The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-07-25
CHAPTER xIIl-Continued.

Currie interrupted to say, But
John, If the lights are turned out, how
| are we to know that you did not write
those messages yourselfY'
Without a smile on his face BARLEY
replied: Il did not intend to turn out
the light. l am going to do what few
mediums ever attempt to do: that Is
to see If we can secure a message on
these states in full light. There have
been SO many frauds in slate-writing
seances that test made In the dark
has no value"
AS he spoke he tore the wrapping
from the package and disclosed num-
Der of ordinary school states tied to-
gether with a string. When he had
on the table before him. he added ::
"You might claim that these states
already have a message written on
them, so 1 will wash the surface Of
each with water. II there was any
writing on them, It will be wiped OUT
With our eyes following every move
ment, he took a piece of cloth. dipped
1t into the glass Of water, and care
fully washed one side of a slate. AS
he was beginning to wash the other
side, he paused and said to Currie,
you may think / have not washed
the slate thoroughly enough; suppose,
Currie, you take 1t and wash the
other side yourself. Make a good job
of it."
Currie's earnestness was almost
laughable as he took the slate and
turned 1t over and over, examining
both surfaces. When he had finished
he whispered to me, There was not
darned thing on that slate"
The same method was employed
with the other states. First, BARLEY
would wash one side, then would call
upon one of US to examine the slate
and wash off the other side. 1 was
left until the last, and l examined
my slate very carefully before 1
touched 1t with the cloth. On the side
which BARLEY had washed little drops
of water still chung. The unwashed
side was dirty but showed no traces
of having been written on.
When 1 had finished my task, Bart
ley took one of the states and said:
you have seen there was no writing
Of any kind on these states. am go
sng to give one to each Of you. Miss
Potter should place hers under her
feet; Currie might sit on his; the rest
Of you can place them under your
coats"
He gave US each a slate, and we
did as he suggested. / wondered, as
placed mine under my coat. just
what BARLEY expected to discover.
Somehow the whole thing seemed so
absurd. He was so serious about it,
however, that 1 began to believe that |
he must expect to receive a message |
If some sort. We sat silent and ex-
,ectant. I, for one. feeling a little
oolish.
BARLEY, who had glanced at his
watch several times, waited for five
minutes to pass before he said, Sup
,ose, Currie, you look at your slate"
Currie grinned, as If to say he con-
idered 1t all foolishness, but did as
AS he glanced at his slate,
he smile left his face, his jaw
ropped, and his eyes grew big with
vonder. He looked at 1t several Sec
nds as If he could not believe his
yes, then slowly passed 1t to me. 1
ook 1t eagerly, glanced at it, and In
~ turn was startled There, how
yer. in a sprawling hand. running
cross the slate that had been blank
few moments before, was written,
Currle, people who steal whisky out
f q vault at midnight will come to
bad end"
Almost unable to credit my eyes,
stared at the slate Both sides had
cen so thoroughly washed that when
urrie had taken 1t they were still
ct. How the writing had gotten
D the slate, 1 could not imagine.
Miss Potter gave a sudden cry. She
ad risen to her feet with shining {
yes. Holding her slate in one trem-
ing hand, she tried to speak. failed, (
ZEN cried triumphantly ITS a mes {
lge-a message from Mr.. Slyke!
lew 1t would come" and sank back /
to her chair. adding. as If unable s
believe the evidence of her own
nsns, ITS In his own handwriting, 6
8 very own, and he tells me what f
do" t
BARLEY took rhe slate from her
fingers, curious express t
On on his face. He placed 1t on the t
BILE, and we crowded round to exam f
e It, This time the entire surface S
the slate was covered with writing, d
the same sprawling hand that had b
.itten on Currie's and mine. The
:tees were large and looked as If k
e person who had written the mes O
&c had been very weak. Too aston S
led to speak, we bent and read:
All will be well with me II you aid II
ose who are trying to discover who W
ured me. For my peace, do this: b
ten to the medium" and the mes
20 trailed on In a large g. o.