Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-01-13
Author Of The False Faces"
The Lone Wolf" Etc.
Illustrated by
Irwin Myers
cep>r'snt 1920 by the Aothe-


here, In your own studio"
How can | be sure? ! thought J.
was, 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 !"
Rubbish: you were here asleep.
here where you woke up. You mere
ly dreamed you were elsewhere-with
what psychic provocation remains to
be seen. There's an explanation, a
perfectly simple and natural one, for
everything, and it can be got at If
only we go after il in the right way.
Which is precisely what we're going
to do, you and l."
Words and manner carried meas
ure of conviction. "Thank you,
Philip" she said. I'm trying to be-
lieve, but you don't know how hard
1t is"
That's where you're wrong: do
know; I understand perfectly. On the
other hand, I know there's nothing
unnatural in nature, there can't be;
and therefore we can't fail to solve
this problem except through your lack
of faith in me. If you'll trust me. help
me all you can, be absolutely frank"
"I'li do my best OF course,
I've got to; I'll never have minutes
peace till know the truth. Ask me
anything you like, and I'll tell you the
truth If | know It,"
UI,y, euro ,o.,
But. Philip; tell me one thing
first" She faltered and looked
uneasily aside. "You don't E.
you don't think Pm-wrong any wat
mentally, l mean?"
Fosdick laughed with. calculation.
laugh that secuted the suggestion and
at the same time was indulgent.
absolutely not. You've got the
rightest mind l know. But you're
anything but obvious, CHA. you're as
complex a personality as any I've ever
known. You're strongly intuitive-or
more or less what we term psychic
sympathetic, impressionabIe. suscepti-
BILE to influences that work on you
without your knowledge. Whatever
II is the truth is known to your sub
conscious self, and that is bound to
tell us, soon or late"
But how, Philip"
For the first time since he had
shown her the newspaper Priscilla's
tone and manner were unaffected Jy
mental strain. FOSdick suppressed
glimmer of satisfaction. seeing he had
succeeded In so interesting her that
she was less sensible of what rightly
or wrongly she considered menace
10 her reason. than of the fascinating
problem II presented
"If we fail to get at the trouble by
straight analysls-collecting dissect-
ing and comparing known facts-well
catch the subconscious betraying IT,
self. II always does. ella. No mat
ter how jealousy II may try TO hoard
its secret, ii can't help flirting with
the temptation to discuss II indirectly
and so in the end II always lets the
cat out of the bag. That's what makes
my job so interesting: one never
knows what word or phrase. gesture
or nuance of expression. will give the
clue one needs So If we fail TO make
visible progress IN direct examination,
be sure that some time, when we're
least expecting IL, the subconscious
will prompt you to drop the hint thar
will lead us straight TO the heart of
the mystery"
She nodded eagerly, already well
persuaded and only too anxious to be-
lieve.
How shall we hegin?"
Feel strong enough 10 have go
at II now? Good Then lct's get our
facts In order first the things we
know beyond dispute
Philip produced pockethook. found
fair page, and az its top penned the
notation: Priscilla Maine-age, TWEEN.
ty-one."
where were you born?"
Herein New York. At least /
presume was. Does It matter?"
Cant say as yet" Philips words
followed his fountain pen: "YOur IA
Their was Henry Hobart Maine, of this
city; portrait painter; made a great
deal Of money, inherited more; was
forty.eght when he died. five years
ago, leaving you, his sole heir. a
handful of millions. Your mother died
when YOU were born, II my memory
serves"
ayes"
Her name2"
81 don't know"
Philips hrows lifted Didn't your
father tell you7"
Never The girls eyes clouded.
'He always seemed so distressed
when my mother was mentioned. !