Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 165, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1920 — Page 2

A BEAUTIFUL GHOST.

Bynopata-Spalding Nelson U occupying the apartment* of hie great-uncle, Rufus Gaston. The Gastons, leaving on a trip, tell him about mysterious noises and '‘whispers*’ that have scared them. He becomes acquainted with Barbara Bradford, who lives in the same big building. He instinctively dislikes and distrusts the superintendent, Wick. The mysteries in bis apartments begin with the disappearance of the Gaston pearls from the wall safe. He decides not to call in the police, but to do his own Investigating. It is soon evident that someone has access to his rooms Becoming friendly with Barbara, he learns that her apartments are equally mysterious. She tells him that several years before her sister Claire, who lives with her, had made a run-away marriage with an adventurer, from whom she was soon parted, and the marries* had been annulled. Claire is engaged to be married and someone has stolen documents Concerning the affair from the Bradford apartment and la attempting to blackmail the Bradfords Nelson Htgkeir Miss Kelly, the telephone girl, to dinner with the idea of pumping her. Gorman, a hotel detective, recognises her as the wife of Lefty Moore, a noted burglar. Nelson partly confides in the detective and arranges to meet him.

CHAPTER Vl—Continued. ••You’re right about that,” I replied, ••and say, look here. Why can't you meet me somewhere tomorrow afternoon. There are a lot of mysterious things happening in the Granddeck. Maybe you can help me in trying to clear them up.” “Its a date. I’ll be in the back room of Jim Connor’s place over on Third avenue at three o’clock waiting for you.” Til be there," I said, as I bade him good night. “Hold on a minute," he said. “Do you know where Lefty Moore's wife lives now?" I recalled the number she had told me to give the taxi man and repeated it to him, an address way over on Hast Sixty-second street near the river. “I like to know them sort of things." he explained. “In our business you never know when you’ll be needing them." On my way home, after I left him, I congratulated myself on having made James Gorman’s acquaintance. In him I bad found a man with police and detective experience. The fact that he held a responsible position with a big hotel ought to be sufficient voucher for his honesty. Of course Miss Bradford must be consulted before I met Gorman the next afternoon. I could hardly tell him my own almost unbelievable experiences without bringing in the attempts to blackmail her sister. Surely Miss Bradford would not object to my plan. We were making such poor headway in solving the mystery ourselves that I was certain she would welcome German’s advice. And would it not be a surprise to Barbara Bradford to learn that a criminal —or at least the wife of a criminal —was employed as a telephone girl in the apartment house? I was hoping that she would be at home and in her room when I arrived at the house so that I might signal her and tell her my great news at once. I let myself into the apartment and without bothering to turn on the lights made my way back toward my own

As the Light Flooded the Room There Was a Suppressed Scream Followed by a Frightened Gasp.

room. As I reached the end of the hall my ears detected a scuffling noise that seemed to come from my quarters. I stopped stock-etill and listened breathlessly. Unquestionably there was sotheooe in my room. I tiptoed softly forward. As I crept along in the darkness, making, no sound. I found myself devoutly wishing for some weapon. Of course it might be Barbara, who had entered by mrarv of the ledge to leave some message for me, but if It were not she. I Mt certain that I would discover who

The House Whispers

By William Johnston

was at the bottom of the plots against ns. I gained the door without my presence having been discovered. In the dim half-light that came from the open window I could detect a figure standing on a chair apparently feeling along the wail near the ceiling. I recalled with curiosity that it was from that spot that the whispers I had heard had seemed to come. Inch by incn I edged noiselessly .forward, my eyes on the Intruder until at last my fingers found the electric light hutton. As the light flooded the room there was a suppressed scream, followed by a frightened gasp. The figure on the chair turned quickly and faced me. I saw that it was a woman, a badly frightened woman, with her hands clutching at her heart. Almost instantly I recognized her. It was not Barbara Bradford, but her sister, Claire. She was clad in some sort of a dark house gown thrown over her nightgown. Her slippered feet were bare of stockings, and her hair hung in a great braid down her back. As I stared at her she sprang from the chair and made a rush for the open window. I grabbed for her and though she fought desperately I managed to hold her fast and to drag her away from the window. After a moment’s futile resistance she suddenly collapsed In my arms, moaning in & tense whisper: __ _ _______ “Let me go, please let me go.” I placed her In a chair, and still keeping a tight hold on one of her arms, studied her, debating what to do. What desperate motive could have driven this girl to the daring journey across the narrow ledge by which she had gained access to my quarters? Was she, I wondered, once more in the power of that evil exhusband of hers, driven by fear of him to such desperate deeds. “Let me go," she moaned again. “Not until you tell me what you were doing in my rooms,” I answered firmly. “I did not know there was any one here. I thought the apartment was vacant I thought the Gastons were away "

