The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-04-05

decided. The voice sounded so unex-
pectedly near. In the quiet and dark
ness of the place it seemed to possess
disproportionatc weight, almost the
weight Of familiar thing Then with
sudden. unanalyzed touch of relief,
he located the impression. 1t was the
similarity to Lady Bramfe!rs 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 of the gauze partition
and below it by n few inches was. a
small table of polished wood, on which
stood ali open book, crystal ball and
gold dish filed with ink. These We're
arranged OH the side OF the table near
est to him, the farther side being out
OF his range Of vision. An amused in
tercSt touched him as he made his posi-
ton more comfortable. Whoever this
woman was, she had an eye for stage
management. she knew how to mar
shall her effects. He 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 a pause, "is
one OF the oldest known arts" Loder
sat forward. Phe thought of Lady
Bramfell mingled disconcertingly with
some other thought more distant and
less easy to secure.
ITO obtain the best results" went
on the seer. 'the subject lays his un-
covered hands outspread upon a
smooth surface" 1t was evident that
the Invisible priestess was reading
from the open book e. wien the
word "surfnno" was reached there
was slight stir that indicated the
changing OF position, and when the
voice came again it was in different
tone.
"rlease lay your hands, PAINS down
ward, upon the table"
Loder smiled to himself in the dark
ness. He pictryed Chilcote with his
nerves and his impatience 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 n second In which the
seer was silent; then he fancied that
soJd smoornIy. ANY 'IIrurur rururrero"
with the sympathetic current.
| A. apv other time Loder would nave
,orched but the request so casuaiiy
and praciously made sent all possioil'
;tv Of irony far into the backgrounds
THE thought Of Chilcote ana OIL 'n'
one flaw In their otherwise haWiea'
.ohome rose to his mind. lnstlnctiNeH
no half withdrew his hands.
"Nhere Is the sympathetic current
os,,od quietly. His thoughts wcr
-. ,,,itb the question Of whether
would or would not be )ust'heu
heating an undignitied retreat.
"Between you and me- OF coufse'
! .aid the voice softly. 1t souhoeu Id,
!, enid but very rational. Inc iue"
ro+reot seemed suddenly theatrical.
+his world of low voices ana snaue
TIGHTS peopie never adopted eAtien
..saos,ras-no occasion made sce'
ID oot,oob,o or even allowable.
Or leaned back slowly. while he sunhin
40 tho situation. If by any uhiue
III i,once this woman knew Ch'icole
ce hove adopted jewelry and hao 90
al tho designs of his rings the slsns
er- s,s o,yn Scared finger would suss
ne ,,ost,on and comment. III. Oh
Pc ath.r hand he left the pavihoh
er- o out axcuse or if without apparent
ar SON son he refused to remove the rings. :,
~ onened up a new dimcuits,
gly .a op to curiosity. 1t came upon
the roau " ,,,o, cuickness-the obsta
20 to and the need for SPECIFY avon
aa. ave He glanced round the teh,' ,,n tn 81,
''et. consciously he straighteheo '''