The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, March 24, 1920, Image 12
The House
of Whispers
WilliAM
JOHNSTON
EnluaraI~s.my~
miRWN MYERS
0oPyrigbt by LitU BRmwn &Co.
Continued from first page, this section.
their plans. Conte, let ile escort you.
Miss .."
As I hesitated over the name she
answered simply:
"Bradford-laihura DIladford."
Rhe pondered for a moment over my
uggestion 11n.l then turned to walk
ithi me tfloward the allartment house.
"Whar~t w*re the nien like?" she
asked.
I deser'wed themi as best I could,
though really the 1impression that the
youth on the bch haid left was vague.
His vOic(, an insoleit, loirse, Iicul
tiva ted one. was ahinost all I could re
call about him.
"I wotier who they were? I won
der how they knew?"
"Knlew wNviat?",
ler lips tigItetied into a straight
line.
"I Cn't tell you. I duren't. I Isn't
my secret."
Iy tis tline we had reahel her
homne anad tlie bowln.r dooriman wNas
Swiligitg back thw greaLt ir-oi door
for Is it lid he iinty litei itiotn to
aniloii tietl my arrivili, but reeal Iig
that Mis.s 0ladf'r1 lad said that the
Gaston niparinelit was oi the ,tamie
floor ts hers, I st opped with her into
the elevalor. \V hen It luil descended,
leaving ts togethrn 'in III the corridor,
she tunIled to Im. ait'ui tffl lolifd r han1d.
"THinik you so imichi, Mr. Nelsou."
"I wish yoi'd let me( help you," I
cred.
She shook her head.
"Well, promise me one thing," I in
isted.
"What is it?"
"That you never again will go alone
to the park to meet those men."
A tremor shook her body, and once
More a look of terror erent into her
eyes.
"I eil't protmise that. I must meet
themo. I must ! I must !"
I reacied out and took her hand.
"Promise I me, then, that before you
go again you will let inec kiow."
"You must not try to stop my go
ing," she cried desperately and free
ing her hanid turned quickly and un
locking her door left me standing
there alone, staring tifter her.
Perplexed beyoid measure as to
what I ought to do, after a monent I
pressed the hell and wits adnitted to
the Gaston apartment and to the pres
ence of iiy aged relatives.
Although I tried to pretend anl in
terest in their cotiversation IId absent
ly answvered their <questions about my
fatmlly, my thoutghit s kept conlst aniitly
recurring to the sti range tromuble of
the gIirl acr'oss thle hall, Iter' 1light In -
terestinig tin. far moore thain the pu1'
post' for whicht my grenit-uncile lhid
seiit for roii. I Imtel 'xpwetteil that he
would bro:'-h tt subiject himiself1, but
the cotlf,- tirrivt'l amtl still the 'otn
versat ion hadt beent limit ed to stilteds
faimily' ehat. .) u e returined to Ite
living ri'tia, I deldiut'l to give him a
lend:
relietvedt.
"Ye is, ye', o.(f course,"5< ech io I Mrs.
G;aston.
they'3 hotlh setimitd atI a Ilow- for w'ordt'ts.
"Yol'i t'll Itimit, ittfuts,'" said tmy
llis tired old eyves stieltd 11ny entml~
temitne C: 'trefully, st'arebingly', a If
he was tr'yinig to rend my stoul.
"It Is this,"' saihl uold ltiufus, spea'lk
ing'. slowly an wtith I eftlt as if lie
lhat ed tot tdisritose hils inittitolls.
"''Tre' day:s fr'a:n t~ -ow- tat will Ibe
gointg to Mati ine to ite gonie fori stomte
not like to leave this apatrtmetnt whotlly
t nnt'i editt, iinIl it occurr'med to Mr's.
Gastonl thatt ytou igh't occupy It in
011r a bse nte.''
1 amo afiraid lmy ,ounlti'nanclte at tha t
momenlt mu lst. havie het rayedt't myi ('On
sterna jion. My grt'at ('xlectatIions
vanishetd, bIlew utp. disatppea red. 'l'hiey
did( not wvanit me1 for an heir but for a
caretaker. What ia ftool I hadt been to
imnaglino for one mtomenit tat thIs 1)0
nlurlious old couple had contemnpiatedl
doIng anytinmg for me1. Thley wtanted
me to dho sotmething for themo. A star
castle re'fusal of thlei' prmoff'er Itroml
bled on my lips bult was stay'ed by tmy
gr'eat-aunt spe'aknag:
"It will enauble you to save your
room rent. Mr. Gaston will pay the
remit hI atdviance before we go. TFhere
will lie nto onei herte to servo your
meals 8o you will have to get them
elsewhere, hut I will arrange with my
ltandress to come in oInce a day to
make up yo~ur room, anti you'll be uno
der no expetnse."
Her Atuggesition tha't I wvould have
n renom ent to nny deided me. Two
other considerations also influenced
me. It might lhe a plani on the part
of the old people to try inc out and
see if I was trustworthy, and then.
hv elling under the same roof with
i'arbara Bradford, I might have op
portunities of seeing her again, and
who knows, perhaps of assisting her
out of her mysterious plight.
