Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-15

whisper. "There's a secret opening here
somewhere. Now, if we can only
His speech died away in a little gasp. The
dull sound of door closing came from below.
| Trapped" calculated Hunstable in an
agonized whisper "There isn't time"
Lascelles drew the curtains noiselessly and
closed the door of the room. "No, there
isn't he said rapidly. "There's only one
thing for it. We must hide here"
| Opposite the curtained wall stood recess
also heavily draped, and he swung Hun
stable thther, extinguishing his lamp at the
same time. The heavy curtains had scarcely
| fallen in front of them when the door opened
and Markham entered. He switched on the
| light at once, and Hunstables blood ran
cold as he imagined the shaggy-browed eyes
gazing searchingly around; but Markham's
suspicious if he had entertained any, seemed
to disappear. for they heard him sigh re-
lieved as he dropped into chair. On the
table was parcel seemingly of books.
@Another Christmas!" said Markham
aloud. -Four years now since | drove her
away from me-mv own little jenny"
He rose and walked to the solitary win
dow, where the rain threshed against the
glass with increasing force, and raising the
blind gazed out into the night.
"Hard city, hard men, hard life!' he mutt
tered, and lowered the blind again. "And
to the fright of Lascelles and Hunstable he
moved close to their hiding place.
The former held the edges of the curtains
together with shaking hand which might
have betrayed them had Markham been less
preoccupied. He seemed to be opening
cabinet that stood near them and then went
to the curtains opposite and drew them back
on each side, disclosing the white blank be-
hind. Then, to the anaZement of the watch
ers, he seated himself at the piano. There
was slight click. Markham had switched
off the light, and they were in darkness.
There was slight whirring sound, and
at the same moment Markham began to
play softly. All at once the blank wall was
flooded with a binding light and both men
stood spellbound. Markham, playing more
loudly, half turned on his seat toward the
light, and there in it's midst stood the radi
ant form of young girl. She was dressed
in an everyday, out-of-door costume; but
her head was bare and a mass of dark hair
rippled down over her shoulders. She held
out her hands appealingly and seemed to be
speaking; but the passionate, walllng melO-
dy that Markham played as one inspired
and Lascelles, forgetting all else but the
vision before them, allowed the curtains to
fall apart unheeded and gazed in awe.
Then the apparition knelt and stretched
out her arms suppicatingly. There was
crash of discords at the piano, and Markham
leaped to his feet.
aYes-yes- darling--I forgve-I
forgive!" he cried incoherently.
THE figure vanished, and the light went
out leaving all in darkness once more.
There was dead silence, broken only by
the quick breathing of Lascelles and Hun
stable. Then they heard a sob from Mark
ham. Hunstable swore under his breath
and tore off his mask.
~Markham!" he said in shaking voice.
"You cursed fool!' muttered Lascelles,
and he too pocketed his mask resignedly.
There was quick gasp of alarm, and the
light shone forth, disclosing Markham SUR
veying them like wild beast. His grizzled
hair was dsarranged and his eyes red and
fierce. They grew fiercer still now, and his
gray features took on dull red tinge.
"Lasceles- You hereo"
The two intruders looked at each other.
"Shall tell him." said Hunstable grimly.
Lascelles shrugged his shoulders. II don't
suppose it matters" he replied. MARKHAM,
we, or rather l, had heard stories about
ghost, and persuaded Hunstable to come
| o,,J 1a1,> Thof'c about