The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-10-31
THE METHODS OF Morris KLAV

The table rocked and gave forth crack.
ing sounds.
/ There was no other manifestation. and
about half past ten. the doctor again
terminated the seance.
excellent" said Zelda enthusiastically
I, Excellent We were en- rapport, and
| within the circle there was power. To-
| morrow we shall triumph. my friends,
but there is again an alteration that
| occurs to me.
You. Mr.. Clifford. shall sit next to
Mr.. Lesty on tho left. Mr.. Halesowen
shall be upon his right. and facing Mr..
Lesty between. Also. there Is too much
light from the lamps In the road.
TT Is good. think, TO have open
the windows. but this japanese screen
I will keep out that too much light and
shelter the vase. Tomorrow we win OBJ
serve these things"
This. then concluded our second sitting,
and brings me to the final episode OF that
AFFAIR. which, strange enough in its sew
ersl developments, was stranger still In
its denouement.
| Zeda, on the following day, entertained
US at luncheon IN town. followed by an
| afternoon concert for which he had pro-
| cured seats, being interested, or profess
| ing to be, In a certain fiddler who figured
largely in the program.
| We had arranged that Halesowen and
| the doctor should dine with us in the
evening. before we went TO the formers
! fiat for the seance, aHa we accordingly
returned direct to our rooms and chatted
| over the doings Of the day until dinner
was served. zeda surpassed himself in
| brilliant conversation.
About 8 o'clock we walked over in the
| dark to our friends fat, where we had
| 70 grope for and light an oil lamp
which he had. Zeda declaring thar
| something in the atmosphere was pro-
pitious and that the electric light would
| tend to disturb these favorable condi-
tons.
1t was perhaps a quarter to ten be-
fore Zeda had matters arranged to his
satisfaction. and so dark by reason Of
the tall japanese screen that stood be-
fore the opening windows that I could
see neither Zeda on my left nor Lesty,
who sat on my right
Halesoven was a dim silhouette against.
the patch Of light cast by the oil read
ing lamp beside the vase. which stood
the length OF the room away.
I was conscious Of a suppressed excite
ment. which am sure was shared by my
companions.
heard a distant clock striking the
hslf-hour and then the three-qusrters,
but still nothing had occurred.
A motor car drove around from the
road and stopped somewhere at the outer
end OF the drive. I wondered idly II II
were that Of the surgeon who lived at
No. 10.
After that everything was very quiet.
and I was expecting to hear the hour
strike and straining my ears to catch
the sound of the hrst chime. when the
rocking and cracking of the table be-
gan.
This was much more violent than hith-
erto. and Zeda's gruff tones came softly:
Whatever shall happen. do not re-
move your hands from the table,
A silence fell. so short in duration as
to be scarcely sppreciable. for It was
almost instantly broken by an unex-
pected sound
II was a woman's voice. very low and
clear. and IL seemed to mutter some
thing in a weird. rising cadence with a
high note at the end Of every third bar
or so. and this over and over again
an easy thing. vaguely like Gregorian
chant.
Triumph" whispered Zelda = The
Hymn of the Passing Souls
His speech seemed to disturb the singer
but only for a moment. The hymn was
continued
Then, as the very monotony Of the
thing was beginning TO grow appalling.
I suddenly became aware of a slim.
white figure standing beside the vase.
The chant stopped. and ] could hear
nothing but the nervous breathing OF
my companions. Seated as they were. 1
doubted whether Halesowen or Lesty
facing directly toward her-for IL wa
q woman.
could see every line OF her figure
the curves OF her throat and arms and
shoulders. the dull metallic cleaning OF
her clustering hair. As she extended
her hand toward the light I distinctly
saw a large. green stone set in a ring
on her index finger.
She must be very beautiful. thought. |
and was peering through the gloom in a
vain endeavor 20 see her more closely
when there came a dIsconCerting crash
and utter darkness,
The table whereat We were seated
was overturned and found myself cap
sized from my chair.
Hold him" yelled the voice Of Lefty. |
Hold him. Halesowen-Clinord,"
A door banged loudly.
"Confound Il, I'm on the floor
shouted for some ons to turn up
the light. at the same time scrambling
through the gloom with that intent. At
ter severely dana zing my shins against
the intervening furniture I found the
switch.
II would not work
It's cut on" cried. Strike match.
Haven't got any said Lesty.
''Zeda has mine responded Halesowen.
open the door
locked" was Lesty's next report.
Break it down. shouted Halesowen.
hurting aside the Japanese screen The
Potsherd is gone
Lesty applied his shoulder 10 the oak
Then all together
We attacked it. and il few open with
'plinterinS crash.
Round TO his fat painted Halesowen.
downstairs
Out on the drive we sprinted. into the
next entrance and IN to the first landing.
Knocking and ringing proved Intellectual
Ind the door was too strong TO be burst
,pen.
We stood in dIsmayed silence staring
II one another.
on Your balcony. on to his, and
through the French window said Lesty
so back We all ran again.
l had never before realized how easy II
vas TO get from one balcony TO another.
Until saw Lesty swing himself SCross d
Halesowsn and I followed in a trice. {
md we all bundered into the dark room ;
through the open window and made for
he electric switch beside the mantle /
J.