vera, the medium-第5部分

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priestess　of　the　occult　to　fly　with　him；　to　live　with　him；　to
marry　him。　When　this　happened　Vera　would　touch　a　button；　and
〃Mannie〃　Day；　who　admitted　visitors；　and　later；　in　the　hall；
searched　their　hats　and　umbrellas　for　initials；　came　on　the　run
and　threw　the　infatuated　one　out　upon　a　cold　and　unfeeling
sidewalk。

So　Vera　had　seen　both　the　seamy　side　of　life　and；　in　the　drawing
rooms　where　Vance　and　she　exhibited　their　mind　reading　tricks；
had　been　made　much　of　by　great　ladies　and；　for　an　hour　as　brief
as　Cinderella's；　had　looked　upon　a　world　of　kind　and　well…bred
people。　Since　she　was　fourteen；　for　seven　years；　this　had　been
her　life　　a　life　as　open　to　the　public　as　the　life　of　an
actress；　as　easy　of　access　as　that　of　the　stenographer　in　the
hotel　lobby。　As　a　result；　the　girl　had　encased　herself　in　a
defensive　armor　of　hardness　and　distrust；　a　protection　which　was
rendered　futile　by　the　loveliness　of　her　face；　by　the　softness
of　her　voice；　by　the　deep；　brooding　eyes；　and　the　fine　forehead
on　which；　like　a　crown；　rested　the　black　waves　of　her　hair。

In　her　work　Vera　accepted；　without　question；　the　parts　to　which
Vance　assigned　her。　When　in　their　mummeries　they　were
successful；　she　neither　enjoyed　the　credulity　of　those　they　had
tricked　nor　was　sobered　with　remorse。　In　the　world　Vance　found　a
certain　number　of　people　with　money　who　demanded　to　be　fooled。
It　was　his　business　and　hers　to　meet　that　demand。　If　ever　the
conscience　of　either　stirred　restlessly；　Vance　soothed　it　by　the
easy　answer　that　if　they　did　not　take　the　money　some　one　else
would。　It　was　all　in　the　day's　work。　It　was　her　profession。

As　she　entered　the　library　of　Mr。　Hallowell；　which；　with　Vance；
she　already　had　visited　several　times；　she　looked　like　a　child
masquerading　in　her　mother's　finery。　She　suggested　an　ingenue
who　had　been　suddenly　sent　on　in　the　role　of　the　Russian
adventuress。　Her　slight　girl's　figure　was　draped　in　black　lace。
Her　face　was　shaded　by　a　large　picture　hat；　heavy　with　drooping
ostrich　feathers；　around　her　shoulders　was　a　necklace　of　jade；
and　on　her　wrists　many　bracelets　of　silver　gilt。　When　she　moved
they　rattled。　As　the　girl　advanced；　smiling；　to　greet　Mr。
Hallowell；　she　suddenly　stopped；　shivered　slightly；　and　threw
her　right　arm　across　her　eyes。　Her　left　arm　she　stretched　over
the　table。

〃Give　me　your　hand！〃　she　commanded。　Dubiously；　with　a　watchful
glance　at　Vance；　Mr。　Hallowell　leaned　forward　and　took　her　hand。

〃You　have　been　ill；〃　cried　the　girl；　〃very　ill　　I　see　you　　I
see　you　in　a　kind　of　faint　　very　lately。〃　Her　voice　rose
excitedly。　〃Yes；　last　night。〃

Mr。　Hallowell　protested　with　indignation。　〃You　read　that　in　the
morning　paper；〃　he　said。

Vera　lowered　her　arm　from　her　eyes　and　turned　them　reproachfully
on　him。

〃I　don't　read　the　Despatch；〃　she　answered。

Mr。　Hallowell　drew　back　suspiciously。　〃I　didn't　say　it　was　the
Despatch；〃　he　returned。

Vance　quickly　interposed。　〃You　don't　have　to　say　it；〃　he
explained　with　glibness；　〃you　thought　it。　And　Vera　read　your
thoughts。　You　were　thinking　of　the　Despatch；　weren't　you？　Well；
there　you　are！　It's　wonderful！〃

〃Wonderful？　Nonsense！〃　mocked　Mr。　Hallowell。　〃She　did　read　it　in
the　paper　or　Rainey　told　her。〃

The　girl　shrugged　her　shoulders　patiently。　〃If　you　would　rather
find　out　you　were　ill　from　the　newspapers　than　from　the　spirit
world；〃　she　inquired；　〃why　do　you　ask　me　here？〃