“But why did you come?” “I can’t tell that,” she moaned. “I can’t! I can’t!” “You must,” I repeated. “I am going to kee]) you here until you do tell me.” “You must not keep me here,” shesaid. "I don’t want my people to know about my having been here. You look like a gentleman. Please let me go.” “Doesn’t Barbara —doesn’t your sister know you are here?" At my mention of her sister’s name an expression of amazement escaped her. "Who are you?” she asked excitedly. "How did you knew who I was?” “I am a friend of your sister," I answered. “She will tell you who I am. You must trust me. I feel I have a right to know what you are doing here. Won’t you tell me?” A strange look came into her eyes and she shook her head. “You wouldn’t understand. I was trying to trace the whispers.” “The whispers!” I cried excitedly. “You have heard them, too?” “Often,” she said. “I heard them tonight. Mother and Barbara were out to the theater. They seemed to come from near the ceiling in my sister’s room. They seemed to vanish in the direction of this room. I thought there was no one here. I decided to creep along the ledge and see If I could trace them.” “And did you succeed?” She shook her head. “When I first came in this room I could still hear them. They seemed to be coming from up near the ceiling. I got up on a chair and put my ear to the wall to listen. Then they stopped altogether and then —you came in. May I go now—before my mother comes home?" “On one condition,” I answered, “that you tell your sister about your having been here.” *TII tell her If you wish me to,” she replied, “and now, please may I go? Could you let me out of your door? See, I brought a key to our apartment with me. I don’t think I dare make that trip across the ledge tonight." As I escorted her to the door, my mind in a whirl over the events of the evening, I suddenly remembered how important it was that I should see her sister for a long talk before I kept my appointment with Gorman. “Tell your sister,” I said to Claire Bradford as she departed, “that it is imperative that she meet me at luncheon tomorrow. I have news of the utmost importance —news that concerns all of us. Tell her to meet me at the Astor at one. She must come.” > “I’ll tell her,” she replied.

CHAPTER VII. It was the next evening that I made my astounding discovery, when pure chance led me plump into what both Barbara Bradford and I recognized at once as our first real clue to the mysteries surrounding us

My find came unexpectedly at the end of an exciting day. As may be imagined I slept little in the hours following my unexpected meeting with Claire Bradford in my rooms, coming as It did right on top of Detective Gorman’s revelations as to "the identity of the telephone girl. Coupled with these circumstances was the fact that if my hopes were realized, Barbara would be within a very few hours lunching with me for the first time. I just had to see her before I met Gorman. The tale I was to unfold to him was so improbable, so almost unbelievable, that I wanted to go over It with her step by step, in order to be able to convince the detective that it was the absolute truth. I could not help but realize how preposterous It would sound In the telling. Mr. Gorman could hardly be blamed for believing that my mind had been Inflamed by witnessing too many movie thrillers. Yet I had proof. There were the entries in my greatuncle's diary that I could show. I had the anonymous notes. My story of the strange whispers, if need he, could be confirmed by the old laundress, by Barbara Bradford, yes, and by Claire, too. That is, if the reason Claire had given to account for her presence in my room was the true one. It sounded logical, and yet I did not place the confidence in her that I did in Barbara. But what I relied on most of all to convince Gorman of the truth of my preposterous tale was his own knowl-

Irwin Myew

edge of who the telephone girl was. Just when I had reached the deduction that the band plotting against us must have a coadjutor in the building, he had come forward with the knowledge that pointed toward the person most apt to be Involved. I was pondering it all over in my mind as I left the house to meet Barbara; I was out on the street and just turning the corner when I remembered that I had spent most of the money In my pocket the night before. Retracing my steps, I returned to my apartment and took some bills from their hiding-place in the bookcase. As I emerged into the street again. I became aware that across the street was a man whose appearance seemed vaguely familiar. As I once more turned the corner, walking briskly, I glanced back for a second look at him and was surpised to see him coming in my direction,. Then all at once my subconscious mind came to my rescue. I realized when it was that I had seen him before and what made his appearance so familiar. As I left the house not ten minutes ago that very same man had been standing across the street. Aalhadturne corner he had been coming In my direction just as he was now. He must be following rne, trailing me, shadowing me. I determined to test out my theory. At the next corner I turned sharply, glancing quickly back as I did so. He was still following me, though on the other side of the street and perhaps half a block away. I went a few steps out of sight and then stopped as if to look in a shop window. He came hurrying around the corner an instant later, slowing down as soon as he spotted me again and walked on slowly past me as if not noticing me. I waited until he was some distance beyond and retracing my steps quickly to the avenue again stopped in the shelter of a building to light a cigar, purposely wasting a number of matches. In hardly ten seconds he was back, covertly watching me from the other side of the street.

