The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-02-08

THE singing
BULB

BrAH MARTM

4 noticed 1t first about a week ago.
just after I had returned from a visit
to the club. / had started to read for
a half.hour before retiring. The vol.
ume contained several fantastic
stories. including the MasQue uf the
Red Death Suddenly became
aware Of a sound as II some one was
singing, and the singer seemed to be
in the room. It was a sad melody,
as I remember and the voice was
wonderfully sweet and gentle. Il was
a womans voice. and it was reproach-
ing me because I had so soon forgot
ten her
And you know, Frank, that It was
only a year ago that Hilda died It
was suddenly borne upon me that
was listening to Hilda's voice singing
to me from another world. Up to
that time I felt no alarm, but now
felt my hair commence to rise. All
at once my gaze became riveted on
the single electric bulb that iliu-
minated the apartment Frank, as
sure as l am living man, the voice
proceeded from that lamp. And since
then 1t has happened regularly every
night, until / believe that Will 90
insane unless the mystery is solved.
Undoubtedly the mystery has hui
man origin" replied. as | regarded
my cigar reilectiyely, although
must say that it Is certainly an orig
inal way to impersonate the departed.
Is there anyone who would be bene-
fited BY your death Or incarceration.
even temporarily, In an insane ward?"
The only one who could be IN any
way benefited is Edward Duval, Hill
da's only brother"
During the day / did little quiet
detective work. and discovered things
relating to Edward Duyal chat did not
speak very favorably for him. At the
present time he was infatuated with
Fanny Davidson. a burlesque actress.
made my way to Johns house.
and we we're soon seated in the
library discussing the strange affair
In lowered tones. The semidarkness
cast by the solitary lamp aud the pc
cuIiar mission that had brought me
there had a depressing effect upon as.
Suddenly woman's yoice-one OF the
sweetest and saddest l have ever
heard-issued from the glowing bulb
and pervaded the entire apartment.
The song was a sentimental one and
reproached another for the cooling Of
his love.
Forcing down a sensation Of hor-
ror. removed the globe from the
socket The song instantly ceased.
In moment had screwed IN an
other globe that l had brought with
me. Instantly the song was renewed
with all its original power and sweet
ness. John had sunk back In his
chair Even my nerves were shaken.
Suddenly the voice ceased, only to
begin again. And it called John by
name to the unknown, and It prom
ised the delights Of paradise II he
needed the call.
With a wild cry John sprang 20 his
feet and dashed to the door. His Wild
shrek aroused me, and suddenly a
light broke over me. With one
spring l had reached John, and after
a desperate struggle forced him into
chair
"The mystery is one no longer" I
cried, as held him down.
What are you going to do about
it?" and Edward Duval snaried up at
me, as confronted him in his apart.
ments.
" will give you dye hours to leave
Chicago. never to return replied
as quietly as ! could. Both yon and
your acccmplicep
Before I leave do you mind telling
me how yon came to detect the con
trivance?" asked DuYal, after a mo-
ment's moody silence.
Had you been content with the ex-
ceilent song. / might still have been
at sea, said l. but the instant you
commenced your other tactics. the
truth flashed upon me- / hurried to
Fanny Davidson's apartments. A
telephone wire ran from the build
Ing to Johns house. Directly / be-
came aware that the same voice I
had heard IN the library was proceed
Ing from her rooms.
Cautiously glanclng inside. OBJ.
served that a fine phonograph was
connected with the transmitter Of the
open telephone. Then observed
that the telephone wire was connect.
ed with the electric line In such a
way that when the bulb in the library
was open the voice from the phone.
graph was forced to issue from the
lighted globe. II the globe was re.
moved the voice would, of course.
cease as soon as the circuit vas
broken"
With a smart Duyal commenced
packing hts trunk.
London's Electric Railways
a. a.