The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-25

"Oh, you should have seen
lazineSs and brilliant coIoring."
IL know the type-half butt.
endure being married 10 Captain
Dale any longer. He was thirty
odd years my senior. A-grizzled
old sea-dog. / loathed him! /
wanted to know the beauty and
romance of life-so fed.
PELL (nrusinOly)--The romance OF
life. Was that the only reason?
MRS. DALE-No. There W On
other woman.
: PELHAM!
MRS. DALE pacing the floor ner-
UouSlyJ-Oh, 1t was no secret at
the time! She lived in the north
wing of this house. A creature he
had picked up in India, or Heaven
knows where. He installed her as
assistant housekeeper. Oh, you
should have seen her! A fieshy,
swarthy woman, all laziness and
brilliant coloring. / wish 1.cOuld
describe her
PELL-I know the type. Half-but-
? terfiy, half-slug.
MRS, DALE-When I upbraided
Captain Dale with her presence he
offered an explanation that seemed
reasonable He said that she was
necessary to the exotic plants in
the conservatory-he was a fanati-
cal orchid culturist-and appar-
emily she was. The flowers seemed
to thrive on the hot breath she ex-
hailed. She caressed them and
talked to them as though they
were human. Call it fancy, IL You
will, but l assure you ! have seen
a swinging basket of African or
chids sway perceptibly and reach
out aerial roots in her direction.
There was q sinister magnetism
about her. Ugh! She was un-
Z canny!
PELL (indulOentIy) - You were
young and perhaps trifie afraid
OF her.
MRS. DALE-Not at first. But
grew to fear her. She developed
violent jealousy of me. And one
night | was awakened by sharp
claws tearing at my cheeFs. l
screamed and managed to switch
on the lights
PELL-And there she was!
MRS. DALE-NO, no! The room
was empty
PELL-Empty!
MRS. DALE-Absolutely, save for
my terror-stricken self. Every
door was locked. Every window
fastened exactly as | had left it
before retiring. OF course, my
cries aroused the household. My
husband declared had been
dreaming. But l proved to the
contrary. A small pearl cross had
been torn from my neck in the
night. The next morning the
Eastern woman was found dead in
her room-She had killed herself
with a drug. And the little pearl
cross was clenched within her
hand.
PELL-Horrible!
MRS. DALE-Now do you marvel
at my repugnance for this house
and all pertaining to it?
PELL-Not in the face of so grew
some history. ! see you still
wear the little pearl cross.
MRS. DALE (1oith SmiIe)-To re-
mind myself, in case hould ever
be tempted to marry, that single
blessedness is best
PELL (aCith fuSh)-Damn old
CAnf1in LOT IIn' 1Ok %
answer for! with q frustrated
eTpre$Ston) He'll be strong
man who'll eliminate that feeling
from your heart!
HE turns dt1GV and stands star
ing and Sc0Wling into the empty
frepldce.)
MRS. DALE (t0ith a Stnrt)-Oh,
don't laugh in that satirical way!
PELL turning, amGzedJ-Eh?
assure YOU I'm not laughing.
MRS. DALE (Stortng at hin,
Strdngely)-NO. l was mistaken.
But SOMEONE is laughing.
Listen
"a curious ch~ckling is audible
In the rO0m)
PELL (beneath his bredthJ-You're
right. hear it, too. both listen
IN strained dttitHdcS.) Lord!
How utterly demoniacal!
MRS. DALE lin frightened 0his-
per)-What can it be? It's like a
mocking devil! (Wtth gasp of
h0rr0r) It's like the way that
Eastern woman used to laugh!
Deep in her throat like that! But
she is dead (pGle). Oh! have al
ways felt there is a secret menace
in this house!
PELL~Don't be absurd! Your
imagination has become be-
Witched. There-nOw it's stopped
(Hedrtily.) You'll find it was
that old sailor Cabling to him.
self.