Carolyn Wells
Raspberry Jam
Chapter I
The Great Hanlon
You may contradict me as flat as a flounder, Eunice, but that wont alter the facts. There is something in telepathythere is something in mind-reading
If you could read my mind, Aunt Abby, youd drop that subject. For if you keep on, I may say what I think, and
Oh, that wont bother me in the least. I know what you think, but your thoughts are so chaoticso ignorant of the whole matterthat they are worthless. Now, listen to this from the paper: Hanlon will walk blindfoldedblindfolded, mind youthrough the streets of Newark, and will find an article hidden by a representative of The Free Press. Of course, you know, Eunice, the newspaper people are on the squarewhy, thered be no sense to the whole thing otherwise! I saw an exhibition once, you were a little girl then; I remember you flew into such a rage because you couldnt go. Well, where was I? Let me seeoh, yesHanlon Hmhmwhy, my goodness! its to-morrow! How I do want to go! Do you suppose Sanford would take us?
I do not, unless he loses his mind first. Aunt Abby, youre crazy! What is the thing, anyway? Some common street show?
If youd listen, Eunice, and pay a little attention, you might know what Im talking about. But as soon as I say telepathy you begin to laugh and make fun of it all!
I havent heard anything yet to make fun of. Whats it all about?
But as she spoke, Eunice Embury was moving about the room, the big living-room of their Park Avenue apartment, and in a preoccupied way was patting her household gods on their shoulders. A readjustment of the pink carnations in a tall glass vase, a turning round of a long-stemmed rose in a silver holder, a punch here and there to the pillows of the davenport and at last dropping down on her desk chair as a hovering butterfly settles on a chosen flower.
A moment more and she was engrossed in some letters, and Aunt Abby sighed resignedly, quite hopeless now of interesting her niece in her project.
All the same, Im going, she remarked, nodding her head at the back of the graceful figure sitting at the desk. Newark isnt so far away; I could go aloneor maybe take Maggieshed love itStart from the Oberon Theatreat 2 P.M. Hm, I could have an early lunch andhidden in any part of the cityonly mentally directednot a word spoken Just think of that, Eunice! It doesnt seem credible thatoh, my goodness! tomorrow is Red Cross day! Well, I cant help it; such a chance as this doesnt happen twice. I wish I could coax Sanford
You cant, murmured Eunice, without looking up from her writing.
Then Ill go alone! Aunt Abby spoke with spirit, and her bright black eyes snapped with determination as she nodded her white head. You cant monopolize the willpower of the whole family, Eunice Embury!
I dont want to! But I can have a voice in the matters of my own house and family yes, and guests! I cant spare Maggie to-morrow. You well know Sanford wont go on any such wild goose chase with you, and Im sure I wont. You cant go aloneand anyway, the whole thing is bosh and nonsense. Let me hear no more of it!
Eunice picked up her pen, but she cast a sidelong glance at her aunt to see if she accepted the situation.
She did not. Miss Abby Ames was a lady of decision, and she had one hobby, for the pursuit of which she would attempt to overcome any obstacle.
You neednt hear any more of it, Eunice, she said, curtly. I am not a child to be allowed out or kept at home! I shall go to Newark to-morrow to see this performance, and I shall go alone, and
Youll do nothing of the sort! Youd look nice starting off alone on a railroad trip! Why, I dont believe youve ever been to Newark in your life! Nobody has! It isnt done!
Eunice was half whimsical, half angry, but her stormy eyes presaged combat and her rising color indicated decided annoyance.
Done! cried her aunt. Conventions mean nothing to me! Abby Ames makes social lawsshe does not obey those made by others!
You cant do that in New York, Aunt Abby. In your old Boston, perhaps you had a certain dictatorship, but it wont do here. Moreover, I have rights as your hostess, and I forbid you to go skylarking about by yourself.
You amuse me, Eunice!
I had no intention of being funny, I assure you.
While not distinctly humorous, the idea of your forbidding me is, welloh, my gracious, Eunice, listen to this: The man chosen for Hanlons guide is the Hon. James L. MortimerhmHigh Street Why, Eunice, Ive heard of Mortimerhes
I dont care who he is, Aunt Abby, and I wish youd drop the subject.
I wont drop itits too interesting! Oh, my! I wish we could go out there in the big carthen we could follow him round
Hush! Go out to Newark in the car! Trail round the streets and alleys after a fool mountebank! With a horde of gamins and low, horrid men crowding about
They wont be allowed to crowd about!
