Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-02-23
CHAPTER XIV.

I'm entering the pavilion Loder's
first feeling was one OF an
noyed awkwardness at finding
himself In almost total dark
ness. But as his eyes grew accus-
toned to the gloom the feeling vanish
ed and the absurdity Of the position
came 70 his mind.
The tent was small, heavily draped
with silk and smelling OF musk. II
was divided into two sections by an
immOvable curtain that hung from the
roof 10 within few feet OF the door.
The only furniture on Loder's side
was one low chair. and the only light
a faint radiance that, coming from
the invisible half OF the pavilion,
spread across the floor in a pale band.
For n short space he stood uncertain,
then his hesitation was brought TO an
end
please sit down." said low. soft
voice.
For a further moment he stood I'M
decided. The voice sounded SO unex-
pectedly near. In the quiet and dark
ness Of the place IL seemed 10 possess
n dispropOrtionate weight. almost the
weight OF familiar thing. Then with
a sudden, unanalyzed touch OF relief.
he located the impression. II was the
similarity 20 Lady Bramfelrs sweet.
slow tones that had stirred his mind.
With sense of satisfaction he drew
the chair forward and sat down.
Then for the first time he saw that
On the other side os she gauze partition
and below Il by a few inches was a
small table OF polished wood. on which
stood an opeu book. n crystal ball and
a gold dish filled with ink. These were
arranged on the side OF the table near
est 20 him. the farther side being out
OF his range Of vision. An amused in
terest touched him as he made his posi-
ton more comfortable. Whoever this
woman was, she had an eye for stage
! management. she knew how 20 mar
shall her effects. lie found himself
waiting with some curiosity for the
next Injunction from behind the cur
tain.
The art OF crystal gazing" began
the sweet. slow voice after n pause. lis
one OF the oldest known arts" LOder
sat forward. The thought OF Lady
Bramtell mingled disconcertincly with
some other thought more distant and
less easy 10 secure.
ITO obtain the best results" went
on the seer. the subject lays his I'M
covered hands outspread upon a
smooth surface" IL was evident that
the Invisible prlestess was reading
from the open book, for when the
word surface" was reached there
was slight stir that indicated the
changing Of position. and when the
voice came again 1t was in a different
tone.
please lay your hands. palms down
ward, upon the table"
LOder smiled 10 himself In the dark
ness. He pictUSed Chllcote with his
nerves and his impotence going
through this ordeal; then in good hu-
mored 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 un-
seen lamp.
There was a second in which the
seer was 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 have
laughed. but the request so casually
and graciously made sent all POSSIBLE
ity Of irony far into the background.
The thought OF Chilcote and OF the
one flaw In their otherwise fawless
scheme rose TO his mind. Instinctively
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 undignlfied retreat.
/ Between you and me. Of course, /"
said the voice softly. 1t sounded Ian
guild. but very rational. The idea of
/ retreat seemed suddenly theatrical. In
this world OF low voices and shaded
lights people never adopted extreme
S measures-no occasion made a scene
( practicable or even allowable. Re
leaned back slowly, while he summed
up the situation. II by any unlucky
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. If. on the
other hand, he left the pavilion with
out excuse or II without apparent rea-
son he refused to remove the rings, he
opened up new difficulty, a fresh
road to curiosity. II came upon him
with unusual quickness-the obstacles
to and the need for a speedy decision.
He glanced round the tent; then IN
consciously he Strengthened his shout