vera, the medium-第21章

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〃Gentlemen；〃　explained　Vance；　〃you　will　use　these　ropes　and
scarfs　to　tie　the　medium。　Also；　as　a　further　precaution　against
the　least　suspicion　of　fraud；　we　will　subject　her　to　the　most
severe　test　known。　In　one　hand　she　will　hold　this　flour；　the
other　will　be　filled　with　shot。　This　will　make　it　impossible　for
her　to　tamper　with　the　ropes。

He　gave　the　two　cups　to　Gaylor；　and　turned　to　Vera。

〃Are　you　ready？〃　he　asked。　After　a　pause；　the　girl　slightly
inclined　her　head。　Lee；　with　one　of　the　scarfs　in　his　hand；
approached　her　diffidently。　He　looked　unhappily　at　the　slight；
girlish　figure；　at　the　fair　white　arms。　In　his　embarrassment　he
appealed　to　Vance。

〃How　would　you　suggest？〃　he　asked。

Vance；　apparently　shocked；　hastily　drew　away。　〃That　would　be
most　irregular；〃　he　protested。

Apologetically　Lee　turned　to　the　girl。

〃Would　you　mind　putting　your　arms　behind　you？〃　he　asked。　He
laced　the　scarf　around　her　arms；　and　drew　it　tightly　to　her
wrists。

〃Tell　me　if　I　hurt　you；〃　he　murmured；　but　the　girl　made　no
answer。　To　what　was　going　forward　she　appeared　as　unmindful　as
though　she　were　an　artist's　manikin。

〃Will　you　take　these　now？〃　asked　Gaylor；　and　into　her　open　palms
he　poured　the　flour　and　shot。　〃And；　now；〃　continued　Lee；　〃will
you　go　into　the　cabinet？〃　As　she　seated　herself；　he　knelt　in
front　of　her　and　bound　her　ankles。　From　behind　her　Strombergk
deftly　wound　the　ropes　about　her　body　and　through　the　rungs　and
back　of　the　chair。

〃Would　you　mind　seeing　if　you　can　withdraw　your　arms？〃　Lee
asked。　The　girl　raised　her　shoulders；　struggled　to　free　her
hands；　and　tried　to　rise。　But　the　efforts　were　futile。

〃Are　the　gentlemen　satisfied？〃　demanded　Vance。　The　three　men；
who　had　shown　but　little　heart　in　the　work；　and　who　were　now　red
and　embarrassed；　hastily　answered　in　the　affirmative。

〃If　you　are　satisfied　the　ropes　are　securely　fastened；〃　Vance
continued；　〃you　will　take　your　seats。〃　Professor　Strombergk；　as
he　moved　to　his　chair；　announced　in　devout；　solemn　tones；
〃Nothing　but　spirit　hands　can　move　those　ropes　now。〃

From　the　organ　rose　softly　the　prelude　to　a　Moody　and　Sankey
hymn；　and；　in　keeping　with　the　music；　the　voice　of　Vance　sank　to
a　low　tone。

〃We　will　now；〃　he　said；　〃establish　the　magnetic　chain。　Each
person　will　take　with　his　right　hand　the　left　wrist　of　the
person　on　his　or　her　right。〃　He　paused　while　this　order　was
being　carried　into　effect。

〃Before　I　turn　out　the　lights；〃　he　continued；　〃I　wish　to　say　a
last　word　to　any　skeptic　who　may　be　present。　　I　warn　him　that
any　attempt　to　lay　violent　hands　upon　the　apparition；　or　spirit；
may　cost　the　medium　her　life。　　From　the　cabinet　the　medium
projects　the　spirit　into　the　circle。　　An　attack　upon　the　spirit；
is　an　attack　upon　the　medium。　　There　are　three　or　four
well…authenticated　cases　where　the　disembodied　spirit　was　cut
off　from　the　cabinet；　and　the　medium　died。〃

He　drew　the　velvet　curtains　across　the　cabinet；　and　shut　Vera
from　view。　〃Are　you　ready；　Mr。　Hallowell？〃　he　asked。　Mr。
Hallowell；　his　eyes　staring；　his　lips　parted；　nodded　his　head。
The　music　grew　louder。　Vance　switched　off　the　lights。

For　some　minutes；　except　for　the　creaking　of　the　pedals　of　the
organ　and　the　low　throb　of　the　music；　there　was　no　sound。　Then；
from　his　position　at　the　open　door；　the　voice　of　Vance　commanded
sternly：　〃No　whispering；　please。　The　medium　is　susceptible　to
the　least　sound。〃　There　was　another　longer　pause；　until　in
hushed　expectant　tones　Vance　spoke　again。　〃The　air　is　very
heavily　charged　with　electricity　tonight；〃　he　said；　〃you；　Mrs。
Marsh；　should　feel　that？〃

〃I　do；　Professor；〃　murmured　the　medium；　〃I　do。　We　shall　have
some　wonderful　results！〃

Vance　agreed　with　her　solemnly。　〃I　feel　influences　all　about
me；〃　he　murmured。

There　came　suddenly　from　the　cabinet　three　sharp　raps。　These
were　instantly　answered　by　other　quick　rappings　upon　the　library
table。　〃They　are　beginning！〃　chanted　the　voice　of　Vance。　The
music　of　the　organ　ceased。　It　was　at　once　followed　by　the　notes
of　a　guitar　that　seemed　to　float　in　space；　the　strings
vibrating；　not　as　though　touched　by　human　hands；　but　in　fitful；
meaningless　chords　like　those　of　an　Aeolian　harp。

