The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-04
PAGE 12

opened his lips to ask a question, but de- cided to postpone it.
 Major Hartopp was not in the least the type of Mephistopheles. His florid con- plexion and his ingenious if little peevish expression stamped him as belonging to a different order of being altogether.
 Everything about him proclaimed the sports-loving young officer, who had done we'll enough in the army to attain his ma jority and stopped there.
 q can't make out why Nina seems to have attached herself to you so much this evening" her husband ruminated. "She came to you several times, didn't she?" "She came twice." MT. Cray admitted. "She had some supper the first time"
 ''You aren't psychic or anything of that sort, are you?"
 Mot that I know of," was the cautious reply.
 '.Say you saw her dancing with Satan what?"
 q saw that, all right,s' MT. Cray ad- mitted "A weird-looking couple they made, too."
 "Well, no one else did," her husband de- clared. "There wasn't a Satan there, as matter of fact
 MT. Cray's eyes rested upon the gaping kit-bag He stroked his chin. His whole interest in the evenings adventure was reviving.
 'tThat soy" he murmured.
 Mot a sign of one," the young man continued. According to Nina, that proves you to be possessed of negative psychic at traction. I don't know what it means, old fellow, but you've got it. She declares she was drawn to you trembling leaf blown by the wind."
 Mr. Cray surreptitiously patted his breast pocket, where a slight protuberance indicated the continued presence of his somewhat bulky pocketbook.
 "She did kinder stay round in a weird sort of fashion," he admitted. "I thought she was trying to play some joke upon me. I couldn't seem to tumble at what she was driving at, half the time."
 My wife's all right when she's herself" the young man declared irritably. "It was this internal Christine Saboa who was try ing to rake you into the spook business. Between you and me, hate the whole thing. Half of it's buncombe, and the other half is unwholesome. Just one more small one before you go?"
 "Only spot, then,' MT. Cray assented holding out his glass. tNot quite so strong this time''
 "Its pretty nearly pre-war," his host re- marked as he resumed his seat =. "Great Heavens"
 Both men glanced towards the door. The Spirit was standing there-a singular ap- partition. A white dressing gown hung loosely upon her; she was still wearing. her black mask. Her eyes were fixed upon MT. Cray
 "You must come," she begged, speaking very softly, yet with almost singular dis tinctness. "You must please come. They will not let me sleep. They call for you all the time."
 T am sorry" was the nasty response, "but Pm just off for home"
 MT. Cray rose to his feet with determina- tion. His host followed his example.
 ''Mina," the latter protested, 'you really must not worry MT. Cray now. You are quite mistaken in him. He's as much out side all this business as I am."
 She shook her head. Her eyes still pleaded with MT. Cray
 "f you are not happy, you shall not stay" she said, "but you must come, or they will give me no peace."
 T guess there's some mistake" MT. Cray declared coldly.
 Her distress became almost a paroxysm. She clutched the framework of the door with either hand, barring their egress. Hartopp drew his guest to one side.
 Look here, MT. Cray,' he begged apolo-