Omaha daily bee., 1922-06-04


ton against fraud
The medium SAT in the
center OF the room. her hands
and Zee, securely bound. Ex-
eepi for a few unimportant
messages. the frs, half hour
was uueyeutiul.
Then. back OF the med
iur's chair appeared figure
in lieutenan,'s uniform.
three decorations on the
breast. and the lef; sleeve
.mpty. DR.. Huber, instantly
recognized his son. who had
died OF wounds in the war.
Read TO yourself" grun,ed War
rem. " I'm no, interested in phon,
spooks."
Dear, these are reports from th'
London Society for Psychieal Re
search!"
Don't care what they're FROM
don't want TO hear EN-. You're al.
ways getting lit up over some foo
lad"
But look at these spirit photo.
raphs." holding the magazine before
IN. The camera doesn't lie!"
"Oh. that's an old gag-they ex.
'ose the plate twice. Get the medi.
n the first time--then ring up some
ipure and shoe. that afterwards
Trick photographs an easy stunt"
But these plates have been tested
to prove there was but one ex-
posure."
love, is that III" as the clock
started to strike. 1--WE got hard
dav tomorrow" throwing down his
paper. Wed better turn in"
Just a second. dear. Let me fin
ish this-I'm almost thrc igh."
Now you drop that and hustle
takes you half the night TO get
ready"
Reluctantly Helen laid down her
magazine. Warren always finished
whatever he was reading, but she
r'ust stop on the moment.
With his usual speed he took his
slower and rolled into bed. grum-
tiing at Helen who was still put
tering around"
Dear, l don't think my colds
much better-I woke you twice last
night coughing. I'd better sleep in
my room"
"Well, hurry up. l can't sleep with
that light shining through the tram
som"
Comfy. dearf' she stopped to kiss
him. That's not too much air, is
it?" It's getting cooier-looks like
its might rain," pinning back the
curtains.
In her own room, hair-brushing
and cold-creaning consumed another
10 minutes. Then, as the rising wind
blew chilly through her thin gown.
she got out the rose silk comforter
and laid it acrss the foot of her
bed.
The light switched off, she gazed
at the shadowy wall, brooding over
the article she had just read-the
various cases of spirit messages.
That there were many fake medi-
ums she knew. but there must be
some who were genuine. All those
famous scientists could not be de-
ceived.
Now that wireless and radio, all
the new methods of intercourse
through the air, were but little less
marvellous than communing with the
spirit world.
Helen thought of Aunt Rena-her
nearest relative in the Great Beyond.
If she could reach anyone-it would
be Aunt Rena.
But how? What was the first step
in bridging the gull? How could she
establish that mysterious connection?
Her thoughts, still beating against
this inpenetrable wall, grew vague,
and finally blurred to dreams.
When Helen awoke it was with a
sense of chilled discomfort. Sitting
up, she reached down for the extra
cover. II was not there!
She had put that comforter on the
bed the last thing before turning out
the light. Now it was gone! 1t had
not slipped oft was not on the
floor.
As she sat up, staring about, her
heart leaped with terror. What was
thats
Three knocks! Silence-an uncan-
ny silence. Again three ghostly
knocks.
All she had ever read of spirit mes
sages tumbled through her mind.
Was not rapping-three raps, the
first expression OF spirits presence?
Checking her terrified impulse to
cry out to Warren. she listened
breathiessly. Could it be Aunt Rena?
She must not drive her away with
foolish fears.
Crouching under the sheltering
bedclothes, with held breath, she
waited.
The missing comforter! Some
where she had read that SPIRITS, to at
tract attention, often snatched the
covers from the bed.
Again those mysterious knocks!
Hollow-faint-yet distincti
With a supreme effort Helen now
forced the quaking question:
"Is-It-Aunt Rena?"
Instantly came three confirming
raps.
"Do-do you want-to talk to
me-. hardly more than a whisper.
The next second her terrified gaze
was riveted to the wall At the foot Of
the bed
Across the familiar grey panel
foated a shadowy, spectral figure. A
choking shrek in her throat Helen
was out of bed, dashing wildly in to
Warren.
"Eh: What the devil" in sleepy
protest at this rade awakening.
"There's-there's somebody in my
roomf' now huddled on the bed, she
elutched him convulsively.
"Ehs What's that?" He started
Up. throwing of her trembling hold.
The next second he was at his
kbs6onie8. gropoiux IN thu ton drawer