The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-16
Was 1t Supernatural or a
Scientific Novelty
By F. A. mitchell

Mary Richards sat in the dock house
working her typewriter. northeast
er was blowing in from the ocean. and
the waves as they rolled under the
dock shook the structure built on 1t.
There was a telephone instrument
screwed against the wall, and sudden
ly there came a 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 to hear some bad news.
She hurried to the instrument and, IN
hooking the receiver. held it to her
ear.
"Mary," came the voice Of John Tai
bot. to whom Mary was betrot he'd and
from Florida in coast steamer OF
which he was third mate. take up
board in the northwest corner of my
room at home"
There was click, and Mary knew
that communication was shut off. She
waited for it to 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 belowY
She might have done so to avoid the
storm, for she was an old vessel and
not considered very seaworthy. But
what did this fragmentary message
mean? Take up board in the north
west corner Of my room at home"
Mary and John were to be married
soon after his return from this voyage.
Gould 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 of Cape Hatteras. Wreckage
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 be
could communicate with the shore
Besides, the voice she had heard was
his, and he addressed her direct.
John Talbot's mother had died wher
he was little boy, and his father had
married woman who had made life
miserable for her husband and bel
.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 till he grew to manhood
when he began to retain his earnings
He had told Mary that he had accu
mulated several thousand dollars and
before leaving on his last voyage hat
taken the precaution to make vii
leaving 1t to her, But he had not tolt
her where either the will or the proper
ty was to be found
Mrs. Talbot was aware that JohI
was saving money. and as soon al
news came of his death at sea she be
gan to hunt for it. or, rather. evidenc,
Of 1t. She believed that John had In
vested his savings in stocks or bond,
and that he had kept his securities a
home instead of placing them in ,
safety deposit company: but. although
she hunted high and low for anythin,
that would represent money. she fount
nothing.
Mary for long while was so crush
ed 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 to her with view I,
learning something about the missin,
property:
81 suppose John turned over his saw
fngs to you before he went to sea tn,
last time"
Mary replied that he had not don,
so. and that was all that was said OIL
the subject between them. But Mrs
Talbot's words and manner set Mar.
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 COM
from. whether transmitted by natura
or supernatural means, Mary now con
nected 1t with the missing property
After deliberation she concluded to g
to lawyer and ask his advice as Il
what to do. He agreed to send SOM
one to the Talbot house. watch an or
portunity to take up without Mrs. Tai
bots knowledge the board in the foo
in the northwest corner of John
room. This duty was assigned detec
tive, who employed confederate t
decoy the stepmother away while tn
detective went into the room desig
mated and removed the board
One morning Mary received mes
sage from her attorney to call at hi
office. and on arriving there he shove
her a will executed by John Talbot
leaving all his property to her. an,