Show OF J INTEREST N TERE S T TO W OM E N t r Confessions Confessions I Of a a. a BrideI Bride I Am Paralyzed by the Sight of a If Murdered Murdered Woman JA A ghost What are you talking about Jane Bob held me tight and looked lo sharply into my face There There The murdered woman S r Stretched in the moonlight See H Her r throat Horrible Horrible I l' l moaned Jane Lorimer What's the matter with y you Bobs Bohs arms arms hurt me There There A isn't any any n ghost There There isn't any aih smoke I Itell tell you Only a smear ot of moonlight on the dusty floor iBY By that time I 1 was too frightened t to speak The thing which I saw w with th my two wide eyes had tal taken en ens s shape p from a waving cloud of smoke Iii It Iti was the elegant figure of ot a regal woman woman Her trained and clinging g gown n made a graceful curve in the light fight of the moon My eyes were held to that shape I saw It emerge f from om the smoke and round itself from the flatness of the floor The feat features features fea fea- t tures res of the face tace grew clear clear and and clearer They were exactly those of at the only woman I 1 have ever detested I 1 I seemed to be gazing on the fine profile of that dreadful rival of ot mine the the girl with the tawny tresses About the slender white throat of the Uie figure was a dark and Jagged line upon the breast a dark stain fl jI was shaking with terror I 1 was cold to the bone Jane Speak to me demanded fly my husband jl lI couldn't move my lips I couldn't t turn m my head although I 1 longed to hide my face face- on his breast and so shut slut the horror out I was stiff as one of ot the dead Hand nor foot I 1 could not move I 1 was conscious that l I Iwas was paralyzed paralyzed and and quite unable to overcome my condition Bob shook me and me-and and shook me again Then he kissed me me but I 1 scarcely ly heard his voice or felt his lips Suddenly he stooped and picked up t the le electric flash by the light of which which he had made the fuse Without a word of warning he turned the glare of it squarely into my eyes It hurt them I closed them shuddered in my husbands husband's arms caught my breath in short hard gasps as a a. achild achild child does after altel a terrible fit of sobbing and then my knees gave way say beneath me When I came out of my swoon Bob was holding me me in his arms and trying to keep my body from touching the grimy floor All Allright right now dearest he asked anxiously as if he hardly expected that hat I was right enough to make a ae as s e Bane ne reply I 1 think think think-l I am am I 1 murmured What has happened You stiffened sweetheart sweetheart like like a aman aman aman man I once saw in a fit My God Jane Janet I You gave me a scare You chattered about a ghost ghost and and I thought you might die and become a areal areal areal real ghost yourself There Isn't the thel l least ast history of nervous disease in your your family I am sure Never has hM been Bob Was WM I I- I badly off badly off my head You certainly were my love Bob Bobr r replied Well get back to our own room before we talk any more Can you sit up while I dispose of the litter Jitter Ive I've made And can you YOU YOUre YOU're re remember re- re member if you ever need to to Just where Ive I've hidden the end of the fuse which will blow all this ammunition to the stars Bob gave me further Instructions I about taking care of myself In case caseI I II I ever had to light the fuse as we wo walked back to the attic As we might have expected we met that mysterious and magnificent lady the housekeeper in the hall near our r room om i Did you see the see the murdered lady This his is the brief form of the question questions s she ie whispered with elaborate Mexican politeness 1 i I saw nothing at all Donna Camilla Cailla Ca Ca- milla milla illa Bob replied j JA A queer smile which was almost a a. sheer spoiled the dames dame's aristocratic f features j The signora Is white Some wine asked Donna Camilla No thank you Mrs Lorimer Is s sonly only only very tired It Is late She will the he e all right as soon as she has had some lome sleep p. p Thank you Donna Camilla Bob Boll made his best bow I thought he was was' overdoing his po- po politeness politeness po po- a little I I wondered why As soon as we we were were alone he explained ip IT his way own way own way J Jane ne were you ever hypnotized Ever Evert in your life For a Joke Or perhaps to cure a headache Or maybe when a a. tooth was extracted Think before you answer darling To be continued |