The Little River news., 1920-03-20

l HIS IL Opcu Wlicu yOu SiSHuiCu.
 "Oh, how wish could see it!"
 "Why can't you? Slip out of your front door, and I'll be at my door to admit you"
 q can't do that. Mother and Claire are in the front part of the house playing bridge with some guests They will be sure to hear me going out"
 "Come in tomorrow morning. then," 1 suggested.
 1 She did not answer, and before 1 realized what she was doing, Barbara was out on the ledge making her 1 perilous way across to my window.
 'If Claire can do this, can," she announced triumphantly, as I, trem- bling all over at the thought of the peril she had been in, put my arms about her and helped her in.
 Darling" cried, still holding her. in my arms, "don't ever do that again It's too dangerous. Promise me. Bars bara, dear, you'll never again tEl that"
 With her pretty face flushed at thkl terms of endearment that had unwida tingly escaped me, she laughingly rel leased herself from my arms.
 That was nothing she said in tense whisper. Where's the panel?"
 Relieved to find that she was not l angered by my presumption, has ] tened to turn up the light and pointed at the hole in the wall As had done, | she fbo= a and. | deavOred to push the panel further ! back, but was unable to budge 1t. 1 Quicker witted than l, she then tried sliding it along. At the slightest touch it slid back in groove, reveal 1 ing the opening-leading into what?
 Striking a match, we both of us i peered in. The space between the walls. was certainly high enough and side enough for a man to walk there in comfort So far as the flicker.ng light of the match enabled us to judge. I it ran the length of the hall, and near 1 its further end there appeared to be some steps.
 "Come," cried the intrepid Barbara, Tets explore it.'
 "No," I said firmly. eve must do nothing until have seen the de tective. We have put the case in his hands"
 "But we must find out about it." protested the girl.
 Tomorrow" I said. "We know where it is We know where the voices and whispers come from now"
 q wonder,' she said thoughtfully, eff there is the same sort of pas sageway in our apartment?"
 "Promise me that if you find there is one. you will not attempt to explore it alone"
 As we argued about it we both stopped short and with hlanching faces listened. From soinewhere-it sounded as if it was right below us we heard sounds as if two people were struggling. Then came woman's shriek, wild scream with the death l terror in it. The sound seemed close | at hand. It seemed to come right up from the opening in the panel by which l we were standing.
 Once more there came an l.wful scream-a scream stopped o.s stort as l if some brutal hand had thrott!ed the | wOmaE's throat,
 "Wbat .s it?" cried Barbara. 'sListen," commanded. "It seems | to come from the floor below" Folding our breaths we strained our I Ro, (,,wt Cp,d nlvy shot rang out, and there was thud as if a body had fallen to the floor. Then all was silence. With terror in our faces we turned to each other, seeking an explanation which neither could give. "Mother-Claire !" cried Barbara. "They'll be alarmed. must go back | to them at Once."
 sprang after her, but she moved so | quickly that she was out of the win dow and safely home before could stop her. Only waiting to see her 0fr the ledge l turned back and hastily pulling the panel into. place I dashed l for the front of the house. The screams and the shots was sure had 1 co,ne from the apartment directly De- l lew mine. was certain that there 1 had, been murder done there, and my mind was made up to investigate it l at once. If I moved quickly there might he an opportunity to catch the murderer red-handed. I let myself out and dashed down the one flight of l stairs. As arrived there, the ascend ing elevator stopped, and MT. Wick | burst, out, followed by an excited eie- | vator runner. Wick was carrying . | revolver in his hand. l Did you bear anything?" he asked l excitedly.
 ! q heard a woman screaming in this apartment and then shot," l 'I heard it, too. In which apartment l was it?'
 "Right here" said, pointing to the door. Miss Lutan's," he said. Let's go in. Here's my pass-key. You open the door. f'Il be right behind you with