Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-09
The Red Light on the Cross.
(From the Golden Penny


Ever since my fathers death, which
occurred when I was about 10. Mr..
Turton had done everything for me.
All my school holidays had been spent
with him, and it was he who had found
the money for my medical course was
glad. therefore. to accept his invita-
dion TO go and visit him for few
weeks.
Mr.. Turton met me at the station.
During the drive to his house he told
me good deal about his brother Ell
wyn. the ''neer do weer' of the family.
whom I had never seen.
He's a lot younger than / am, Ber-
tie--in fact. he's very much nearer
your age than mine. / shouldn't be
surprised If you and he were able to
become pretty chuminy, for he is a
likable lad, in spite Of his faults
Mr.. Turton had one fad, fondness
for everything that was mysterious and
uncanny. I had often chaffed him
about it, but his beliefs were not to be
shaken. l knew ne was writing book
on Thought Transference" and it was
to this that / referred.
At my question he became suddenly
very grave. Il know you think me an
old fool he said, but I'll take it is
a great favor If you'll not jest about
the subject
"Of course. / won't if it annoys you,
replied quickly. but you used not
10 mind my chaff."
No, BERTHE, but I've had warn
ing lately" And his hands gave an
involuntary twitch to the reins, caus-
ing the horse to break into canter.
saw he was excited over something.
"A warning?' | said questioningly.
YES" and then with forced at
tempt at cheerfuiness. but must
net begin to croak to you already
You shall hear about 1t some other
time. Here we are at home, and there's
l.lwyn standing at the door. i must
introduce you" And SO the subject
was dropped.
l don't think l ever saw a greater
contrast than these two brothers. AL
fred was a staid, respectable old gen
tleman. who showed every day of his
fifty odd years, while Elwyn didn't
look bit older than / did myself
though as matter of fact he was
nearly 81. He had reckless, devil
nlay-care manner of talking which re
PEELED me at first. but by the time din
ner was finished ! had quite got over
that feeling. and thought him the most
quaint remarks ON the men and things
he had seen in different parts of the
world We're inimitable
After dinner we went into Mr.. Tur-
tons study to smoke.
Hello / said. this is an innova
ton. You hadn't the electric light
here last time l was in this room"
oh said Mr.. Turton. glancing at it
and shuddering, just as though he
We're afraid of it: that's an idea Of
Elwyn's. He fitted it himself. We run
it with a small oil engine in the cellar"
But why did you have an arc light"
The incandeseent lamps give a much
softer light"
so l say, but Elwyn thought this
was better. Have a cigar"
His hand trembled as he offered me
the box, / wondered why.
THE fact is. said Elwyn, Il under
stand the are light much better than
the other, and in a big room like this
it isn't too powerful
the other was as simple. That close
fitting globe isn't usual is it?"
Another of Elwyn's notions" said
Mr.. Turton. HE thinks the carbons
wear better if they don't get too much
air
We'll, it's certainly an Improvement
on the old oil lamp" l pronounced,
and how well 1t shows up that picture
Of the 'Crucihxion.
Then Mr.. Turton made what
thought was an inconsequent remark.
BERTHE" he said, speaking with
nervousness that was unusual to him,
you remember l told you l had re-
oeived a warning p
Yes" ] replied wonderingly. but
what has that to do with the light p
You shall judge for yourself. Three
days ago when | came down to break
fast | found letteron my plate 1t had
no stamp and no postmark. When !
opened it, l found inside a scrap of
paper on which were written these
words Twice shall the light be green
for once that it is red The green is
for a warning to thee but when thou
shalt see the red light on the cross, IL
IL ipi u sign tiiftt tHiHe IiouT HAS
come
Someone who knows Your fondness
for mystery is practicing a joke on
YOU" | suggested.
you think so? Well, it was my first
thought too. so / asked the servants
how the letter came to be there. Not
one of them had ever seen it,
Naturally" / rejoined. And the
person who is responsible for the trick.
will. no doubt. see that they are paid
for their blindness
You mean they were bribed? That
also occurred to me. But it doesn't
account for what followed. Last night
as l was sitting here alone the electric
light began to slowly change color.
You have remarked how it lights up
that picture-Bertie. the light on the
cross was green! How do you explain
that? Elwyn says it is a physical inn
possiblity,and won't believe that saw
it,
So he was suffering from delusions.
This was more serious than l thought.
Have you been working too hard
al your book?' ] asked suggestively.
You mean that the green light was
a hallucination? l can't believe it,
BERTHE. Besides the letter is tangi-
BILE enough fact They all saw that