Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-09

stretched ont my hands to hin
be instantly vanished ana
What was your object Il, -
our advice If you are convincoa ' -
really is the ghost Of your bro sta1 y
asked Harley gently. "ef.
The old man looked m eo9oxa~
when he spoke. it was firnjdlr
! fearful of ridicule: II wan4o5 - u
sure-sure-positive that IL wa. y
and not hallucination. / have - ,.''n
or you and your cieverness In nrs.s
cling mysteries. and so | have 49, 49,
ed to you. viii one or both !, 'saF
Join me next Sunday evening and ~. =.
for the coming OF my brother Aleu-
with pleasure" agreed Hsrlav
As they rose to take their dona-
Jack Rogers surveyed the larve rs.'
with speculative eyes that royed 49,
the rich bindings in the bookcases -.
lined all the walls save the south -
where the fireplace was.
May I ask what Is on the othe- "a
Of that wall:" inquired Jack suddanl-
pointing 10 the fireplace.
'The house next door," returned "
Boyce promptly. 1T is emptv No..
and has been for year or so. r. h.
longs TO me-in fact, / fell heir to 1,
when my brother died. It is much m,
Of repair, and l haven't had the hear,
TO put 1t in order again. Let it fall 4,
pieces, even, as am doing"
Thank you" said Jack Roger,
quietly as they babe good afternoon
to Mr.. Boyce.
Promptly at 9 o'clock on Sunday
evening Robert Harley and John Roe.
ers were ushered into Mr.. -Boyce's Il.
brary. He came forward to meet them.
looking very animated and smiling.
Il suppose you boys think I'm hair
cracked" he remarked as they drew
around the fire, but wait and seel"
mo, no, sir" assured Jack Rogers
heartily; I'm sure that we shall find
there is excellent foundation for your
belief that your brother has appeared
to you"
I'm sure I hope your predictions
will come true" said Donald Boyce.
The hours passed swiftly. Mr.. Boyee
had a fund of anecdote to draw upon.
and after a servant had served deli
cious cold supper on table drawn
close to the fire they lighted cigars
and sat back waiting for the strik-
ing of the midnight hour. The serT.
ants retired. and the house grew still.
Now and then from the street outside
came the muffied 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 ball struck
the first note of midnight Mr.. Boyce
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 clutched 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 were
watching it. there came fash Of
white, and the vision vanished.
"Ah, he has gone. Did you see
him." demanded Mr.. Boyce all in one
breath.
The two men nodded. Harley rather
helplessly, for he was not accustomed \,
to dealing with spirits. But JACK
Rogers surprised his companions Oy
reaching the corner in three quleA
strides. please turn on the hghts' I
Mr.. Boyce," he requested, "and then
come here"
They found him with his hand o.
the glass knob of a narrow door tnaI
opened into n chimney cupboard. Ius
outside of the door was stained
match the dark mahogany woodworA
of the room. AS Jack opened the eiOs
ct door he tapped the white pain1ec
of the inside of the door
The cupboard is empty. said Ah
Boyce patiently. for he did not appro's
of this search for the gentle ghost o
his loved brother
Il know II IS now. Out Aio
ago it had an occupant" said JasA
rapidly. please follow me. Mr.. Bosee.
and do not be surprised If you inee'
your brother-in the fiesh-for IT NAY
be that he never died.
Without further explanation he pNsa'
ed back on the tier of empty SLEEVES
ana his companions We're SURPRISED
see them swing back into space. ieA'
nC an opening through which Tue,
followed Rogers into what appea'e1
10 be a closet that matched the one
hey had just left. \ long rod OF as
appeared through partly ope'ss
loor. Rogers pushed it wider aus
,eckoned 20 his companions 10 lO0s
nto the library of the house next oVor
There before q table in scahtE
furnished room sat tall old man' nH
read was bowed on his folded arms
ut IS your brother Alvin" Whisper
ack Rogers rs he pushed pooa1
Royce into the room. II have inse
igated. He was not lost at sea- gu
fter many years be has refrfhe"
e near you He feared your ane
here. He is stirring. Go 10 hiln'
e happy the rest OF your days
or;l O I'm American