The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-26

are the real parties. The astral infiu- |
ence-"
Would fifty dollars bring up my
sons spirit for me?~ asked the old |
man eagerly.
I Madame Ida's mouth watered. Fifty
dollars! That was just the sum she
had longed for. Even a 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
mot, Of course, for the money, but
because Of his faith.
Its faith that counts, you know"
she said. DO you want the sitting at
once. Mr.. Karpen?"
She pouched the fifty dollars and
! 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 a spirit It
was a tremulous spirit. for the pro-
fessor was more i'll at ease than he
had been in many a day
Here is your son. Mr.. Karpen."
said the medium softly. Don't touch
him. He isn't fully materialized yet,
and If 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. IA
Their o how glad l am! You didn't
treat me very well when was in the
world Of fleshly phenomena"
Il know I 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 heard Of her How did you die,
Percy?"
II am not dead" said Percy with
sob. 81 have passed over into the
summerland, as the result of blow
} on the head, delivered"
IN saloon. Percy? How often
have l warned you"
mo, father 1t was a quarrel in a
freight car. l was working my way
home to you. to implore your forgive
ness, when the brakeman found me
and struck me on the forehead. was
stunned by the blow and pitched for.
ward over a bridge on to a jagged
rock in the river bed a thousand feet
below. When l recovered conscious.
! ness | was in summerland. Father.
have you cared for Edith"
why, no, Percy" answered the old
man. Il told you not to get married
until you found a job. l didn't feel
called upon to support Edith. But I
understand she has steady job at
dollar day as a seamstress-"
Then listen, father" cried the
ghost passionately. 81 swear to you
3 that unless you take Edith into your
4 home and cherish her l will haunt
you for the remainder Of your days.
! will never give you peace. II you
! love me, cherish my poor wife"
! Il don't know about that, Percy
i answered the old man thoughtfully. 81
understand that she can take pretty
good care Of the child"
Z What" shouted Percy, and for thu
) first time a dreadful suspicion begal
to show itself in Madame Ida's man
ner. Have I a child?"
y "A pretty little two.year-old. Per
cy," said the old man wistfully. IA
n sweet a little fodder as ever I saw.
n "And you have let my wife an,
II child starve on a dollar a day, 20,
It Internal scoundrel!" shouted thu
% ghost. throwing of its trappings an,
70 striding up to the father. Father
D It is I, Percy. in flesh and blood.
am not ghost"
The old man rose stifly out Of hi
T. chair.
y. That's just like you, Percy h,
W said reproachfully. you never wer,
.e strong for veracity. First you tell mi
3. you are a spirit and then you say 20,
d, aren't. Which am to believer"
le HE is a spirit" cried Madame Ida
1.-THE elementals have got him an,
g. built up a framework of flesh an,
n blood about him. I warned you, Mr.
10 Karpen. Your son is in summer
land"
=. II tell you l am a human being
a. you old impostor," shouted Percy
,e clutching his father by the arm. "Fa
"a ther, surely you know me: Look a
"A me-"
4. 1T does look like you, Percy" ad
"a mitted his father. But you know TIT
q. elementals are clever fellows. How
a do I know you aren't in summerlan,
a. and that the elementals are just fool
m ing me?"
. "Of course they're fooling you.
y. shouted Madame Ida angrily. "Yol
"a aren't the first man that has beef
fooled by an elemental. Why. Queer
=, Victoria once said to me-"
70 I'm afraid you are an elemental
70 Percy" said his father, shaking hi
!, head. And I'm sorry. because IL 1
.. was really you Id ask you to forge
, the past and come home with me
10 where your wife and baby have beef
- living two years past. and-say, Per
!. cy, you internal chump, II you're
.. ready to quit this foolishness ant
!, come home there's job waiting fol
you and the calf ready for tn,
" butcher"
~ You bet your life!" yelled Percy
70 finging his arms about his father.
a And Madame Ida, looking alternate
ly at the door and at her fifty dollars
.r realized that she would have to fint
now nrofossOr hoforo the noY,