as sure as
my mother is in Heaven and her spirit is guiding me, that money will be
given me."

In the pause that followed, a swift and singular change came over the
face of Mr. Hallowell. He stared at his niece as though fascinated.
His lower lip dropped in awe. The look of hostility gave way to one of
intense interest. His voice was hardly louder than a whisper.

"What do you mean?" he demanded.

The girl looked at him, uncomprehending. "What do I mean?" she repeated.

"When you said," he stammered eagerly, "that the spirit of your mother
was guiding you, what did you mean?"

In the doorway, Rainey and the butler started. Each threw the other a
quick glance of concern.

"Why," exclaimed the girl impatiently, "her influence, her example, what
she taught me."

"Oh!" exclaimed the old man. He leaned back with an air almost of
disappointment.

"When she was alive?" he said.

"Of course," answered the girl.

"Of course," repeated the uncle. "I thought you meant--" He looked
suspiciously at her and shook his head. "Never mind," he added. "Well,"
he went on cynically, striving to cover up the embarrassment of the
moment, "your mother's spirit will probably feel as deep an interest in
her brother as in her daughter. We shall see, we shall see which of us
two she is going to help." He turned to Garrett and Rainey in the hall.
"Take my niece to the door, Garrett," he directed.

As soon as Miss Coates had disappeared, Hallowell turned to Rainey, his
face lit with pleased and childish anticipation.

"Well," he whispered eagerly, "is she here?"

Rainey nodded and glanced in the direction opposite to the one Miss
Coates had taken. "She's been waiting half an hour. And the Professor
too."

"Bring them at once," commanded Mr. Hallowell excitedly. "And then shut
the door--and--and tell the Judge I can't see him--tell him I'm too
tired to see him. Understand?"

Rainey peered cautiously over the railing of the stairs to the first
floor, and then beckoned to some one who apparently was waiting at the
end of the hall.

"Miss Vera, sir," he announced, "and Professor Vance."

Although but lately established in New York, the persons Dr. Rainey
introduced had already made themselves comparatively well-known. For the
last six weeks as "headliners" at one of the vaudeville theatres, and
as entertainers at private houses, under the firm name of "The Vances,"
they had been giving an exhibition of code and cipher signaling. T