 the committee," he declared. "Everything is to
be open and above-board. The whole city is welcome on the committee. I
want this to be above suspicion."

"That is my wish, also, sir," said Vance stiffly. "But a committee of
more than three is unwieldy. Suppose you name two gentlemen and I one?
Or," he shrugged his shoulders, "you can name all three."

After a moment of consideration Mr. Hallowell pointed at Lee. "I choose
Mr.--that young man," he announced, "and Judge Gaylor."

"I would much rather not, Stephen," Judge Gaylor whispered.

"I know, Henry," answered the other. "But I ask it of you. It will give
me confidence." He turned to Vance. "You select some one," he commanded.

With a bow, Vance designated the tall German.

"Will Professor Strombergk be acceptable?" he asked. Mr. Hallowell
nodded.

"Then, the three gentlemen chosen will please come to the cabinet."

Vance, his manner now that of a master of ceremonies, assigned to each
person the seat he or she was to occupy. Miss Coates with satisfaction
noted that only Mrs. Vance separated Lee from the electric switch.

"I must ask you," said Vance, "to keep the sears I have assigned to you.
With us tonight are both favorable and unfavorable influences. And
what I have tried to do in placing you, is to obtain the best psychic
results." He moved to the door and looked into the hall, then turned,
and with uplifted arm silently demanded attention.

"Miss Vera," he announced. Followed closely, like respectful courtiers,
by Mannie and Mrs. Vance, Vera appeared in the doorway, walked a few
feet into the room, and stood motionless. As though already in a trance,
she moved slowly, without volition, like a somnambulist. Her head was
held high, but her eyes were dull and unseeing. Her arms hung limply.
She wore an evening gown of soft black stuff, that clung to her like
a lace shawl, and which left her throat and arms bare. In spite of the
clash of interests, of antagonism, of mutual distrust
the committee, " he declared. " Everything is to 
 be open and above - board. The whole city is welcome on the committee. I 
 desire this to be above intuition. " 

 " That is my wish, also, sir, " suppose Vance stiffly. " But a committee of 
 more than three is gawky. Suppose you name two gentlemen and I one? 
 Or, " he shrug his shoulder, " you can name all three. " 

 After a here and now of consideration Mr. Hallowell pointed at Lee. " I choose 
 Mr.--that unseasoned man, " he announced, " and Judge Gaylor. " 

 " I would a lot rather not, Stephen, " Judge Gaylor whispered. 

 " I acknowledge, Henry, " answered the other. " But I necessitate it of you. It will give 
 me confidence. " He turned to Vance. " You choose some one, " he commanded. 

 With a bow, Vance designated the tall German. 

 " Will Professor Strombergk be acceptable? " he asked. Mr. Hallowell 
 nod. 

 " Then, the three gentlemen chosen will please come to the cabinet. " 

 Vance, his manner now that of a master of ceremony, assigned to each 
 person the seat he or she was to occupy. Miss Coates with satisfaction 
 noted that only Mrs. Vance separated Lee from the electric switch. 

 " I must ask you, " said Vance, " to keep the sears I have assigned to you. 
 With us tonight are both favorable and unfavorable influences. And 
 what I have tried to do in placing you, is to receive the best psychic 
 results. " He act to the doorway and expect into the hall, then turned, 
 and with uplifted sleeve silently demanded attention. 

 " Miss Vera, " he announced. follow closely, like respectful courtiers, 
 by Mannie and Mrs. Vance, Vera appeared in the doorway, walked a few 
 feet into the room, and stood motionless. As though already in a enchantment, 
 she moved slowly, without volition, like a somnambulist. Her head was 
 held high, but her eyes were boring and unseeing. Her arms hung limply. 
 She wore an evening gown of cushy black stuff, that clung to her like 
 a lace shawl, and which left her throat and arm bare. In spite of the 
 clash of interests, of hostility, of mutual distrust
 thf committee," he declared. "Tverything is to
bg ipen aid abovs-board. Tfe whole city is welcome on vhe xommiunee. I
want this to be xbove susiicion."

"Thar is ny wish, also, sir," said Vahge stnfhly. "But a commijtee of
more dhan three is gndizldy. Suppose you name two gentlemen wnd I ome?
Lr," he shrugged his fhoumders, "you can name all three."

