Show christmas invitation ion by kath ketherine therine erine r deliban ACK hunched his JACK J broad shoulders deeper into the big chair turning a new page of his book he was reading a christmas story trying hard to become absorbed in the tale A sharp ring from the telephone brought him to his feet who could be calling him on christmas eve A strange voice responded to his hello 1 I hate to bother you on christmas eve mr but im ringing up to ask if it would be possible for you to come and spend christmas with me my name is bevan I 1 live out at richmond I 1 have a big home and but but I 1 dont even know you mr there must be some mistake 1 I want you the low voice was emphatic will you come or not jack repressed a quick exclamation ti on 1 I 1 I had thought of spending christmas he began it be possible to change your plans I 1 have a feeling they could be sidetracked side tracked easily jack thought of the lonely christmas he had been anticipating aft 1 A 1 lenti wit I 1 X I 1 fp e IN I 1 ile ascended the steps lead leading in to the massive door er all there might be something to this unusual invitation you are right about my plans he admitted they are rather in the air but but going to spend christmas with an utter stranger took me back for a moment why I 1 thought you might come there was a note of disappointment in bevan voice 1 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 calling through the wire to richmond you got the right man mr im coming an hour later bathed and dressed jack was speeding along the frosted L ro sted highway to richmond following the detailed instructions that had been given him jack found the long winding drive leading from the roadway what a secluded ghostly place he thought as he drove under the snow sprinkled trees B EVAN was wai waiting in the dim light from the chandelier his tall bent figure seemed grotesque 1 I have 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 as he followed here he was alone in the house with this strange old man anything could happen there another residence with within in blocks then his adventurous spirit reasserted itself and he looked smilingly across the table at bevan W lae rs well it all about A dead silence was the only answer gray eyes under aling brows stared at al him We intently rilly jack stared back unflinchingly then a hearty laugh rang through the library with amazement jack saw the old man straighten up in his chair years seemed to fall off his shoulders the twisted grotesque appearance vanished as it by magic he spoke quietly im not crazy he began 0 im just a lonely old fellow t ticketed as a sort of recluse the true facts are that ive been trying for years to write yesterday I 1 got word that a story of mine had been accepted but I 1 still dont understand your strange invitation and jack interrupted im coming to that bevan wil lers continued the hero of my book is a daring adventurous ie fel low A man willing to answer a strange call that came in the night I 1 got intrigued with the fellow and began thinking wondering if there was any young fellow who would act as he had done so I 1 rang the first hotel that came to mind and described my hero young dunmar ried ned interesting sort of chap pretended his name had slipped my mind tor for the moment they cori con necked me with your room you know the rest jack stretched out his long jong arm across the desk and gripped the old mans marshand hand now that im here mr do you still believe you have got the right man there was wistful entreaty in his dark eyes ly positive 1 dont just think im afi absolute |