Charlevoix county herald., 1920-03-12
Continued From Page Two)
CHAPTER VI.


Left alone for q moment by my COM
panion, sat there at the table in
the crowded restaurant, idly watching
the beautifully costumed women all
about me, listening dreamily to the
music Of the orchestra, observing with
interest the graceful gyrations Of the
occasional couple who sought the
dancing floor in the center. when sud
denly I was brought to myself by
hearing a gruff voice saying:
"what'd you bring that crook in
here forT
'what do you mean?" / gasped In
establishment. looking up, at square
sAeuldsred man with a neatly trimmed
black mustache who was standing be-
side my table.
''It's you I mean," he announced.
''Don't you know you can't bring that
kind Of people in hereT
As explanation for my presence
there In the White room of the IA
nous Hundredth hotel, let me say
that my Investigations into the per-
picking chain of mysterious circum-
stances In which Barbara Bradford
and I seemed to be each day becom-
Ing more firmly involved, had finally
led me to deduce three different the
cries, each more or less plausible,
and each involving an entirely differ
ent set Of persons.
There were certain happenings and
circumstances that made me some
times wonder II the whole thing were
not q base plot on the part of my
yreat-uncle Rufus, perhaps Influenced
BY a desire for revenge or perhaps
led on by an insane greed for still
greater wealth.
Yet on the other hand, there were
those entries In his diary about the
mysterious voices. Apparently, too,
his wife and Mrs. Burke had heard
them.
Did II not seem more likely that the
arch plotter was Claire Bradford's ex-
husband1
This theory seemed far more ten
able. While the Bradfords had heard
nothing from him for several years,
the publication of Claire Bradford's
engagement might have attracted his
notice and inspired him to an attempt
ut blackmail. Yet how could he gain
access to the wall safe where the d.
vorce papers were kept. or how could
he be dropping notes on the floor Of
Barbara Bradford's bedroom? How
could he have stolen the CASTOR
pearls1 II seemed incredible but still
my thoughts kept returning to the
possibility Of his directing Claire
Bradford's actions through hypnotic
control. Once he had had influence
over her sufficient to make her give
mp family, friends, home. everything,
to marry him. Had he, In some way
unknown to Barbara Bradford, re-
gained his control over her sister and
was he using her as the unconscious
tosl for his villainies7 She could
have gained access to my room by
walking along the 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
swn discharge, nor the mysterious
noises In the apartment. i had still
. third theory.
Suppose q band OF criminals was
located In the apartment house on the
door above the Bradfords and me?
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. l recalled that I'm ev.
seemed to come from somewhere up
near the ceiling. OF course 1t seemed
preposterous that a criminal band
would find lodging In luxurious
apartment house like this, yet, why
mott Tenants In these buildings knew
little about each other and cared less.
There was no exchange Of neighborly'
visits. Once having gained access to
such a building by forged references,
30 long as they paid their rent prompt.
~, no one In the building would both.
or 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. 1t ought not to be difi.
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 he had left
q forwarding address for his mail with
her.
With a letter / had written to my
mother. descended to the main floor
and began conversation with Miss
Kelly BY asking. where was the near