The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-11-05

, i Xix AAtNG As1NN W Nh& -
they saw the two spiritualists, who
/ had sat quietly together during the
hunt. having taken no part in the pro-
ceedings,
Nice neighborly, interest you two
hlokeS show in q mans losses!
snarled Sundowne as he noted their
inactivity.
Pardon us. sir" reioined the pro-
fessor gently, IF we have failed to
Join in searching for your missing
jewel it was only because we knew We
could be OF greater assistance to you
by staying here and invoking other aid
for you"
Other aid?" echoed Sundowne,
scornfully What are you giving us?"
Recovered by Spirits"
MY friend said the professor, with
dignity. Pray do not scoff. but hear
me Il We have been consulting the
spirits as to your loss"
We'll, did they tell you all about
it?' sneered Sundowne.
THE whereabouts of the jewel has
been revealed TO us by the spirits" an
swered the professor calmly.
"Oh, really! Well, maybe you'll
condesCend to tell me where 1t is?"
suggested Sundowne, incredulously.
with great pleasure, sir, l am glad
to be able to serve you, The spirits
have revealed TO me that the lost dia-
mond is in the left-hand pocket of
YOU jacket, together with the crumbs
of tobacco and dust"
Half-consciously Sundowne thrust
his hand into the pocket; half shame
faced. half angry, he CROPPED about in
it, Suddenly, with a shout of glad
amazement he drew forth the stone.
Here it isl" he yelled. by thun-
der. the Funny Folks were right,
Stranger, l beg your pardon for doubt
ing your word. How you knew the
stone was there beats me, but spirits
chat car tell a man that are worth be-
lieving in. Here's your $50 reward"
Thank you, sir" said the spiritual
list, calmly, but | must beg to refuse
the money. What | did was but a
friendly turn to repay your hospitality.
Good night, gentlemen" and he and
his long, lean assistant retired to their
hut, leaving us sitting open-mouthed.
Long and late the camp talked over
the miracle that night. Not a man
among the rough brotherhood around
me but was convinced of the Funny
Folks supernatural powers.
"spirits" to Hunt Gold.
"Boysi" whispered Sundowne at
last. gasping with the very strength of
the great idea that had suddenly struck
him, "a man that knows where a dia-
mond is must know where gold is.
What's the matter with our offering
these fellows their own terms to have
a spirit seance, or whatever they call
the thing, and getting their bunch of
ghosts to reveal to us where the rich
est gold finds are? This country around
here's got enough gold in it to make
us all billionaires If only We knew
where to look. If the Funny Folks
ghosts will tell us where it is we can
be the richest men in Queensland in
side of a week"
The idea took like wildire. A COM
mittee was appointed to visit the two
s~piritualists that very night, wake
them and suggest the plan to their
consideration. The spiritualists were
doubtful at first whether the spirits
could be induced to give information
on so mercenary a matter, but, with
the gentle kindliness that always
characterized them, they agreed to do
their best.
Next day they explained to the camp
M longer derisive, but respectful,
attentive, eager-that the ~eoncourse of
many thoughts had more power to
draw the attention and obedience of
the spirits than had the wills of any
two men, wen adopts.
1t was decided that on the following
Saturday night the whole camp should
convene in the schoolhouse Ca barn
like, disused structure originally built
by optimists who expected the camp to
grow into a village and who wished to
be beforehand with local improve
ments), and that there, under the two
adopts direction, the combined minds
Of the camp should will the spirits into
naturalization. Then the professor
was to question them as to the where
ahouts Of the best-paying ore.
The Seance.
Let me say, in %parenthesis, that |
am not a student of %spiritualism. /
have not delved into its mysteries,
Therefore / am not competent to tes-
tify as to whether 1t is a hoax, a mis-
application of some natural law in the
spiritual world, OF whether 1t is indeed
all that its adherents claim 1t to be.
Personally attended the seance at the
ramshackle, abortive .schoolhouse of
Argyle camp because | had a vague
sort of feeling that within its boarded
windows and rough-planked walls
something interesting would occur. /
was not mistaken.
Whatever my own feelings | AN tes-
tify that never since the birth of spir-
itualism had a group of more ardent
and absolute believers" gathered to-
gether than in that building, The mir
acle of the diamonds recovery con-
WINGED these rough children of nature
as to the truth Of ~spiritualism as thor
oughly as Columbus achievement con-
WINGED Spain that there was really a
new world across the western ocean.
AS II to encourage our belief in the
wealth OF the gold-bearing earth about
us, that weeks mining had been UNI
usually prosperous. On the following
day the BIG. numbering ore wagon,
heavily guarded. was to make the
monthly journey to Sydney with our
thirty days earnings. So perfectly