The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-30
By BROUCHTON BRANDENBURC


She was waiting for me when
got down to the Office that morning
I remember 1t was a Monday late in
May, and my stenographer had not ar
rived In her place beside the door
! did not see her Immediately, and
only her trembling efforts to rise at
tracted my attention A whittier or
more ehostly effect than that Of her
snowy hair. pallid face and deep-sunk
eyes all In relief from a severe black
dress. It would be difficult to imag-
inc, and / confess that started the
merest trife as she came forward out
Of the shadowy anteroom corner, her
thin hands extended toward me
i hope this is Mr.. Lawrence RANDI"
she said. in a low, eager voice.
NO, madam, these are Mr.. Rand's
Offices, aud / am Mr.. Duncan one Of
his partners.
4 am Mrs. Dwight Stokes Coleman.
and 1t is concerning a most important
and peculiar matter which has to do
with my husband, Dr. Coleman, the
pastor Of the Fifth Avenue Disciples
church, that l have come to see Mr.
Rand. | must have help at once or
shall go mad myself. My family physi-
clan, Dr. Bowles. in seventy-second
street. came to US at our request yes
terday afternoon and recommended me
to Mr. Rand. He says that It is mat
ter outside the bounds of any profes-
sion except Mr.. aands, which seems
to be the rendering commonplace Of
things apparently most extraordinary
Perhaps If you state the case may
be able to assist you, and can at
least restate It to Mr.. Rand on his
return from Boston tomorrow"
Relieved OF her indirection Of state
ment and put in the proper proportion,
her story was as follows: A most mys-
terious circumstance was weighing so
heavily on her husbands S mind that she
feared he was about to lose his reason,
II It was not already impaired. He had
obtained a metropolitan parish only
that year. was overcoming some bit
ter opposition among his church mem
bers, and was completing the last vol
lme OF an important historical work
Altogether. he was at the critical point
OF his career, and, with two sons and
two daughters not yet OFT Of college
everything was at stake.
On Sunday, the 14th OF April. few
minutes after he had begun his morn
ing sermon, be heard distinctly I
choir singing an anthem He though
1t trihe unusual. there being ne
church in the neighborhood from
which the music could come with sucl
clearness. The music was very good
and. after the service, he mentioned
ii to the organist, who sat in the orgaI
loft Immediately behind the pulpit
The organist was certain that he hal
heard no music, saying there had no
been a sound to interrupt the sermon
As matter OF curiosity, the organis
and Dr. Coleman together laughingl.
questioned the members Of the choir
All we're positive that they had hear
no singing. A horrible fear struck
chill 10 the old clergyman's heart
Was his mind giving way? Wer
the anthem and the unseen choir tn
first haiIucination, the harblnger q
coming mental confusion, and the frs
sign Of the horrible night Of the mind
On several succeeding Sundays tn
same mysterious music was heard b
the doctor. but by no one else. and h
Vas now on the verge Of nervous pros
tration.
| assured Mrs. Coleman we woul
take up the matter Immediately, wire
Rand to insure his return. and gay
him detailed account Of the whol
affair. when he came in Tuesday nigh
Bright aud early on Wednesda
morning we we're at DR.. Coleman
house. IN going over the case again
however. We found nothing to be /
any way different from the facts a
ready In hand, except that althoug
the voices were always the same. II
music was different each time. Wit
a note from TIE pastor to the sextoi
We went to the church at II ocloc
and. posing as an interior decorator
estimate clerks, we slowly inspecte
every inch Of the interior.
It was four o'clock in the afternoc
when we left. and all that we he
found can be told In few word
The church. more than 30 years oil
vas deadly commonplace in Its d
tails.
was tired, disgusted, and Qui
ready to believe the old clergyms
mentally unbalanced. Rand was b
terly determined to 20 on. Said h
Duncan. l am going to fly in Il
face Of facts In this matter | pr
pose to hunt for the impossible. Kin
" arrange to have the Callahan agenl
send me so men at the studio
morrow morning to gather data on ;
the other churches"
did not see Rand that evening.
fact, | did not catch a glimpse Of hi
TIN Saturday evening. Then he "
white worn, tired. and plainly unsl