The Little River news., 1920-03-17

| MS1gl l1l Iss, ' saAW As the Light Flooded the Room There Was a Suppressed Scream Followed by Frightened Gasp. | there was suppressed scream, fol lowed by frightened gasp. The figure on the chair turned quickly and faced me I saw that it was woman, badly frightened woman, with her hands clutching at her heart. Almost instantly recognized her. It was not Barbara Bradford, but her sister, Claire. She was clad in some sort of a dark house gown thrown over her nightgown. Her slippered feet were bare of stockings, and her hair hung in great braid down her back. As I stared at her she sprang from | the chair and made rush for the open window. l grabbed for her and l though she fought desperately l man. | aged to hold her fast and to drag her | away from the window. After mo- ment's futile resistance she suddenly collapsed in my arms, moaning in 8 | tense whisper:
 Let me go. please let me go." placed her in chair. and still keeping tight hold on one of her arms, studied her, debating what to do. What desperate motive could have driven this girl to the daring l journey across the narrow ledge by which she had gained access to my quarters? Was she, I wondered, once more in the power of that evil ex- | husband of hers driven by fear of him | to such desperate deeds "I.et me go," she mOaned again. "Not until you tell me what you were doing in my roOms," l answered l firmly.
 "I did not know there was any one here. I thought the apartment was vacant I thought the Gastons were | away"
 "But why did you come?" .T can't tell that" she moaned. 'I can't! can't!'
 You must" repeated. '1 am go- ing to keep you here until you do tell me-"
 ''You must not keep me here" she | said "I don't want my people to know about my having been here. You look like gentleman. Please let me go." | Doesn't Barbara-doesn't your sis | ter know you are hereY'
 At my mention of her sisters name l an expression of amazement escaped
 her.
 | Who are you?" she asked excited
 ly. How did you know who I was?"
 "I am friend of your sister," I
 answered. "She will tell you who I | am. You must trust me. l feel have
 a right to know what you are doing
 here Won't you tell me?" 1 A strange look came into her eyes
 and she shook her head.
 You wouldn't understand. I was
 trying to trace the whispers"
 "The whispers!" ! cried excitedly.
 You have heard them, too?"
 "Often, she said. q heard them
 tonight. Mother and Barbara were
 out to the theater. They seemed to
 come from near the ceiling in my sis
 ter's room. They seemed to vanish
 In the direction of this room I
 thought there was no one here. I de-
 cided to creep along the ledge and see
 if I could trace them"
 And did you succeedT
 She shook her head.
 When I first came in this room l
 could still hear them. They seemed
 to be coming from up near tbe ceiling
 l got up on chair and pub my ear to the wall to listen. Then they
 stopped altogether and then-you
 came in. May I go now-before my
 mother comes homeY'
 "On one condition," I answered
 "that you tell your sister about your
 having been here"
 'T'll tell her if you wish me to-" she
 replied, "and now, please may I go!
 Could you let me out of your door!
 See, brought key to our apartment
 with me. don't think I dare make
 that trip across the ledge tonight"
 As 1 escorted her to the door, my
 mind in whirl over the events of the
 evening, I suddenly remembered how important it was that l should see her
 sister for long talk before I kept