don't think we need say anything to Julie or Mac
about it. They asked for a few days to do some 'detecting' on their own
account,--but it won't amount to anything, I feel sure. So I'm going to
engage Pennington Wise,--if I can get him. I'm told he's a most
successful man, though not one of the 'wizards' or know-it-all variety."

"Very well," Mrs. Crane, as always, agreed; "but don't tell anybody.
Need you?"

"Yes, I'll tell Weston. It wouldn't be fair not to. You see, I'm in a
peculiar position. I've taken the responsibility of investigating
Blair's death, without any real authority, save that of a friend."

"Of course your reason is that Julie cares for him."

"Of course. And I do hope he can be cleared, but if not, it would better
be proved against him, and let Julie know it, and get over it."

"Yes," Mrs. Crane sighed. "Poor child, it would go hard with her."

"But she must bear it, if it's the truth. I've hopes of Wise's
discovering another criminal."

"Then what about Peter's message?"

"I don't know,--but it's possible Peter may himself be misinformed. You
know we've discovered that the disembodied spirits are not omniscient."

In the meantime Carlotta Harper was endeavoring to use her occult powers
to solve the mystery of Blair's death.

Carlotta herself was a mystery. Disavowing any especial clairvoyant
ability, she yet achieved marvelous results from the Ouija Board.

She scoffed at it herself, yet whenever her finger-tips were on the
board it spelled words rapidly and gave messages that were acclaimed as
truth by the audience.

One afternoon Shelby was with her, and he, a little timidly, suggested a
trial of the Board.

"Why, Kit, I thought you detested it," said Carly, surprised.

"I do; but you're a witch at it, and--suppose it should tell us
something about Blair,--something we don't know----"

"You think Mac did it, don't you?" Carly spoke hesitantly, for the two
had discussed the subject very little.

"I don't say so, Carly, yet where else is there to look? If you had
seen, as I did, how much at odds the two chaps were that evening I
dropped in----"

"The night of the dinner?"

"Yes, in the late afternoon. They were rowing no end! Then I went off,
but I called for them on the way to the feast,--we always go
together,--and Blair was in a regular stew. Nervous,--couldn't get his
tie right,--and all that. And--Carly,--what do you think? He asked me if
I'd drop you! Think of that! As if