"I shall he very glad indeed to
come," I found myself saying. "It
was nice of you both to think of me."
"We'll consider the matter settled,"
announced old Itufus. "We are un
used to guests here, so you had better
come at ten on Sunday, an hour after
we have started."
"Itufus," suggested my great-ant
apprehensively, "had you not better
give him the combination of the wall
safe? My jewels are there, and in
case there should be a fire--"
"Why not take them with you?" I
In territpted.
"They are a nuisance when you are
travell~ " she objected.
"A safe deposit box would be bobt
ter, then."
"No," said old Rufus shortly. "Both
my safe deposit boxes are full and
there is no use hiring another one.
The jewels will be all right where
they are. In case of flre you can re
mnove them to a place of safety. This
is the combination-see that you re
ninher it-six right, four left, two
right, eight left, 6,4i."
"I'll renmembher it,' I replied. men
tally repeating It over and over again.
"And now, my dear," said the old
gentleman, "if you will get the keys
from my desk, we can permit our
nephew to depart."
My great-atuint left the room to do
his mission. The minute she was
safely out of hearing old Itufus' whole
iianner underwent at startling change.
Into his deep-set gray eyes camie a
look of terror. His fne( becam21e ashen,
and the witlitred hand with which lie
cluitched mny armi was trembling vio
lently.
"Listen, boy," he hissed, leanin-g for
ward that he might spenk into mny ar
"Something Wrong Here -in This
House-I Tell Youl"
and lookting about apprehiensively as If
he feared to be overheard. "Listen
there's something wrong here."
My first thought wats that hie hand
been suiddenly strickenl with senilo
dlementia, but recalling his perfectly
raioalcodut hrugou-te es
: Something wrong?"er - rin Thi,
wanderooingy.i"it do 'Cleniyo man?
le Cluhed to heoeard. aistengh
ero'rs, aondthisn ~voae hupre'' t
Ma irte wohitr bwanm thate hn
lintet. ideivsrcknw h ei
ra"oaI on ~li't o, hel b'euilitd. "Iewrst
of the. eveing Ihw (limorosly t thory
isand ouwent mn "The.' smearn
notevere out what it i's.'Aly keendo
uoel tinlg happen.? I am aways.
h~iearig vlves-wh\isper, whispers,1012
awy My w'it'ife thinksif iton n l ih
21otunt'ofieny hellth.r n'ca Idot att in
''o kn'tw. v Ple, lrase i,'d wpling,
21find (iwht ~Vit it bIfor wll return.(I
(Iiihav noii~ lonie'.hr 1i 2 ni n ese
foiiur F int ot ibou why 'e inrs
iuli. w yit i f h itk tis ho'2o2m arm'
andItlid ' is3 fingert. on' lia he
hfid h'i wttitfs fo'e't reture.Wt aurn.
tble lfort hie sutrai'htenedit upii ands
whn henrrd therom hea apptr
en tly3 hadt ent irely r'ecover'ed his srlf
possessiin aiid w'as his naotuiral self
atginu, ia digiied', wor'bl-wveary old
"I cantt't find your keys, Itufius," said(
may great-o un , "'you2 had1 betteor get
them yourself."
The m~ite he left the roomi she
hastened to my sidle aind shie, too, lie
gant to whispler llnystleriousI war'tnings,
exhibIting a terrior hardly less than
her' agetd hutsbandlt's.
"This is t house of mystery," sho
announilced(. "I'm always hea ritng
strange s(ound(1 here. Ie dioesn't
know"--with a nod in the direction old
Itufus had gone, "andt I dlo niot w~ant
hima to. That la the reason I amtf tak
ing him awany. S'olve the mystery oif
it before we return. I'll pay you. I'll
mtake It well worth your while."
IHer husbandl's shiufflinmg in the pass
ago wvarne-d her of his return, amid she
gtulekhy dlropjledl my arm. As lie en.
tered she was tellIng me In (quite nor
malI tones to lie sure to remembner her
to my mother the next time I wrote.
01(d tfus handed ime thme keys, ex
plainingr which wnu which.
"And remember," said my great
uncle, as he escorted me to the door,
"you are not to come until Sunday
morning at ten, after we have gone.
And remember the combination of the
safe-Remember !"
The insistent way in which he re
peated the word conveyed to me force
fully that what he most wanted me
to remember was the strange warning
he had given me, and as I clasped his
hand in parting I tried by the firm
ness of my grip to let him know that
I understood.
"Remember," repeated my aunt, too,
as she stood there in the door a little
behind him, at the same time giving
me a significant look.
Yet, puzzling .as had been the con
duct of hoth of them, my memories
that night were not of their warning
nor of the combination of the safe
nor of the hour at which I was to
arriv-. They were of the most beau
tifui eyes I ever had seen and of the
haunting terror written In them.
(To be continued.)
Piles Cured In 6 to 14 Days
Drugglets refund money If PAZO OINTMENT faill
to cure Itching, D liod, leedingor Protruding Piles
Instruntly relieves Itchir.g Plies, and you can 'alei
restful Mcet) after the fltst apphicatiou. Price 00c
CLEMSON CADETS
RETURN TO BOOKS
All but Scattering Few Re-enter Col.
lege. Riggs Makes 8peeeh.
