South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-09-23
IHEREglBUTT0D
- IA MYSTERY SToRY oFNEWl YORK
~ yW u! ! :.!!.!!!! VI

adept at reading other hearts. had
read her own.
For there was a strong streak of
Scotch in Resale. From the race of
warlocks and dreamers on the edge
of the infinite had she got her taste
and talent for mysticism. her genuine
clairvoyance- that may be.
From it had she taken her love for
mystery. her deep hidden leaning to-
ward romance. From it. finally. had
she taken a conscience which, like a
tree wind-planted in the clefN~of a
rock. grew and matured 10 bear fruit
in spite of an adverse environment.
In these forties, conscience mastered
her. She could no longer traffic with
grief 10 the shame of her own heart.
In her revelation TO Martin MCGEE
she had concealed one fact. as ii was
her habit TO conceal the very springs
and sources of her actions. 1t was
that she had left the business of pro-
fessional "mediumship." when a turn
in her romantic life brought fortune.
for conscience and conscience alone.
The hidden excitement and romance of
the profession, the contact with other
and strange minds, the opportunity for
busybOdying, for guiding destiuies-
all these appealed. But could no
longer endure the treacheries and sac
rileges OF her own method.
Here, now, when she had thought
to put il all behind her, she was en-
barked on the most treacherous ad-
venture of all. She was playing with
human affection. not for the ultimate
comfort and consolation of the dupe,
but for an end which she dreaded to
think on. She had fought that out, /
ii is true. on the afternoon when she
heard through the half-open door
Constance's weak appeal to Betsy
Barbara She faltered no mOre-eX-
cept in her lonely cOmmunings with
herself-but her very distaste for the
work drove her TO hasten it, as one
drinks nOxious draught at a single
mouthful. Under the pretense that
her obsession was driving her, that
she had bottled it up too long, that
cit Just had 10 come out Of her" |
Rosalie LIE Grange multiplied the Sc
ances with Miss Estrilla to the point
of danger and incautiOn.
On the second day after the session
in which Miss Estrilla had tried the
test of the fictitious revolver. she was
back again. This time-having assur-
ance that this was the true line of at
tack-she brought both Victoria and !
Miguel Victoria, according to Doc
tor Carver was the stronger she
spoke much. though vaguely. Miguel |
dropped only a few phrases-now
Spanish, now English. During this
session, Miss Estrilla never moved
nor spoke. But Rosalie, daring look
at her through her long lashes. per
ceived that her attitude was tense, |
rapt.
In such long preliminary passages !
with a difficult sitter (Rosalie's eXpe- |
rience had taught herr there IS GER |
tain moment when the dupe crosses |
the line between prudence and aosO- |
lutte credulity. In a quite self-con- |
tanned person like Miss Estrilla. this |
moment comes, generally. with the |
first question. After that, the course
is as easy as lying. The dupe. once
the defenses are broken, is eager to
believe Where before the skeptical
mind turned very new and irregular
fact to the disadvantage Of the me-
dunn, now the eager mind. turns
every fact to her advantage: Every
sheets a ghost" Rosalie had remark
ed time and again. Hardest thing is
hold 'em back. There's hOthin' they
can't swallow" In this. her third Sc
ance. Rosalie was proceeding as eau
tiously as an elephant on bridge,
waiting for that first and vital ques-
ton.
1t came at the fourth sitting.
(To be cOntinued.)