.
"Of course Miss Kelly will be glaS
to go with you." he repeated sharply
Certainly" said the girl quickly
before / had a chance to speak, II
Mr.. Wick thinks 1t is all right, vii
be glad to CO."
Her acceptance did not ring true
was convinced that 1t was unwilling
ly given under some sort of com
pulsion from the odious Wick.
met her, at her suggestion, in tn
} parlor of one Of the less pretentiou
hotels. In the hour that had elapse,
since she left the apartment, she hal
exchanged her neat black working
suit for more modlsh clothes. Afte
one quick glance at her transforme
appearance my mind was quick
] made up as to what sort of a restau
| rant to take her. 1t was manifest tina
! she was Of the type that would enjo
TO the utmost the costly whirl Of tn
! fashionable cafe of the moment. ]
{ was my purpose to give her such
! delightful evening that she would b
! wishing to spend others in the sam
/ way, for / felt certain that she, pei
J haps better than anyone else. coul
} supply me the information wante
{ about the tenants in the building.
) was sure 1t would be well worth m