Let me tell
you how a hundred people were fooled lately."
"I should be delighted to hear you tell it."
"You should have sympathy for them, after your spiritualistic
experience," said Mary with a smile.
"There is a married couple in this city whom we will call Mr. and
Mrs. Cartwright, because those are not their names. They have been
married less than two years. He is 68 and she 28, so you see it was
what they call a December and May union. It was worse. He is a bank
president and his god is money--his diversion sitting in his elegant
library and reading _de luxe_ editions of the world's literary
masterpieces. She is young, and beautiful, and craves society,
attention, admiration.
"She didn't get the last two at home, but society furnished them. He
attended her to parties and receptions and then went back to his
library until it was time to escort her home.
"One night when he went for her she could not be found. No one had
seen her leave--she had mysteriously disappeared. Mr. Isburn gave me
the case. I'll make the story short for it is eleven o'clock." "I
know how to get out. Mr. Cass told me." "Your knowledge of a method
of egress does not warrant an extension of your visit to midnight,
does it?" asked Mary laughingly.
"Considering the attractions presented, I think they do," replied
Quincy, banteringly.
She resumed her story.
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