The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-04-20
CHAPTER XVI (Continued.)

There was a kinship between them
though the cobra turned against him in
the end. How long did he sit there?"
Il do not know-but 1t seemed an age
to me. Finally, in despair, had made
up my mind to try to steal away, when
heard steps in the entry. Mahbub
slipped from the divan and disappeared
behind the curtains, and then the door
opened and Senior Silva and Mr.. Les
Ter entered. / saw, at once, that there
was to be another seance, and that
could not escape. for Senior Silva sat
down facing the corner where l was.
could only brace myself against the
wall and walt. 1t was a dreadful or
deal. But 1t had its reward" she add
cd, with a smile.
And that was?" I asked.
THE discovery OF the glove. Senior
Silva suddenly switched on the lights,
and l knew that the seance was over,
but he had some difficulty in arousing
Fou-the trance must have been a very
deep one-and finally, leaving you ly-
ing on the divan, he went to the wall,
drew aside the hangings, and pressed
his hand against panel. A little
door flew open, and saw that there
was cupboard in the wall. He filled
glass with some liquid, pulled the
hangings into place. and went back to
you and made you drink 1t. 1t seemed
to do you good"
YES" said; 1T brought me around
at once. And them"
And then, as soon as you went out
together, / ran to the cupboard and
looked into II. But for q moment was
eonfused-I saw nothing which seemed
Of any importance-some bottles and
decanters and glasses, a glass tray or
two, a pile Of rubber gloves. 1
couldn't understand. picked up one
Of the gloves and looked at It, but 1t
was just an ordinary glove. Then
farther back, saw some others
their finger tips were stained with ink
and then another, lying by itself. 1
looked at 1t, saw the patches on the
finger tips-I saw the stains-and then
I understood. 1 do not know how l
understood, or Wight was like a flash
of lightning, revealing everything. And
then, as / stood there, with the glove
In my hand, 1 heard Senior Silva re-
turning"
She paused a moment, and I could
see the SILVER which ran through her
at the recollection.
1T was not that was afraid" she
said; 1T was that l seemed to be lost.
let the draperies fall, ran to the divan
and sat down before the sphere. |
could think Of nothing else to do.
can still see his astonished face when
he entered and found me sitting there.
"I was waiting for you,' said, try
ing to smile. You remember was to
have another lesson tonight
Yes he said, and looked at me, his
eyes kindling.
Il was trembling inwardly, for sud
denly began to fear him; knew that
l must keep my head, that l must not
yield to his will, or 1 would be swept
away.
~ thought Mr.. Lester would never
60. said.
He came to the divan and sat down
close beside me, and looked into my
eyes.
Did the time really seem SO long?
he asked.
1T seemed very long I said.
He gazed at me for another mo-
ment, then rose quickly and turned off
the light.
"'Sit where you are he said, and
will sit here. Fix your eyes upon the
sphere and your mind upon the Infin-
lite Mind-so shall great wisdom come
to you.
Il felt my will crumbling to pieces;
l closed my eyes and crushed the glove
within my hand, and thought of this
play, If I were to defeat him. His voice
went on and on. but gradually ceased
to hear it was thinking Of the glove,
Of escape, Of Fred :"
Yea, love Is strong, told myself,
and 1t giveth to the dove the wisdom
of the serpent. else how had this child
come victorious from such an ordeal!
II do not know how long sat there"
Miss Vaughan continued, but Senior
Silva rose suddenly with an exclama-
ton of Impotence and switched on the
light.
There Is something wrong he said,
coming back and standing over me.
Some hostile influence is at work.
What Is IT.?
II do not know I said. I cannot
lose myself as did last night
Something holds you to earth
some chain. Perhaps it is your own
wish
mo. no! protested. Let us try
again
down facing me, and again felt his
will trying to enter and conquer me-
And againI clasped'the glove, and kept
my mind upon 1t, thinking only of es-
cape"
You can guess how we were leaning
forward, listening breathlessly to this
narrative. I fancied l could see her
sitting there in the darkness, with Sill
vas evil influence visibly about her.
but held at bay by her resolute limo
cence, as Christians SHE'D Of Faith
turned aside the darts Of Apollyon. It
was, indeed, q battle OF good and evil,
the more terrible because it was fought,
not with bedilysweapons, but with spir-
itual ones
"At last, Senior Silva rose again."
Miss Vaughan continued, and turned
on the lights, and 1 shivered when
met his gaze.
You are defying me- he said, very
low. But will break you yet and he
clapped his hands softlyNtogether.
"Mahbub appeared at the inner door,
received a sharp order and disappeared
again. A moment later, there was a
little swirl Of smoke from the door Of
his room and a sharp, Overpowering
odor, which turned me faint.
And then Senior Silva. who had
been pacing up and down the room,
stopped suddenly and looked at me, his
face distorted.
IT'S it thatT he muttered. Can it
be that?
And he strobe to the curtain which
hung before his secret cupboard and
swept 1t back.
II knew that was lost. I sprang
for the outer door, managed to get 1t
open and set a foot in the hall, before |
he seized me. remember that l
screamed, and then his hand was at
my throat-and suppose l must have |
hn nH 1nA rayifh a QTT1ila