Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-14

On entering the pavilion. Loders FIRST
feeling was one Of annoyed awkwardness
at finding himself in almost total darkness.
But as his eyes grew accustomed to the
gloom. the feeling vanished and the absurd
ity OF the position came to his mind.
The tent was small. heavily draped with
silk and smelling OF musk. 1t was divided
into two sections by an immovable curtain
that hung from the roof to within a few
feet OF the floor. The only furniture on
Loder's side was one low chair. and the
only light faint radiance that, coming
from the invisible half of the pavilion.
spread across the floor in a pale band. For
a short space he stood uncertain. then his
hesitation was brought to an end.
Please sit down." said low soft voice
For further moment he stood undecided.
The voice sounded so unexpectedly near. In
the quiet and darkness of the place 1t SEEM
ed to possess disproportionate weight-al-
most the weight of familiar thing. Then.
with a sudden. unanaiyzed touch of relief.
he located the impression. 1t was the sim
ilarity to Lady Bramfells sweet slow tones
that had stirred his mind. With a sense OF
satisfaction he drew the chair forward and
Sat down
Then for the first time he saw that on
the other side of the gauxe partition. and
below 1t by few inches, was a small table
OF polished wood, on which stood an open
book, crystal ball. and gold dish filled
with ink. These were arranged on the side
of the table nearest to him. the farther side
being out OF his range of vision. An amused
interest touched him as he made his posi-
ton more comfortable. Whoever this wom-
an was. she had an eye for stage manage
ment, she knew how to marshal her effects.
He found himself waiting with some curios-
lily for the next injunction from behind the
curtain.
THE art Of crystal-gazing." began the
sweet, slow voice after d pause, is one of
the oldest known arts" Loder sat for
ward. The thought OF Lady Bramfell min
gled disconcertingly with some other
thought more distant and less easy TO Sc
cure.
ITO obtain the best results" went on the
seer. the subject lays his uncovered hands
outspread upon a smooth surface 1t was
evident that the invisible priestess was
reading from the open book. for when the
word surface" was reached there was a
slight stir that indicated the changing of
position; and when the voice came again it
was in a different tone.
please lay your hands. palms downward.
upon the table
Loder smiled to himself in the darkness
He pictured Chilcote with his nerves and
his Impotence going through this ordeal
then in good-humored silence he leaned
forward and obeyed the command. His
hands rested on the smooth surface of the
table in the bar of light from the unseen
lamp.
silent; then he fancied that she raised her
head.
you must take Off your rings" she said,
smoothly. Any metal interferes with the
sympathetic current
At any other time Loder would nave
laughed but the request so casually ana
gractously made sent all possibility OF irony
far into the background. The thought OF
Chilcote and of the one flaw in their other
wise f1awless scheme rose to his mind In
stinctively he half withdrew his hands.
Where Is the sympathetic current?' he
asked quietly. His thoughts were busy
with the question of whether he would or
would not be justified In beating an undig-
nified retreat.
Between you and me, of course" said
the voice softly. II sounded languid, but
very rational. The idea of retreat seemed
suddenly theatrical. In this world OF low
voices and shaded lights people never
adopted extreme measures-no occasion
made scene practicable, or even allow
able. He leaned back slowly, while he
summed up the situation. If by any I'M
lucky chance this woman knew Chilcote
to have adopted jewelry and had seen the
designs Of his rings the sight of his own
SCARED finger would suggest question and
comment: IL. on the other hand, he left the
pavilion without excuse, or If, without APP
parent reason he refused to remove the
rings, he opened up new difficulty fresh
road to curiosity. 1t came upon him with
unusual quickness-the obstacles to, and the
need for. a speedy decision He glanced
round the tent, then unconsciously he
Strengthened his shoulders. After all he
had stepped into tight corner. but there
was no need to cry out in squeezing his
way back Then he realized that the soft,
iL gra tiating tones were sounding once more.
Its the passing of my hands over yours,
while l look into the crystal, that sets up
sympathy"-a slender hand moved swiftly
into the light and picked up the ball-"and
makes my eyes see the pictures in your
mind, Now. will you please take off your
rings?'
The very naturalness of the request dis
armed him. 1t was a risk. But, Chill
cote had said. risk was the salt OF life -.
I'm afraid you think me very trouble
some The voice came again, delicately
low and conciliatory.
For a brief second Loder wondered uncer-
tainiy how long or how we'll Chilcote knew
Lady Astrupp; then he dismissed the ques-
ton. Chilcote had never mentioned her I'M
til tonight, and then casually as Lady
bramfell's sister. What a coward he was
becoming in throwing the dice with fate!
Without further delay he drew off the rings,
slipped them into his pocket. and replaced
his hands on the smooth table top
Then, at the moment that he replaced
them, a peculiar thing occurred.
From the farther side of the dark parti-
ton came the quick rustling stir Of a
ckirt and the eight serape of a chair
pushed either backward or forward. Then
Now. silence can suggest anything, from
pr ofound thought to imbeciiity; but In this
case it's suggestion was nil That some
thing had happened, that some change had
taken place. was as patent to Loder as the
darkness of the curtain or the band of light
that crossed the floor, but what had oc-
casioned It. or what it stood for he made
no attempt to decide. He sat bitingly con-
scious OF his hands spread open on
the table under the scrutiny of
eyes that were invisible to him
yiyidly aware of the awarkardness of his
position He felt with instructive certainty
that a new chord had been struck; but a
man seldom acts on instructive certainties
If the exposure of his hands had struck
this fresh note, then any added action
would but heighten the dilemma. He sat
silent and motionless.
Whether his impassivity had any bear
ing on the moment he had no way of know
ing; but no further movement came from
no Whatavpr ba