Part 27 (2/2)
”Yes,--dad,--it was.”
”Well, who? who, Peter?”
”Must I say the name?”
”Yes, boy. But only if you're sure you know. It would be a grave error otherwise.”
The medium stirred uneasily, and was silent for a time. Then, with a long drawn sigh, she resumed, ”Well, father, if I must tell you, it was Thorpe.”
”Oh, Peter, not really!”
”Yes, dad. Don't look any further,--it was Thorpe.”
The medium was silent after that. She came out of her trance state, looking a little bewildered.
”Did you get anything?” she asked, for, as she had frequently told her sitter, she herself knew nothing of what transpired while she was unconscious.
”Yes,” Crane returned, and knowing there would be no further communication that day, he went home.
He found Thorpe there, discussing the matter with Mrs. Crane and Julie.
”I don't know what to do,” Thorpe said, as Mr. Crane joined the group.
”I didn't kill Blair,--at least, I don't think I did.”
”What does that mean?” Crane asked.
”Only that if I did do it, it was unconsciously.”
”In your sleep?”
”No; but under hypnotism. I've not much belief in that sort of thing,--but,--well, you know about occult matters, might it not be possible?”
Benjamin Crane was disappointed. He had hoped for a vigorous denial on Thorpe's part, but this halfway confession seemed to him a mere quibble.
He found himself believing the man guilty and that he was using this hypnotism suggestion as a last resort to prove innocence.
”Stop it, father!” Julie cried. ”You are thinking Mac did do it, having been hypnotized by somebody! Well, he didn't! and I _know_ he didn't and I'll _prove_ it!”
”Good talk, Julie, but does it mean anything!” asked her father, giving her a look of gentle sadness.
”I'll make it mean something! That thick-witted detective doesn't know a thing! Now, I don't believe in the hypnotism theory----”
”Why, Julie,” said her mother, ”I've heard you say you believed in hypnotism!”
”Oh, yes, I do, but I mean not in this case. n.o.body hypnotized McClellan to kill Gilbert. I'm sure of that, and I wish you wouldn't repeat it, Mac. People will only laugh at you.”
”Well, what are you going to do, my child?” asked her father.
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