Roanoke Rapids herald., 1924-02-15
On Assrsl
Wings
By CLARA DELAFIELD


t@. 1923. Western Newspaper union.)
1T WAS really to please old Mrs.
Nash that Peter Hewitt got into the
Daoit of attending the seances with her.
airs. Nash was firmly convinced Of the
truth of spiritualism and Peter Hewitt
was feeling strange enough in
strange town to value the acquaintance
OF the old lady at his boarding house.
Peter had left home years before,
when his father married again. He
had gone West, and when he returned
his family had moved and he was un-
able to locate them. Not that he tried
very hard. There was little love lost
and, after perfunctory search, Peter
settled down TO u job and began life
anew.
Old Mrs. Nash was about the only
person he knew, and to please her he
attended the seances. The medium was
Isaac Pennell; the lady who presided
was his wife. There was small regll-
lar circle Of devotees. Every Sunday
night the spirits of Queen Victoria, Il
Hung Chang, President Lincoln, Julius
Caesar and others materialized In the
astral light. Peter was pretty sick Of
1t all.
But he didn't want to affront old
Mrs. Nash. Poor old lady, she believed
In 1t all so firmly. She was convinced
that Isaac Pennell, hopping around the
room In white sheet. was really I'm.
Gle John. Peter hadn't the heart to
tell her what he thought about the
fake.
But the third or fourth time he came
the spirits began to make set at him,
and that was more tlian he could stand
for. They were pretty accurate, too,
and they elected all sorts of facts
from him. They were alternately tell.
ing him things and then wormIng
things out Of him.
Of course 1t was simple enough to
Peter. He knew that sort of detec-
tive agency exists among the fake me-
diums. clearing house of information,
80 to speak. For instance, medium
who Is going to locate in one city has
the private history of the leading fam
llies of that city from his predecessor,
In exchange for what he had to tell
about the leading families of another
citv.
Still, Peter was worried. The knowl-
edge possessed by the medium was un-
canny. 1t was almost as If he had
looked up that missing family of his.
1t was on the fifth visit he paid that
the medium, going into a trance. began
spluttering something that sounded
like 'Theobald."
It's your Uncle Theobald come to
visit you." Mrs. Pennell whispered.
Now Peter really had an Uncle
Theobald. who had gone to Australia,
and, rumor said, found gold mine
there, ages before. How In the world
had they got hold of the name? Te
lepathy? In that minute Peter came
nearer to believing than ever before.
"How are you? How are you, Peter?"
rang out the cracked voice of an old
man. Peter, i want you to believe In
the great truths of spiritualism. Give
my dear friends, the Pencils, ten
thousand dollars for the Home for
upon you"
Peter smiled wanly. Where am to
get 1t. Uncle?" he asked.
why, didn't leave you forty thou
sand last year? whined Uncle Peter.
"Oh. If only had known then OF ths
priceless truths of spiritualism. Only
twenty-five per cent. dear boy. I'll ma.
teriallze to show you It's really me-
Something white hovered at the en-
trance to the cabinet.
Peter was so enraged by the false
ness OF Uncle Theobald's statement
that he seized the ghost and shook It
vigorously.
You d-n Hart" he yelled. I've
never seen the color of any money OF
yours"
The sheet fell Off, revealing the
whitened face Of Isaac Pennell. A very
unghostly "d-n' came from Isaac's
lips.
The sitters shrieRed. Old Mrs. Nash
attacked Peter with her umbrella. Pc
ter and Isaac rolled to the bottom OF
the stairs in the dark. pummeling each
other. Isaac was trying to say some
thing. -se'----'
Listen, you fool" he hissed. Didn't
you know? For Gods sake, keep quiet
They were searching for the missing
heir six months ago. looked you up
and felt sure they'd got In touch with
you."
you mean that?" demanded Peter.
In husky whisper.
"Sure It's true. What do get? Ten
thousand? Five? It's bargain. And
for heavens sake clean up this mess
and save my facet"
minute later the medium and Pc
ter entered the seance room arm In
arm. The lights had just been turned
on. Peter quieted the pandemonlum
with gesture.
"Fellow spiritualists," he said, Il
have been converted. | understand now
that when seized the ghost of Uncle
Peter 1t was transmitted into the body
Of the medium by superphysical laws.
Friends, am here to testify TO the
value Of spirtuallsm. It is--it's per.
fectiy priceless"