Smyrna times., 1924-10-15
Employing the
Magic Crystal
With Success
By SELMA E. HIGGINS


90. 1924, Western Newspaper UniOn.)
TOR a whole day our darling had
= moved about the house as one in |
some dreamlike trance.
Elida was listleSs. She would sit |
for an hour gazing at seeming moth
ingness
l, her aunt and guardian, wondered |
if It was anxiety for her absent lover,
Willard Hull, that had brought on |
this deep abstraction.
1t was early that evening when a |
warm friend of the family dropped in. |
She was a music teacher and quite an |
attraction at local social entertain |
ments. She had been out late the |
evening previous at a soiree that |
knew Miss Evans had also attended.
We were close friends with the |
music teacher, and in my anxiety and |
perpleXity I spoke of the strange mood !
that had held Elida in a strange thrall. |
MY dear Miss NettletOn," spoke my
visitor, when l had concluded, II came
purposely to see Elida. You under
stand me well enough to know that
it would not be from any idle curios-
ity, but from motives of the purest
friendly interest. Something hap
pened at the sOiree last evening that
was inexplicable.
Something happenedT I repeated.
a trifle fearsomely.
"Yes. A young man, his name was
given as Dalziell, attended the sOiree
last evening He came with the
Rltchies whom l only know inciden-
tally. He is a wonderful cOnversa-
tionalist and a marvel at the piano"
And he met Elida2" I asked, dread
ing that something might shadow the
love and loyalty of my darling and
her fiance.
"Only as he did the others. as a
gentleman of great attainments. cOur-
teOus to everybody. He had just fin.
ished a brilliant musical composition
Of his own, however, when l saw him
lean toward Elida, who sat nearby,
and fix his eyes upon her. A light
shOne in them, 1 cannot describe"
You are alarming me-" l said tim
Orously
II am sorry, but must tell you ALL"
| replied Miss Evans. II saw Elida start
and a nervous tremOr crossed her face.
She was like one enrapt fascinated
Suddenly, but without removing his
! glance, this Daziell dashed both hands
down upon the keyboard OF the plano.
There was a strain of wild. unearthly
music. A look 1 cannot describe
passed over Elida's face. Near to her
was a stand containing a fragile glass
receptacle for calling cards She
seized this, dashed It violently to the
floor and 1t shattered to a thousand
atoms. Then with a low cry she
shrank back shudderlng, covered her
face with her hands"
"YOu astOnish me" was all could
gasp out.
II glanced at young Dalziell," went
on Miss Evans. There was strange,
weird expression on his face. He
dashed off into a quick, lively Polish
mazurka."
had gone two blocks from the house
and was turning into an intersecting
street. when l CHANGED to look back.
A man was just going up the steps of
our home In a flash l recognized him
as answering the description Miss
Evans had given me of Dalziell.
hurried back to the house. I paused
TO take up a small revolver kept for
security in the drawer of the hall
rack. Then I proceeded to the parlor
entrance.
An amazing spectacle met my view
Seated at a little stand, her face pale
but placid. her eyes dreamy and
glazed, was Elida. Standing before
her was the stranger. He held a
piece Of faceted crystal in one hand.
On that Elida's eyes were fixed.
"WhO are your What are you doing
here2" quavered impulsively, and the
man turned to face the weapon in my
trembling hand.
he was not in the least moved. He
placed a warning finger to his lip,
never lowering the crystal.
For Willard Hull" was his aston
ishing announcement in low musical
tones
From willard Hull !" l cried.
MOTOR him. Do not interrupt-it
is a critical moment. Speak !" he add
ed, directing the mellow insinuating
word at the transfixed Elida and Ak
ing his glance piercingly upon her
"The wallis 1t east2 And which
wallT"
NO" came in dreamy, faraway
murmur from Elida. mot a wall-but
a we'll"
Success ~ gasped the stranger, and
sank into the nearest chair as II ex.
hausted after some superhuman effort
In a few moments the man arose
he made some movements with his
delicate hands toward Elida, whose
face renewed its usual expression
Then he turned to me.