And yelling
I admit the yelling
Aunt Abby, youre impossible! Eunice rose, and scowled irately at her aunt. Her temper, always quick, was at times ungovernable, and was oftenest roused at the suggestion of any topic or proceeding that jarred on her taste. Exclusive to the point of absurdity, fastidious in all her ways, Mrs. Embury was, so far as possible, in the world but not of it.
Both she and her husband rejoiced in the smallness of their friendly circle, and shrank from any unnecessary association with hoi polloi.
And Aunt Abby Ames, their not entirely welcome guest, was of a different nature, and possessed of another scale of standards. Secure in her New England aristocracy, calmly conscious of her innate refinement, she permitted herself any lapses from conventional laws that recommended themselves to her inclination.
And it cannot be denied that the investigation of her pet subject, the satisfaction of her curiosity concerning occult matters and her diligent inquiries into the mysteries of the supernatural did lead her into places and scenes not at all in harmony with Eunices ideas of propriety.
Not another word of that rubbish, Auntie; the subject is taboo, and Eunice waved her hand with the air of one who dismisses a matter completely.
Dont you think you can come any of your high and mighty airs on me! retorted the elder lady. It doesnt seem so very many years ago that I spanked you and shut you in the closet for impudence. The fact that you are now Mrs. Sanford Embury instead of little Eunice Ames hasnt changed my attitude toward you!
Oh, Auntie, you are too ridiculous! and Eunice laughed outright. But the tables are turned, and I am not only Mrs. Sanford Embury but your hostess, and, as such, entitled to your polite regard for my wishes.
Tomfoolery talk, my dear; Ill give you all the polite regard you are entitled to, but I shall carry out my own wishes, even though they run contrary to yours. And to-morrow I prance out to Newark, N.J., your orders to the contrary notwithstanding!
The aristocratic old head went up and the aristocratic old nose sniffed disdainfully, for though Eunice Embury was strong-willed, her aunt was equally so, and in a clash of opinions Miss Ames not infrequently won out.
Eunice didnt sulk, that was not her nature; she turned back to her writing desk with an offended air, but with a smile as of one who tolerates the vagaries of an inferior. This, she knew, would irritate her aunt more than further words could do.
And yet, Eunice Embury was neither mean nor spiteful of disposition. She had a furious temper, but she tried hard to control it, and when it did break loose, the spasm was but of short duration and she was sorry for it afterward. Her husband declared he had tamed her, and that since her marriage, about two years ago, his wise, calm influence had curbed her tendency to fly into a rage and had made her far more equable and placid of disposition.
His methods had been drasticsomewhat like those of Petruchio toward Katherine. When his wife grew angry, Sanford Embury grew more so and by harder words and more scathing sarcasms heas he expressed ittook the wind out of her sails and rendered her helplessly vanquished.
And yet they were a congenial pair. Their tastes were similar; they liked the same people, the same books, the same plays. Eunice approved of Sanfords correct ways and perfect intuitions and he admired her beauty and dainty grace.
Neither of them loved Aunt Abbythe sister of Eunices fatherbut her annual visit was customary and unavoidable.
The city apartment of the Sanfords had no guestroom, and therefore the visitor must needs occupy Eunices charming boudoir and dressing-room as a bedroom. This inconvenienced the Emburys, but they put up with it perforce.
Nor would they have so disliked to entertain the old lady had it not been for her predilection for occult matters. Her visit to their home coincided with her course of Clairvoyant Sittings and her class of Psychic Development.
These took place at houses in undesirable, sometimes unsavory localities and only Aunt Abbys immovable determination made it possible for her to attend.
A large text-book, The Voice of the Future, was her inseparable companion, and one of her chief, though, as yet, unfulfilled, desires was to have a Reading given at the Embury home by the Swami Ramananda.
Eunice, by dint of stern disapproval, and Sanford, by his good-natured chaffing and ridicule had so far prevented this calamity, but both feared that Aunt Abby might yet outwit them and have her coveted séance after all.
Outside of this phase of her character, Miss Ames was not an undesirable guest. She had a good sense of humor, a kind and generous heart and was both perceptive and responsive in matters of household interest.
Owing to the early death of Eunices mother, Aunt Abby had brought up the child, and had done her duty by her as she saw it.
