The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-04-16

IL WGc q NCIy ouitAy hA6hS eAAu .
arose early to go to the piano in the
next room on which I used to prac-
tice for an hour every morning. The
instrument was open and struck the
keys with my accustomed fervor, but
was Mortified to find that the instru-
ment gave no sound and my fingers
seemed to bury themselves in the
ivory keys. l tried to play couple
of arpeggios, but the result was exact
ly the same-my hand seemed to go
right through the keys, but not a
sound was heard. / thought the heat
must have made me crazy. Slowly
and carefully moved my hand to-
wards the inside of the cover where
the name OF the maker was printed in
gilt letters. dared hardly touch it,
but when l did. there was no doubt,
my fingers went clean through the
wood. the strings behind, and even
into the wall against which the piano
was standing. and I had no feeling
OF even the slightest resistance.
though 1 felt distinctly the GOODNESS
of the metal strings.
Horror-stricken, / drew back my
hand, and not the slightest trace. no
dent, no hole was to be seen where
my hand had passed through. / tried
to play sonata by Mozart. My fing-
ers moved as usual, but not a key
was depressed, though, somehow, |
seemed to enjoy the playing, and to
have some control OF touch and ex-
preston. Having finished, tried to
close the cover. but this was impos-
sible; my fingers went right through
without getting hold Of the wood.
Having slept absolutely naked be-
cause of the heat, / now wanted to
dress and get some breakfast, but the
mysterious force which had come into
my hands made 1t impossible for me
to pick up my. shirt, so l gave It up in
despair and decided to get out into the
hall to see If there were any letters
In the box. could not open the door.
i was locked up, could do nothing.
probably not even eat breakfast II l
got my landlady to carry It in.
I began to consider what to do.
Possibly only my hands had become
endowed with the strange power, so I
tried to push open the door with my
foot, only to find that it went through
the panel as IL 1t had been made from
tissue paper. This gave me an idea.
walked ahead as If the door leading to
the hall had been wide open. and in
the next moment I was outside stand
ing in the hall looking at the door,
which showed no trace Of my pas
sage.
There was a letter in the box.
Through the glass could see It was
addressed to me In familiar hand
writing, but could not get hold Of the
letter-my fingers went straight
through 1t.
Just then my landlady came mp
from the kitchen below, and not want
ing her to behold my nakedness
squeezed myself into the wall. which
seemed as soft as the softest pillow.
SO that only my toes and face pro.
truded.
"Oh, Fran lingerie" cried. some
thing very strange has happened to
me. Cant you tell me what to do!"
"Good Lord, Doctor!" she screamed
and stood as II suddenly turned into
stone.
Il seem to have been given the
strange power to go through every.
thing. I can't even strike . match.
'But for the Lords sake, Doctor,
what are you doing in the wall? Shall
I send for q bricklayer!'
"That is not necessary. Just turn
around and will be out in second.
II s1id.
so am to turn around" she said
|incredulously.
Yes, and beg you not 10 be too
shocked. for am not dressed"
THAT does not make any difference,
II you will just come ont Of the wall
/ [she turned her back and stepped
out.
She tried to put my shirt On me.
hut II wouid not stay o.. and seemed
ito fall right through my body. I ask-
led her to give mo drink Of water.