Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-12-17
CHAPTER THREE
The Haunted Woman.
!. cATEcHIsM.

s.
There was an interlude of which
she retained no memory more than a
confused impression of a time Of
stress and conflict, Of struggling with
all her might to hold fast to reason,
sustained throughout, II may be saved,
by n sense Of Philips sympathy and
strength
A crisis was reached and passed.
Growing more calm-or rather more
numb than calm-Priscilla found her.
self in roomy armchair with a seri-
ous-faced Philip Fosdick seated
squarely in front Of her, holding her
two hands In a grasp so compelling
that II narrowly escaped being pain
ful, and talking steadily In even, per-
suasive accents. infinitely soothing
and heartening.
"Therer' He was alert to the first
indication Of returning self-control.
you're better already"
"Have I been silly, PhilipT" She
essnyed an apologetic smile. disen-
gaging her hand to make instructive
dabs at her hair. "HystericalT
mot bit. You're not that sort.
You had a shock. enough to stagger
anybody. but you've reacted famously,
and now all you need do is sit tight
and consider this thing coolly and
sensibly."
"But how can Ir' Look and ges-
ture were once more Distracted. "why,
i don't even know whether I'm my
self or where I am"
"You do; you know you're right
here, in your own studio"
slow can I be sure2 1 thought 1
wns. last night, but II seems wasn't
Il was, heaven knows how far away,
in that dreadful place, when that hap
pened--not here at all r.
Rubbish: you were here asleep.
here where you woke up. You mere
ly dreamed you were eIsewhere-with
what psychic provocation remains to
be seen. There's an explanation, a
perfectly simple and natural one, for
everything, and Il can be got at II
only we go after II in the right way
which is precisely what we're going
to do, you and l."
Words and manner carried a meas
ure Of conviction. 'Thank you
Philip" she said. I'm trying to be
lieve. but you don't know how hare
Il is."
"Thats where you're wrong: I dt
know; understand perfectly. On tn,
other hand. know there's nothin,
unnatural In nature. there can't be
and therefore we can't fail to solv,
this problem except through your lacI
OF faith in me. II you'll trust me, hell
me all you can, be absolutely frank
"T1l do my best OF course
I've got to; I'll never have a minute
peace TIL know the truth. Ask m
anything you like. and I'll tell you tn
truth II know It."
"rm sure you will"
But Philip; tell me one thin
first" She faltered and locke
uneasily aside. "You don't
you don't think Fm-wrong any wa
mentally. mean7"
TosdIck laughed with calculation,
laugh that secuted the suggestion an
at the same time was indulgent.
absolutely not You've got tn
rightest mind 1 know. But your
anything but obvious, ella, you're a
complex q. personality as any I've eve
known. You're strongly intuitive-c
more or less what we term psychic
sympathetic, impressionable, suscept
bic to influences that work on yo
without your knowledge. Whatev,
1t Is, the truth Is known to your SUI
conscious self, and that is bound
tell MS, soon or late.'
''But how, Philip?"
For the first time since he ha
shown her the newspaper Priscilla
tone and manner were unaffected
mental strain. Fosdick suppressed
glimmer of satisfaction, seeing he h,
succeeded in so interesting her tn
she was less sensible of what right
or wrongly she considered a mena
70 her reason, than of the fascinatil
problem 1t presented.
'Tf we fail to set at the trouble
straight analysis-collecting, disse
ing and comparing known 'facts-we
catch the subcoBscious betraying
self. II always does, ella. No mi
ter how jealousy II may try to hoa
its secret. II can't help flirting wi
the temptation TO discuss It indirect
and so in the end II always let's I
cat out Of the bag. That's what mah
my Job so interesting: one nev
knows what word or phrase. gestJ
or nuance of expression. win give
clue one needs. SO II we fail to mn
visible progress in direct examinati
be sure that some time. when we
least expecting It. the subconsciC
win prompt you to drop the hint Il
win lead MS straight to the heart
the mystery"
she nodded eagerly, already "
persuaded and only too anxious to
lieve.
f'How shall we beginT
Feel strong enough to have a
Mt II now7 Good Then let's get I
facts IN order. first the things
know beyond dispute"