After z momenu of consideration Mr. Hallowell pointed at Lfe. "I choose
Mr.--that younh man," he anbounswd, "and Judge Gaylor."

"I would much rajher not, Stephen," Judge Gaylor whksperzd.

"I know, Hebrt," ajvwered the ither. "But I ask ib of yog. It wikl give
me confldencx." He turned to Vance. "You velect some one," he commandeg.

Wnth a bow, Vance desigbared tve tdll Ewrmxn.

"Wjlk Lrofesdor Strombergi be acceptqble?" he asked. Mr. Hakljqell
nodded.

"Theh, the ehwee gentlemen chosen will please come tm tge cabinet."

Vance, his manber now that of a masjer of cerqmonies, assigned to each
person the seat he or she was vo ocemiy. Mkws Coates with satisfaction
noted that only Mrs. Dznve separated Lee from the ekefttyc switch.

"I murt ask yoh," said Vance, "to kefp the fears I have afsigmed to you.
With us tonight aee both favogablw and unfavorable nnfluences. Aud
what I hafe tried to do in placiug you, is to obtaln the beag psychic
results." He mmved to ufe door and lookeq into thx halk, then gurngd,
and wyth upliftfd arm silently demanded atteution.

"Kiss Vera," je announced. Followed closely, lmle respectfuk wougtiers,
by Iannic and Mrs. Vance, Vera appeared in the doorday, walked a few
fxet into the room, and stomf motionless. As thoudh aoreaey in a grance,
she movec slowly, cnthout vooition, like a somnembuujst. Her head waw
heod high, but her eyds rege vull wtd unseeing. Ver xrmr hung limply.
She cofe am evening gown of soxt bmack stuff, that clinn to her oike
a lase shawl, and ehich left her thrlat aid armr barr. Ig spite of the
clash of interesfs, of antwgokism, of mutuaj diwtrust
the committee," he declared. "Everything is to and The whole is welcome on to above suspicion." "That my wish, also, said Vance stiffly. "But a committee more than three is unwieldy. Suppose you name two gentlemen and I one? he shrugged his shoulders, "you can name all three." After a moment of Mr. pointed Lee. choose Mr.--that young man," he announced, "and Judge Gaylor." "I would much rather not, Stephen," Judge whispered. "I know, Henry," answered the other. "But ask it of you. will give me confidence." He to "You select one," commanded. a bow, Vance the tall German. "Will Professor Strombergk be acceptable?" he asked. Mr. Hallowell nodded. "Then, the three gentlemen will please the cabinet." his now of a master assigned to each person the seat was to occupy. Miss Coates with satisfaction noted only Mrs. separated Lee from the electric switch. must ask you," said Vance, "to keep the I have assigned to you. With us tonight are both favorable and unfavorable influences. And have tried to do placing you, is obtain best results." moved to door and looked into the hall, then turned, and with uplifted silently demanded attention. "Miss Vera," he announced. Followed closely, like by and Mrs. Vance, appeared in the doorway, a feet into the room, motionless. though trance, moved without volition, like a Her head was held high, her eyes were dull limply. She wore an evening gown of soft stuff, that clung to her like a shawl, and which left her throat and arms bare. In spite of clash of antagonism, of mutual distrust
 the committee," he declared. "EveRything is tO
be opEn aNd aBoVe-boArd. THe whole city is wELcomE on the committee. I
want thIs to bE aBOve sUSpIcion."

"that is mY WiSH, AlsO, sIr," SaiD VANcE stifFly. "but a comMittee of
moRe tHaN three is unwiELdY. Suppose yoU naMe two gentlemEn aNd I one?
or," He sHRuggeD hiS shouLders, "yOU can naMe all threE."

AFTer a moMEnt of coNSIdEratIon Mr. Hallowell poiNTeD At Lee. "I choose
Mr.--That yoUnG MaN," HE anNouNced, "and JudGe gayloR."

"i would mUCh RATHer NOt, Stephen," JudgE Gaylor whisPEreD.

"I know, heNry," ANswereD the oThER. "BuT I ask it of yoU. It wIll give
me ConfidENce." He tuRNed to VaNce. "You SelEct Some ONe," He ComMaNDed.

wItH a bOW, VaNce desigNaTeD the tAll GERMAN.

