Show Chris Christmas tIll as Invitation I By y l h his JACK ACK TRES LAR hunched J JACK broad shoulders deeper into the of ol his nis big chair turning a new page Christmas as book He was reading a to become absorbed ab absorbed ab- ab story trying hard in the tale A sharp ring from the telephone brought him to lo his feet Ceet Who could eve Christmas be calling him on responded to his A strange voice bother you on to hello I hate I Christmas eve Mr But I would be Im I'm ringing up to ask if it poss possible ble for you to come and spend Christmas with me My name is Bevan I live out at Rich Rich- mond I have a big home and and and- But But but I dont don't even know you Mr There must be some mistake I want you the low voice was I emphatic Will you come or not Jack repressed a quick tion I I 1 I had thought of spending Christmas Christmas- he began it be possible to change your plans I have a feeling they could be tracked side-tracked easily Jack thought of the lonely Christmas Christmas Christ Christ- mas he had been anticipating Aft- Aft r Lj L fl i y n Hc lie ascended the steps leading to the massive door er all there might be something to this unusual invitation You are right about my plans he admitted They hey are rather inthe in ir inthe the air But But But-but but going to spend Christmas with an utter stranger took me back for a moment why I thought you might come There was a n note of disappointment disappointment disappointment in Bevan voice I probably got the wrong man however Jack thought again of the lonely Christmas before him And before he could debate the question he heard a voice inside of him answering answering answering answer answer- ing calling through the wire to Richmond Richmond Richmond Rich Rich- mond You got the right man Mr Im I'm coming An hour later bathed and dressed Jack was speeding along the frosted highway to Richmond Following Following Fol Fol- lowing the detailed instructions that had been given him Jack found the thelong thelong thelong long winding drive leading from the roadway What a secluded ghostly place he thought as he drove under under under un un- un- un der the sprinkled snow trees D B EVAN was waiting In Inthe Inthe the dim light from the chandelier chandelier chandelier chande chande- lier his tall bent figure seemed gro gro- tesque I h have ve let the servants away for the evening he said his bony hand motioning toward the end of the shadowed hall Jack felt a twinge of fear Cear Cearas as he followed folIo Here he was was alone alone in the house with this strange old man Anything could happen There wasn't another residence within blocks Then his adventurous spirit spir spir- it reasserted itself and he looked smilingly across the table at Bevan Well Ven what's it all about A dead silence was the only an an- sYer Gray eyes under heavy bris bri tUng brows stared at him intently Jack Jaek stared back unflinchingly Then a hearty laugh rang through the library With amazement Jack saw the old man straighten u up i in his chair Years seemed to fall off his shoulders The twisted grotesque gro gro- tesque appearance vanished as if tf by magic He spoke quietly Im not crazy he began began- Im just a lonely old fellow ticketed as w a sort of recluse The true facts are that Ive I've been trying for years ears to write Yesterday I that got word that a story of mine h had d been accepted But I still dont don't understand your strange invitation and- and in Jack m in- in Im coming to that Bevan Wil lers C continued The hero of my book is s a daring adventurous fel- fel low A man willing to answer a strange call that came in the night I got intrigued with the fellow and began thinking Wondering if there was any young fellow who would act ct as he had hadd d done So I first hotel ran rang g t the he e that came to mind and described m my y hero red ried i Young ar tended interesting his sort ot of chap Pi Pre e name had mind for slipped m my the mom moment ent They connected connected con con- me with y your our room You know the rest I Jack stretched out his across oss the desk long arm and gripped the old mans man's hand Now that I Im I'm m here Mr LV do you ou still have believe y you U got the right gh man Th There wistful as entreaty in his dark I I eyes dont don't ly positive just thi think think-I'm I m absolute i 0 |