.

And as he came down the steps of the Parlato residence, a small, dark
girl, who was walking by, quickly scuttled around a corner, and out of
his line of vision.

"I knew it!" Zizi said to herself, exultantly, "he's in cahoots with the
spook woman! He's been there to give her things to materialize and soon
I'll hear of them! He came to the house and stole something which she
will use to fool poor old Mr. Crane. You'll see!"

Zizi talked enthusiastically to herself, resolving to learn more of this
attractive young man's identity.

"Clever, wasn't he?" she asked of herself, "to send that reporter around
first,--probably he stole a key to the house,--oh, it's a whole big
organization, I suppose, and they cover their tracks so completely
they're not even suspected."

Acting on an impulse, she turned and went back to the house of the
medium. By strategy, she succeeded in getting an interview, although she
had no appointment.

"I have come to warn you," she said, without preamble, looking into the
woman's eyes, "I am a detective, and I am onto your game. I know that
man who just left here, he is your tool, your accomplice. Also, I know
that he stole some things from the Crane house that you intend to use in
your so-called materializations. Now, I warn you that if you do that, I
shall see to it that your deceit is shown up, your fraud exposed!"

"My Lord," cried the puzzled Madame, "who are you? Why do you think that
man is my accomplice? It is not so! I never laid eyes on him until this
morning!"

"That is not true," Zizi said, sure of her ground, and wondering why the
medium looked so unfeignedly puzzled. "He works for you----"

"He does not! He is a client. Now you leave, or I'll have you put out."

"I am going to leave," and Zizi rose, "but you remember what I said. If
you show up any more materialized belongings of Mr. Crane's dead son,
I'll have you exposed and arrested!"

It is doubtful which of the two was more perplexed by this conversation.

Zizi, with her quick reading of human nature, saw that Madame Parlato
was truly surprised at the girl's accusation of an accomplice,
therefore, she decided, he could not be an accomplice, after all. And if
not, what was he, and what was he doing at the medium's house?

That he was a client, she did not believe, for had she not seen him,
rummaging in the Crane library and in that table drawer? It was all most
mysterious and Zizi determined to stick to this new mys