〃If　you　are　ready；〃　he　said；　〃we　will　examine　the　cabinet。　Shall
  I　wheel　it　over　here；　or　will　you　look　at　it　where　it　is？〃
  〃If　it　is　to　be　in　that　corner　during　the　seance；〃　declared　Mr。
  Hallowell；　〃I'll　look　at　it　where　it　is。〃
  As　he　struggled　from　his　chair；　he　turned　to　Mrs。　Marsh；　and
  nodded　his　head　knowingly。　〃You　see；　Mrs。　Marsh；〃　he　said；　〃I　am
  taking　no　chances。〃
  〃That　is　quite　right；　Mr。　Hallowell；〃　purred　the　old　lady。　〃If
  there　be　any　doubt　in　your　mind；　you　must　get　rid　of　it；　or　we
  will　have　no　results。〃
  With　a　dramatic　gesture；　Vance　swept　aside　from　the　opening　in
  the　cabinet　the　black　velvet　curtain。　〃It's　a　simple　affair；〃　he
  said　indifferently。　〃As　you　see；　it's　open　at　the　top　and
  bottom。　The　medium　sits　inside　on　that　chair；　bound　hand　and
  foot。〃
  In　turn；　Mr。　Hallowell；　Mrs。　Marsh；　Gaylor；　Rainey；　Professor
  Strombergk　entered　the　cabinet。　With　their　knuckles　they　beat
  upon　its　sides。　They　moved　it　to　and　fro。　They　dropped　to　their
  knees；　and　with　their　fingers　tugged　at　the　carpet　upon　which　it
  stood。
  Under　cover　of　their　questions；　in　the　corner　of　the　bay　window；
  Miss　Coates　whispered　to　Lee；　〃Don't　look　now；〃　she　warned；　〃but
  later；　you　will　see　on　the　left　of　that　door　the　switch　that
  throws　on　the　lights。　When　I　am　sure　she　is　outside　the　cabinet；
  when　she　has　told　him　not　to　give　the　money　to　me；　I'll　cry
  now！'　and　whichever　one　of　us　is　seated　nearer　the　switch　will
  turn　on　all　the　lights。　I　think；　〃Miss　Coates　added　with；　in　her
  voice；　a　thrill　of　triumph　not　altogether　free　from　a　touch　of
  vindictiveness；　〃when　my　uncle　sees　her　caught　in　the　middle　of
  the　room；　disguised　as　his　sister　　we　will　have　cured　him。〃
  〃It　may　be；〃　said　the　man。
  The　possibility　of　success　as　Miss　Coates　pointed　it　out　did　not
  appear　to　stir　in　him　any　great　delight。　He　glanced　unwillingly
  over　his　shoulder。　〃I　see　the　switch；〃　he　said。
  Leaning　on　the　arm　of　Gaylor；　Mr。　Hallowell　returned　from　the
  cabinet　to　his　chair。　What　he　had　seen　apparently　strengthened
  his　faith　and；　in　like　degree；　inspired　him　to　greater
  enthusiasm。
  〃Well；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃there　are　no　trapdoors　or　false　bottoms
  about　that！　If　they　can　project　a　spirit　from　that　sentry　box；
  it　will　be　a　miracle。　For　whom　are　we　waiting？〃　he　asked
  impatiently。　〃Where　is　Winthrop？〃
  Judge　Gaylor　explained　that　Winthrop　preferred　to　wait
  downstairs；　and　that　he　had　said　he　would　remain　there　until　the
  seance　was　finished。
  〃Afraid　of　compromising　his　position；〃　commented　the　old　man。
  〃I'm　sorry。　I'd　like　to　have　him　here。〃　He　motioned　Gaylor　to
  bend　nearer。　In　a　voice　that　trembled　with　eagerness　and
  excitement；　he　whispered：　〃Henry；　I　have　a　feeling　that　we　are
  going　to　witness　a　remarkable　phenomenon。〃
  Gaylor's　countenance　grew　preternaturally　grave。　He　nodded
  heavily。
  〃I　have　the　same　feeling；　Stephen；〃　he　returned。
  Vance　raised　his　hand　to　command　silence。
  〃Every　one；〃　he　called；　〃except　the　committee；　who　are　to　bind
  and　tie　the　medium；　will　take　the　place　I　give　him；　and　remain
  in　it。　Mr。　Day　will　please　acquaint　Miss　Vera　and　Mrs。　Vance
  with　the　fact　that　we　are　ready。〃
  Up　to　this　point　Vance　had　appeared　only　as　a　stage　manager。　He
  had　been　concerned　with　his　groupings；　his　lights；　in　assigning
  to　his　confederates　the　parts　they　were　to　play。　Now　that　the
  curtain　was　to　rise；　as　an　actor　puts　on　a　wig　and　grease　paint；
  Vance　assumed　a　certain　voice　and　manner。　On　the　stage　the
  critics　would　have　called　him　a　convincing　actor。　He　made　his