There was no question about It He was trailing me. But who could be having me shadowed? Certainly he was not in the employ of the Bradfords or of Detective Gorman. Either he must be one of the band of plotters, or —I hated to voice my suspicion, but somehow the thought of my great-uncle Rufus kept obtruding Itself. It would be just like the suspicious old miser, if it was he who had planned all this devilment, to put me in a position of trust and then to have me watched night and day. Whoever it was that this pursuit, I determined to lead my shadow a merry chase. Jumping into a taxi I bade the driver take me to a department store. Looking back I saw the shadow hastily entering another cab. Arrived at my destination I thrust fare and tip into the driver’s hand and hurrying inside managed to catch an elevator just ascending. One flight up I got Out and redescended to the main floor by a staircase at the rear, emerging thence on to a side street. A second taxi took me to the Twenty-eighth street subway station, and there, with no sign of my nursuer. I took a train to Timas

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

“She Shouldn’t Have Gone to Your Room. That’s Just Like Her, Though."

square and went to the Astor to meet Barbara Bradford, arriving on the dot of one. She was there awaiting me and we quickly found a secluded table in one of the less conspicuous rooms. “I’ve told Claire everything.” she said as soon as we were seated. “I hope you're not angry with me.” “Of course not. You had to tell her. I am sorry to have frightened her.” “She shouldn't have gone to your room. That’s just like her, though. She always acts on the spur of the moment. She’s awfuHy worried, too, poor girl.’’ “We can save her," I said. “Wh£” she asked quickly, “what have you learned?” “I was convinced that they must have someone in the house aiding them. I’ve found out who it is. It’s the telephone giri—Nellie Kelly is the name she goes by.” “I can’t believe it,” cried the girl, shocked at my« statement. “She’s only a girl like myself. I have talked to her lots of times. I’m certain there’s nothing wicked or wrong about her.” “I’m afraid there is," I explained. “I took her out to dinner lust night, to the White Room. The house detective, while she was off telephoning, practically ordered me out of the place because I was with her. She’s notorious. Her husband is Lefty Moore, a wellknown burglar. He’s in Sing Sing now. Detective Gorman arrested him. He ought to know.” / 4 0h, the poor girl,” exclaimed Miss Bradford, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m so sorry for her.” “But think of your sister. Think what they are trying to do with Miss Kelly’s aid.” “But how do you know she’s aiding them?”

‘T don’t know it. But I do know that nobody could pull off all the things that have been happening in the Granddeck without some one there helping them. We’ve found someone used to helping criminals —a criminal’s wife. Isn't that enough? All we need to do now is to watch her closely and fasten the thing on her.” “How are you going to do that?” “That’s why I insisted on your coming here today. I am to meet Detective Gorman at three. I feel that he could aid us, and I think we ought to tell him everything.” “Tell the police!” Her face grew white at the thought. “Wouldn’t that mean a scandal —the newspapers and all that sort of thing?” I shook my head decisively. “Gorman’s hot with the police now. He is employed as a hotel detective. But he is just the man we need to help us. He knows all about criminals and how to track them. With his aid we can quickly clear the whole thing up.” “Will you have to tell him everything—about Claire’s marriage?” “We’ve either got to tell him everything or nothing.” “Oh, how I wish we did not have to. The more people there are who know about things the more likely they are to become public.” “Yet you trusted me with your sister’s secret." She gave me a quick glance of confidence. “You’re different.” _ t “I’m afraid most people would not agree with you. They would regard me as a worthless, discredited young fellow out of a job.” “But It’s not your fault." “The point is,” I went on, “that we have reached a place where we need expert advice. Gorman has fortuitously turned up to give it. The only way is to tell him everything.” For a moment she matter silently, her pretty forehead puckered in o thought. “Yes,” she said at last, “I suppose it is the only way. But won’t he want a lot of money for his services?” “I’ll attend to. that,” • I answered. “I’ll make my great-uncle reward him handsomely for recovering the Gaston jewels.” “If he does.” ' “He must. We’ve got to get them back” , From her hand-bag she produced the anonymous letters she had received and handed them to me. “Will you want to.show the detective these?”

