The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-08

Dial was reading the first verse
when she came. Listen to this, Bel
Ia :. iat. said triumph ;------
There was a fat artist named Jas,
Who cruelty called his friends mas.
When, although shut UP tight,
He broke out over night
With rash that Is maddening, he
clas."
Then he caught sight OF Bella's face
as she stood in the doorway, and
stopped.
Jim is deiirious!" she announced
tragicaIly.
You shut him in there all alone
and now he's detirious. I'll never for
give any of you"
"Deliriousl" everybody exclaimed.
He was sane enough when / took
him his chicken brother" Mr.. Harbi-
son said. He was almost fluent
He is stark. staring crazy" Bella
Insisted Historically. IL locked the
door carefully when / went down to
my dinner, and when l came up it,
II was unlocked. and Jim was bab-
bling on the bed, with sheet over
his face. He-he says the house il
haunted and he wants all the men to
come up and sit in the room with
him.
Not on your iifs.' Max said II
am young. and my career has only
begun. / don't intend to be cut off
in the flower OF my youth. But III
tell YOU what j will do: I'll take him
drink ] can tie 1t 10 a pole or
something"
But Mr.. HARRISON did not smile. He
was thoughtful for minute. Then
Il don't believe he Is dslirious" he
said quietly. and ! wouldn't BE sur
prised II he has happened on some
thing that--wtil be of general inter
est. ! think ] Will stay with him to-
night"
After that, OF course, none of the
others would confess that he was
afraid, SO with the South Ameri-
can leading. they afs went upstairs
The women of the party sat on the
lower steps and listened, but every
thing was quiet Now and then we
could hear the sound of voices, and
after q while there was n rapid slam
ming OF doors and the sound of some
one running down to the second floor
Then quiet again.
None OF US felt laxative. Bella had
followed the men up and had been
put out. and sat shifting by herself
In the den. Aunt Selma was work
Ing over a jigsaw puzzle in the IL
brary, and declaring that some of IT
must be lost Anne and Leila Mercer
were smbroidering. and Betty and
sat idle. our hands in our laps. The
whole atmosphere of tina house Was
mysterious. Anne told over again of
the strange noises the night her neck
lace was stolen. Betty asked me about
the time when the comfort slipped
from under my fingers. And when.
In the midst of the story, the teia-
phone rang, We all jumped and shrek
ed.
In an hour or Sc they sent for
Flanagan. and he went upstairs He
came down again soon, however. and
rturned with something ever his arm
tirnt fooked Hike a rope II seemed 10
be made OF all kinds OF things tied
together. trunk straps. clothes line.
bed sheets. and something that Elan
nigan pointed to with rage ana said
he hadn't been able to keep his clothes
on all day. He refused to explain
further, however, and trailed the non
descript article up the stairs. We
could only gaze after him and won
der what ii all meant.
The conciave lasted far into the
night. The feminine contingent
went to bed. but not to sleep. Some
time after midnight Mr.. HARRISON and
Max went downstairs and could |
hear them rafting around testing win /
dows and burglar alarms. But finally /
every one settled down and the rest |
of the night was quiet
Betty Mercer came into my room |
the next morning. Sunday. and said /
Anne Brown wanted me. I went over /
at once, and Anne was sitting up I'm
bed, crying. Dial had slipped out of .
the room at daylight. sf1e said, and I
hadn't come back. He had thought
she was asleep. bur she wasn't, and /