It was after Eunice had married that Miss Ames became interested in mystics and with a few of her friends in Boston had formed a circle for the pursuance of the cult.
Her life had otherwise been empty, indeed, for the girl had given her occupation a-plenty, and that removed, Miss Abby felt a vague want of interest.
Eunice Ames had not been easy to manage. Nor was Miss Abby Ames the best one to be her manager.
The girl was headstrong and wilful, yet possessed of such winsome, persuasive wiles that she twisted her aunt round her finger.
Then, too, her quick temper served as a rod and many times Miss Ames indulged the girl against her better judgment lest an unpleasant explosion of wrath should occur and shake her nervous system to its foundation. So Eunice grew up, an uncurbed, untamed, self-willed and self-reliant girl, making up her quarrels as fast as she picked them and winning friends everywhere in spite of her sharp tongue.
And so, on this occasion, neither of the combatants held rancor more than a few minutes. Eunice went on writing letters and Miss Abby went on reading her paper, until at five oclock, Ferdinand the butler brought in the tea-things.
Goody! cried Eunice, jumping up. I do want some tea, dont you, Aunty?
Yes, and Miss Ames crossed the room to sit beside her. And Ive an idea, Eunice; Ill take Ferdinand with me to-morrow!
The butler, who was also Emburys valet and a general household steward, looked up quickly. He had been in Miss Ames employ for many years before Eunices marriage, and now, in the Emburys city home was the indispensable major-domo of the establishment.
Yes, went on Aunt Abby, that will make it all quite circumspect and correct. Ferdinand, tomorrow you accompany me to Newark, New Jersey.
I think not, said Eunice quietly, and dismissing Ferdinand with a nod, she began serenely to make the tea.
Dont be silly, Aunt Abby, she said; you cant go that way. It would be all right to go with Ferdinand, of course, but what could you do when you reached Newark? Race about on foot, following up this clown, or whoever is performing?
We could take a taxicab
You might get one and you might not. Now, you will wait till San comes home, and see if hell let you have the big car.
Will you go then, Eunice?
No; of course not. I dont go to such fool shows! Theres the door! Sanfords coming.
A step was heard in the hall, a cheery voice spoke to Ferdinand as he took his masters coat and hat and then a big man entered the living-room.
Hello, girls, he said, gaily; hows things?
He kissed Eunice, shook Aunt Abbys hand and dropped into an easy chair.
Things are whizzing, he said, as he took the cup Eunice poured for him. Ive just come from the Club, and our outlook is rosy-posy. Old Hendricks is going to get, badly left.
Its all safe for you, then, is it? and Eunice smiled radiantly at her husband.
Right as rain! The prize-fights did it! They upset old Hendricks apple-cart and spilled his beans. Lots of them object to the fights because of the expensefighters are a high-priced bunchbut Im down on them because I think it bad form
I should say so! put in Eunice, emphatically.
Bad form for an Athletic Club of gentlemen to have brutal exhibitions for their entertainment.
And what about the Motion-Picture Theatre?
The same there! Frightful expense,and also rotten taste! No, the Metropolitan Athletic Club cant stoop to such entertainments. If it were a worth-while little playhouse, now, and if they had a high class of performances, that would be another story. Hey, Aunt Abby? What do you think?
I dont know, Sanford, you know Im ignorant on such matters. But I want to ask you something. Have you read the paper to-day?
Why, yes, being a normal American citizen, I did run through the Battle-Ax of Freedom. Why?
Did you read about Hanlonthe great Hanlon?
Musician, statesman or criminal? I cant seem to place a really great Hanlon. By the way, Eunice, if Hendricks blows in, ask him to stay to dinner, will you? I want to talk to him, but I dont want to seem unduly anxious for his company.
Very well, and Eunice smiled; if I can persuade him, I will.
If you can! exclaimed Miss Abby, her sarcasm entirely unveiled. Alvord Hendricks would walk the plank if you invited him to do so!
Who wouldnt? laughed Embury. I have the same confidence in my wifes powers of persuasion that you seem to have, Aunt Abby; and though I may impose on her, I do want her to use them upon me deadly r-rival!
You mean rival in your club election, returned Miss Ames, but he is also your rival in another way.
Dont speak so cryptically, Aunt, dear. We all know of his infatuation for Eunice, but hes only one of many. Think you he is more dangerous than, say, friend Elliott?