vera, the medium-第17节

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need　me。〃　〃No；〃　said　the　girl。　〃No　matter　what　happens；　I　tell
you；　between　us；　this　is　the　end。〃

〃Then；〃　begged　the　man；　〃if　this　is　the　end；　for　God's　sake；
Vera；　as　my　last　request；　do　not　do　it！〃

The　girl　shook　her　head。　〃No；〃　she　repeated　firmly。　〃I've　tried
to　get　away　from　it；　and　each　time　they've　forced　me　back。　Now；
I'll　go　on　with　it。　I've　promised　Paul；　and　the　others。　And　you
heard　me　promise　that　woman。〃

〃But　you　didn't　mean　that！〃　protested　the　man。　〃She　insulted
you；　you　were　angry。　You're　angry　now；　piqued　　〃

〃Mr。　Winthrop；〃　interrupted　the　girl；　〃today　you　told　me　I　was
not　playing　the　game。　You　told　the　truth。　When　you　said　this
was　a　mean　business；　you　were　right。　But〃　　for　the　first　time
since　she　had　spoken　her　tones　were　shaken；　uncertain　　〃I've
been　driven　out　of　every　other　business。〃　She　waited　until　her
voice　was　again　under　control；　and　then　said　slowly；
definitely；　〃and；　tonight；　I　am　going　to　show　Mr。　Hallowell　the
spirit　of　his　sister。〃

In　the　eyes　of　Winthrop　the　look　of　pain；　of　disappointment；　of
reproach；　was　so　keen；　that　the　girl　turned　her　own　away。

〃No；〃　said　the　man　gently；　〃you　will　not　do　that。〃

〃You　can　stop　my　doing　it　tonight；〃　returned　the　girl；　〃but　at
some　other　time；　at　some　other　place；　I　will　do　it。〃

〃You　yourself　will　stop　it；〃　said　Winthrop。　〃You　are　too　honest；
too　fine；　to　act　such　a　lie。　Why　not　be　yourself？〃　he　begged。
〃Why　not　disappoint　these　other　people　who　do　not　know　you？　Why
disappoint　the　man　who　knows　you　best；　who　trusts　you；　who
believes　in　you　　〃。

〃You　are　the　very　one；〃　interrupted　the　girl；　〃who　doesn't　know
me。　I　am　not　fine；　I　am　not　honest。　I　am　a　charlatan　and　a
cheat；　I　am　all　that　woman　called　me。　And　that　is　why　you　can't
know　me。　That's　why。　I　told　you；　if　you　did；　you　would　be
sorry。〃

〃I　am　not　sorry；〃　said　Winthrop。

〃You　will　be；〃　returned　the　girl；　〃before　the　night　is　over。〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　answered　the　man　quietly；　〃I　shall　wait　here
to　congratulate　you　　on　your　failure。〃

〃I　shall　not　fail；〃　said　the　girl。　Avoiding　his　eyes；　she　turned
from　him　and；　for　a　moment；　stood　gazing　before　her　miserably。
Her　lips　were　trembling；　her　eyes　moist　with　rising　tears。　Then
she　faced　him；　her　head　raised　defiantly。

〃I　have　been　hounded　out　of　every　decent　way　of　living；〃　she
protested　hysterically。　〃I　can　make　thousands　of　dollars
tonight；〃　she　cried；　〃out　of　this　one。〃

Winthrop　looked　straight　into　her　eyes。　His　own　were　pleading；
full　of　tenderness　and　pity；　so　eloquent　with　meaning　that　those
of　the　girl　fell　before　them。

〃That　is　no　answer；〃　said　the　man。　〃You　know　it's　not。　I　tell
you　　you　will　fail。〃

From　the　hall　Judge　Gaylor　entered　noisily。　Instinctively　the
man　and　girl　moved　nearer　together；　and　upon　the　intruder
Winthrop　turned　angrily。

〃Well？〃　he　demanded　sharply。　〃I　thought　you　had　finished　your
talk；〃　protested　the　Judge。　〃Mr。　Hallowell　is　anxious　to　begin。〃

