The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, May 19, 1920, Image 13
XXV' LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1920. NUMBER 44
1
& 'Will
Johns
(Cont inued from Last Week.)
CHAPTER Vi.
Left alone for a moment by my com
panion, I sat there at the table in
the crowded restaurant, idly watching
the beautifully costumed women all
about me, ' listening dreamily to the
music of the orchestra, observing with
interest the graceful gyrations of the
occasional couple who sought the
dancing floor in the center, when sud
denly I was brought to myself by
hearing a gruff voice saying:
"What'd you bri ng that crook in
here for?"
"Wh (f do y-11 nn1'atn?" I gas ed in
toh'nt N i :p a ta.quare
shonidt- i ii w iih - t'nt ly trimmeWl
black mustache who was stanling be
side my table'
"It's you I mean," he announced.
"Don't you know you can't bring that.
kind of people in here?"
As e\'planation ' for my presence
there in the White room of the fa
mous Hundredth hotel,, let me say
that my investigations Into the per
plexing chain oi mysiur-inus, circim
stances in which Barbara Bradford
and I seemed to be each day becom
ing more firmly involved, had finally
led me to deduce three different the
ories, each more or less plausible,
and each involving ad entirely differ
ent set of persons.
There were certain happenings and
circumstances that made me some
times wonder it the whole thing were
not a- base plot on the part of my
great-uncle Rufus, perhaps influenced
by a desire for revenge or perhaps
led on by an insane greed for still
greater wealth.
Yet, on the other hand, there were
thosp entries in 'his diary about the
mysterious voices. Apparently, too,
his wife and Mrs. Burke had heard
them.
Did it not seem more likely that the
arch plotter was Claire Bradford's ex
husband?
This theory seemed far more ten
able. While the Bradfords hnd heard
nothing .roi him for several years,
the publication of Claire Bradford's
engagement might have attracted his
notice and inspired him to an attempt
at blackmall. Yet how could he galn
access to the wall safe where the di
vorce papers were kept, 6r how could
he be dropping notes on tho floor of
Barbara Bradford's bedrooin? How
could he have stolen the Gaston
pearls? It seemed incredible but still
my thoughts kept returning to the
possibility of his directing Claire
Bradford's actions through hypnotic
control. Once he had had influence
over her suif1cient to make her give
up faily3, friends, homne, everything,
to marry him. Had he, in some way
unknown to Barbara Bradford, re
gained his control over her sister and
was he using her as the unconscious
tool for his villainies? She could
have gained access to my room by
walking g1ong the ledge when all the
house wvas still. Yet this theory ex
plained neither the theft of the pearls,
-my great-uncle's peculiar actions, my
own discharge, nor the mysterious
noises In the apartment, I had still
a third theory,
Suppose a b~and of criminals was
located in the apartment house on the
floor above the Bradfords and me?
Access to either apartment would
not be diflicult. By short rope lad
ders they could easily reach either .set
of rooms. They would be so located
that there would belittle diffculty for
them to devise mysterious -sounds for
terrifying the people in the apart
ments below. I recalled that In ev
ery case the voices and the footsteps
seemed to come from somewhere up
ngar the ceiling. Of course It seemed
prepqsterous that A crIminal band
would find lodging in a .luxurious
apartment house like this, yet, wvh3
niot? Tenants in these buildinga knew
little about each other and cared less
There was no exchange of neighborly
visits. Once having gained access t<
such a building by forged references
so long as they paid their rent prompt.
ly, no one in the building would both
er his head about the character of an3
'of the other -tenants.
Thislattieor~ .seemed the. mosi
$1%i41bI., liestdee it was the' 4.u10s
- 6forit od, It ;ougtit not to be difu
tq~io #ewdIt who Uived in. the twe
~tnei4 boe. Undoubtsdly 'm
0 forniation W~uld b4
the t!hoisAwrso
The _.
his pers
.f1. . l1 a
(o a'-"n It-wi Myers
Perhaps, too, she might be able to in
fori m(e of Iy greatI-timele's where
abouts. More than likely lie had left
a forwarding address for his mall with
her.
With a letter I had written to my
mother, I descended to the main floor
and began a -conversation with Miss
Kelly by asking where was the near
est place that I could buy stamps. As
we chatted I began complaining how
lonely it was in the apartment and
wound up by inviting her to dine with
tile that evening.
I had ant ieliated a ready acceptance
of ily Invitation and was amazed to
find it firmly refused. In a much con
fused manner she advalced a dozen
reasons, or rather pretexts. She (lid
not go out with tile people of the
house. ITer mother would not like it.
She did not know me well enough.
Mr. Wick would discharge her if he
heard about it.
From an unexpected source, though
none tile less unwelcome, I foulnd an'
ally. Mr. Wick himself bobbed up
from somewhere, aplnrently having
overheard enough of our conversation
to know what it was abut.
"Why, of course, Mr. Nelson," he
began In an ingratiating manner that
was most repellent to me, "Miss
Kelly'll be glad to go to dinner with
you. jt's part of her business to Inake
thingl pleasant for the tenants."
It seemed to me that the girl's eyes
flashed defiance at him and that she
was still inclined to refuse, and I was
about 'to explain resentfully that my
invitation 'was not issued on -a busi
ness basis, when into Wick's face
came an ugly look, something almost
threatening.
"Of course Miss Kelly will be glad
to go with you," ho repeated sharply.
"Certainly," said the girl quickly,
before I had a chance to speak, "if
Mr. Wick thinks it is all right, I will
be glad to go."
Her acceptance (id not ring true.
