laimed Hallowell, sinking back in his
chair, "because I hoped you would tell me something I can't learn from
the newspapers. But you haven't been able to do it yet. My dear young
lady," exclaimed the old man wistfully, "I want to believe, but I must
be convinced. No tricks with me! I can explain how you might have found
out everything you have told me. Give me a sign!" He beat the flat of
his hand upon the table. "Show me something I can't explain!"

"Mr. Hallowell is quite right, Vera," said Vance. "He is entering what
is to him a new world, full of mysteries, and that caution which in this
world has made him so successful--"

With an exclamation, Hallowell cut short the patter of the showman.

"Yes, yes," he interrupted petulantly; "I tell you, I want to believe.
Convince me."

Considering the situation with pursed lips and thoughtful eyes, Vera
gazed at the old man, frowning. Finally she asked, "Have you witnessed
out demonstrations of mind reading?"

Mr. Hallowell snorted. "Certainly not," he replied; "it's a trick!"

"A trick!" cried the girl indignantly, "to read a man's mind--to see
right through your forehead, through your skull, into your brain? Is
that a trick?" She turned sharply to Vance. "Show him!" she commanded;
"show him!" She crossed rapidly to the window and stood looking down
into the street, with her back to the room.

Vance, with his back turned to Vera, stood close to the table, on the
other side of which Hallowell was reclining in his arm chair. Vance
picked up a pen holder.

"Think of what I have in my hand, please," he said. "What is this,
Vera?" he asked. The girl, gazing from the window at the 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. "Pu