〃That　is　Kiowa；　your　control；　Mrs。　Marsh；〃　announced　Vance
eagerly。　〃Do　you　desire　to　speak　to　him？〃

〃Not　tonight；〃　Mrs。　Marsh　answered。　She　raised　her　voice。　〃Not
tonight；　Kiowa；〃　she　repeated。　〃Thank　you　for　coming。　Good
night。〃

In　deep；　guttural　accents；　a　man's　voice　came　from　the　ceiling。
〃Good　night；〃　it　called。　With　a　final；　ringing　wail；　the　music
of　the　guitar　suddenly　ceased。

Again　rose　the　swelling　low　notes　of　the　organ。　Above　it　came
the　quick　pattering　of　footsteps。

The　voice　of　Rainey；　filled　with　alarm；　cried；　〃some　one　touched
me！〃

〃Are　you　sure　your　hands　are　held？〃　demanded　Vance　reprovingly。

〃Yes；〃　panted　Rainey；　〃both　of　them。　But　something　put　its　hand
on　my　forehead。　It　was　cold。〃

In　an　excited　whisper；　a　voice　in　the　circle　cried；　〃Look；
look！〃　and　before　the　eyes　of　all；　a　star　rose　in　the　darkness。
For　a　moment　it　wavered　over　the　cabinet　and　then　fluttered
swiftly　across　the　room　and　remained　stationary　above　the　head
of　the　German　Professor。

〃There　is　your　star；　Professor；〃　cried　Vance。　〃When　the
Professor　is　in　the　circle；〃　he　announced　proudly；　〃that　star
always　appears。〃

He　was　interrupted　by　a　startled　exclamation　from　Lee。

〃Something　touched　my　face；〃　explained　the　young　man
apologetically；　〃and　spoke　to　me。〃

The　music　sank　to　a　murmur；　and　the　room　became　alive　with
swift；　rushing　sounds　and　soft　whisperings。

The　voice　of　Mrs。　Marsh；　low　and　eager；　could　be　heard　appealing
to　an　invisible　presence。

〃The　results　are　marvelous；〃　chanted　Vance；　〃marvelous！　The
medium　is　showing　wonderful　power。　If　any　one　desires　to　ask　a
question；　he　should　do　so　now。　The　conditions　will　never　be
better。〃　He　paused　expectantly。　〃Mr。　Hallowell；〃　he　prompted；
〃is　it　your　wish　to　communicate　with　any　one　in　the　spirit
world？〃

There　was　a　long　pause；　and　then　the　voice　of　Mr。　Hallowell；
harsh　and　shaken；　answered；　〃Yes。〃

〃With　whom？〃　demanded　Vance。

There　was　again　another　longer　pause；　and　then；　above　the
confusion　of　soft　whisperings；　the　voice　of　the　old　man　rose　in
sharp　staccato；　〃My　sister；　Catherine　Coates。〃　His　tone
hardened；　became　obdurate；　final。　〃But；　I　must　see　her；　and　hear
her　speak！〃

Not　for　an　instant　did　Vance　hesitate。　In　tense；　sepulchral
tones；　he　demanded　of　the　darkness；　〃Is　the　spirit　of　Catherine
Coates　present？〃

The　whisperings　and　murmurs　ceased。　The　silence　of　the　room　was
broken　sharply　by　three　quick　raps。　〃Yes；〃　intoned　Vance；　〃she
is　present。〃

The　voice　of　Hallowell　protested　fiercely。　〃I　won't　have　that！　I
want　to　see　her！〃

In　the　tone　of　an　incantation；　Vance　spoke　again。　〃Will　the
spirit　show　herself　to　her　brother？〃　The　raps　came　quickly；
firmly。

〃She　answers　she　will　appear　before　you。〃

There　was　a　moment　that　seemed　to　stretch　interminably；　and
then；　the　eyes　of　all；　straining　in　the　darkness；　saw　against
the　black　velvet　curtain　a　splash　of　white。

Above　the　sobbing　of　the　organ；　the　voice　of　Mr。　Hallowell　rang
out　in　a　sharp　exclamation　of　terror。　〃Who　is　that！〃　he
demanded。　He　spoke　as　though　he　dreaded　the　answer。　He　threw
himself　forward　in　his　chair；　peering　into　the　darkness。

〃Is　that　you；　Kate？；　he　whispered。　His　voice　was　both
incredulous　and　pleading。

The　answer　came　in　feeble；　trembling　tones。　〃Yes。〃

The　voice　of　Hallowell　shook　with　eagerness。　〃Do　you　know　me；
your　brother；　Stephen？〃

〃Yes。〃

With　a　cry　the　old　man　fell　back；　groping　blindly。　He　found
Gaylor's　arm　and　clutched　it　with　both　hands。

〃My　God！　It's　Kate！〃　he　gasped。　〃I　tell　you；　Henry；　it　is　Kate！〃

The　voice　of　Vance；　deep　and　hollow　like　a　bell；　sounded　a　note
of　warning。　〃Speak　quickly；〃　he　commanded。　〃Her　time　on　earth　is
brief。〃　Mr。　Hallowell's　hold　upon　the　arm　of　his　friend　relaxed。
Fearfully　and　slowly；　he　bent　forward。

〃Kate！〃　he　pleaded；　〃I　must　ask　you　a　question。　No　one　else　can
tell　me。〃　As　though　gathering　courage；　he　paused；　and；　with　a
frightened　sigh；　again　began。　〃I　am　an　old　man；〃　he　mu