Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-24

THE APARTMENT NEXT DOOR
By wuzLAM JOHNSTON
AUTHOR OF "THE HOUSE OF WH1sPERs, AND .id1frY~. EN-. ETC


arranging the handkerchiefs. Again
Jane noted their order-red-two
small-one large-three small-two
large. Again the .laundress resorted
to the glasses. and at last. apparently
satisfied, began taking down the rest
OF the laundry and making ready to
leave the roof. Trying to act as if
she had just: arrived, Jane stepped
boldly forward. &
Il WONDER she said approaching
the woman, IF you can tell me
where I can find a good laundress."
"Nicht versteh." said old Lena,
cycling her suspiciously and hostilely,
and at the same time attempting to
pas her with the basket of clothes. ~
Deliberately blocking the way.
Jane repeated her question, this time
in German, feeling thankful that her
language studies at school were not
wholly forgotten and that they had
included such. practical phrases as
those required to hire and discharge
maids and complain about the quality
Of their work.
II know no one," the old woman
answered her. this time in English.
Jane breathed fast with excite
ment. The l%aundress' slip Of the
tongue, after denying that she UNDER
stood. vas evidence in itself of her
deliberate duplicity. Realizing her
mistake, the Die mi now sullenly
refused to answer any questions,
merely shaking her head and trying
to dodge past and escape.
To prolong the questioning, Jane
felt. would be only to arouse sus-
picion. and reluctantly she allowed
old Lena to precede her to the eleva-
tor. anticipating her. however, in
ringing the bell, pressing the button
four times as Dean had directed. As
they descended together she was al
most in a panic. How long had she
kept the leundress on the roof? She
really had no idea. She had been so
absorbed in her new discovery she
had given no thought to the time.
For all she knew she might have
been there only five minutes. Had
Dean had time to finish his work?
Almost frenzied with anxiety, won
dering If it were too soon. she moved
forward din the, car SO as to obstruct
old Lena's view through the door as
the Hoff door noT tightly closed, and
she thought She heard the door of her
own apartment just closing. Sudden
ly she remembered that she had gone
up on the roof without a key. It
would be a pretty pass if Dean were
still In the HoH apartment and she
couldn't get into her own.
All In a tremble she pressed the
button OF her own door. waiting, how
over. to see that the laundress, was
out of the hall. sIt was Dean who
opened the, door. and she all but
tainted in his arms as she saw that
he was back in safety.
ITS DONE" he cried gleefully, as
he caught her and drew. her within,
closing the door carefully behind her.
II just finished my work as you came
down." RI
Great drops Of perspiration still
stood on his forehead and he. was
breathing rapidly.
"Why, what's the m%atter?" he
cried, noticing for the first time
Jane's perturbation. WAS it too
much for YOU? What h~appened?"
Put this dawn quick, quick"
,gasped Jane "Red-two larRs--one
snall--one large. one smalI-and
then-red--swo snall~-one large
three. small-two large"
Wonderingly he complied, jotting
down what she told him in his note
book. and turning to ask her what it
meant. discovered hat she had faint
ed.