nd have you go with me."

"Father, I can't stand this!" Julie's eyes were blazing. "Please drop
the subject--at least, for the present."

"There, there, my daughter, don't lose your temper. If you don't want to
hear about this, you may be excused." He smiled at her lovingly but with
a decided intention.

"You're all interested, are you not?" he went on, turning to the various
attentive faces, and receiving nods and words of assent.

"Then I'll go on," and he glanced at Julie, who sat still, controlling
her expression of face but with tumult in her heart.

"Take it easy," Shelby whispered to her, "you'd better hear it, you
know, whatever it's all about."

"The lady," Crane said, "is a medium, well recommended by members of the
Society for Psychical Research, and by individuals who have been her
clients."

"What sort of recommendations does she offer?" asked an interested
voice, "letters?"

The speaker was McClellan Thorpe, a friend of Blair's, who shared a
studio with him.

Thorpe was frankly skeptical, but by no means controversial. He asked
his question in an honest desire to know of the credentials.

"Yes," returned Crane, "letters from many well-known Spiritists,
Psychics, Scientists and plain citizens, who are enthusiastic and
sincere in their praise of this lady."

"What's her name?" asked Mrs. Crane, who, it was plain to be seen,
fairly hung upon her husband's words.

"Madame Parlato," returned Crane. "She is no fraud, no charlatan, but a
refined, gracious lady, whose sympathies are as wonderful as her occult
gifts."

Carlotta Harper, who sat by Thorpe, was absorbed in the tale, and her
large dark eyes glowed, with intense interest as she listened.

"Tell us just what happened," she said, and Julie gave her a look of
mingled scorn and apprehension.

"I will," Crane's deep voice went on. "The lady, you understand, knew
nothing of me or of Peter. I was careful about this, for I know there
are unscrupulous mediums, and I wanted to feel sure of this one's
honesty."

"How do you know she'd never heard of you?" asked Thorpe. He had a
manner of speaking that was definite without being annoying. Apparently
he was curious, and not, necessarily, incredulous.

"How could she?" returned Crane, "we have no mutual friends. I heard of
her through a comparative stranger, and I went to her at once. Don't be
carping, Thorpe, just wait till you hear my story. Well, she greeted me
pleasantly, and with a most co