〃I　ask　you　here；　young　woman；〃　exclaimed　Hallowell；　sinking　back
in　his　chair；　〃because　I　hoped　you　would　tell　me　something　I
can't　learn　from　the　newspapers。　But　you　haven't　been　able　to　do
it　yet。　My　dear　young　lady；〃　exclaimed　the　old　man　wistfully；　〃I
want　to　believe；　but　I　must　be　convinced。　No　tricks　with　me！　I
can　explain　how　you　might　have　found　out　everything　you　have
told　me。　Give　me　a　sign！〃　He　beat　the　flat　of　his　hand　upon　the
table。　〃Show　me　something　I　can't　explain！〃

〃Mr。　Hallowell　is　quite　right；　Vera；〃　said　Vance。　〃He　is
entering　what　is　to　him　a　new　world；　full　of　mysteries；　and　that
caution　which　in　this　world　has　made　him　so　successful　　〃

With　an　exclamation；　Hallowell　cut　short　the　patter　of　the
showman。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　he　interrupted　petulantly；　〃I　tell　you；　I　want　to
believe。　Convince　me。〃

Considering　the　situation　with　pursed　lips　and　thoughtful　eyes；
Vera　gazed　at　the　old　man；　frowning。　Finally　she　asked；　〃Have
you　witnessed　out　demonstrations　of　mind　reading？〃

Mr。　Hallowell　snorted。　〃Certainly　not；〃　he　replied；　〃it's　a
trick！〃

〃A　trick！〃　cried　the　girl　indignantly；　〃to　read　a　man's　mind　
to　see　right　through　your　forehead；　through　your　skull；　into
your　brain？　Is　that　a　trick？〃　She　turned　sharply　to　Vance。　〃Show
him！〃　she　commanded；　〃show　him！〃　She　crossed　rapidly　to　the
window　and　stood　looking　down　into　the　street；　with　her　back　to
the　room。

Vance；　with　his　back　turned　to　Vera；　stood　close　to　the　table；
on　the　other　side　of　which　Hallowell　was　reclining　in　his　arm
chair。　Vance　picked　up　a　pen　holder。

〃Think　of　what　I　have　in　my　hand；　please；〃　he　said。　〃What　is
this；　Vera？〃　he　asked。　The　girl；　gazing　from　the　window　at　the
traffic　in　the　avenue　below　her；　answered　with　indifference；　〃A
pen　holder。〃

〃Yes；　what　about　it？〃　snapped　Vance。

〃Gold　pen　holder；〃　Vera　answered　more　rapidly。　〃Much　engraving
　initials　S。　H。　　Mr。　Hallowell's　initials　　〃

〃There　is　a　date　too。　Can　you　　〃

〃December　　〃　Vera　hesitated。

〃Go　on；〃　commanded　Vance。

〃Twenty…five；　one；　eight；　eight；　six；　one　thousand　eight　hundred
and　eighty…six。〃　She　moved　her　shoulders　impatiently。

〃Oh；　tell　him　to　think　of　something　difficult；〃　she　said。

From　behind　Mr。　Hallowell's　chair　Rainey　signaled　to　Vance　to
take　from　the　table　a　photograph　frame　of　silver　which　held　the
picture　of　a　woman。

Vance　picked　it　up；　holding　it　close　to　him。

〃What　have　I　here；　Vera？〃　he　asked。

Hallowell；　seeing　what　Vance　held　in　his　hand；　leaned　forward。
〃Put　that　down！〃　he　commanded。　But　Vera　had　already　begun　to
answer。

〃A　picture；　a　picture　of　a　young　woman。　Ask　him　to　think　of　who
it　is　and　I　will　tell　him。〃

At　the　words　Mr。　Hallowell　hesitated；　frowned；　and　then　nodded。

〃It　is　his　sister；〃　called　Vera。　〃Her　name　was　　I　seem　to　get
a　Catherine　　yes；　that's　it；　Catherine　Coates。　She　is　no
longer　with　us。　She　passed　into　the　spirit　world　three　years
ago。〃　The　girl　turned　suddenly　and　approached　the　table；　holding
her　head　high；　as　though　offended。

〃How　do　you　explain　that　trick？〃　she　demanded。

Mr。　Hallowell　moved　uneasily　in　his　chair。　〃Oh；　the　picture's
been　on　my　desk　each　time　you've　been　here；〃　he　answered
dubiously。　〃Rainey　could　have　told　you。〃

〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　didn't；〃　said　Rainey。

Hallowell's　eyes　lightened　with　interest。　〃Didn't　you？〃　he
asked。　He　turned　to　Vera。　〃If　you　can　read　my　mind；〃　he
challenged　　〃you；〃　he　added；　pointing　at　Vance；　〃keep　out　of
this　now　　tell　me　of　what　I　am　thinking。〃　As　Vance　drew　back；
Rainey　and　himself　exchanged　a　quick　glance　of　apprehension；　but
the　girl　promptly　closed　her　eyes；　and　at　once；　in　a　dull；
measured　tone；　began　to　speak。

〃You　were　thinking　you　would　like　to　ask　a　question　of　some　one
in　the　spirit；〃　she　recited。　〃But　you　are　afraid。　You　do　not
trust　me。　You　will　wait　until　I　give　you　a　sign；　then　you　will
ask　that　question　of　some　one　dear　to　you；　who　has　passed
beyond；　and　she　will　answer；　and　your　troubles　will　be　at　an
end。〃　She　opened　her　eyes　and　stared　at　Mr。　Hallowell　like　one
coming　out　of　a　dream。　〃What　did　I　say？〃　she　asked。　〃Was　I
right？〃

Hallowell　slank　back　in　his　chair；　shaking　his　head。

〃Yes；〃　he　began　grudgingly；　〃but　　〃

With　an　eagerness　hardly　concealed；　Vance　interrupted。

〃What　is　the　question　you　wish　to　ask？〃　he　begged。

With　a　frown　of　suspicion；　Hallowell　turned　from　him　to　Rainey。

〃I　don't　think　I　ought　to　let　them　know；〃　he　questioned；　〃do
you？〃　But　his　attention　was　sharply　diverted。

Vera；　in　a　hushed　and　solemn　voice；　called　for　silence。

〃My　control；〃　she　explained　　her　tone　was　deep　and　awestruck
　〃is　trying　to　communicate　with　me。〃

Vance　gave　an　exclamation　of　concern。　The　prospect　of　the
phenomena　Vera　promised　seemed　to　fill　him　with　delightful
expectations。　〃Be　very　quiet；〃　he　cautioned；　〃do　not　disturb
her。〃

Deeply　impressed；　Mr。　Hallowell　struggled　from　his　chair。
Unaided；　he　moved　to　below　the　table　and　leaning　against　it
looked；　with　unwilling　but　fascinated　interest；　at　Vera's
uplifted　face。

〃Some　one　in　the　spirit；〃　Vera　chanted；　in　an　unemotional；
drugged　voice；　〃wishes　to　speak　to　Mr。　Hallowell。　Give　me　your
hand。〃

〃Quick！〃　directed　Vance；　〃give　her　your　hand。　Take　her　hand。〃

〃Yes；　he　is　here；〃　Vera　continued。　〃A　woman　has　a　message　for
you；　she　is　standing　close　beside　you。　She　is　holding　out　her
arms。　And　she　is　trying；　so　hard；　to　tell　you　something。　What　is
it？〃　the　girl　questioned。　〃Oh；　what　is　it？　Tell　me；〃　she　begged。
〃Can't　you　tell　me？〃

Hallowell　eyed　her　greedily；　waiting　almost　without　breathing
for　her　words。　The　hand　with　which　he　held　hers　crushed　her
rings　into　her　fingers。

〃What　sort？〃　　whispered　the　old　man。　〃What　sort　of　a　woman？〃

With　eyes　still　closed；　swaying　slightly　and　with　abrupt
shudders　running　down　her　body；　the　girl　continued　in　dull；
fateful　tones。

〃She　is　a　fair　woman；　about　forty…five。　She　is　speaking。　She
calls　to　you；　Brother；　brother。〃　Vera's　voice　rose　excitedly。
〃It　is　the　woman　in　the　picture；　your　sister！　Catherine！　I　see
it　written　above　her　head　　Catherine。　In　letters　of　light。〃
She　turned　suddenly　and　fiercely。　〃Ask　her　your　question！〃　she
commanded。　〃Ask　her　your　question；　now！〃

By　the　sudden　swaying　forward　of　Vance　and　Rainey；　in　the　intent
look　in　their　eyes；　it　was　evident　that　a　crisis　had　approached。
But　Mr。　Hallowell；　terrified　and　trembling；　shrank　back。　His
voice　broke　hysterically。　〃No；　no！〃　he　pleaded。　Both　anger　and
disappointment　showed　in　the　face　of　Vance　and　Rainey；　but　the
girl；　as　though　detached　from　any　human　concerns；　continued
unmoved。　〃I　see　another　figure；〃　she　recited。　〃A　young　girl；　but
she　is　of　this　world。　I　seem　to　get　an　H。　Yes。　Helen；　in　letters
of　fire。〃

〃My　niece；　Helen！〃　Hallowell　whispered　hoarsely。

〃Yes