  audience　believe　what　he　believed。　He　knew　the　eloquence　of　a
  pause；　the　value　of　a　surprised；　unintelligible　exclamation。　One
  moment　he　was　as　professionally　solemn　as　a　〃funeral　director；〃
  the　next；　his　voice；　his　whole　frame；　would　shake　with
  excitement；　in　an　outburst　of　fanatic　fervor。　As　it　pleased　him
  he　could　play　Hamlet；　tenderly　shocked　at　the　sight　of　his　dead
  father；　or　Macbeth；　retreating　in　horror　before　the　ghost　of
  Banquo。　For　the　moment　his　manner　was　that　of　the　undertaker。
  〃Now；　Mr。　Hallowell；〃　he　said　hoarsely；　〃please　to　name　those
  you　wish　to　serve　on　the　committee。〃
  Mr。　Hallowell　waved　his　arm　to　include　every　one　in　the　room。
  〃Everybody　will　serve　on　the　committee；〃　he　declared。
  〃Everything　is　to　be　open　and　above…　board。　The　whole　city　is
  welcome　on　the　committee。　I　want　this　to　be　above　suspicion。〃
  〃That　is　my　wish；　also；　sir；〃　said　Vance　stiffly。　〃But　a
  committee　of　more　than　three　is　unwieldy。　Suppose　you　name　two
  gentlemen　and　I　one？　Or；〃　he　shrugged　his　shoulders；　〃you　can
  name　all　three。〃
  After　a　moment　of　consideration　Mr。　Hallowell　pointed　at　Lee。　〃I
  choose　Mr。　　that　young　man；〃　he　announced；　〃and　Judge　Gaylor。〃
  〃I　would　much　rather　not；　Stephen；〃　Judge　Gaylor　whispered。
  〃I　know；　Henry；〃　answered　the　other。　〃But　I　ask　it　of　you。　It
  will　give　me　confidence。〃　He　turned　to　Vance。　〃You　select　some
  one；〃　he　commanded。
  With　a　bow；　Vance　designated　the　tall　German。
  〃Will　Professor　Strombergk　be　acceptable？〃　he　asked。　Mr。
  Hallowell　nodded。
  〃Then；　the　three　gentlemen　chosen　will　please　come　to　the
  cabinet。〃
  Vance；　his　manner　now　that　of　a　master　of　ceremonies；　assigned
  to　each　person　the　seat　he　or　she　was　to　occupy。　Miss　Coates
  with　satisfaction　noted　that　only　Mrs。　Vance　separated　Lee　from
  the　electric　switch。
  〃I　must　ask　you；〃　said　Vance；　〃to　keep　the　sears　I　have　assigned
  to　you。　With　us　tonight　are　both　favorable　and　unfavorable
  influences。　And　what　I　have　tried　to　do　in　placing　you；　is　to
  obtain　the　best　psychic　results。〃　He　moved　to　the　door　and
  looked　into　the　hall；　then　turned；　and　with　uplifted　arm
  silently　demanded　attention。
  〃Miss　Vera；〃　he　announced。　Followed　closely；　like　respectful
  courtiers；　by　Mannie　and　Mrs。　Vance；　Vera　appeared　in　the
  doorway；　walked　a　few　feet　into　the　room；　and　stood　motionless。
  As　though　already　in　a　trance；　she　moved　slowly；　without
  volition；　like　a　somnambulist。　Her　head　was　held　high；　but　her
  eyes　were　dull　and　unseeing。　Her　arms　hung　limply。　She　wore　an
  evening　gown　of　soft　black　stuff；　that　clung　to　her　like　a　lace
  shawl；　and　which　left　her　throat　and　arms　bare。　In　spite　of　the
  clash　of　interests；　of　antagonism；　of　mutual　distrust；　there　was
  no　one　present　to　whom　the　sight　of　the　young　girl　did　not　bring
  an　uneasy　thrill。　The　nature　of　the　thing　she　proposed　to　do；
  contrasted　with　the　loveliness　of　her　face；　which　seemed　to　mock
  at　the　possibility　of　deceit；　something　in　her　rapt；　distant
  gaze；　in　the　dignity　of　her　uplifted　head；　in　her　air　of
  complete　detachment　from　her　surroundings；　caused　even　the　most
  skeptical　to　question　if　she　might　not　possess　the　power　she
  claimed；　to　feel　for　a　moment　the　approach　of　the　supernatural。
  The　voices　of　the　committee；　consulting　together；　dropped
  suddenly　to　a　whisper；　the　others　were　instantly　silent。
  In　his　arms　Mannie　carried　silken　scarfs；　cords；　and　ropes。　In
  each　hand　he　held　a　teacup。　One　contained　flour；　the　other　shot。
  Vance　took　these　from　him；　and　Mannie　hurriedly　slipped　into　his
  chair　in　front　of　the　organ。
  〃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