Charlevoix county herald., 1920-02-20

answered simply:
Observation-Disclosures Bradford"
She pondered for moment over my
suggestion and then turned TO walk
with me toward the apartment house.
What were the men like?" she
asked.
described them as best ] could,
though really the impression that the
youth on the bench had left was vague.
His voice, an insolent. hoarse, uncul-
tivated one, was almost all ! could re-
call about him.
II wonder who they were? won
der how they knew"
Knew what?"
Her lips frightened into straight
line.
II can't tell,you. ! daren't. II isn't
my secret"
BY this time we had reached her
home and the bowling dOorman was
swinging back the great iron door
for us. IL had been my intention TO
announce my arrival, but recalling
that Miss Bradford had said that the
CASTOR apartment was on the same
floor as hers. | stepped with her into
the elevator. When II had descended,
leaving us together In the corridor,
she turned to me and offered her hand.
THANK you SO much. Mr.. Nelson"
81 wish you'd let me help you." ]
cried.
She shook her head.
well. promise me one thing" I In
sisted.
What is IT."
THAT YOU never again will go alone
Ia The park TO meet those men,"
A tremOr shook her body. and once
more look OF terror crept into her
eyes.
II can't promise that must meet
them. I must! I must!'
reached out and took her hand.
Promise me, then. that before you
go again you will let me know"
You must not try to stop my go
ing" she cried desperately and free
ing her hand turned quickly and I'M
locking her door left me standing
there alone, staring after her.
Perplexed beyond measure as to
what | ought TO do, after q moment ]
pressed the bell and was admitted to
the Castor apartment and to the pres
ence Of my aged relatives.
Although | tried to pretend an in
terest i'm their conversation and absent
ly answered their questions about my
family my thoughts kept constantly
recurring to the strange trouble Of
|'the girl across the hail, her plight in
teresting me far more than the pur-
pose for which my great-uncle had
sent for me. l had expected that he
would breach that subject himself, but
the coffee arrived and still the con-
versation had been limited to stilted
family chat. As We returned to the
living room, l decided to give him
lead:
MY mother wrote me-" I began.
"Oh. yes" said old Rnfus. looking
relieved.
YES, yes. of course" echoed Mrs
Castor.
waited for one or the other OF
them to proceed bur for some reason
they both seemed at a loss for words
You tell him. Rufus" said my
great-aunt at last.
His tired old eyes studied my coun.
tenance carefully. searcbingly. as II
he was trying to read my soul.
"What is it," asked impatiently.
at Is this" said old Rufus, speak.
ing slowly and with effort, as II he
hated TO disclose his intentions
Three days from now-that will be
Sunday morning-my wife and are
going to Maine TO be gone for some
months. We have leased furnished
cottage there and shall take our serv-
ants and our motor with us. We do
not like to leave this apartment wholly
untenanted, and 1t occurred to. Mrs.
CASTOR that you might occupy II In
our absence"
am afraid my countenance at that
moment must have betrayed my con-
sternation. My great expectations
vanished, blew up, disappeared. They
did not want me for an heir but for
caretaker. What fool had been to
imagine for one moment that this pc
nurious old couple had contemplated
doing anything for me. They wanted
me to do something for them. A sar-
castle refusal Of their proffer trem-
bled on my lips but was stayed by my
great-aunt speaking:
1T will enable you to save your
room rent. Mr.. CASTOR will pay the
rent In advance before we go. There
will be no one here to serve your
meals so you will have to get them
elsewhere. but I will arrange with my
laundress 10 come in once a day TO
make up your room, and you'll be I'M
der no expense"
Her suggestion that | would have
no room rent to pay decided me. Two
other considerations also influenced
me. II might be a plan on the part
Of the old people to try me out and
see II ! was trustworthy. and then,
dwelling under the same roof with