I wits convinced that it was unwilling
ly given tinler some sort of com
pulslcu' ".(1m 11lhe odiousc; Wick.
I met her. It Iher siggtestion, in the
parlor or* wi to' iII#- it*ss pretentious
hotels. In the hour that hnd/elap'!d
since she left the apartment, she lhad
eg(changed her neat black wiorking
Suit for more modish clothes. After
one quick glance at her transformed
apperiLanel my nind was quickly
made up ats to what sort of a restai
rant to take her. It was manifest that
she was of the type that would enjoy
to the utmost the costly whirl of the
fashionable cafe of the moment. It
.was my purpose to give her such a
delightful evening that she would he
wishing to spend others in the same
wvay, for I felt certain that she, per.
haps better than anyone else, could
supply me the information I wanted
about the. tenants in the building. I
was sure it wvould be wveli worth my
wvhile to win her gobod graces. cost
what it may. Calling a taxi. I bade
the chauffeur take us to the "Whiite
Room," the very latest fashion in res
.taurants, where hordes of hectic pur
suers of pleasure were wvont to assem
b)10 to dine and dance. I observedl th(
glEam of satisfaction that came inte
her eyes as sihe heard me mention our
destination.
At first we talked, in Blroadway~
fashion, of the theaters and restau
rants, of the place we were in, of thu
people at the tab~les about us, hui
gradually I led the conversation t<
Miss Kelly herself and to her worl
in tile apartment.
"It was funny, wasn't it," I said
"abiout Mr. Wick insisting on you
coming with me? I had a notion hi
didn't like me.
Hitherto my companion bad b)eer
most vivacious, chatting merrily, flash
tng back at my sallies with clever bits
of that slangy repartee of which mos
of the metropoiltan business girls ar<
such clever mistresses At my last re
mark a quick change came over he
face. It was as if a. mask had heel
set up between us behind which shi
was hiding from me,
"I guess he likes you," she answer
ed guardedly. "I never heard him s
one way or the other."
"While 'we're talking about th
apartment," I went' on, "did my gros
uncle happen to leave a ftorwardin;
address with you? 'sh*re are soni
things I wrant to .seud' hhn-4om
pearls ther left behisd4--fl4 MJ
(Cl#UR4 l P Ti.
NINTH BODY FOUND.
leiiinlias of Miss Ale BraidsiJw Lo.
catedl.
Anderson, May I.4.-The ninth body
of the ill-fated party who weit dowel
in the Savamnalh river on the ferry boat
April 4 has been found, that of Miss
Allie iradshaw, near Plun Branch be
tween :0 and 10 miles below IHarpers'
Ferry where the boat went down.
''here is now bit. one 1nore body in
the river, that of ('harlie Malchilne.
The graves are il a row in the siune
ceinletety for as tihey lost their lives
together, the relatives decided to place
the iir graves by each other.
The faithful workers are s(ill trying
to filnd the r oiins of Charliv .\lachine, C for
so that he too, can rest by the side of
hi,; loved friends, and the ilnding of
the body of Miss l1ladshaw today
inakes thetti feel colfident. that they
will also get. the last one fromn the
river.
Three Dress Specials
for This Week's Selling
$29.75, $39.75 and $49.75
That individuality in dress on which women of exclu
sive taste insist is the outstanding feature of the entire
gathering of DRESSES at Wells Clardy Co. 'Some are in
Georgette, some in Taffeta, and others in Satin presenting
a wide choice in the varied versions of the mode. We are
showing Styles to please Daughters at prices to win the
favor of mothers for this week's selling. Every Dress in
this deDartment has been marked down for this week's
selling. Visit our Store this week for real dress values.
DRESSES of Georgette, Taffeta and Satin which formerly
sold at $32.50, $35.00 and $37.50 on sale this week at
one price, $29.50.
DRESSES of Georgette and Taffeta which formerly sold
at $42.50, $47.50, and $50.00, on sale this week at one
price, $39.75.
DRESSES of Georgette and Taffeta which formerly sold
at $65 and $75, on sale this week at one price, $49.75.,
Skirts of Unusual Merit
An important selling of Ladies' Skirts .at a most important
time, for now women are planning their vacations and one of
these will add much style and comfort to the wearer. These
Spring models are all new and decidedly good looking; especially
designed for summer wearing. They come in Serges, Plaids,
Sport materials and white washable materials. 1
Ladies' Serge Skirts, black and navy, this season's styles;
well tailored. Price $12.50, $15.00 and $18.50.
Ladies' Separate Skirts made from Sport Silks and Georgette;
white and colors. .Price $18.50, $22.50 and $25.00.
Ladies' White Skirts made from Washable Gabardine and
Satinette. Price $6.50, $8.50 and $10.00.
Dainty Silk Blouses
As Light as a Whispering Summer Breeze
One would never dream that Blouses could be so
sumptuous. But it is a reality and may be seen here
in an endless variety of new designs, fashioned in the
latest novelty textures of plain and colored combina
tions. They come with short and long sleeves, in all
shades. Priced at $5.00, $7.50, $8.50, $10 and $12.50.
LONG SIL~K (ALOVEs GOIM)ON SI LK HOSE
BLACK WIME, GEY, Plain and Fancy Lace Silk
'TAN, F'IENHI AND 'LIOMIT Blakorlon anltwdo.
r'BLUE, tone colors. 'Prlco $I.50,
II R1cE $8/>0 'IIE 'PAIR. $2.00, $2.50, $3.00, $3.50
t andI4 $5.00.
e ~A GOOD PLACE TO TRADE