Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-16
The Argus Daily Short Story
ASKING THE SPIRITS BY LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrighted, 1908 by Associated Literary Press.

Ghosts" repeated Paul Oxford, with
smile. "To be sure there are ghosts.
have a personal acquaintance with
half a dozen. / was one once. That
was when the dramatic club put on
Hamlet
"Now you are frivolous" reproyed
Lucy. 1T is a very serious matter to
penetrate the veil that separates the
present from the future and cross to
that other shore. Mrs. Glendis says
that We each should seek to test our
mediumistic powers"
"There is one thing I like about
ghosts" said PAU.
whats that?" asked Lucy quickly
as he paused.
.'Their answers, generally are yes
and no. explained Paul meaningly.
For nearly a year he had been trying
to pin Lucy down toA definite accept
ance or dismissal of his suit. but that
tactful yet uncertain minded young
woman would say him neither yea"
nor may" preferring to enjoy the
greater freedom of action which is the
privilege of the unengaged, while at
the same time she held Oxford her
slave.
Ghosts say lots more than that"
insisted Lucy. "Mme. Goya was tell
T ing all about 1t. You start with the
alphabet, and when you come to the
right letter they give rap. and in
| that way they spell out words. Nine.
Goya says that it is the duty of every
earnest thinker to develop medlumistic
| powers, because we never can tell
| whether we have the gift until we try
| to develop"
"She's right" declared Paul, with a
greater interest than he had previous
ly shown in the discussion. do you
know I have, thought for some time
that / could develop along those lines
with the proper sympathetic support?''
"You must join our circle" invited
Lucy beamingly. She had been grow
ing angry at Paul's covert sneers at
Nine. Goya and Mrs. Glendis.
The latter had brought the adept to
the attention of the Tuesday dancing
II
company into ''circle."
The young man found it more inter
esting to sit in the darkness of the de-
veiopment room and hold hands, 1oi
there were times when something sent
thrills through the investigators and
caused the more timid among the girls
to clutch more tightly the arms OF theii
escorts.
Paul was not member of the dane
ing class in spite of his devotion tC
Lucy. and he rather resented these
seances.
II think" suggested Paul, chat II
might be well to try me out before
seek TO display my powers in public
1t will be an hour before your mother
gets back from the Bradleys, and YOU
father is too busy with that new booi
he borrowed to interrupt. Suppose W.
hold a sitting now?'
: II never heard of a sitting with onl!
two" objected Lucy. Even with TIT
fifteen or twenty of our circle we ge
scarcely any return yet, and l do no
t believe that the, two of us could ge
any response ut ALL
: 1--WE can try it." pleaded Paul. wv
cannot do more than fail, and Their
might come some slight indication tina
one or the other had mysterious pow
err"
Eyes. we can try it." assented Luc.
brightly. glad to see Paul's interest
"Of course you must promise that
there is no development you win no
be discouraged
.sIll promise that" assented Pau
promptly. "fll not be discouraged"
.sThen we'll try" agreed Lucy as sh
cleared the magazines and books froI
q light table and brought 1t into tn
center of the room. She placed chair
on opposite sides, disregarding Paul
Z suggestion that they be placed side b