s pocket.

"You know how fond you are of fire-works!" retorted Godfrey, smiling,
and started for the door.

"I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about," said Hinman,
"but I'm as curious as an old woman,--and I like fire-works, too!"

"Come along, then," laughed Godfrey, and led the way up the stairs.
"This time we'll go as quietly as we can!" he added, over his
shoulder.

In the entry at the top of the stairs leading to the attic story was a
heavy closed door, and Godfrey looked at it with a smile.

"Do you suppose those two German servants have slept on through all
this excitement?" he asked; and we found afterwards that they had!

The flare of Godfrey's torch disclosed a third flight of stairs at the
end of the entry, and, when we reached the foot of these and looked
up, we found ourselves gazing at the stars.

"Ah!" said Godfrey; "I thought so! The stage was set, ready for the
curtain, and then the leading lady failed to appear. So the villain
went in search of her, found her with the glove in her hand, and
started to suppress her, when our timely arrival interrupted him!
Gentlemen, I think I can promise you a most interesting demonstration.
What did Miss Vaughan call it, Lester?"

"An astral benediction," I said.

"That's it!" said Godfrey, and led the way up the steps.

There was a wide, hinged trap-door at the top, lying open, and we
stepped through it out upon the roof. Here had been built a platform
about eight feet square, with a low railing around it. I saw Godfrey's
torch playing rapidly over the boards of the platform, then he
marshalled us in the middle of it.

"Stand here in a row," he said, "facing the west. Extend your arms to
the heavens and concentrate your gaze upon that big star up yonder.
Go ahead, doctor," he urged, as Hinman hesitated. "We're trying to
persuade an astral visitor to pay us a call, and it takes team-work."

We stood silent a moment, with our arms above our heads, and I could
hear Godfrey shifting his feet cautiously along the boards of the
floor.

"What's that!" cried Simmonds, for, from the darkness at our feet, had
come a soft whirr as of a bird taking flight.

"Look!" cried Hinman. "Look!"

High above our heads a point of flame appeared, brightened and burned
steel-blue. For a moment it hung there, then it grew brighter and
brighter, and I knew that it was descending. Lower and lower it came,
until it hovered in the air just above us; then it burst