The Washington times., 1922-02-19

while she was in town. Miss Bates &C.
cepted the invitation with gratitude And
the Russell blue lined automobile took her
from the theatre to the big, oldfashioned
mansion that is now the former stars
home. She supped in the big dining room
with her host and hostess and retired to a
big corner room on the second floor This
rooms looked on the right upon the garden
that Joe Memo had tended. From its back
windows could be seen the little gray
garage hundred yards from the house.
The next day at breakfast Miss Russell
inquired how her guest had slept.
Very well. thank you. At least, the
early part of the night But about four
o'clock something strange happened"
"Yes?" Lillian Russell laid her coffee
spoon across the saucer and waited
ITS the oldest thing" said Blanche. 81
was awake could swear l was. My first
sleep was over l had shaken and turned
my pillow. l couldn't go to sleep at once
I lay there thinking of the play and the
business and the next stand All at once
! felt as though there was someone in the
room. | scolded myself said, Blanche,
don't be an idiot. You remember perfectly
well locking the door. And there is only
one door. You know, I am not nervous,
nor over'imaginative But the feeling per.
sisted.
81 turned my head a little and looked
over my shoulder. A small, dark man stood
beside my bed. | saw him as clearly as |
see you. He wore a long overcoat Il
looked gray in the light from the window
In his arms he held bundle He
stretched his arms out to me. The bundle
was small. It was wrapped in long white
shawl It moved and gave little cry.
Take care of my bambino,' said the
man. Please remember my bambino'
He said 1t several times. Then he
backed away, The figure in the gray coat
and the little moving bundle 1t held in its
arms seemed to melt away through the
window.
Something made me want to follow. I
crept out Of bed and pulled back the cur
tains and looked out of the window The
garden and the garage looked gray in the
dawn, but the figure had gone"
Lillian Russell cast a puzzled glance at
her husband. Both looked in amazement
at their guest.
I'VE had not intended to tell YOU" be-
gan Lillian.
"We feared It would make you nervous"
said her husband
"But what do you mean?" asked Blanche.
MY chauffeur and gardener was a little
dark man. He generally wore a gray over.
coat" said Lillian.
was" Miss Bates looked questioningly
at her hostess.
I'VE might as we'll tell you. Joe is dead.
The poor, faithful fellow was murdered"
The story Of Meno's disappearance and
the hideous discovery Of his body followed
Had he child" asked Blanche.
"one little girl baby, to whom he was
devoted"
Miss Bates declined Miss Russell's hos
ptaltty for the rest of her stay in Pitts.
burgh.
If Joe Memo died because he would not
deliver Lillian Russell over to the Camorra,
he certainly had a right to come back
If such things can be-and ask for aid for
his baby.
But it would seem that he would have
appeared to his beloved mistress Why it
was Blanche Bates and not Lillian Russell
who saw the "apparition" is puzzling Still
we know from Sir Oliver Lodge and other
notables how unexpected and odd are the
things that "spooks" do.
The MOOrCS. however. are looking after
both Meno's wife and baby.
But the police have not yet found his
murderers.