"Yes. I think I had better. The whole tale sounds so preposterous that I need every bit of corroborative evidence we can muster.” For half an hour we ’ingered over the table, discussing all the aspects of the case. Eventually I think I persuaded Miss Bradford that the evidence pointed most damningly to the telephone girl as one of the conspirators or at least one of their aides. She was eager to know what plan of action Gorman would advise and as we parted we arranged to be at our adjoining windows at ten that evening in order that we might have another chat. I found Gorman waiting for me at the place he had mentioned. “I told you that girl was a bad one,” was his greeting. ; “What do you mean?" I cried. “What have you learned about her?” “Nothing except that the address she gave you last night was phony. The number she gave is the hospital grounds"—he pronounced it “horspital." “Where does she live, then?" “She’s keeping that under cover. She shook the taxi at Fifty-ninth and Third.”

Detective Gorman to the rescue.

(TO BE CONTINUED.)

More fish are eaten by the Japanese than Ux any Other nation. 4 ■

PATHOS IN PLEAS

More Than Humer in Samples of Baboo Writing, Communication* Evidently Composed Under Stres*—Proposal of Marriage Can Only Be Classed ■ as Remarkable. Serpents, baboons, tigers and other dangerous and disturbing creatures bave not infrequently interfered with the work of progress and improvement in India. The distracted telegram of a baboo station master, asking for instructions in the unpleasant emergency of “tiger dancing on platform,” has long been a stock anecdote. He was certainly excusable for being rather upset in his mind and in his EngThe recent plea of a baboo office clerk, addressed to the head of the firm whose son, a confirmed dog-lover, had been recently put in charge, had less to justify its urgency—yet there are many who will sympathize. “If this office will be continuously Infested by sprightly canine with penchant for eating legs,” he wrote, “how shall work be performed to honor’s satisfaction? I beseech with honor relegate the friend of man to house and home, where noxious behavior will be suitably admired.” The gentleman who reports this choice gem adds another, less recent, but equally characteristic: “Office cat, by reason of rats, dally growing lean,” he notified his superior. “Will superintendent please increase the contingent allowance for her return to Here is a fine example of baboo, and a proposal of marriage, too: “Dear sir—lt is with faltering penmanship that I write to have communication w’ith you about the prospective condition of your damsel offspring. “For some remote time to past a secret passion has been firing my bosom internally with loving for your daughter. I have navigated every channel In the magnitude of my extensive jurisdiction to cruelly smother the growing love-knot that is being constructed in my within side, but the timid lamp of affection trimmed by Cupid’s productive hands still nourishes my love-sick heart. Needless would it be for me to numerically extemporize the great conflagration that has been generated In my head and heart. During the region of rightness my intellectual cranium has been entangled in thoughtful attitude after my beloved consort. Nocturnal slumberlessness has been the infirmity which has besieged my now degenerate constitution. My educational capabilities have abandoned me, and I now cling to those lovely tresses of , your much-coveted daughter like a mariner shipwrecked on the rock of love. As to my scholastic caliber, 1 was recently ejected from Calcutta university. lam of lofty and original lineage and of Independent incomes, and hoping that having debated this proposition in your preoccupied mind you .will concordantly corroborate in espousing your female progeny to my tender bosom and thereby acquire me into your family circle. Your dutiful son-in-law.”

Move for Sound Currency.

How the great volume of European currency, unsecured by gold or real estate, is to be reduced Is illustrated by what is taking place in Czecho-Slo-vakia now, says the Milwaukee Journal. This is one of the new states carved out of the old Austro-Hung-gerian empire. It inherited from the old empire Its share of Inflated war money—more than 8,000.000,000 crowns, worth In the old days about 20 cents each, but whose present value is around one cent. Czecho-Slovakia realizes that its money must have more value. So In the recent reorganization of its financial system all of the old money was called in and new money issued. But the volume of new money Is 38 per cent less than the old, and the state cannot Increase this except by providing adequate security (gold, silver, bonds, commercial paper, warehouse receipts, etc.) upon which to base the issue. Further, plans have been made to withdraw from circulation another 1,500,000,000 crowns.

Girls Invade the Navy.

