“I’m going to tell you, Alvord, for I must tell somebody, and Eunice won’t listen, and Mason is busy telephoning--he’s been at it all day--off and on--” “Fire away, Aunt Abby, dear,” Hendricks said. He had small desire to hear her meandering tales, but he felt sorry for the pathetic face she showed and listened out of sheer charity. “Yes, it was near dawn, and I was sort of dozing but yet, awake, too--and I heard a step--no, not a step, just a sort of gliding footfall, like a person shufing in slippers. “And then, I saw a vague shadowy shape--like Sanford’s--and it passed slowly through the room--not stepping, more like floating--and it stopped right at my bedside, and leaned over me--” “You saw this!” “Well, it was so dark, I can’t say I saw it--but I was--I don’t know how to describe it--I was conscious of its presence, that’s all!” “And you think it was Sanford’s ghost?” “Don’t put it that way, Al. It was Sanford’s spirit, leaving the earth, and bidding me good-by as it wafted past.” “Why didn’t he bid his wife good-by?” Hendricks was blunt, but he deemed it best to speak thus, rather than to encourage the ghost talk. “He probably tried to, but Eunice must have been asleep. I don’t know as to that--but, you know, Alvord, it is not an uncommon thing for such experiences to happen--why, there are thousands of authenticated cases--” “Authenticated fiddlesticks!” “Your scorn doesn’t alter the truth. I saw him, I tell you, and it was not a dream, or my imagination. I really saw him, though dimly.” “What did he have on?” “That’s the queer part. Not his usual clothes, but that sort of a jersey he wears when he’s doing his exercise.” “Oh, his gym suit? You saw it plainly?” “Not so very plainly--but--I felt it!” “Felt it! What are you talking about?” “I did, I tell you. He leaned over me, and I put out my hand and touched his arm, and I--I think I felt a tight woolen jersey sleeve.” “Oh, you think you did! Well, that’s all right, then, but you mustn’t say you felt a ghost. They’re not material, you know.” “You’re making fun of me, Alvord, but you mustn’t. I know more about these things than you do. Why shouldn’t I? I’ve made a study of them--I’ve read lots of books, and been to lots of séances, and lectures--oh, I know it was a manifestation of San himself!” “Well, Aunt Abby, if it gives you any comfort to think it was, why, just keep right on thinking. I don’t say there aren’t such happenings. I only say I don’t believe there are. I don’t doubt your word, you understand, but I can’t make my hard common sense take it in. My mind isn’t built that way. Did you hear anything?” “I heard--” Aunt Abby paused, and blushed a little--“you’ll laugh, I know, but I heard--his watch ticking!” “Oh, come now, Aunt Abby, that’s a little too much! I can’t help smiling at that! For I’m sure ghosts don’t carry watches, and anyway not in a gymnasium suit!” “I knew you’d jeer at it, but I did hear the ticking, all the same.”