Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-09-18

regretting the enlargement that re
suited IN his death. telling myself how
happy and cOntented We could be now,
even old men, ii we we're together.
81 was thinking thus and gazing into
the glowing masses of the coal fire
which illumined the room in a dull
red glow. | had extinguished the
lamps. for ! am fond of the freight.
AS | sat there l heard the great clock
in the hall slowly chime the hour of
midnight.
~ closed my eyes YEARLY and open
ed them again to see the form of my
brother Alvin standing in the corner
yondef. there in the angle by the fire.
place. | recognized him at once, al
though his hair was as white as my
own. He was gazing at me with such
remorse in his eyes that ~involuntarily
l stretched ont my hands to him. and
he Instantly vanished"
"What WAS yam object in seeking
our advice ii 70, are convinced that 1t
really is the ghost of your b~rother?"
asked Harley geAtly.
The old man looked up eagerly. Yet,
when he spoke. 1t vas tinidly. as it
fearful of ridicuie: u wanted to be
sure-sure--noSitiee that it was Alvin
and not a hailucinatioa. | have heard
of you and your cleverness in unray-
cling mysteries. and SO | have appeal
ed to you. viii one or both of you
join me next Sunday evening and wait
for the coming of my brother Alvin?"
with pleasure agreed Harley.
As they rose to take their departure
Jack Rogers surveyed the large room
with speculative eyes that r6~ed from
the rich bindings in the bookcases that
lined all the walls save the south wall
where the fireplace was.
MAY l ask what is on the other side
of that WALTZ inquired Jack suddenly,
pointing to the fireplace.
1.-THE house next door," returned Mr..
Boyce promptly. 1T is empty now
and has been for a year or so. 1t be-
longs to me-in fact, I fell heir to it
when my brother died. 1t is much out
of repair, and l haven't had the heart
to put it in order again. Let it fall to
pleCeSs EVEN, as 4 uHu QOluSs
"Thank you" said Jack Rogers
quietly as they babe good afternoon
to Mr.. Boyce.
Promptly at 8 o'clock on Sunday
evening Robert Harley and John Rog-
ers were ushered into Mr.. Boyce's IL
brary. He came forward to meet them,
looking very animated and smiling.
81 suppose you boys think I'm half
cracked" he remarked as they drew
around the fire, "but wait and seer'
mo, no, sir" assured Jack Rogers
heartily; I'm sure that we shall find
there Is excellent foundation for your
belief hat your brother has appeared
to you"
I'm sure / hope your predictions
will come true" said Donald Boyce.
The hours passed swiftly. Mr.. Boyce
had a fund of anecdote to draw upon,
and after a servant had served a deli.
cious cold supper on a table drawn
close to the fire they lighted cigars
and sat back waiting for the strik-
ing of the midnight hour. The sery-
ants retired, and the house grew still.
Now and then from the street outside
came the mufled rumble of wheels.
Now and then a coal snapped in the
crate. The three men fell into silence,
Each one was watching that dim cor
ner by the fireplace for the coming Of
Alvin Boyce.
Just as the clock in the hall struck
the first note of midnight Mr.. Boyee
stretched out his hand and extinguish-
ed the electric lamps, so that they sat
in a half circle of red freight. AS the
last chime died Donald Boyce leaned
forward and clutehed Bob Harley's
arm.
There was no need to point toward
that corner. for all three of them were
staring hard at the tall, bent figure that
appeared for an instant in the deep
shadow of the angle of the fireplace.
AS if aware that alien eyes We're
watching it. there came a fash of
white, and the vision vanished.
"Ah. he has gone. Did you see
him?" demanded MI. Boyce all in n
breath.
The two men nodded, Harley rather
helplessly, for he was lot accustomed
to dealing with spirits. But Jack
Rogers surprised his companions by
reaching the corner in three quick
strides. Please turn on the lights,
Mr.. Boyce." he requested. land then
come here"
They found him with his hand on
tha GLASS knoh of q narrow door that
opened into a chimney cupboard. The
outside Of the door was stained to
match the dark mahogany woodwork
of the room. AS Jack opened the clos
ct door he tapped the white painted
panels of the inside of the door.
'The cupboard is empty said Mr..
Boyce patiently, for he did not approve
of this search for the gentle ghost of
his loved brother.
~ ~