traffic　in　the　avenue　below　her；　answered　with　indifference；　〃A
  pen　holder。〃
  〃Yes；　what　about　it？〃　snapped　Vance。
  〃Gold　pen　holder；〃　Vera　answered　more　rapidly。　〃Much　engraving
  initials　S。　H。　　Mr。　Hallowell's　initials　　〃
  〃There　is　a　date　too。　Can　you　　〃
  〃December　　〃　Vera　hesitated。
  〃Go　on；〃　commanded　Vance。
  〃Twenty…five；　one；　eight；　eight；　six；　one　thousand　eight　hundred
  and　eighty…six。〃　She　moved　her　shoulders　impatiently。
  〃Oh；　tell　him　to　think　of　something　difficult；〃　she　said。
  From　behind　Mr。　Hallowell's　chair　Rainey　signaled　to　Vance　to
  take　from　the　table　a　photograph　frame　of　silver　which　held　the
  picture　of　a　woman。
  Vance　picked　it　up；　holding　it　close　to　him。
  〃What　have　I　here；　Vera？〃　he　asked。
  Hallowell；　seeing　what　Vance　held　in　his　hand；　leaned　forward。
  〃Put　that　down！〃　he　commanded。　But　Vera　had　already　begun　to
  answer。
  〃A　picture；　a　picture　of　a　young　woman。　Ask　him　to　think　of　who
  it　is　and　I　will　tell　him。〃
  At　the　words　Mr。　Hallowell　hesitated；　frowned；　and　then　nodded。
  〃It　is　his　sister；〃　called　Vera。　〃Her　name　was　　I　seem　to　get
  a　Catherine　　yes；　that's　it；　Catherine　Coates。　She　is　no
  longer　with　us。　She　passed　into　the　spirit　world　three　years
  ago。〃　The　girl　turned　suddenly　and　approached　the　table；　holding
  her　head　high；　as　though　offended。
  〃How　do　you　explain　that　trick？〃　she　demanded。
  Mr。　Hallowell　moved　uneasily　in　his　chair。　〃Oh；　the　picture's
  been　on　my　desk　each　time　you've　been　here；〃　he　answered
  dubiously。　〃Rainey　could　have　told　you。〃
  〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　didn't；〃　said　Rainey。
  Hallowell's　eyes　lightened　with　interest。　〃Didn't　you？〃　he
  asked。　He　turned　to　Vera。　〃If　you　can　read　my　mind；〃　he
  challenged　　〃you；〃　he　added；　pointing　at　Vance；　〃keep　out　of
  this　now　　tell　me　of　what　I　am　thinking。〃　As　Vance　drew　back；
  Rainey　and　himself　exchanged　a　quick　glance　of　apprehension；　but
  the　girl　promptly　closed　her　eyes；　and　at　once；　in　a　dull；
  measured　tone；　began　to　speak。
  〃You　were　thinking　you　would　like　to　ask　a　question　of　some　one
  in　the　spirit；〃　she　recited。　〃But　you　are　afraid。　You　do　not
  trust　me。　You　will　wait　until　I　give　you　a　sign；　then　you　will
  ask　that　question　of　some　one　dear　to　you；　who　has　passed
  beyond；　and　she　will　answer；　and　your　troubles　will　be　at　an
  end。〃　She　opened　her　eyes　and　stared　at　Mr。　Hallowell　like　one
  coming　out　of　a　dream。　〃What　did　I　say？〃　she　asked。　〃Was　I
  right？〃
  Hallowell　slank　back　in　his　chair；　shaking　his　head。
  〃Yes；〃　he　began　grudgingly；　〃but　　〃
  With　an　eagerness　hardly　concealed；　Vance　interrupted。
  〃What　is　the　question　you　wish　to　ask？〃　he　begged。
  With　a　frown　of　suspicion；　Hallowell　turned　from　him　to　Rainey。
  〃I　don't　think　I　ought　to　let　them　know；〃　he　questioned；　〃do
  you？〃　But　his　attention　was　sharply　diverted。
  Vera；　in　a　hushed　and　solemn　voice；　called　for　silence。
  〃My　control；〃　she　explained　　her　tone　was　deep　and　awestruck
  〃is　trying　to　communicate　with　me。〃
  Vance　gave　an　exclamation　of　concern。　The　prospect　of　the
  phenomena　Vera　promised　seemed　to　fill　him　with　delightful
