The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-11-02
CHAPTER ~
A Visit to the INDECENT.

~ NIett 10 tne 1noI0enS.
The guests had either retired to their
rooms. or were wandering about the
spacious grounds; at least none were
In evidence when West emerged on to
the side terrace, where Miss Natalie
and Percival Coolidge waited.
1t was not long ride, the point
sought being short submerged street
In the southwestern section of the city.
The, runabout felt its way cautiously
forward through jostling throng Of
screaming youngsters, and finally
turned into Arch street, only two
blocks in length; with low, two storied,
wooden cottages on either side. Per-
cival. plainly nervous Mt the surround
ings, indicated the place sought In the
middle Of the nrst block, and Natalie
ran the car up against the curb.
rs this the placer" she asked doubt
fully, eyeing the rather disreputable
cottage. which seemed deserted.
Coolidge unfastened the door. and
stepped out.
"Yes. It's all right" he answered
sharply "You might wait here, West !:
we'l only be gone few minutes
Come along, Natalie. West won't
mind"
Certainly not" the younger man
said heartily, II shall ID very comfort
able; don't bother about me-"
He had distinct impression that
Coolidge did not desire his company
any further, yet this suspicion aroused
no sentiment. This was matter with
which he was in no way concerned,
and the only inte4est he felt was
strictly impersonal. Sinking COM
fortably back in the seat his
gaze centered on the maze Of chill
dren playing In the street. Their
aptics amused him Tor some time, but,
at last, he began wondering at the de-
lay Of those within, and his mind
drifted to the peculiar conditions with
which he was confronted. If some
conspiracy was on foot against Ma
taIie, what could be its object? and
who were directly involved7 Seeming
ly, Percival Coolidge was the only per
son who could be directly interested
should misfortune occur to his niece;
he was the guardian Of her inheri.
tance, and responsible for what re-
mained Of her fathers estate. On.
doubtedly he also was the next heir
at law. His interest in the matter>
was therefore easily figured out. West
had to learn the condition of the
Steven Coolidge estate, and whether
or not Percival had administered It
Justly. Once satisfied upon that point,
he would know better what further
steps to take.
If Coolidge was engaged In some
criminal scheme the man was certain
ly shrewd enough TO carefully cover
his trail. 1t was no sudden temptation
to which he had yielded, but deeply
laid plan, formed. perhaps, as long
ago as his brothers death, and now
Just coming to head.
Vests glance took In the surround
ings, but with no conception that they
: would have any direct bearing upon
tho mystery he was endeavoring to
solve. 1t was block Of irregular
houses, tenement on the corner,
dirty-looking brick, the other houses of
wood, mostly two stories In height,
rather disreputable in appearance, but
the one before which the machine watt
ed was frame cottage, well back from
the street, and rather respectable In
appearance, although 1t must have
been some years since last painted.
The door was shut. The chimney indi.
Gated no sign Of smoke, the front yard
gave every evidence of long neglect.
An urchin, chasing a ball, plunged
recklessly beneath the auto, emerging
with the sphere in his grimy fist West
stopped him with question.
"Who lives In there?"
II don't know. These folks Just
come In. They It got no kids. Here
ye are, Micky!"
"Wait minute. Here's dime for
you. You say these people just moved
inr'
"Yep."
"Whenf"
"Couple days, maybe. Hooligans
moved out bout a week ago, an then,
q while after that, these guys moved
In. ain't seen nobody round, but q
sorter middlfa' OIL woman"
West, having distracted all the II
formation possible, made no further
effort. The knowledge thus obtained
as to the present occupants OF the cot
tage did not exactly coincide with the
story Coolidge. had told. He had spo-
ken of widow with three children In
destitute circumstances following the
fathers death. The boy asserted there
were no children in the family. And
they had just moved in, within very
few days, during which time the neigh
borhood had only glimpsed "mid-
ding OLD, woman. II was strange at
hast, adding diptinctIy 20 the puzzle
! r 40 E10l1. afIairs v1Ao nnS MR..