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〃If you are ready；〃 he said； 〃we will examine the cabinet。 Shall
I wheel it over here； or will you look at it where it is？〃
〃If it is to be in that corner during the seance；〃 declared Mr。
Hallowell； 〃I'll look at it where it is。〃
As he struggled from his chair； he turned to Mrs。 Marsh； and
nodded his head knowingly。 〃You see； Mrs。 Marsh；〃 he said； 〃I am
taking no chances。〃
〃That is quite right； Mr。 Hallowell；〃 purred the old lady。 〃If
there be any doubt in your mind； you must get rid of it； or we
will have no results。〃
With a dramatic gesture； Vance swept aside from the opening in
the cabinet the black velvet curtain。 〃It's a simple affair；〃 he
said indifferently。 〃As you see； it's open at the top and
bottom。 The medium sits inside on that chair； bound hand and
foot。〃
In turn； Mr。 Hallowell； Mrs。 Marsh； Gaylor； Rainey； Professor
Strombergk entered the cabinet。 With their knuckles they beat
upon its sides。 They moved it to and fro。 They dropped to their
knees； and with their fingers tugged at the carpet upon which it
stood。
Under cover of their questions； in the corner of the bay window；
Miss Coates whispered to Lee； 〃Don't look now；〃 she warned； 〃but
later； you will see on the left of that door the switch that
throws on the lights。 When I am sure she is outside the cabinet；
when she has told him not to give the money to me； I'll cry
now！' and whichever one of us is seated nearer the switch will
turn on all the lights。 I think； 〃Miss Coates added with； in her
voice； a thrill of triumph not altogether free from a touch of
vindictiveness； 〃when my uncle sees her caught in the middle of
the room； disguised as his sister we will have cured him。〃
〃It may be；〃 said the man。
The possibility of success as Miss Coates pointed it out did not
appear to stir in him any great delight。 He glanced unwillingly
over his shoulder。 〃I see the switch；〃 he said。
Leaning on the arm of Gaylor； Mr。 Hallowell returned from the
cabinet to his chair。 What he had seen apparently strengthened
his faith and； in like degree； inspired him to greater
enthusiasm。
〃Well；〃 he exclaimed； 〃there are no trapdoors or false bottoms
about that！ If they can project a spirit from that sentry box；
it will be a miracle。 For whom are we waiting？〃 he asked
impatiently。 〃Where is Winthrop？〃
Judge Gaylor explained that Winthrop preferred to wait
downstairs； and that he had said he would remain there until the
seance was finished。
〃Afraid of compromising his position；〃 commented the old man。
〃I'm sorry。 I'd like to have him here。〃 He motioned Gaylor to
bend nearer。 In a voice that trembled with eagerness and
excitement； he whispered： 〃Henry； I have a feeling that we are
going to witness a remarkable phenomenon。〃
Gaylor's countenance grew preternaturally grave。 He nodded
heavily。
〃I have the same feeling； Stephen；〃 he returned。
Vance raised his hand to command silence。
〃Every one；〃 he called； 〃except the committee； who are to bind
and tie the medium； will take the place I give him； and remain
in it。 Mr。 Day will please acquaint Miss Vera and Mrs。 Vance
with the fact that we are ready。〃
Up to this point Vance had appeared only as a stage manager。 He
had been concerned with his groupings； his lights； in assigning
to his confederates the parts they were to play。 Now that the
curtain was to rise； as an actor puts on a wig and grease paint；
Vance assumed a certain voice and manner。 On the stage the
critics would have called him a convincing actor。 He made his
audience believe what he believed。 He knew the eloquence of a
pause； the value of a surprised； unintelligible exclamation。 One
moment he was as professionally solemn as a 〃funeral director；〃
the next； his voice； his whole frame； would shake with
excitement； in an outburst of fanatic fervor。 As it pleased him
he could play Hamlet； tenderly shocked at the sight of his dead
father； or Macbeth； retreating in horror before the ghost of
Banquo。 For the moment his manner was that of the undertaker。
〃Now； Mr。 Hallowell；〃 he said hoarsely； 〃please to name those
you wish to serve on the committee。〃
Mr。 Hallowell waved his arm to include every one in the room。
〃Everybody will serve on the committee；〃 he declared。
〃Everything is to be open and above… board。 The whole city is
welcome on the committee。 I want this to be above suspicion。〃
〃That is my wish； also； sir；〃 said Vance stiffly。 〃But a
committee of more than three is unwieldy。 Suppose you name two
gentlemen and I one？ Or；〃 he shrugged his shoulders； 〃you can
name all three。〃
