San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-08
Copyright. 1925. by king Feat

In looking back upon the days jim
and | spent in Canada | don't recall
any signs of his having pressing bust
ness. But We had such Il happy, jolly,
chummy time that Id feel ungratetuI
il | went too deeply into the motives
and causes that impellcd Jim TO carry
me off for New Years celebration
alone with him in a strange city.
We didn't mention the Stratton
party, which we had been warned not
10 attend. | didn't tell Jim how re-
lievCd both our maid and our poten-
tial hostess had seemed on learning
of our projected trip. And, of course,
We tried hard not to discuss the an
onymous letters. We succeeded fair
~ well, referring to them most casu-
ally once or twice and with a large
gesture of thinking them very funny,
indeed. But when we were on thC
last lap OF our journey, on the tram
back TO The Birchcs, with home very
near. Jim said suddenly:
What did you tell me about those
folks who had The Birchcs before VIC
came there, Anne
The tenant was an Englishman
named BERTHE Lingard," l said care
lcSSly. -.
What did you say became OF him:
jim asked.
He went back to the other side and
succeeded TO an EarldOm or some
thing" | yawned, adding truthfully
IN be glad to sleep in my own room
tonight. | never seem to manage
much more than forty. winks IN
strange beds. don't see how people
can make business of travelling
slecpers and hotels always stimulate
me until I'm wide awake"
Hmm :" was all Jim replied. But
after a moment he asked:
Did you tell me that lingard hau
wife or sister, or something like
that. with him at the BirchCs:
Mrs, Perry wasn't clear about who
she was" / said. Il don't know
whether he thought there was
scandal VIC ought to be warned Of
or if he thought there had been
tragic romance we ought to respect
nut he didn't say much about his sec
ond tenant except that her name wa
Lisa"
What became of Lisa?" asked jim
with the effect of having me on IN
witness stand.
was n bit surprised. but in sue
GOOD mood that | replied equally
Il don't recall whether or not
told YOU the story. In fact, / seer
ia think I didn't. Where did you e
So interested in the fate OF Bertl
Lingard and Lisa: -. l.,
/ Seems to me Zeke Schmidt tol
me something about them Jli
answered. But | want to get
| clear. | have my reasons. Please te
me what you know, Anne, dear.
| Searching my memory, l brought u
! stray bits of the tragic and .perhaG
sordid tale Nicholas Perry had relate
, IN Jcanie and me. I told Jim that LIS
+ had been i'll unto death, and that NJ
r Iingard had been trying 10 nurse ne
l hack to life by loving care and dev'
tion I related how someone hu
hand or father or guardian had CON
4 IA take Lisa away-how she had dle
. in the prison they made for her an
how. after her death, Mr.. IliSa
had succeeded to his empty title.
Jim sat lost in thought for scvcri
minutes after I had finished. linen
: soid. slowly and earnestly:
! 81 wonder why I'm laying so mu'
+ stress on the story
= us it because it seems to tic I
Y with our anonymous letters:'
I asked. -.
r BY Jovc, That's it," cried Jill
cxcitedly. 1T does tic up,
But how" I broke in, eagerly
, jim turned and looked at me
' most blankly. ar.
u don't know" he confessed. 81
d no idea. / was thinking-oh, not
c ing"
0 You were on the verge of som
thing when broke in and spoil
YOUR train of thought" L said. -,
| DO you get any sense of tieup
tween us and the probably illicit +
nance of BERTHE Lingard: Jl
asked. =,
| Some fanatic might think I
} Birches an accursed spot, | reph
thourhtfulIv. They, or he. mig
feel that we were due to or 1t mig
d be Iisa's ghost" penace I
I the Lingards--
That's it," Jim broke in dram
l tically.
C you think it might be LIS
ghost?" / laughed. Ghosts dol
write letters. At least I've new
r heard of any well authenticated ghc
l. that did write letters"
p a live ghost might, " said Jim slo
C ". Suppose Lingard's heart bro
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