ismissal, 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?"

"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 t