fashioned tragedian--a man glad
to feel the finger of remark directed towards him, but his face was
bitter, his eyes burning with anger, his lips white with pain.

Serviss relented as he studied him. "You'd better take Britt's trail
and return to the mountains," he said, kindly. "This is a bad climate
for you."

"My work is here," he replied, curtly. "I have no fear," and so they
parted.

Weissmann was sitting in silent meditation in one corner of the
dining-room when Serviss returned. "Well, master, what do you think of
to-night's performance?"

Weissmann replied, in ironical phrase: "Hearing in civilized man is
vague and indefinite. Spooks do well to limit their manifestations to
a sense which most powerfully appeals to the imagination."

Morton spoke with great earnestness. "Weissmann, that girl could not
move a limb. She positively remained where we put her. So far as I am
concerned, to-night's test eliminated her from the slightest
complicity, and I confess it rejoices me greatly; but who was
responsible for the prestidigitation?"

Weissmann replied, slowly: "It is very puzzling," and fell into a muse
which lasted for several minutes. At last he roused to say: "Well, we
will see. Next time Clarke and the mother must be eliminated."

"You don't think evil of her?" exclaimed Morton.

"She is very anxious, you know--"

Kate put in her word. "It's all very simple," she said; "the spirits
did it. You needn't tell me that Clarke or Mrs. Lambert got up and
skittered around the room doing those things. I held their hands--and
know they didn't get away. Besides, how did that glass come there? and
how could they make those voices sound so natural? What is the use of
being stupidly stubborn? If you treat Viola fairly she will confound
your science."

"You base all this on one imperfect test?"

"I don't know what you'd call a _perfect_ one. Anyhow, that child is
absolutely honest."

"I hope you are right, Kate; but there are some serious
discrepancies--even in to-night's performances. Nothing took place
which I could not do sitting in her chair with my hands free."

"But her hands weren't free! If there is any virtue in cotton fibre or
steel she remained precisely where we set her at the beginning."

"But to admit that one book was moved from its place is to admit that
a force exists unknown to science."

"But what are you going to do? Did you do it? Or did I? Did Clarke
reach from where he sat and manipula