And now the women want to Join the navy, too, observes the Tulsa World. Officers of the local recruiting station received the shock of their lives lately when two fair ladies of thiscity applied at the station for enlistment in the navy. They declared that they wanted to see the world and that they considered the navy as the best place for their pursuit as Uncle Sam paid all the traveling expenses. When Chief Roth told them that no yeomanettes were being enlisted now as there is no war on, they left the office, saying that they would be back just as soon as another war broke out.

Psychology Again to the Rescue.

“Clothes do not make the man," remarked the ready-made philosopher. “Let us hope for the best,” rejoined Miss Cayenne. “Perhaps some of the society lads who are putting on overalls will be psychologically influenced to attempt a regular day's work.”

English Liles O. Henry’s Works.

O. Henry is a favorite author ta England The English publishers of his works recently reported that the total sales through them amounted t» 800.000 copies. , j

Hone Town Helps

GARDEN CITIES HELP TRAFFIC Transference of Part of Population Relieve* Congestion on Car* In London. Dense morning fogs have combined with the now chronic congestion of passenger traffic to make Londoners realize too vividly the Inconveniences of an over centralized population, remarks the London Times. London is undoubtedly too large for health, for happiness and for economical living and production; and, although the amenities of life in this and other great cities have in some ways been increased by providing dormitories at a distance from the work room, the problem of daily transit has been proportionately intensified. Much is to be said for the garden suburb, but even more for the garden city. The two are often confused or falsely identified, but from the point of view of transport the difference between is fundamental. Garden suburbs represent an extension of the daily traffic of a great town to a more distant circumference; garden cities, a permanent transference of a section of the population to a less crowded center. Every inhabitant of a garden suburb who works in the city contributes twice a day his or her share to the ever increasing problem of traffic congestion. The colonist of a garden city, on the other hand, definitely relieves the overcrowded centers of the duty of transporting him to and from his work and catering for him and his. Dwellers in garden suburbs are excursionists ; the garden citizen is an emigrant. It Is of the nature of the community to which he belongs that he shall not only sup, sleep, breakfast and occasionally play lawn tennis and grow beans or roses there, but * shall work there as well; and for his reward as a pioneer he escapes the strains and stretches of the straphanger.

TOWNS' NEED OF WOODLOT

Would Be Paying Proposition in These Days of Railroad Strikes and Coal Shortages. Is there a little woodlot In your town? Zurich, Switzerland, has had one working for it for six centuries and it is still paying big dividends. There Is a great big lesson in this, the American Forestry association of Washington says, in these days of railroad strikes and coal shortages. Many travelers are familiar with the “town forests” of Europe. One of the best known of these is the communal forest belonging to the city of Zurich, in Switzerland, which has an area of 2,840 acres, yielding on the average an annual income of nearly $20,000, or about $7.00 per acre; and this is the most remarkable because most of this income Is derived from the sale of firewood, which is perhaps, the cheapest product of a forest. This tract of forest land has been under management since the year 1309, and it has been steadily increasing in value during these six centuries, writes Prof. John Bentley, Jr., of Cornell, .in the American Forestry Magazine. In this country the number of towns and cities that are practicing forestry is still small, and their efforts have been confined chiefly to the protection of watersheds from which the city’s water supply is drawn.

Billboards Versus Beauty.

Thus it comes about that people w ride out into the country, eager ft the rest and refreshment which only the open country can give, find every field and every little hill dotted by V-shaped signs, erected in the most approved fashion, and ornamented with the approved moldings and machinemade cornices, while the beautiful vistas that might otherwise make each turn in the road a new delight are cut short by successive examples of the approved “head-on” “showings.” One needs but to test his own sensations, on such a motor ride to know how completely the - billboard men are stifling his power to enjoy “natural scenic beauty spots.” All their scruples have not preserved to him his native rights in the open country.—Christian Science Monitor.

Where Did the Colors Go?

John’s mother was washing some of his garments. Holding up one of his new wash suits, she exclaimed: “Oh, dear, dear, John, the colors in your pretty new suit ran.” John, who was having much trouble in controlling a fiery steed in the form of a broom handle, apparently paid little attention. A little while later, he came to his mother, and said in a much puzzled manner: “Mother, I can’t find ’em any place.”*' “Find what, dear?” asked the mother. “Why, the colors, * answered John. “You said they ran. - Where did they go?”

Long Felt Want.

Bill—Tm going to start a new society right away. Phil —For what purpose? Bill —To induce motion picture producers to use only big and difficult* words in picture subtitles, so that the Ignoramuses who read them aloud will be foiled,—Film Fan. _