Winthrop　turned　and　looked　at　Vera　steadily。　For　an　instant　the
eyes　of　the　girl　faltered；　and　then　she　returned　his　glance　with
one　as　resolute　as　his　own。　As　though　accepting　her　verdict　as
final；　Winthrop　walked　quickly　to　the　door。　〃I　shall　be
downstairs；〃　he　said；　〃when　this　is　over；　let　me　know。〃

Gaylor　struggled　to　conceal　his　surprise　and　satisfaction。　〃You
won't　be　here　for　the　seance？〃　he　exclaimed。

〃Certainly　not；〃　cried　Winthrop。　〃I　　〃　He　broke　off　suddenly。
Without　again　looking　toward　Vera；　or　trying　to　hide　his
displeasure；　he　left　the　room。

Gaylor　turned　to　the　girl。　He　was　smiling　with　relief。

〃Excellent！〃　he　muttered。　〃Excellent！　What　was　he　saying　to
you；：〃　he　asked　eagerly；　〃as　I　came　in　　that　you　would　fail？〃

The　girl　moved　past　him　to　the　door。　〃Yes；〃　she　answered　dully。

〃But　you　will　not！〃　cried　the　man。　〃We're　all　counting　on　you；
you　know。　Destroy　the　old　will。　Sign　the　new　will；〃　he　quoted。
He　came　close　to　her　and　whispered。　〃That　means　thousands　of
dollars　to　you　and　Vance；〃　he　urged。

The　girl　turned　and　regarded　him　with　unhappy；　angry　eyes。

〃You　need　not　be　frightened；：〃　she　answered。　For　the　man　before
her　and　for　herself；　her　voice　was　bitter　with　contempt　and
self…　accusation。　〃Mr。　Winthrop　is　mistaken。　He　does　not　know
me；〃　she　said　miserably。　〃I　shall　not　fail。〃

For　a　moment；　after　she　had　left　him；　Gaylor　stood　motionless；
his　eyes　filled　with　concern；　and　then；　with　a　shrug；　as　though
accepting　either　good　or　evil　fortune；　he　called　from　the
bedroom　Mr。　Hallowell；　and；　from　the　floor　below；　the　guests　of
Hallowell　and　of　Vance。

As　Hallowell；　supported　by　Rainey；　sank　into　the　invalid's　chair
in　the　centre　of　the　semicircle；　Gaylor　made　his　final　appeal。

〃Stephen；〃　he　begged；　〃are　you　sure　you're　feeling　strong
enough？　Won't　some　other　night　　〃　The　old　man　interrupted　him
querulously。

〃No；　now！〃　I　want　it　over；〃　he　commanded。　〃Who　knows；〃　he
complained；　〃how　soon　it　may　be　before　　〃

The　sight　of　Mannie　entering　the　room　with　Vance　caused　him　to
interrupt　himself　abruptly。　He　greeted　the　showman　with　a　curt
nod。

〃And　who　is　this？〃　he　demanded。　Mannie；　to　whom　a　living
millionaire　was　much　more　of　a　disturbing　spectacle　than　the
ghost　of　Alexander　the　Great；　retreated　hastily　behind　Vance。

〃He　is　my　assistant；〃　Vance　explained。　〃He　furnishes　the　music。〃
He　pushed　Mannie　toward　the　organ。

〃Music！〃　growled　Hallowell。　〃Must　there　be　music？〃

〃It　is　indispensable；〃　protested　Vance。　〃Music；　sir；　is　one　of
the　strongest　psychic　influences。　It〃

〃Nonsense！〃　cried　Hallowell。

〃Tricks；〃　he　muttered；　〃tricks！〃

Vance　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　smiled　in　deprecation。　〃I　am
sorry　to　find　you　in　a　skeptical　mood；　Mr。　Hallowell；〃　he
murmured　reprovingly　〃It　will　hardly　help　to　produce　good
results。　Allow　me；〃　he　begged；　〃to　present　two　true　believers。〃

With　a　wave　of　the　hand　he　beckoned　forward　a　stout；　gray…haired
woman　with　bulging；　near…　sighted　eyes　that　rolled　meaninglessly
behind　heavy　gold　spectacles。