Clemson College, March 22.--The
regular work of the third' term of
Clemson college began this morning
with all the seniors present, all the
juniors present but four, and al of
the lower classes except 20, some of
whom have asked for an extension of
leave on account of sickness or other
causes. President Riggs welcomed the
students back, as is his custom in an
earnest short address. A feeling of op
timism prevailed at the chapel exer
cises.
The regular class work started this
afternoon. There seems to -be a desire
on the part of all to make the third
term's work the best of the year and
to forgt as !ar aspossib le the recent
occurrences.
Date Trees Big Yielder.
As many as 4,000 dates have been
gathered from a single palm at one
bearing.
NO COAL BUT
PLENTY OF WOOD
We have a lot of Wood cut for
Grates. Just the thing for mod
erate weather.
PROMPT DELIVERY
Eichelberger Brothers
0
Middle Georgia Oil and Gas Company of Washington
County Georgia Has Commenced Drilling.
March 9th The First Test Well Was
Christened Lillian "B" One.
Numbers of people from South Carolina and Georgia were there for this event and
to see surface indications. Read what a few of them say:
lacon, Ga., .\larch 10, 1.92". Aiken, March 6, 1920. Newberry, S. C., March 1, 1920.
I vT hont it ay concern: I have over represeting varis rs
~ i) ed he IiecuII i ~ ~~'visi ted tile oil field of tile Midl (( cpuarcihasers front illy couanty ex peti tug
and was much interested in tle drill- Georgia Oil & Gas Co., at Sandersville, to demand their money if I found
Ing operations, gas flashes, seepages Ca., and found the work of drilling things Iisrepresented.
and other indications of oil. well under way with an up-to-date I can go back and advise them with
with the fact. that lot pmurchasers are gas from a surface standpoint and holdings.
getting on the ground floor of a prom- consider an investment here Is well *M. M. IUFORi.
worth taking thle chance, for with evi
ising chance business venture vith a dence they have and the men whom I
company managed by clean and hon- believe are conscientious, I an some
est men. The optimism and enthusi- What Optimistic Over 1. prospect.
asm of Mr. 'Rloss, the driller. is con- .Every statement of company fully
verified by absolute facts andi demion
tagious. lie impresses you as being strations. 1j. C. (BROWN.
ewell Informed, holest and capable and 11tifort March 10,1920.
is an important factor in the develop- o whom It may concern: Seeing i,
Iment of the field. believIng. That is what I (lid a ar
Yours very truly, ferday and invested without heslta- The demonstration of oil and natfiral
.1 G IILY AIDl ion lin tile Middle Georgia Oil & Cas vas seepages Is till thley claiml. I ,! l
.1.0. ~h~lIi) Co. W'. W. NIVEII. satisfied and expect. great things from
this field. A. It. NPW'i'ON.
Atlanta, CAa., Mai , 9, 1920.1
I have visi ted 'a riou oil fields, and( Macon, Ga., March 14), 1 92ot.
lullev tIt the rii testpispectinTo whom it may concern: I don't ati, S. ve.,March 1, 11.20.
the' ((ll i liv todiay. 1 .1ill. of coti I'M, k Ito w antything aboutt oil lirosieteis bill. tIt is, here. Th'le coin Italty Ila. it icIliv
iX etiig rgleat thr ings froln ily Ill - front wh'at I sawi~ ant wiling to wif a0 I (red I lie goods. Am a perfectlIy sat isliedl
vest tit 1s. 111\' Smt ri s c.s si I thIIte Ileacl ldh. w it 1113 mtrehases,
T , wenty-vwo geologists and oil experts declare this one of the prospects yet discov
ered, and they predict the Beach field to be one of the greatest oil fields ever opened up
in this country. The company's driller, a man of forty-six years experience in the oil
business, and who has the distinction of having opened up more new fields than any man
in the business, states: "This is one of the finest prospects I have ever seen, and I have
never seen a prospect with such surface indications as are found on this field where oil
was not found in abundance. en
Natural gas sufficiently strong to flash and burn is in evidence on the surface of this
field. Lots are being sold for $35.00 each which carry a certificate of participation in
all earnings of the company from start to finish. These lots may be paid for all at the
timbofpuchaerllng ts I pdi s
e oil word, shouldcome truethinkwh and ew ofthtthesea-oldma t ouwe
ould pay an annual dividend on i ove $500.00 Georgaditin ot& Gaesfth lt. e
Teta comany .\irs maaedblen ons1enwom9hveko n o eas.
have recetly variou o ntheh-ieldanddsa on, mysel .\arl th1caisf1h cmpnyvei
fied. thi dollrits nowpewouin mea asmuho ia onerhnIdreon'tsatroi ssruk o
tcuntr g tody n o m. the gourd looi knou aythn qui Thsps anoprtntuta oe o
xctnmea then s fom nomyrtt i t-.frlm what sa amlltte for smale ilso e ipsdo
vTelpoemrie sent.myn wrlus exain eallhtacils
LAURrrENSC,,larS., C.0
I cam ove repesentng vriou