The Pulaskian., 1920-06-24
CHAPTER vLII--continued.


 here in the Granddeck a few days. l don't know much about him."
 And that's all you know about it?' said the detective. turning to me again.
 I hesitated. Should I or should I not tell them of the wall safe that l had seen Mir. Wick closing? There was no way I could prove 1t. Undoubtedly Wick would deny having done so. It would be his word against mine. As superintendent his word would un- doubtedly carry. I decided it would be best to withhold my information 10 a more propitious time.
 That's all know. except what MT. Wick has told you" I said.
 ''Very we'll" said the detective in charge. You can go now, and you, too Doctor'
 MT. Wick was escorting the doctor to the door. The detectives had with drawn to the room where the body lay and were holding a whispered confer ence. stepped quickly to the wall safe, and making sure that I was un- observed, tested the knob. It was se curely fastened. I congratulated my self on having said nothing about 1t. Wick. I felt certain, would deny hay ing shut 1t, and there was no proof that 1t had been opened when we had entered.
 As I returned to my own apartment upstairs, nearing the top of the short flight of steps between the floors l e-ec --A-= 41 4. f-~ r.. fitting across the hall and entering the Bradford apartment. Though had opportunity for only a brief glimpse l recognized her at once. It was Claire Bradford.
 The door of my apartment was standing wide open. remembered that as I had run downstairs a few mo- ments ago, I had neglected to close 1t after me From the direction in whichrshe had come it was plain that Claire Bradford had been paying an other surreptitious visit to my quar- ters. What could have been her pur- pose? There must have been some strong impelling motive to make her dare the perilous journey along the window ledge, and now, at the i'm mlnent risk of discovery, to pay me "a second visit I began seriously to doubt whether the explanation she Ihad offered me was the true one. was Beginning to feel that there was more than a possibility that she was again h the clutches of the interruptions rascal who had once been her hus- band.
 Greatly puzzled, made nasty sur vey of the apartment, but could find nothing that appeared to have been disturbed. Going back to my own room I hastened to place handkerchief out of my window as a signal to Barbara, for I knew she would be anxious to know the meaning of the sounds we had heard below. In a very few mo ments I heard the tap of her riding crop on my sill and hurried to answer.
 "What was it?" she asked in an excited whisper.
 Daisy Lutan, an actress, who lived on the floor below, has been murdered --shot.'
 "Who did it?"
 q don't know. Mir. Wick and I went into the apartment together There was no one there"
 "How terriblei" she exclaimed.
 'Tt is. indeed" I answered, but 1t may help us."
 'What do you mean?"
 with the police in the house mak- ing investigations, there'll be no more threats from the blackmailers for a while. They won't dare bother you for the present"
 Do you really think so?" she ques- toned with little sigh of relief.
 "Im sure of It."
 Have the police been called in?"
 "Yes: two detectives are downstairs now"
 .sTm glad" she said. "With the de tectlves here. they won't dare molest US, will they?"
 "Of course not" I answered. 'sIs your sister at homer"
 .Yes." she answered. Our guests have just gone. Mother has retired and Claire Is in the living room writ ing 8 note. They heard nothing, so did not tell them anything about it.
 "That was wise. They'll hear 1t soon enough. Has your sister been in the apartment all evening""
 "She hasn't been out all day unless she went out just to drop the letter she was writing down the mail chute in the hall. Why do you ask?"
 "I was merely wondering if there was any way she could learn of the murder"
 'How could she? Isn't that 100 ter rible about Miss Lutan? 8ut mustu'i talk any longer Good night
 sWait moment" I cried .Thers are some things I must discuss witi