〃Mrs。　Marsh　of　Lynn；　Massachusetts；〃　proclaimed　Vance；　〃of　whom
you　have　heard。　Mrs。　Marsh；〃　he　added；　〃is　probably　the　first
medium　in　America。　The　results　she　has　obtained　are　quite
wonderful。　She　alone　foretold　the　San　Francisco　earthquake；　and
the　run　on　the　Long　Acre　Square　Bank。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　know　you；〃　said　Mr。　Hallowell。　〃Pardon　my　not
rising。〃

The　old　lady　curtsied　obsequiously。

〃Oh；　certainly；　Mr。　Hallowell；〃　she　protested。　〃Mr。　Hallowell；〃
she　went　on；　rolling　the　name　delightedly　on　her　tongue；　〃I　need
not　tell　you　how　greatly　we　spiritualists　rejoice　over　your
joining　the　ranks　of　the　believers。〃

Hallowell　nodded。　He　was　not　altogether　unimpressed。　〃Thanks；〃
he　commented　dryly。　〃But　I　am　not　quite　there　yet；　madam。〃

〃We　hope；〃　said　Vance　sententiously；　〃to　convince　Mr。　Hallowell
tonight。〃

〃And　I　am　sure；　Mr。　Hallowell；〃　cried　the　old　lady；　〃if　any　one
can　do　it；　little　Miss　Vera　can。　Hers　is　a　wonderful　gift；　sir；
a　wonderful　gift！〃

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　you　say　so；〃　returned　Hallowell。

He　nodded　to　her　in　dismissal；　and　turned　to　the　next　visitor。
〃And　this　gentleman？〃　he　asked。

〃Professor　Strombergk；〃　announced　Vance；　〃the　distinguished
writer　on　psychic　and　occult　subjects；　editor　of　The　World
Beyond。〃

A　tall；　full…bearded　German；　in　a　too…short　frock　coat；　bowed
awkwardly。　Upon　him；　as　upon　Mannie；　had　fallen　the　spell　of　the
Hallowell　fortune。　He；　who　chatted　familiarly　with　departed
popes　and　emperors；　who　daily　was　in　communication　with　Goethe；
Caesar；　and　Epictetus；　thrilled　with　embarrassment　before　the
man　who　had　made　millions　from　a　coupling　pin。

〃And　Helen！〃　Mr。　Hallowell　cried；　as　Miss　Coates　followed　the
Professor。　〃That　is　all；　is　it　not？〃　he　asked。

Miss　Coates　moved　aside　to　disclose　the　person　of　the　reporter
from　the　Republic；　Homer　Lee。

〃I　have　taken　you　at　your　word；　uncle；〃　she　said。；　〃and　have
brought　a　friend　with　me。〃　In　some　trepidation　she　added；　〃He　is
Mr。　Lee；　a　reporter　from　the　Republic。〃

〃A　reporter！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Hallowell。　Disturbed　and　yet　amused
at　the　audacity　of　his　niece；　he　shook　his　head　reprovingly。　〃I
don't　think　I　meant　reporters；〃　he　remonstrated。

〃You　said　in　your　note；〃　returned　his　niece；　〃that　as　I　had　so
much　at　stake；　I　could　bring　any　one　I　pleased；　and　the　less　he
believed　in　spiritualism；　the　better。　Mr。　Lee；〃　she　added　dryly；
〃believes　even　less　than　I　do。〃

〃Then　it　will　be　all　the　more　of　a　triumph；　if　we　convince　him；〃
declared　Hallowell。　〃Understand；　young　man；〃　he　proclaimed
loudly；　〃I　am　not　a　spiritualist。　I　am　merely　conducting　an
investigation。　I　want　the　truth。　If　you；　or　my　niece；　detect　any
fraud　tonight；　I　want　to　know　it。〃　Including　in　his　speech　the
others　in　the　room；　he　glared　suspiciously　in　turn　at　each。
〃Keep　your　eyes　open；〃　he　ordered；　〃you　will　be　serving　me　quite
as　much　as　you　will　Miss　Coates。〃

Miss　Coates　and　Lee　thanked　him　and；　recognizing　themselves　as
the　opposition　and　in　the　minority；　withdrew　for　consultation
into　a　corner　of　the　bay　window。

Vance　approached　Mr。　Hallowell。

〃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？〃