Charlevoix county herald., 1920-02-20
CHAPTER u.
Sunday morning came at last

Sunday morning came at last.
1t was hardly eight when I set out
for my new quarters, taking with mo
only one small handbag and leaving
my two trunks for the expressman.
In the time intervening since my visit
to the CASTOR home / had done but
little except speculate on the mysteri-
Gus warnings that both of the old peo-
pie had surreptitiously given me. II
seemed so utterly improbable and I'm,
possible that there could be any In
explicable mystery about q homo In Q
modern, up-to-date apartment house
in the center Of a civilized city. And
IL there was mystery, why did they
stay there? Why didn't they mover
Yet, as I pondered over the matter,
l was convinced that both my great
uncle and his wife were rational.
dismissed without hesitation the the
DRY that there could have been any
supernatural happenings to alright
them. 1t was probable, decided, that
their fears might have been played ON
by some conspiracy on the part Of
their servants to induce them to spend
season In Maine. Perhaps there
was some specter from my great
uncle's past now rising to confront
him that he was seeking to hide from
his wife. 1t might be that she knew
Of it or had received threats and was
trying to conceal the matter from him.
There are few men Of millions with
out some secret shameful pages In
their lives. AS / remembered that
old Rufus Gaston's dollars had been
made in South America, all that I had
heard and read Of plots and counter
plots below the equator came buzzing
into my brain. If such should be the
case, that some betrayed conspiratoS
now was seeking vengeance. moro
than ever i welcomed the unexpected
chance that had thrown this oppor-
tunity for adventure In my prosaie
path.
Yet maybe their warnings were Jus
titled. There was Barbara Bradford,
who lived under the same roof, on the
very floor with them. She seemed 70
be caught In the web Of some plot, to
be living In fear Of some mysterious
peril.
Was she, wondered, In any way
connected with the mystery that over
hung the CASTOR homer Did my great
uncle and his wife know herr Her
mission to the park had been to get
some papers. Could they have been
In any way involved with what was
menacing my great-uncle's peace Of
mind2 How I regretted now that I
had not asked the Gastons II they
knew Miss Bradford. How I welcom-
ed the opportunity was now to have
OF living In the same apartment house
with her, close at hand II ever I could
serve her. I was glad now that cir.
cumstances had prevented my going
to France with Birge and Roller.
AS arrived at my great-uncle's cor
ner, I saw Miss Bradford approaching
from the opposite direction. She was
in riding toys. I timed my steps to
reach the corner as she did. Would
she. | wondered, consider our strange
meeting a few evenings before sum-
cient introduction to justify her speak
ing TO me.
Good morning, Mr.. Nelson" she
greeted me pleasantly. Making IN
early CALL aren't your
I'm coming here to live for WHILE"
l answered. falling into step with her.
''The Gastons are going to Maine and
have asked me to occupy their apart
ment while they are away"
AS we chatted we had entered tho
building, and as before / went into
the elevator with her. As left her
at the door, wondering II she had had
any more encounters In the park, yet
hardly daring to ask, she turned b
me, half apologetically, and said: