vera, the medium-第10节

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Vance　and；　in　a　matter…of…fact　voice；　inquired；　〃What　does　his
sister　look　like　　that　photograph　we　used　this　morning。？〃

〃No；〃　Vance　answered。　〃I've　a　better　one；　Rainey　gave　me。　Taken
when　she　was　older。　Has　white　hair　and　a　cap　and　a　kerchief
crossed　　so。〃　He　drew　his　hands　across　his　shoulders。　〃Rainey；
show　Miss　Vera　that　picture。〃

〃Not　now；〃　Gaylor　commanded。　〃The　important　thing　now　is　that
Miss　Vera　understands　the　message　Mr。　Hallowell　is　to　receive
from　his　sister。〃

The　two　other　men　nodded　quickly　in　assent。　Gaylor　turned　to
Vera。　He　spoke　slowly；　earnestly。

〃Miss　Vera；〃　he　said；　〃Mr。　Hallowell's　present　will　leaves　his
fortune　to　his　niece。　He　has　made　another　will；　which　he　has　not
signed；　leaving　his　fortune　to　the　Hallowell　Institute。　He　will
ask　his　sister　to　which　of　these　he　should　leave　his　money。　You
will　tell　him　　〃　he　corrected　himself　instantly。　〃She　will　tell
him　to　give　it　where　it　will　be　of　the　greatest　good　to　the　most
people　　to　the　Institute。〃　There　was　a　pause。　〃Do　you
understand？〃　he　asked。

〃To　the　Institute。　Not　to　the　niece；〃　Vera　answered。　Gaylor
nodded　gravely。

〃What；〃　asked　Vera；　〃are　the　fewest　words　in　which　that　message
could　be　delivered？　I　mean　　should　she　say；　You　are　to　endow
the　Hallowell　Institute；　or　Brother；　you　are　to　give　　Sign
the　new　will？〃　With　satisfaction　the　girl　gave　a　sharp　shake　of
her　head；　and　nodded　to　Vance。　〃　Destroy　the　old　will。　Sign　the
new　will。　That　is　the　best；〃　she　said。

〃That's　it　exactly；〃　Gaylor　exclaimed　eagerly；　〃that's
excellent！〃　Then　his　face　clouded。　〃I　think；〃　he　said　in　a
troubled　voice；　〃we　should　warn　Miss　Vera；　that　to　guard　himself
from　any　trickery；　Mr。　Hallowell　insists　on　subjecting　her　to
the　most　severe　tests。　He　　〃

〃That　will　be　all　right；〃　said　the　girl。　She　turned　to　Vance
and；　in　a　lower　tone　but　without　interest；　asked：　〃What；　for
instance？〃　Vance　merely　laughed　and　shrugged　his　shoulders。　The
girl　smiled。　Nettled；　and　alarmed　at　what　appeared　to　be　their
overconfidence；　Gaylor　objected　warmly。

〃That's　all　very　well；〃　he　cried；　〃but　for　instance；　he　insists
that　the　entire　time　you　are　in　the　cabinet；　you　hold　a　handful
of　flour　in　one　hand　and　of　shot　in　the　other〃　　he　illustrated
with　clenched　fists　　〃which　makes　it　impossible；〃　he
protested；　〃for　you　to　use　your　hands。〃

The　face　of　the　girl　showed　complete　indifference。

〃Not　necessarily；〃　she　said。

〃But　you　are　to　be　tied　hand　and　foot；〃　cried　the　Judge。　〃And　on
top　of　that；〃　he　burst　forth　indignantly；　pointing　aggrievedly
at　Vance；　〃he　himself　proposed　this　flour…and…shot　test。　It　was
silly；　senseless　bravado！〃

〃Not　necessarily；〃　repeated　the　girl。　〃He　knew　that　I　invented
it。〃　Rainey　laughed。　Gaylor　gave　an　exclamation　of
enlightenment。

〃If　it　will　be　of　any　comfort　to　you；　Judge；〃　said　Vance；　〃I'll
tell　you　one　thing；　every　test　that　ever　was　put　to　a　medium　
was　invented　by　a　medium。〃

Vera　rose。　〃If　there　is　nothing　more；〃　she　said；　〃I　will　go　and
get　the　things　ready　for　this　evening。　Destroy　the　old　will。
Sign　the　new　will。〃　she　repeated。　She　turned　suddenly　to　Vance；
her　brow　drawn　in　consideration。　〃I　suppose　by　this　new　will；〃
she　asked；　〃the　girl　gets　nothing？〃　〃Not　at　all！〃　exclaimed
Gaylor　emphatically。　〃We　don't　want　her　to　fight　the　will。　She
gets　a　million。〃

〃A　million　dollars？〃　demanded　Vera。　For　an　instant；　as　though
trying　to　grasp　the　possibilities　of　such　a　sum；　she　stood
staring　ahead　of　her。　With　doubt　in　her　eyes；　and　shaking　her
head；　she　turned　to　Vance。

〃How　can　one　woman　spend　a　million　dollars？〃　she　protested。

〃Well；　you　see；　we　don't　intend　to　starve　her；〃　exclaimed　Gaylor
eagerly；　〃and　at　the　same　time　the　Institute　will　be　benefiting
all　humanity。　Doing　good　to　　〃

Vera　interrupted　him　with　a　sharp；　peremptory　movement　of　the
hand。

〃We　won't　go　into　that；　please；〃　she　begged。

The　Judge　inclined　his　head。　〃I　only　meant　to　point　out；〃　he
said　stiffly；　〃that　you　are　giving　Mr。　Hallowell　the　best
advice；　and　doing　great　good。〃

For　a　moment　the　girl　looked　at　him　steadily。　On　her　lips　was　a
faint　smile　of　disdain；　but　whether　for　him　or　for　herself；　the
Judge　could　not　determine。

〃I　don't　know　that；〃　the　girl　said　finally。　〃I　don't　ask。〃　She
turned　to　Rainey。　〃Have　you　that　photograph？〃　He　gave　her　a
photograph　and　after；　for　an　instant；　studying　it　in　silence；
she　returned　it　to　him。

〃It　will　be　quite　easy；〃　she　said　to　Vance。　She　walked　to　the
door；　and　instinctively　the　two　men；　who　were　seated；　rose。

〃I　will　see　you　tonight　at　Mr。　Hallowell's；〃　she　said；　and；　with
a　nod；　left　them。

〃Well；〃　exclaimed　Rainey；　〃you　didn't　tell　her！〃

〃I　know；〃Vance　answered。　〃I　decided　we'd　be　wiser　to　take　advice
from　my　wife。　She　understands　Vera　better　than　I　do。〃　He　opened
the　door　to　the　hall；　and　called　〃Mannie！　Tell　Mabel　　Oh；
Mabel；〃　he　corrected；　〃come　here　a　minute。〃　He　returned　to　his
seat　on　the　piano　stool。　〃She　can　tell　us；〃　he　said。

In　expectation　of　the　arrival　of　Winthrop；　Mrs。　Vance　had
arrayed　herself　in　a　light　blue　frock；　and；　as　though　she　had
just　come　in　from　the　street；　in　such　a　hat　as　she　considered
would　do　credit　not　only　to　Vera　but　to　herself。

〃Mabel；〃　her　husband　began；　〃we're　up　against　a　hard
proposition。　Hallowell　insists　that　Winthrop　and　Miss　Coates
must　come　to　the　seance　tonight。〃

〃Winthrop　and　Miss　Coates！〃　cried　Mabel。　In　astonishment　she
glanced　from　her　husband　to　Rainey　and　Gaylor。　〃Then；　it's　all
off！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃That's　what　I　say；〃　growled　Rainey。

〃We　want　you　to　tell　us；〃　continued　Vance；　unmoved；　〃whether
Vera　should　know　that　now；　or　wait　until　tonight？〃

〃Paul　Vance！〃　almost　shrieked　his　wife；　〃do　you　mean　to　tell　me
you're　thinking　of　giving　a　materialization　in　front　of　the
District　Attorney！　You're　crazy！〃

〃That's　what　I　tell　them；〃　chorused　Rainey。

Gaylor　raised　his　hand　for　silence。

〃No；　Mrs。　Vance；〃　he　said　wearily。　〃We　are　not　crazy；　but；〃　he
added　bitterly；　〃we　can't　help　ourselves。　You　mediums　have　got
Mr。　Hallowell　in　such　a　state　that　he'll　only　do　what　his
sister's　spirit　tells　him。　He　says；　if　he's　robbing　his　niece；
his　sister　will　tell　him　so；　if　he's　to　give　the　money　to　the
Institute；　his　sister　will　tell　him　that。　He　says；　if　Vance　is
fair　and　above…board；　he　shouldn't　be　afraid　to　have　his　niece
and　any　friends　of　hers　present。　We　can't　help　ourselves。〃

〃I　helped　a　little；〃　said　Vance；　〃by　insisting　on　having　our　own
friends　there　　told　him　the　spirit　could　not　materialize
unless　there　were　believers　present。〃

〃Did　he　stand　for　that？〃　asked　Mabel。

〃Glad　to　have　them；〃　her　husband　assured　her。　〃They　like　to
think　there　are　others　as　foolish　as　they　are。　And　I'm　going　to
place　Mr。　District　Attorney；〃　he　broke　out　suddenly　and
fiercely；　〃between　two　mediums。　They'll　hold　his　hands！〃

Already　frightened　by　the　possible　result　of　the　plot；　Rainey；
with　a　vehemence　born　of　fear；　retorted　sharply：　〃Hold　his
hands！　How're　you　going　to　make　him　hold　his　tongue；　afterward？〃

Gaylor　turned　upon　him　savagely。

〃My　God；　man！〃　he　cried；　〃we're　not　trying　to　persuade　the
District　Attorney　that　he's　seen　a　ghost。　If　your　friends　can
persuade　Stephen　Hallowell　that　he's　seen　one；　the　District
Attorney　can　go　to　the　devil！〃

〃Well；　he　won't！〃　returned　Rainey；　〃he'll　go　to　law！〃

〃Let　him！〃　cried　Gaylor　defiantly。　〃Get　Hallowell　to　sign　that
will；　and　I'll　go　into　court　with　him。〃

His　bravado　was　suddenly　attacked　from　an　unexpected　source。

〃You'll　go　into　court　with　him；　all　right；〃　declared　Mrs。　Vance；
〃all　of　you！　And　if　you　don't　want　him　to　catch　you；〃　she　cried；
〃you'll　clear　out；　now！　He's　coming　here　any　minute。〃

〃Who's　coming　here？〃　demanded　her　husband。

〃Winthrop；〃　returned　his　wife；　〃to　see　Vera。〃

〃To　see　Vera！〃　cried　Vance　eagerly。　〃What　about？　About　this
morning？〃

〃No；〃　protested　Mabel；　〃to　call　on　her。　He's　an　old　friend　　〃

In　alarm　Rainey　pushed　into　the　group　of　now　thoroughly　excited
people。　〃Don't　you　believe　it！〃　he　cried。　〃If　he's　coming　here；
he's　coming　to　give　her　the　third　degree　　〃

The　door　from　the　hall　suddenly　opened；　was　as　suddenly　closed；
and　Mannie　slipped　into　the　room。　One　hand　he　held　up　for
silence；　with　the　other　he　pointed　at　the　folding　doors。

〃Hush！〃　he　warned　them。　〃He's　in　there！　He　says　he's　come　to
call　on　Vera。　She　says　he's　come　professionally；　and　I　must
bring　him　in　here。　I've　shut　the　door　into　the　parlor；　and　you
can　slip　upstairs　without　his　seeing　you。〃

〃Upstairs！〃　gasped　Rainey；　〃not　for　me！〃　He　appealed　to　Gaylor
in　accents　of　real　alarm。　〃We　must　get　away　from　this　house；〃　he
declared。　〃If　he　finds　us　here　　〃　With　a　gesture　of　dismay　he
tossed　his　hands　in　the　air。　Gaylor　nodded。　In　silence　all；　save
Mannie；　moved　into　the　hall；　and　halted　between　the　outer　and
inner　doors　of　the　vestibule。　Gaylor　turned　to　Vance。　〃Are　you
going　to　tell　her；〃　he　asked；　〃that　he　is　to　be　there　tonight？〃

〃He'll　tell　her　himself；　now！〃

〃No；〃　corrected　Rainey；　〃he　doesn't　know　yet　there's　to　be　a
seance。　Hallowell　was　writing　the　note　when　he　left。〃

〃Then；〃　instructed　Gaylor；　〃do　not　let　her　know　until　she
arrives　　until　it　wi