South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-07-23
The Fog
BY Elene Loeb
Copyright. 1911


and down the length Of the railway
station waiting room. scrutinizing
the face OF each newcomer Surely
he had received the TELEGRAM adj
81 viSirs MIN OF her intended arrival
, but for the twentieth time she
glanced at the clock. which now
'audiply bore witness 10 the fact that
she had waited exactly half an
1 boar. and still there was no sign Of
Robert The day had been dreary
. and misty and nignt was now ad-
ding los black SnrOud % the gloom
. Growing uneasy. the girl FASTENED
TO the nearest telephone booth. but
after an interminable clicking OF
the nook. she finally elected the in
formation that the line was out Of
order Hauing a taxi Elsa Or
dered the driver 70 take her TO her
brothers address
The fog was momentarily becom-
iu- heavier and was hanging like a
pail over the entire city. Vague.
shadowy forms moved on the side
walks 20 dissolve, upon near ap-
preach. into men and women. The
eonss of the trolley cars changed in
|cessantly and every now and then
the misty air was rent with the
r2COus voice of "a for horn and the
shril shiek Of an automobile siren.
Phantom lights cleaned ftfully on
the street corners. like glowing eyes
striving 10 piece the wall of fog.
The taxi was creeping along at a
snaiTs pace. once or twice the
chauffeur, with a muttered impre-
cation. got oft 70 sec the name Of
the street. At last re halted before
a house. made sure. of the number
and held the taxi door open
Here you are. lady-number
459." and a moment later he was
sirening his way through the envel-
Oping fog, while Elsa mounted the
steps and pressed a firm finger on
the bell. a middle-aged woman.
evidently the housekeeper, answer
cd the summons
lis Mr.. Wilson in?" Elsa in
lquired.
Mr.. wilson," the woman
echoed, and then after slight
pause. hardly percepuble to the
waiting girl. mo ma'am, he is out
of town"
"Out of town? When did he goo
Didn't he get my telegram? I'm his
sister"
IL don't know anything about
telegram, ma am lie went last
night and won't be home before to-
morrow evening. L think he said
he would be home in time for din
ner. But come right i'm. maam.
The master often speaks Of his sis
ter"
Elsa was made comfortable for
the night. and the next morning
peep out of the window showed the
( heavy fog being dissipated in a ROSY
mist as a biz, red sun clambered
above the horizon.
After breakfast she inspected the
house The library, which the
housekeeper told her served as a
living room, caused Elsa TO throw
up her hands in mock horror The
chairs were arranged in stiff. meta
Cdical order: the table was bare,
save for a book laid at a prcise
angle. and the shades were closely
drawn, giving the room an air Of
! chilliness and disuse. Elsa hastily
raised the shades and the kindly
sun instantly threw two wide rib
bons of sold across the floor. With
def hands she pulled out a chair
here and there and neaped the
settee with big, plump cushions.
She unearthed a leather cover for
the table and conhscated a reading
lamp from another room. A hum
idor. with cigars, was placed in in
viting proximity 10 a big, rOOmy
armchair.
Now. Mrs Clark, 1 want flowers;
lots of them. Red carnations,
/ please: they are my brothers favor
ties Then Wen plan tonight's din
ner. 1 want you to have all my
brothers favorite dishes. Mrs.
/ Clark. And on. Mrs Clark, / have
an idea As long as my brother
doesn't know I'm here. let us make
a surprise out Of il. Yes? Don't
I say a word about me when he
| comes in, but the minute he sits
down 10 the table extinguish the
lights and relight them the minute
| YOU hear my voice
Late that afternoon Elsa turned !
her attention 10 her brothers room. |
a mule ElllnaCt greeted the opeillu5 i
OF the bureau Drawers. and she i'm /
mediately pulled them out sat /
down on the floor with the drawers |
before her. and soon order reigneG /
i'm place Of chaos.
Dressing herself carefully. she |
came downstairs just in time 10 |
hide behind the draperies as a key /
turned i'm the lock. Firm steps /
paused for 4 moment. then were /
heard going upstairs. when they /
came down asain. Mrs Clark hUr-
ried forward 10 greet her master.
Don't forget the lights voice |
whispered 10 her as she passed.
As the man sat down. the dining /
room was suddenly plunged into .
darkness, out before he could utter F.
an exclamation there was the lighl /
sr fishing or feminine wear and a .
whiT OF carnation scent greeted his /
nostrils just as little soft hand was /
pressed firmly over mis- eyes and a /
pair of exquisite liTs met ms in "A /