The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-06-28

%SaSSns-
"over Her Head Floats a Skeleton"
pleasant responsibility. CHANGING to
meet Dave Law one day, he determined
to relieve himself Of at least one
troublesome burden.
But Dave was not easily approach
able. He me the mediums illusions
to the occult with ~contemptuous amuse-
ment, nor would he consent to a pri-
vate READING" Strange grew almost
desperate enough to speak the ungar-
nished truth.
you'd better pay a little attention
to me-" he grieved; "Tve got Il mes
sage to you from the Unseen World"
Charges collect I reckon" the
Ranger grinned.
Strange waved aside the suggestion.
1T came unbidden, and 1 pass it on
for what it's WORTH" AS Dave turned
away, he added, hastily, "It's about a
skeleton in the c%haparral, and a red
haired woman"
Dave stopped; he eyed the speaker
curiously. "Go on" said he.
But a public street, Strange ex-
planned, was no place for psychic dis
cussions. Dave agreed. When they
were alone in the ~fortune-telling "par-
lor," he sat back while the medium
closed his eyes and prepared to explore
the Invisible. After a brief delay Phil
began:
II see a great many things-that
woman / told you about, and three
men. One Of EN- is you, the other two
is Mexicans. You're at a water hole
in the mesquite. Now there's a shoot.
ing scrape; I see the body of a dead
man. And now the scene changes.
Everything dtssolves. I'm in a man
sion; and the red-haired woman comes
toward me. Over her head floats q
skeleton"
Dave broke in crisply. GAIL right
Let's get down to cases. What's on
your mind, Strange"
The psychic simulated a shudder-
a painful c%ontortion, such as anyone
might suffer if rudely jerked out of
the spirit world.
"Eh? What was L? There! You've
broke the connection" he declared.
did I tell you anything"
mo. But evidently you can"
"Im sorry. They never come back"
"Rot!"
Phil was hurt, indignant. With some
stiffness he explained the danger of
interrupting a seance Of this sort, but
Law remained obdurate.
"You can put over that second-sight
stuff with the greasers," he declared,
sharply, "but not with me. So, Jose
Sanchez has been to see you and you
want to warn me. Is that it,"
II don't know any such party"
Strange protested. He eyed his caller
for q moment: her with an abrupt
change of manner he complained:
"Say, Bo! What's the matter with
you? I've got a reputation to protect,
and / do things my own way. I'm get
ting set to slip you something, and you
try to make me look like a sucker.
Is that any way to act?"
II prefer to talk to you, when your
eyes are open. I know all about"
"You don't know nothing about any
thing" snapped the other. "Jose's got
it in for Mrs. Austin"
"You said you didn't know him."
swell I don't. He's never been to
see me in his life, but-his sweetheart
has. Rosa Morales comes regular"
"Rosa! JOse's sweetheart"
"Yes. Her aad Jose have joined out
together since you shot Panflo. and
they're framing something"
"What, for instance?"
The ~fortune-teller hesitated. II only
wish I Knew" he. said slowly. 1T
looks to be like a killing"
Dave nodded. "Probably is. Jose
would like to get me, and Of course the
girl"
"Oh. they don't aim to get you. You
amt the n they're after"
"No? Who, then"
II don't know nothing definite. In
this business, you understand, a fel-
low has to Dut two uuI two together.