The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-06-18
CHAPTER vitl-centInusd.

here In the Granddeck a few days.
don't know much about him."
"And that's all you know about Itr'
said the detective. turning to me again.
hesitated. Should l or should
not tell them Of the wall safe that
had seen MIR. Wick closing7 There was
no way could prove 1t. Undoubtedly
Wick would deny having done So It
would be his word against mine. AZ
superintendent bis word would un-
doubtedly carry. decided It would
be best to withhold my information to
= more propitious time.
That's all know, except what Mr..
Wick has told you." said.
"very WE'LL" said the detective In
charge. You can go now, and you,
too. Doctor"
Mr.. Wick was escorting the doctor
to the door. The detectives had with
drawn to the room where the body lay
and we're holding whispered confer
ence. l stepped quickly to the wall
safe, and making sure that was UNI
observed. tested the knob. 1t was Sc
curely fastened. l congratulated my
self on having said nothing about 1t.
Wick, | felt certain. would deny hav-
! Ing shut It, and there WAS no proof
that 1t had been opened when we had
entered.
AS returned to my own apartment
upstairs, nearing the top Of the short
Digit Of steps between the floors
| to In
fitting across the hall and entering
| the Bradford apartment. Though l had
opportunity for only brief glimpse,
recognized ner at once. 1t was Claire
Bradford.
The door OF my apartment was
standing wide open. remembered that
as had run downstairs a 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 paying an
other surreptitious visit to my quar-
tiers. What could have been her pur-
pose? There must have been some
strong impeIling 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
a second visit. l began seriously to
doubt whether the explanation she
had offered me was the true one. / was
beginning to feel that there was more
than a possibility that she was again
In the clutches of the INSCRIPTIONS
rascal who had once been her hus-
band.
Greatly puzzled l made hasty sur
vey of the apartment. but could find
nothing that appeared to have been
disturbed. Going back to my own room
FASTENED to place handkerchief out
OF my window as signal to Barbara
for l knew she would be anxious tC
know the meaning of the sounds we
had heard below. In very few mo-
ments l heard the tap of her riding
crop on my sill and hurried to answer
"WEat was it?" she asked in ar
excited whisper.
"Daisy Lutan. an actress, who LIVED
on the floor below, has been murdered
shot"
"Who did It7"
II don't know. Mr.. Wick and wen
into the apartment together There wa
no one there"
"How terrible" she exclaimed.
ut is, indeed" l answered, "but i
may help u.s."
"What do you mean?"
with the police in the house max
| Al r.
threats from the blackmailers for
while They won't dare bother yo'
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 int"
"Yes; two detectives are downstair
now"
I'm glad" she said. "With the d.
I tectives here, they won't dare moles
, us, will they1'
"Of course not" answered. n
your sister at homer"
1 "Yes." she answered. "Our guest
I have just gone. Mother has retire,
and Claire is In the living room wrl
= ing a note. They heard nothing. so
did not tell them anything about 1t
"That was wise. They'll hear 1t SOC
enough. Has your sister been In II
apartment all EVENING""
"She hasn't been out all day unle
she went out Just to drop the lett,
she was writing down the mail chu
In the hall. Why do you ask"
~ was merely wondering II the
was any way she could learn Of Il
murder"
"How could she7 Isl't that too te
rible about Miss LutaD? But ! mustr
talk any longer Good night"
"Wait a moment" | cried. THE
are some things | must discuss wi
you before ! meet German. How abe
meeting me at the Astor at eleven
II can't promise. but I'll try. Go
night ="
There was nothing further that
could 40. and | felt sadly In need
rest. Throwing of my coat and wal
coat | t,e.,uu mixing preDaratiOnS