Woodruff County news. [volume] (McCrory, Ark.) 1901-1910, 1908-02-20
Observation-Disclosures
THE SINGING
BULB
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By a. H. MARTIN

81 noticed it first about a week ago
just after l 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 of the
Red Death. Suddenly l became
aware of a sound as if some one was
singing, and the singer seemed to be
in the room. 1t was a sad melody,
as l remember, and the voice was
wonderfully sweet and gentle. 1t was
a woman's voice, and it was reproach-
ing me because l had so soon forgot
ten her
And you know, Frank, that it was
only year ago that Hilda died. 1t
was listening to Hilda's voice singing
to me from another world. Up to
that time / felt no alarm, but now l
felt my hair commence to rise. All
at once my gaze became riveted on
the single electric bulb that illu-
minated the apartment. Frank, as
sure as l am living man, the voice
proceeded from that lamp. And since
then it has happened regularly every
night, until 1 believe that l will go
insane unless the mystery is solved
Undoubtedly the mystery has a hui
man origin" l replied, as l regarded
my cigar reflectively, although
must say that it is certainly an orig
lnal way to impersonate the departed.
Is there anyone who would be bene-
fitted by your death or incarceration,
even temporarily, in an insane ward?'
1.-THE only one who could be in any
way benefited is Edward Duval Hill
da's only brother
During the day I did a little quiet
detective work, and discovered things
relating to Edward Duval that did not
speak very favorably for him. At the
present time he was infatuated with
Fanny Davidson, a burlesque actress.
l made my way to Johns house.
and we were soon seated in the
library discussing the strange affair
in lowered tones. The semidarkness
cast by the solitary lamp, and the pc
there had depressing effect upon us
Suddenly a woman voice-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 a moment l had screwed in an
other globe that I 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
Used the delights of paradise if he
needed the call
With a wild cry John sprang to his
feet and dashed to the door His wild
shrek aroused me, and suddenly a
light broke over me. With one
spring 1 had reached John, and after
a desperate struggle forced him into
a chair
THE mystery is one no longer" I
cried, as l held him down.
What are you going to do about
2" and Edward Duval snarled up at
me, as l confronted him in his apart
ments.
q will give you five hours to leave
Chicago, never to return l replied
as quietly as I could. Both you and
your accomplish
Before | leave do you mind telling
me how you came to detect the con-
trivance?" asked Duval, after mo-
ment's moody silence
Had you been content with the ex-
cellent song, l might still have been
at sea-" said l, but the instant you
commenced your other tactics, the
truth flashed upon me. l hurried to
Fanny Davidson's apartments. A
telephone wire ran from the build
ing to Johns house. Directly l be
came aware that the same voice
had heard in the library was proceed
ing from her rooms.
Cautiously glancing inside, l OBJ
served that a fine monograph was
connected with the transmitter of the
open telephone. Then l observed
that the telephone wire was connect
ed with the electric line in such a
wav that whpD the b1lh in tho libra ~
was open the voice. from the phono-
graph was forced to issue from the
lighted globe. If the globe was re
moved the voice would, of course,
cease as soon as the circuit was
broken
With a snarl Duval commenced
packing his trunk.