  expectations。　〃Be　very　quiet；〃　he　cautioned；　〃do　not　disturb
  her。〃
  Deeply　impressed；　Mr。　Hallowell　struggled　from　his　chair。
  Unaided；　he　moved　to　below　the　table　and　leaning　against　it
  looked；　with　unwilling　but　fascinated　interest；　at　Vera's
  uplifted　face。
  〃Some　one　in　the　spirit；〃　Vera　chanted；　in　an　unemotional；
  drugged　voice；　〃wishes　to　speak　to　Mr。　Hallowell。　Give　me　your
  hand。〃
  〃Quick！〃　directed　Vance；　〃give　her　your　hand。　Take　her　hand。〃
  〃Yes；　he　is　here；〃　Vera　continued。　〃A　woman　has　a　message　for
  you；　she　is　standing　close　beside　you。　She　is　holding　out　her
  arms。　And　she　is　trying；　so　hard；　to　tell　you　something。　What　is
  it？〃　the　girl　questioned。　〃Oh；　what　is　it？　Tell　me；〃　she　begged。
  〃Can't　you　tell　me？〃
  Hallowell　eyed　her　greedily；　waiting　almost　without　breathing
  for　her　words。　The　hand　with　which　he　held　hers　crushed　her
  rings　into　her　fingers。
  〃What　sort？〃　　whispered　the　old　man。　〃What　sort　of　a　woman？〃
  With　eyes　still　closed；　swaying　slightly　and　with　abrupt
  shudders　running　down　her　body；　the　girl　continued　in　dull；
  fateful　tones。
  〃She　is　a　fair　woman；　about　forty…five。　She　is　speaking。　She
  calls　to　you；　Brother；　brother。〃　Vera's　voice　rose　excitedly。
  〃It　is　the　woman　in　the　picture；　your　sister！　Catherine！　I　see
  it　written　above　her　head　　Catherine。　In　letters　of　light。〃
  She　turned　suddenly　and　fiercely。　〃Ask　her　your　question！〃　she
  commanded。　〃Ask　her　your　question；　now！〃
  By　the　sudden　swaying　forward　of　Vance　and　Rainey；　in　the　intent
  look　in　their　eyes；　it　was　evident　that　a　crisis　had　approached。
  But　Mr。　Hallowell；　terrified　and　trembling；　shrank　back。　His
  voice　broke　hysterically。　〃No；　no！〃　he　pleaded。　Both　anger　and
  disappointment　showed　in　the　face　of　Vance　and　Rainey；　but　the
  girl；　as　though　detached　from　any　human　concerns；　continued
  unmoved。　〃I　see　another　figure；〃　she　recited。　〃A　young　girl；　but
  she　is　of　this　world。　I　seem　to　get　an　H。　Yes。　Helen；　in　letters
  of　fire。〃
  〃My　niece；　Helen！〃　Hallowell　whispered　hoarsely。
  〃Yes；　your　niece；〃　chanted　the　girl。　Her　voice　rose　and
  thrilled。　〃And　I　see　much　gold；〃　she　cried。　〃Between　the　two
  women；　heaps　of　gold。　Everywhere　I　look　I　see　gold。　And；　now；
  the　other　woman；　your　sister；　is　trying　to　speak　to　you。　Listen！
  She　calls　to　you；　Brother！〃
  So　centered　was　the　interest　of　those　in　the　room；　so　compelling
  the　sound　of　the　girl's　voice；　that；　unnoticed；　the　sliding
  doors　to　the　library　were　slipped　apart。　Unobserved；　Judge
  Gaylor　and　Winthrop　halted　in　the　doorway。　To　the　Judge　the
  meaning　of　the　scene　was　instantly　apparent。　His　face　flushed
  furiously。　Winthrop；　uncomprehending；　gazed　unconcerned　over
  Gaylor's　shoulder。　The　voice　of　Vera　rose　hysterically　to　her
  climax。
  〃She　bids　me　tell　you；〃　Vera　cried；　〃　Tell　my　brother　　〃
  Gaylor　swept　toward　her。
  〃What　damned　farce　is　this？〃　he　shouted。
  The　effect　of　the　interruption　was　instant　and　startling。　Mr。
  Hallowell；　who；　in　the　last　few　minutes；　had　believed　he　was
  listening　to　a　voice　from　the　dead；　collapsed　upon　the　shoulder
