Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-11


Arthur tagging along, making a GROVE
Of three Of what otherwise might hav'
been a congenial company Of two.
But, as some one has most aptly said,
It's always darkest just before the dawn
In this instance, though. deliverance
came to the oppressed. not with tht
sraduations Of the spreading dawn, but
rather with the solid emphasis Of q bolt
from the blue. There had been an
evening Of bridge with the Tatunis, and
Balm, who played we'll. had for part
ner Mrs. Tatum. who didn't. 1t y
barely possible that he had betrayed
q passing emotion Of testiness once OF
twice. At midnight, as they were en-.
terins their house, Mrs. Balm renewed
her remarks on a matter to which ref
erence already had twice been made on
the way home In the cab.
MY DEAR" she was sayins, II really
must repeat again that. to my way OF
thinking, no amount Of evaporation
could have justified you in showing your
feelings as you did show them at least
twice at that card table. Now, Arthur
would never"
At this instant Mr.. Bain's finger
found the push button just inside the
jamb Of the living room door and the
lights flashed on. What next ensued-
the vocal part Of It, I mean-might have
suggested to an eavesdropper had there
been one that the vowel sounds In their
proper order were being repeated BY
two persons laboring under strong q.
element.
"Eh?" That was his astounded
ejaculation.
"E.e.e.s" A shrill eutcry, part
scream. part squeal, from her.
H." Mr.. Balm again.
"OhW Mrs. Bain's turn.
''You!" Her startled gasp Of rsoos.
milton.
"Yes, Evelyn, that's who Il h."
This, in matter. .of.faet tones, was Q
third voice speaking.
A FTER this for a moment the spell
"A of terrific faction held both Mr..
and Mrs. Balm silent.
Standing in the middle Of the floor
facing them was a shadow. ! use the
word advisedly. With equal propriety
I might write down "apparition" or
wrath" or shape" or Esprit" to
describe that which confronted them,
I prefer shadow
1t had the outline, somewhat wayery
and uncertain, Of a man. It had the
voice of mana voice calm, assured,
almost casual. It had the garb Of a
man. or at least It had the nebulous
faint suggestion Of garbing. But It had
no substance to it, none whatsoever.
1t had no defnable color, either. 1t
had rather the aspect of q figure of \
man done in lines of very thin smoke,
You could look right through it and dis.
tinguish, as through q patch of huze,
the pattern Of the wall paper behind II
And now, as 1t spoke again, Won could
in some indefinnble sort of way. see ,ts
voice starting from down in its chest
and travelling on Up and IN and so ont
OF ITS lips. 1t was no more than n
patch OF fog, modelled by some unearthly
magic into vaporous semblance of a
human form. 1t was inconceivable, i'm.
possible. an incredible figment of the
imagination. and yet there 1t was.
=. us second speech was addressed To
Mr.. Balm, who Lad frozen where he
was, his finger still touching the push.
putton, his eyes enlarged to twice their
size and his lower jaw sagged.
You are astonished? Permit ma IN
Introduce myself. I am Arthur-Nirs'
nain's Lain arst husband. I am glad to
Mr.; Balm, under this shock, came to
himself. The shackles of twelve months
or bottled-up restraint fell from him.
?, Are your he answered. "yVell.
In damned If I'm glad to meet you"
~ understand" Tho voice was
gentle, almost compassionate. "You
WI De glad later on, l think-yery
gag. ~ snail we sit down, all OF us?"
me Ihing took q chair. And the back
OF the chair cloudily revealed itself as
suo'motif for the half. materiaiized
Torso OF ITS occupant. Mechanically.
moving Jerkily. Mr.. Balm followed suit :
~"seS tooN u CHu1C. Mrs, HQin
uttering clicked, whimpering sounds
down In her throat. alrendy had fallen
upon a couch and huddled there. II
was Just as well the couch had been
handily nearby, for her legs would M
longer support her. A'
Her first husband-we may "a we'll
call him that-turned to her.
Control yourself. Evelyn" he bade
here. '"rheret is no occasion for anv
excitement. Besides, those curions
sounds which you ura now emitting
annoy me. l haven't long to stay and
/ have much to say"
lie cleared his throat-the process
might re followed with the eye a. we'll
as BY ear-and proceeded:
II have been endeavOring for months
past to bring about this meeting, In
fact, ever since shortly after YOUR sec.
ond marriage to this gentleman. / have
purpose which brings mo tonight. But
IL was diticult-very difficult" He
sighed q visible sigh. ut Is not per.
mitted that ! should explain the nature
OF the obstacles. ] merely state that
they were very great. As you will no.
tlce, am not able even vet to attain
the seeming s.l1ity-weight and spe.
cifc dens':. ':.y-which ] craved TO take
on. 60 just came along In the some.
what sketchy and incomplete guise IN
which you now see me.