After a moment of consideration Mr。 Hallowell pointed at Lee。 〃I
choose Mr。 that young man；〃 he announced； 〃and Judge Gaylor。〃
〃I would much rather not； Stephen；〃 Judge Gaylor whispered。
〃I know； Henry；〃 answered the other。 〃But I ask it of you。 It
will give me confidence。〃 He turned to Vance。 〃You select some
one；〃 he commanded。
With a bow； Vance designated the tall German。
〃Will Professor Strombergk be acceptable？〃 he asked。 Mr。
Hallowell nodded。
〃Then； the three gentlemen chosen will please come to the
cabinet。〃
Vance； his manner now that of a master of ceremonies； assigned
to each person the seat he or she was to occupy。 Miss Coates
with satisfaction noted that only Mrs。 Vance separated Lee from
the electric switch。
〃I must ask you；〃 said Vance； 〃to keep the sears I have assigned
to you。 With us tonight are both favorable and unfavorable
influences。 And what I have tried to do in placing you； is to
obtain the best psychic results。〃 He moved to the door and
looked into the hall； then turned； and with uplifted arm
silently demanded attention。
〃Miss Vera；〃 he announced。 Followed closely； like respectful
courtiers； by Mannie and Mrs。 Vance； Vera appeared in the
doorway； walked a few feet into the room； and stood motionless。
As though already in a trance； she moved slowly； without
volition； like a somnambulist。 Her head was held high； but her
eyes were dull and unseeing。 Her arms hung limply。 She wore an
evening gown of soft black stuff； that clung to her like a lace
shawl； and which left her throat and arms bare。 In spite of the
clash of interests； of antagonism； of mutual distrust； there was
no one present to whom the sight of the young girl did not bring
an uneasy thrill。 The nature of the thing she proposed to do；
contrasted with the loveliness of her face； which seemed to mock
at the possibility of deceit； something in her rapt； distant
gaze； in the dignity of her uplifted head； in her air of
complete detachment from her surroundings； caused even the most
skeptical to question if she might not possess the power she
claimed； to feel for a moment the approach of the supernatural。
The voices of the committee； consulting together； dropped
suddenly to a whisper； the others were instantly silent。
In his arms Mannie carried silken scarfs； cords； and ropes。 In
each hand he held a teacup。 One contained flour； the other shot。
Vance took these from him； and Mannie hurriedly slipped into his
chair in front of the organ。
〃Gentlemen；〃 explained Vance； 〃you will use these ropes and
scarfs to tie the medium。 Also； as a further precaution against
the least suspicion of fraud； we will subject her to the most
severe test known。 In one hand she will hold this flour； the
other will be filled with shot。 This will make it impossible for
her to tamper with the ropes。
He gave the two cups to Gaylor； and turned to Vera。
〃Are you ready？〃 he asked。 After a pause； the girl slightly
inclined her head。 Lee； with one of the scarfs in his hand；
approached her diffidently。 He looked unhappily at the slight；
girlish figure； at the fair white arms。 In his embarrassment he
appealed to Vance。
〃How would you suggest？〃 he asked。
Vance； apparently shocked； hastily drew away。 〃That would be
most irregular；〃 he protested。
Apologetically Lee turned to the girl。
〃Would you mind putting your arms behind you？〃 he asked。 He
laced the scarf around her arms； and drew it tightly to her
wrists。
〃Tell me if I hurt you；〃 he murmured； but the girl made no
answer。 To what was going forward she appeared as unmindful as
though she were an artist's manikin。
〃Will you take these now？〃 asked Gaylor； and into her open palms
he poured the flour and shot。 〃And； now；〃 continued Lee； 〃will
you go into the cabinet？〃 As she seated herself； he knelt in
front of her and bound her ankles。 From behind her Strombergk
deftly wound the ropes about her body and through the rungs and
back of the chair。
〃Would you mind seeing if you can withdraw your arms？〃 Lee
asked。 The girl raised her shoulders； struggled to free her
hands； and tried to rise。 But the efforts were futile。
〃Are the gentlemen satisfied？〃 demanded Vance。 The three men；
who had shown but little heart in the work； and who were now red
and embarrassed； hastily answered in the affirmative。
〃If you are satisfied the ropes are securely fastened；〃 Vance
continued； 〃you will take your seats。〃 Professor Strombergk； as
he moved to his chair； announced in devout； solemn tones；
〃Nothing but spirit hands can move those ropes now。〃
From the organ rose softly the prelude to a Moody and Sankey