The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-03-09
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BANNICTER E1FRWIN
AEU|Y2cAZTONU HX
RAY WALTER ~
>opVR5OtsT 1903 ~ DoDp r4HAo 3 eor4RA9rY-

to bring a friend, who will have even
more cause to thank you than have"
"A friend?" A tinge of apprehension
colored the question: "A woman"
YES"
The soft curves of her body we're
quickly withdrawn from him.
"Oh," she whispered, 'T don't believe
I want to see her."
For moment she stood motionless.
Then she said:
Are you sorry you kissed me"
No." he answered, II am not"
Her lips brushed his forehead, and
he was alone. Cropping with one hand,
he assured himself that the panel re-
mained open. All in black, he awaited
the signal.
And now strange manifestations be-
gan in the room without There were
rappings, some faint, some loud
coming apparently from all quarters.
Invisible fingers swept gently across
the strings of a guitar. Then came the
soft clangor Of gong-once, twice,
! three times.
Orme slipped through the panel, into
the cabinet. Keeping close to the wall,
he moved to the left and worked out
into the room. The rappings were now
louder than before-loud and continu-
GUS enough to cover any slight sound
he might made. A little gasp came
from the circle as he went out into the
room. At first he thought that he had
been seen. To his eyes, fresh from
complete darkness, the room seemed
moderately light; but the gas was lit.
tie more than tiny blue dot.
AS he took a step forward he saw
why the circle had gasped. Through
the curtains of the cabinet came the
semblance Of a tenuous wrath in long,
trailing robes Of white. 1t was almost
formless, its outlines seeming to melt
into the gloom.
Advancing little way into the cir.
Gle, 1t shrank back as though timorous,
then wavered. From the circle came q
woman's voice-anxious, eager, strain.
The figure turned toward her, slowly
extended its arms, and glided back to
the curtains, where 1t stood as though
waiting.
The sobbing woman arose from her
chair and hastened toward the wrath
"Agnes!" she whispered imploringly
Won't you speak to me, Agnes?"
The ghostly figure shook its head.
Are you happy, Agnes? Tell me
Oh, don't go until you have told me-
The figure nodded mutely, and with
final slow gesture, waved the woman
back to her seat.
Meantime Orme cast his eyes ovel
the circle. Dimly he saw faces, some
stolid, some agitated; and there, at the
farther end were the two Japanese, in
tent as children on these wonders
Their sparkling eyes were directed tc
the cabinet
The apparition had disappeared be
tween the curtains. But now there was
fresh gasp of wonder, as the figure
Of little child stepped out into the
room. 1t did not go FIR from the cab
: met, and 1t alternately advanced and
retreated, turning this way and that
as though looking for some one.
1T wants it's mother" exclaimed
one Of the women in the circle. rs
your mother here, little one?"
The child stared at the speaker. then
withdrew to the curtains.
They will begin to talk after q
while" explained the woman-"wher
the control gets stronger. I always
feel so tender for these little lost
spirits that come back to hunt for theil
loved ones"
Orme moved swiftly around the cir
Gle. He passed so close to the Japa
nese that he could have touched them
The felt slippers made his steps noise
less; the thick rug absorbed the shock
of his weight.
He passed through the hangings Of
the doorway to the next room. There
he had no gaslight; the window
shades, however, were not drawn SO
closely but that little daylight en-
tered. He removed the robe and
stuffed it under the old sofa at one
side. His hat, as Madam Ala had said,
was there, and he put it on and went
to the hall door. The circle had begun
to sing another hymn. Orme got into
the hall, shut the door silently, and
hurried down the stairs, the long
drawn strains of the song following
him and dying away as he neared the
street entrance. In the lower hall he
removed the felt slippers and tossed
them into a corner.
He was amazed at the loudness OF
the street noises, and the glare of the
sunlight as he stepped to the sidewalk
He stood there blinking for moment,
until his eyes became accustomed to
the light. Tbs Ssot-procession of the
city streamed by Elm.
Suddenly man turned in toward
the doorway, and, with a startled ex-
clamation, stopped short. Orme found
himself looking into the cleaning eyes
of Alcatrante.
CHAPTER XIII.
An Old Man Of the Sea.