The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-09-11

q
Mrs. Wesley gave a scream and
ran out into the hall. seeking her
husband. Classy turned very white.
but clenohed her psychic hands.
determined 10 go on with the per
formance.
saw thru II. and tho sorry TO
interfere Sfth Rocks fun. tursed
back the bridge table-coyor and en-
posed one OF those little contriv-
ances sold at Magic" stores. which
consist OF bit OF small rubber
tubing with n bulb at either end.
One bulb. flat ono. WAS under
tho tabie-cover. directly In front
Of CirSy, sad after the cards were
placed. a squeeze by Rock OF tho
bulb In hts waistcoat pocket er-
banded tho other bulb and sent the
cards flying.
Classy was mad nj first. then she
became interested In tho workings
OF tho toy. and declared II was
more fun than real Poltergeist. Tor
II was moro timetable and obedi'
emit
But the cutlery brought all the
others back 10 the room. and the
talk turned 20 spiritual manifesto
tons. Everybody had some er'
perience 10 relate that was posi-
lively true" and everybody waited
with impatient politeness for the
current story to be finished. that
he or she might begin fresh
one.
had a corfer all ready. and
from Lord Herringdean's tense at
titude and quiycring throat mus
cies, knew he. too. Was waiting
To spring into the first available
pause. when. like n buglo call OF
Taps, MArybelle's clear. sweet
voice brought an Immediate and
tense silence.
Now this really happened" abe
said. and the corroboratiye gesture
OF her two hands. palms outturned.
convinced the most skcptical OF
us that this indeed would DO true
story.
Il, happened 10 my mother" she
went on. her hands nuttering like
uncertain homing doves. now and
then nesting In her lap.
HerrinEdean rose from whore he
was and went 10 sit beside her. |
liked him for that. Good deal OF
a man. Herringdoan
Mother Was in bed but not
asleep. Il was midnight. and tho
there was no rain storm. tho wind
blew feArfuily--fearfully---" Mary
bellies voice fingered on the words
As II loath To- continue. Ard II
was very dark. save when. now
and then the moon came for a
moment from behind the wind
clouds. And In one Of those mo.
menta. mother saw a hand Mary.
belle held out one white. lovely
hand-"a long. strong. hine~y yel
low hand before our eyes Mary
bellies hand iost its Wilderness and
looked, | thought. like the hand
shs told ot--and II seemed to be
lying. inert. at the foo< OF tho bed.
And then tho moonlight; went out
and II was dark. And mother felt.
thru tho coyorlotA. tho hand creep
Ing. creeping along her side. An
other drift OF moonlight showed
her tho hAnd-ths yellow. strong
-steaithily coming nearer
and near~r--,o her throat" Mari.
bellies soft hand crept almost To
her own lovely throat and paused
a. sho went on. "and then Il was
dark again. and mother felt tho
hand-felt tho awful finger.tlps on
her chest--on her throa,-and felt
tho nails sink into her flesh. and
then q voice whispered. Not yot
oh. not yeti and there was AT
awful moan. and tho moan turned
TO n shrek and then 10 feArsome
wall. and tho strong. yellow fing
ers reluctantly looscd their hold.
and removed themselves one by
ons-sinwiy--one by one. til there
was left only tho little finger and
that fairly burned into her flesh
like a 1.-Two coal Then. with a final
shrek. tho little finger tore itself
away. and all was silence. When
she could do so. mother screamed.
and We rushed in to ind her al.
most crnzed with fright There
was hyid burn on her throat.
and tho scar OF II always remained
always remained"
Always remained" echoed an.
other voice. and looked up To see
Janet Field looking At Maybelle in
a spell-bound way 50. also. Clssy
was looking at her. and Helen wes.
ley. and all the men. There was
no other way TO look nj hor She
had woven u spell her low murmur.
ing voice. even moro than her weird
story. had well.nigh hypnotlzod us
She smiled now. a long. slow
smile. that went round the little
circle and seemed TO pause at each
face like questioning spirit
You believe Il. Cissy7" she said.
softly.
Indeed. yes. MRrybclle. II was
the materiRliyed hand OF n disem.
bodied spirit. An evil spirit-Pol-
tergelst---"
"Poltor your grandmother" ex-
ploded Bellamy. who couldn't stand
everything. Now. pee here. Mary.
belle"-he had known her from
childhood-''my ghost was made OF
honest.to-goodness India rubber.
but we don't want those creepy.
Gravity ghosts. made OF shivers and
shrieks' Never again. please"
But | know another one"
and Marybelle'g hands put their
pink finEer.tlps together plendIngly.
my word" exclaimed Herring
dean. "ff you do don't tell IT,
You froxo me stiff with horror with