Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-11-08

ing repeated by two persons laboring
/ under strong excitement.
'Eh?' That was his astounded ejacu.
lation
/ 'E-e-e-e!" A shrIn outcry, part
/ scream, part squeaI, from her.
IL" Mr. Balm again.
"Oh!" Mrs. Bain'S turn.
'You" Her startled gasp of recocni-
| tion.
yes, Evelyn. that's VINO 1t is
| This, in mattcr-of-fact tones, was a
third voice speaking
After this for moment the spell of
a terrific fascination held both Mr.. and
Mrs. Balm silent.
Standing in the middle OF the floor,
facing them. was II shadow. use the
word advisedly. with equal propriety
| might write down "apparition' or
wrath or shape" or spirit" to de
scribe that which confronted them.
prefer shadow"
1t had the outline. somewhat wavery
and uncertain, Of q man. 1t had the
voice of mana voice calm, assured
man, or at least 1t had the nebulous
faint suggestion of garbing But 1t had
no substance to 1t. none whatsoever
1t had no definable color. either. II
mad rather the aspect Of q figure of
man done In lines Of very thin smoke,
You could look right through II and
distinguish, as through patch of
haze, the pattern of the wallpaper be.
hind 1t. And now, rs 1t spoke again,
you could, in some indefinable sort of
way, see its voice starting from down
IN It's chest and travelling on up and up
and so out of its lips. 1t was no moro
than patch of fog, modelled by some
unearthly magic into vaporous sem.
blance Of human form. It was in.
conceivable, impossible, an incredible
figment Of the imagination, and vet
there it was.
It's second speech was addressed to
Mr.. Balm, who had frozen where he
was, his finger still touching the push
button, his eyes enlarged to twice their
size and his lower Jaw sagged.
You are aStOnished? Permit me to
Introduce myself | am Arthur-NIrs
Bain's first husband am glad TO meet
you"
Mr.. Balm, under this shock. came 70
himself. The Shaciles Of twelve months
; of hottled-in restraint fell from him
Are YOU" he answered. "WeH, I'm
ID if Pm glad to meet YOU"
"I 1IDInv,,tonI .-.a-.
tie, almost compassionate. you will
he glad later on l think-very glad,
Shall W" sit down all of U.s."
The Thing took chair. And the
back of the chair cloudly revealed if
self as Sub-motif for the half-ma.
terialized torso of its occupant Me
chanically, moving ierkily. Mr.. Balm
followed suit: he likewise took a chair.
Mrs. Balm, uttering choked whimpering
sounds down in her throat. already
mad FALLEN upon couch and was hud-
died there. It was Just as well the
couch had been handily near by. for
her legs would no longer support her
Her first hnsband-we may as well
call him that-turned to her.
Control yourself, Evelyn" he babe
her. "There Is no occasion for any ex.
citement. Besides, those curious
sounds which YOU are now emitting
annoy me. haven't long to stay and I
have much to say"
He cleared his throat-the process
might be followed with the eye as well
as by ear-and proceeded
81 have been endeavoring for months
past tn bring about this meeting. In
fact, ever since shortly after your sec.
ond marriage to this gentleman, | have
Striven to return to earth for the one
purpose which brings me tonight. But
1t was ditlicut-very difficult" He
sighed visible sigh. 1T Is not per.
mltted that | should explain the nature
of the obstacles. merely state that
they were very great. AS you will no.
tice, ! am not able even vet to attain
the seeming soidity-weight and
specific denSity-Which l craved to
take on. So just came along in the
somewhat sketchy and incomplete
guise in which you now see me.
My reason for coming is simple, I
, desire TO see Justice done. Where I
was, | could not rest in peace knowing
that you, Evelyn, were lying so out
rageously and, what was worse, max
ing me an unwilling accomplice, as II
were, to your lying campaign.
Evelyn. you have been a foolish.
wicked woman. You have done this
gentleman here"-including Mr.. Balm.
with wave of spectral arm-"a
cruel wrong. But what, from nv point
OF view Is even worse, you have done
me grave wrong as well. I NAV he
only memory may say that, pre-
cisely, is what l am-but even a men,
ory has its feelings, its sense of re-
sponsibility, its obligations to itself.
VERY well, having made that poinr
clear, I shall proceed: Sir, for nearly
q year past you have been intimidated
by the constantly presented image OF
| q fabulous creature. Your peace OF
mind has been seriously affected. Be
fore your eyes have been held I'D as
a paragon-L. And l resent the Sian.
der on my name. 1t has been an In
suit which no self-respecting memory
should be compelled to stand. Sir, ]
wish you to know the truth. was
not a paragon, and thank God for 1t
was not the perfect husband this
woman would have you believe. was
fussy, faulty, crochety-and / an
| proud of It,"
"Oh, Arthur" Mrs. Balm, under at
tack, was reviving, was rallying to hel
own defense as powers Of coherent
speech returned to her.
| UDonif oh Arthur' mo hn cpo.0ad