Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-03-05
THE APARTMENT NEXT DOOR
N.3A By WILLIAM JOHNSTON
AUTHOR Or "THE HOUSE OF wH1sPERy' AND "InrY-, ETC, ETC


This little packet is for YOU" he
went on. Il want you to keep it
safely. In case anything happens, in
the event that within one month )
have NJ returned and you have
heard nothing Of me, I wish you to
open it and keep what it contains
Promise me that you will do what 1
ask"
In q panic OF indecision she got up
from her chair, trying to frame a
score Of questions. but none Of them
succeeded in passing the barrier Of
her trembling lips. -
Promise me-" he said softly vet
iiipellingly, as he placed the little
packet In her hand and closed her
fingers I've it.
I. promise" she whispered, hardly
knowing what she said.
Quickly he caught her in his pow
erful arms. For just a second he
held her there. his face close to hers.
his blue yes burning into hers with
a steady i%nscrutable gaze as II he was
, trying to read in them the love her
lips had refused to- speak.
Then. sc quickly that 1t was all
over before she quite realized what
had happened. he had kissed her pas
sionately full on the lips and was
gone.
Overcome with the lassttude which
follows emotional crises. trembling in
fevery limb. weak as from a long ILL
ness, the girl sank back into a chair.
still clutching in her hand the sealed
packet Hoff had entrusted to her.
Minute after minute she sat there
with staring eye with heart beating
madly. with her whole body racked
Slowly she lifted the packet and
turned it over and over. wondering
what it could possibly contain, Ques-
tioning herself as to what could have
been Frederic Hof's motive in en-
trusting it to her. Was there, she
Wondered. under those seals. some
evidence of his guilt and treachery
that he had not dared to leave behind
him? He must have known that she
suspected him and was seeking to en-
tray him. Hal he. knowing all this,
but sensing the love for him that he
had kindled in her. taken advantage
Of it and extorted from her her prom
Use to keep it safe?
Wherein lay her duty now? More
than ever she was certain that Fred
eric Hof was on some hazardous mis-.
sion for the enemy. He had all but
admitted his nationality to her. Her
own country's welfare demanded that
the Hons' plans should be discovered
and thwarted. Should she. or should
she not open the package? Possibly
It contained some secret code, some
clue to the dastardly activities in
which he and his uncle engaged,
But her heart rebelled. She re
called what he had said. that she
must take him on trust. The memory
of his burning kiss. Of that last earn.
est look he had given her. refused to
be forgotten. Whatever he was
however base the work in which he
was engaged. she knew down deep In
her heart that Frederic Ieon had
been earnestly sincere when he had
said that he loved her.
As she debated with herself what
she ought to do, tho telephone rams
again. It was Chief F1eck :
Can you meet me 1t tho 1i0tl,
Street subway station in ,half an
hour" he asked. ''ill be waiting In
nay car. Arrange It. II you can with
out arousinE your fa1nilys suspicion,
to- be away all night"
II will be there" she answered. y
A she turned away from the tele-
phone with sudden resolve she thrust
the sealed packet, still unopened, into
the bosom Of her gown.
II promised him." she said alnost
hercsly. ."rll keep my promise. THAT
much at least / owe our love-"
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