Part 15 (1/2)

”No, not sure--but attack by----”

The voice grew fainter and more incoherent, and in a moment the medium sat up straight and shook her head.

”He was troubled,” she said, ”I could see him though you couldn't, and he was sad and worried.”

”What about?” asked Shelby, abruptly.

”I'm not sure, but I think because he didn't want to tell the awful details of his death.”

”What were they? Could you see them?”

”Yes,” she pushed her loose hair back from her brow, as if exhausted.

”Yes, I saw it like a picture, but like a clouded, indistinct picture.

The poor chap was fighting a wild beast! Oh, it was fearful!” she shut her eyes and shook her head violently. ”That's the worst of it, I see too clearly.”

”Tell us more, then,” begged Shelby. ”How did Peter look?”

”Glorious, transfigured! His face was s.h.i.+ning and his eyes sparkling.”

”H'm--queer to look like that when he was so worried.”

”Oh, that was before the anxious look came. It is, I fear, difficult for you to understand the conditions. The discarnate spirit has a sort of secondary personality, not unlike a hypnotic state, and sometimes this is jarred by any untoward influence and develops into a delirium, and the statements cannot then be relied on. A novice always expects a clear, definite style of speech from a spirit communicating through a medium. This is not always the case. And the medium must merely take what comes and repeat it without change or addition. If, therefore, you are disappointed, I cannot help it. Surely you would not wish me to embroider the messages I receive.”

”Surely not,” returned Shelby, ”indeed, I think it wonderful that you succeeded in getting as much coherence and information as you did. It is something to know that Peter was attacked by a wild beast, for, horrible as is the news, it does explain why he couldn't proceed on the journey.”

”Yes,” agreed Mr. Crane. ”And I am so avid for word from my boy, that even if the messages are disturbing and harrowing, I want them all. I have always told Madame Parlato not to spare me. I prefer to know the worst. For my boy is happy now. We have had several sittings; my wife has attended some, and they are always comforting because of Peter's a.s.sertions that he is now happy and contented.”

At Shelby's urgent request, the medium endeavored to induce Peter's spirit to return for a further word.

Her success was only partial, but they did hear a message to Shelby direct.

”Persevere, Kit,” Peter said, ”you're doing right in that matter. Go ahead, Kit.”

”Your voice sounds queer, Peter,” Shelby said, frowning a little. ”It used to be pitched in a higher key.”

”It's the medium,” came a reply, and the pitch was higher. ”I don't mean the human medium, but the medium through which I must talk--the ether, I suppose it is. Good-by, Kit.”

Madame Parlato then came out of her trance, or whatever term she used to designate her half-conscious state.

”The session is over,” she said, pleasantly. ”I fear, Mr. Crane, you did not get your usual degree of satisfaction from it, but that was because of a third party here. I don't think Mr. Shelby's antagonistic exactly, but he's--well, uncertain whether to believe what he hears or not.”

”That's quite true, Madame,” said Shelby, with due respect, ”but you are doubtless accustomed to people in my frame of mind.”

”Oh, yes,” and the lady smiled a little, ”but I trust, Mr. Shelby, you will come some time by yourself and let me see what I can do to help you make up your mind.”

”I shall be glad to do that. You have a strange power, at any rate.”