The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-23

are the real parties. The astral tnnu-
ence-"
Would fifty dollars bring up my
sons spirit for me? asked the old
man eagerly.
Madame Ida's mouth watered. Fifty
dollars! That was Just the sum she
had longed for Even q medium is
human. and she had seen a spring
suit-but why prolong the story?
Madame Ida thought that the spirits
might be induced to bring up his son
not. Of course, for the money, but
because of his faith.
IT'S faith that counts, you know"
she said. do you want the sitting at
once, Mr.. Karren?"
! She pouched the fifty dollars and
1 went into the cabinet.
Professor. the old fools stayed to
see his son." she said. Don't be
scared to 60 out to him. I've got the
fifty. and he won't try any rough
house business. guess"
Old Mr.. Karpen, seated alone In
front Of the cabinet, saw a luminous
cloud upon the floor. which slowly
changed into the form Of q spirit. Il
was tremulous spirit, for the pro.
lessor was more i'll at ease than he
had been In many q day
Here is your son. Mr.. Karpen."
said the medium softly. Don't touch
him. He isn't fully materialized yet,
and II you were to lay hands on him
the astral influence might project an
elemental in his place and snatch him
away"
Father" whispered the tremulous
wrath. you wanted to see me. "a
Their. o how glad I am! You didn't
treat me very well when was in the
world of fleshly phenomena"
Il know l didn't, Percy" answered
old Mr.. Karpen.
How is Edith" inquired the
ghost
Oh. tolerable," answered the old
man. AT least, she was the last
time I heard of her. How did you die.
Percy?"
II am not dead" said Percy with q
sob. 81 have passed over into the
summerland, as the result Of blow
on the head. delivered"
in a saloon. Percy? How often
have warned YOU"
mo. father. It was a quarrel in q
freight car. was working my way
home to you, to implore your forgive.
ness, when the brakeman found me
and struck me on the forehead. l was
stunned by the blow and pitched for.
ward over a bridge on to a jagged
rock in the river bed thousand feet
below. When I recovered conscious.
ness l wab in summerland. Father,
have you cared for Edith"
why. no, Percy" answered the old
man. II told you not to get married
until you found job. didn't feel
called upon to support Edith. But
understand she has steady job at
a dollar day as seamstress-"
Then listen. father!" cried the
ghost passionately. Il swear to you
that unless you take Edith into your
home and cherish her I will haunt
you for the remainder of your days.
I will never give you peace. II you
love me. cherish my poor wife"
Il don't know about that. Percy
answered the old man thoughtfully. II
understand that she can take pretty
good care Of the child"
What" shouted Percy, and for the
first time dreadful suspicion began
to show itself in Madame Ida's man
ner. "Have I child?"
"A pretty little two-year-old, Per
cy," said the old man wistfully. "Ai
sweet a little fodder as ever I saw
"And you have let my wife and
child starve on a dollar q day, you
Internal scoundrel!" shouted the
ghost, throwing on its trappings and
striding up to the father. Father
1t Is ]. Percy, In flesh and blood.
am not a ghost"
The old man rose sti6ly out of hi
chair.
That's just like you, Percy" HI
said reproachfully. you never were
strong for veracity. First you tell m.
, you are spirit and then you say 70,
aren't. Which am I to believer"
He is a spirit" cried Madame Ida
THE elementals have got him ant
built up a framework of flesh ant
/ blood about him. warned you, Mr.
, Karpen. Your son 10 in summer
land"
: Il tell you I am . human being
). you old impostor," shouted Percy
. clutching his father by the arm. "Fa
J Their. surely you know me; Look a
mel"
, 1T does look like you. Percy" ad
> mitted his father. But you know tn,
). elementals are clever fellows. How
do l know you aren't in summerlant
and that the elementals are just fool
, ing met"
, "Of course they're fooling you,'
. shouted Madame Ida angrily. "Yoy
, aren't the first man that has beer
fooled by an elemental. Why, Queer
Victoria once said to me-"
. I'm afraid you are an elemental
: Percy" said his father. shaking hi
head. And I'm sorry. because il 4
. was really you I'd ask you to forget
the past and come home with me
} where your wife and baby have beer
! living two years past. and-say, Per
, cy, you internal chump. II you're
. ready to quit this foolishness and
Z come home there's a job waiting fol
you and the calf ready for the
butcher"
, You bet your life!" yelled Percy
, Ringing his arms about his father.
| And Madame Ida, looking alternate