Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-07-22

"A safe deposit box would be bet
ter. then"
"No," said old Rufus shortly. Both
my safe deposit boxes are full and
there is no use hiring another one.
The Jewels will be all right where
they are. In case of fire you can re-
move them to a place of safety. This
is the combination-see that you re-
member it-six right, four left, TWO
right. eight left, GAPS"
'rlI remember it." 1 replied, men
tally repeating it over and over again.
"And now. my DEAR" said the old
gentleman, "if you will get the keys
from my desk, we can permit our
nephew to depart"
My great-aunt left the room to do
his mission. The minute she was
safely out of hearing old Rufus whole
manner underwent a startling change.
Into his deep-set gray eyes came q
| look of terror. His face became ashen,
| and the withered hand with which ne
clutched my arm was trembling Vlo-
| lently.
Listen, boy" he Kissed, leaning for
ward that he might speak into my ear
and looking about apprehensively as If
he feared to be overheard. Listen
| there's something wrong here"
MY first thought was that he had
] been suddenly stricken with senlls
dementia, but recalling his perfectly
rational conduct throughout the rest
of the evening, 1 dismissed the theory
| as absolutely untenable. His fear,
whatever caused it, certainly seemed
very real.
Something wrong?" I repeated
wonderingly. "What do you mean!
What is It'll"
He clutched my arm in still tight
err grasp, and his voice, suppressed to
a terrified whisper, became more In
siStent.
az don't know" he breathed. II wish
l did" He glanced timorously about
and went on. There's something
wrong! l sense it. I feel it. | can
not find out what it is. All kinds of
queer things happen. I am always
| nearing
whispers! That is why we are going
away. MY wife thinks 1t Is on ac-
count of my health don't want her
to know. Please, please, Spalding,
find out what 1t is before we return.
I have no son. There is no one else
but you to do 1t. Solve the mystery
for me. Find out about the Whispers
Promise me ycu will Ssh-not a
word to her! Not a word !"
4 He withdrew his hold on my arm
and laid his finger on his lips as he
heard his wife returning. With WIS.,
ible effort he Strengthened up, and
when she entered the room he appar-
| emily had entirely recovered his self
possession and was his natural self
again, q dignifed, world-weary old
man.
81 can't find your keys, Rufus" said
my great-aunt, "you had better get
them yourself"
The minute he left the room she
fastened to my side and she, too, be-
gan to whisper mysterious warnings,
exhibiting terror hardly less than
her aged husbands.
"This Is house of mystery" she
announced. I'm always hearing
strange sounds here. He doesn't
know'-with a nod in the direction old
Rufus had gone, "and l do not want
him to. That Is the reason l am TAX
ing him away. Solve the mystery Of
|
make it we'll worth your while"
Her husbands shuffllng in the pass
age warned her of his return, and she
quickly dropped my arm. AS he en-
tered she was telling me in quite nor
NAL tones to be sure to remember her
to my mother the next time l wrote.
Old Rufus handed me the keys, ex-
planning which was which.
"And remember" said my great
uncle, as ne escorted me to the door,
"you are not to come until Sunday
morning at ten, after we have gone.
And remember the combination of the
safe-Remember!
The insistent way In which he re-
heated the word conveyed to me force
fully that what he most wanted me
TO remember was the strange warning
he had given me, and as clasped his
hand in parting l tried by the firm
ness of my grip to let him know that
understood.
Remember" repeated my aunt, too,
as she stood there in the door little
behind him, at the same time giving
me significant look.
Yet, puzzling as had been the con-
duct of both of them, my memories
that night were not of their warning
nor Of the combination of the safe
nor of the hour at which was to
arrive. They were of the most beau
tiful eyes l ever had seen and of the
haunting terror written in them.