The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1916-09-28
Was 1t Supernatural or a
Scientific Novelty
By r A. Mitchell

/ lnerc was telephone Instrument
screwed against the wall, and sudden
ly there came sharp ring. Whether
the electric current was stronger than
usual or that Mary was Influenced by
the terror of the storm. the bell seem.
! ed TO call her 10 hear some bad news
She hurried TO the instrument and, un.
hooking the receiver, held 1t TO her
| ear
Mary. came the voice OF John Tat.
I bot, to whom Mary was betrothed and
who she supposed was coming up
from Florida In coast steamer OF
which he was third mate, take up a
board In the northwest corner OF my
room at home"
There was click, and Mary knew
that communication was shut OF. She
waited for II 10 be renewed. then rat
tied the hook that held the receiver.
called, did everything she could think
OF TO attract attention, but could not
break the silence. At last, impressed
by feeling OF awe, she hung up the
receiver and. trembling. returned to
her seat
The George Brewster. In which John
Talbot was coming north, was not due
TO arrive till the next day. Had she
put into some port on the coast below !
She might have done so to avoid the
storm, for she was an old vessel and
not considered very seaworthy. But
what did this fragmcntary message
10 hna II La, q h..
west corner Of my room at home"
Mary and John were TO be married
soon after his return from this voyage
Could the message have anything to
do with the preparations that were
being made for the wedding?
The next morning news was publish
ed OF the loss Of the George Brewster
and all on board She had foundered
at sea or Cape Tiatteras Wrcckage
had been washed ashore identifying
her.
Mary Richards when she began to re
cover from the shock OF her loss re.
membered her telephone message
How had her betrothed been able to
communicate with her while at sea
There was no wireless telegraph ap.
paratus on the Brewster by which he
could communicate with the shore
Besides, the voice she had heard was
his. and he addressed her direct
John Talbot's mother had died when
be was little boy, and his father had
married woman who-nad made life
miserable for her husband and her
stepson. as soon as John was old
enough to earn any money she insisted
that he should 60 TO work and forced
him to bring all he earned to her. This
continued TIL be grew TO manhood
when he BEGAN TO retain his earnings
He had told Mary that he had accu
mulaied several thousand dollars and
before leaving on his last voyage had
taken the precaution 10 make will
leaving II to her But he had not told
her where either the will or the proper
ty was TO be found
Mrs. Talbot was aware that John
was saving money. and as soon rs
news came OF his death at sea she be-
gan TO hunt for II, or. rather. evidence
Of II. She believed that John had In
vested his savings In stocks or bonds
and that he had kept his securities at
home instead OF placing them In
safety deposit company: but. although
she hunted high and low for anything
that would represent money. she found
nothing.
Mary for a long while was so crush
cd by her loss that she thought moth
ing OF the matter Of her lovers pos
sessions One day she met Mrs Tai
bot. who said 10 her with view b.
learning something about the missing
property:
~ suppose John turned over his say
incs to you before he went to sen the
last time"
Mary replied that he had not done
so. and that was an that was said nu
the subject between them Dui Mrs
Talbot's word, AMI manner set Mary
TO thinking In this connection she re-
membered the telephone message
Take up board In the northwest cor
ner Of my room at home
Wherever the message had come
from. whether transmitted by natural
or supernatural means, Mary now con
nectcd ii with the missing property
After deliberatlon she concluded 10 e
to lawyer and ask his advice rs o.
what TO do lie agreed to send some
one TO the Talbot house. watch an op
pOrtuuity to take up without Mrs. Tai
bots knowledge the board In the door
In the northwest corner of Johns
room. This duty was assigned a dctec
tive, who employed confederate TO
decoy the stcpmothcr away while the
detective went into the room desis
mated aud removed the board
One morning Mary received mes
sage from her attorney to call at his
office, ana on arriving there he showed
her will executed by John Talbot
leaving all his property 10 her, and
handed her bonds the interest on which
was sufficient TO meet her annual ne
cesslties.
The story Mary told has been the
subject OF much thought among sci
entlsts. especially those who are work
ing on new lines Of transmitting the
human voice without material con
ductOr Some OF them believe thai
John Talbot hit upon n natural law us
yet unreyeale1 TO the world The
psychlc0l research people believe that
the message was sent by what we cal
supernatural Wenns.