  of　Rainey；　who　sprang　to　support　him。　Like　a　somnambulist
  wrenched　from　sleep；　Vera　gave　a　scream　of　fright；　half　genuine；
  half　assumed；　and　swayed　as　though　about　to　fall。　Vance　caught
  her　in　his　arms。　He　turned　on　Gaylor；　his　cunning　red　eyes
  flashing　evilly。
  〃You　brute！〃　he　cried；　〃you　might　have　killed　her。〃
  Between　her　sobs；　Vera；　her　head　upon　the　shoulder　of　Vance；
  whispered　a　question。　As　quickly；　under　cover　of　muttered
  sympathy；　Vance　answered：　〃Gaylor。　The　Judge。〃
  Still　slightly　swaying；　Vera　stood　upright。　She　passed　her　hand
  vaguely　before　her　eyes。　〃Where　am　I？〃　she　asked　feebly。　〃Where
  am　I？〃
  Gaylor　shook　his　fist　at　the　girl。
  〃You　know　where　you　are！〃　he　thundered；　〃and　you　know　where
  you're　going　　you're　going　to　jail！〃
  In　the　hush　that　followed　Vera　drew　herself　to　her　full　height。
  She　regarded　Gaylor　wonderingly；　haughtily；　as　though　he　were
  some　drunken　intruder　from　the　street。
  〃Are　you　speaking　to　me？〃　she　asked。
  〃Yes；　to　you；〃　shouted　the　lawyer。　〃You're　an　imposter；　and　a
  swindler；　and　　and　　〃
  Winthrop　pushed　between　them。
  〃Yes；　and　she's　a　woman；〃　he　said　briskly。　〃If　you　want　a　row；
  talk　to　the　man。〃
  To　this　point　the　scene　had　brought　to　Vera　no　emotion　save　the
  excitement　that　is　felt　by　the　one　who　is　struggling　to　escape。
  The　appearance　of　a　champion　added　a　new　interest。　Through　no
  fault　of　her　own；　she　had　learned　by　experience　that　to　the　one
  man　who　annoyed　her　there　always　were　six　to　spring　to　her
  protection。　So　the　glance　she　covertly　turned　upon　Winthrop　was
  one　less　of　gratitude　than　curiosity。
  But　at　the　first　sight　of　him　the　girl　started；　her　eyes　lit
  with　recognition；　her　face　flushed。　And　then；　although　the　man
  was　in　no　way　regarding　her；　her　eyes　filled；　and　in
  mortification　and　dismay　she　blushed　crimson。
  His　anger　still　unsatisfied；　Gaylor　turned　upon　Vance。
  〃And　you；〃　he　cried；　〃you're　going　to　jail　too。　I'll　drive　　〃
  The　voice　of　Mr。　Hallowell；　shaken　with　pain　and　distress；　rose
  feebly；　beseechingly。　〃Henry！〃　he　begged。　〃I　can't　stand　it！〃
  〃Judge　Gaylor！〃　thundered　Rainey；　〃I　won't　be　responsible　if　you
  keep　this　up。〃
  With　an　exclamation　of　remorse；　Vera　ran　to　the　side　of　the　old
  man。　With　Rainey　on　his　other　hand；　she　raised　him　upright　upon
  his　feet。
  〃Lean　on　me；〃　begged　the　girl　breathlessly。　〃I'm　very　strong。
  Lean　on　me。〃
  Mr。　Hallowell　shook　his　head。　〃No；　child；〃　he　protested；　〃not
  you。〃　He　turned　to　his　old　friend。　〃You　help　me；　Henry；〃　he
  begged。
  With　the　authority　of　the　medical　man；　Rainey　waved　Vance　into
  the　bedroom。　〃Close　those　windows；〃　he　ordered。　〃You　help　me！〃
  he　commanded　of　Gaylor。　〃Put　your　arm　under　him。〃
  Mr。　Hallowell；　protesting　feebly　and　leaning　heavily　upon　the
  two　men；　stumbled　into　the　bedroom　；　and　the　door　was　shut
  behind　him。
  For　a　moment　the　girl　and　the　man　stood　in　silence；　and　then；　as
  though　suddenly　conscious　of　her　presence；　Winthrop　turned　and
  smiled。
  The　girl　did　not　answer　his　smile。　From　under　the　shadow　of　the
  picture　hat　and　the　ostrich　feathers　her　eyes　rega