Bisbee daily review., 1908-05-08
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
| THE SINGING |
BULB |
By A. II. MARTIN


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Il noticed it first about a week ago,
Just after I had returned from a visit
TO the club. / mad started to read for
half-hour before retiring. The vol
ume contained several fantastic
stories, including the 'Masque of the
Red Death Suddenly became
aware Of a sound as II some one wss
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 womans voice. and it was reproach-
ing me because had so soon forgot
ten her.
"And you know, Frank. that IL was
only a year ago that Hilda died. II
was suddenly borne upon me that /
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 / am a living man, the voice
proceeded from that lamp. And since
then it has happened regularly every
night, until l believe that / will go
insane unless the mystery is solved" /"
Undoubtedly the mystery has hu-
man origin replied, as I regarded
my cigar refiectively, although /
must say that it is certainly an orig
inal way to impersonate the departed.
Is there anyone who would be bene-
tited by your death or incarceration.
even temporarily, IN an insane ward?"
"The only one who could be in any
way benefited is Edward sDuval, Hill
da's only brother"
During the day did little quiet
detective work, and discovered things
relating to Edward Duval that did not
speak very fayorably for him. At the
present time he was infatuated with
Fanny Davidson. burlesque actress.
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.
culiar mission that had brought me
there had depressing effect upon US.
Suddenly a woman's yoice-one Of the
sweetest and saddest / have ever
heard-issued from the glowing bulb
and pervaded the entire apartment
The song was 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 / had screwed Ia an.
other globe that I had brought with
me. Instantly the song was renewed
with all it's 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 if he
needed the call.
With wild cry John sprang to his
feet and dashed to the door. His wild
shrek aroused me, and suddenly q
light broke over me. With one
spring I had reached John, and after
desperate struggle forced him ir'c
a chair
"The mystery is one no longer"
cried as l held him down.
What are you going to do about
it?' and Edward Duval snarled up al
me, as ! confronted him in his apart
ments.
81 will give you FIVE hours to leave
Chicago, never to return" 1 replied
as quietly as / could. Both you and
your accomplice."
Before 1 leave do you mind telling
me how you came to detect the con
trivance?" asked Duval, after a mo
ment's moody silence.
Had you been content with the ex
ceIlent song, l might still have beer
at sea-" said !, but the instant you
commenced your other tactics, the
truth flashed upon me. 1 hurried tc
Fanny Davidson's apartments.
telephone wire ran from the build
ing to Johns house. Directly 1 be
came aware that the same voice
had heard in the library was proceed
ing from her rooms.
Cautiously giancing inside, l OBJ
served that a fine phonograph was
! connected with the transmitter of the
open telephone. Then l observed
that the telephone wire was connect
cd With the electric line in such 4
way that when the bulb in the library
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