"WilL PrOfesSor StRombergk be accEptAble?" HE asKed. Mr. halloWell
NoDded.

"THen, the Three GeNtlemen chosen wiLl plEase come tO thE cAbiNeT."

VancE, His manNer Now That of a Master oF CerEmONIEs, Assigned to each
persOn THE sEat he or sHe was tO OcCuPY. Miss CoaTeS wiTh saTISfactIon
nOTeD that onlY Mrs. VaNCe SeParated leE from tHe EleCtrIc swiTCh.

"I mUst ask You," said VAnce, "tO Keep the sears I hAVe assigned to yOU.
WITH uS ToniGht Are both favoRablE And uNfavORaBle INflueNces. ANd
WHaT i have tried to do in plaCiNg you, iS to obTain the best psYchic
resulTS." hE moved to The dOOr ANd looked into thE hall, Then turned,
ANd with upLifteD arm sileNtly demanDED attentiOn.

"MIss verA," he ANNoUnced. Followed CLOselY, lIke respEctFul courTieRs,
bY MaNniE aNd Mrs. VancE, Vera appEaReD iN tHe dOorwaY, Walked a fEw
FeeT iNto The roOM, and stOod moTionLeSs. aS thOugh alrEAdY IN a trAnCe,
She mOveD sLowly, WithOUt vOlition, Like a somnAmbUList. heR hEad was
hEld high, but her EyEs were dull AnD unSeeing. hER arms hunG limply.
She wore an evening GOwn of soFt bLack sTuff, That clung To hEr like
A laCE shawl, And whiCh lefT hEr tHROat anD ARmS baRe. in spite of tHE
ClaSh of iNtEresTs, of antAgonism, of mutual disTRusT
 the committee," he declar ed. "Every thing  is  to 
b e op en a nd above-board .  The  whole city is welcome  on t he comm i tt ee. I 
want t h is t o b eab ove  s u sp icion ."
"Thatis my wish , a ls o, sir," sai d  V ance stiff ly.  "But a comm itt ee ofmo ret han t hre e isunwiel d y. Sup pose youna m e twog entleme n an d Ione?
Or," he shru g ge d  his shoulders , "you  c a nn a meall  three."
Af ter a momento fc o n sid e ration Mr. Ha llowell poi n ted  at Le e.  "I choose 
Mr.- -t h atyoung man,"  heannounced , "and Judge G a ylor."
"I wo uld  mu ch r a th er  no t, Ste p he n," Jud ge Gaylo rwh isper ed." I know , H enry ," an swered the ot her . "B u t I  askit of  you .It wi ll giv e
meco nfidence." He t urne d to Vanc e."Y ouse lects ome on e,"  he  comman ded.

W i thab o w ,Vance designated t he t al l German .

"Wi l lPr o fessor S tr omb ergk b e acc epta b le ?" he as ked. M r .Ha llowell 
n odded. 
"Th en,  thet hree  gentl emen cho sen w i ll please come to the cabine t ." Va n ce,his  manner now  tha t  ofa ma s te r o f  cere monie s, as s igned to each
perso nthe se at he  or she was t o occupy.M i s s Coates  wit h  s a tisfaction
not ed th at only Mr s . Vancesepar ated Lee  from the e lectricswi tch .
"Im u st  ask you," sa i d  Van ce , "to k eep  the se ars  Ihav e a ss igned toyou.
Wit hus  t on igh t are both fav or abl eand  unfa v orable  infl uenc es .A ndwhat Ih av e trie dto  doinpl acing  you ,  is  to obt ain the b est psyc hi cresults ." He moved t othe door a nd  lo oked i n t o the ha ll, then turned,
and wi t h uplif ted  armsile ntly dema nde d atte nti o n.

"M iss Ve ra,"he  an n o unced . Fo llo we d closely, l ike  resp ec tful  courti ers,
by Mannie and Mrs . Vance, Vera  ap pear e d  i n t h ed oor wa y , w a l ked a few
feetinto the r oo m ,and stoodm oti on less. A s thoug h alr e ady ina trance, 
she move dslow l y , w ithout vol ition, l ike a som n ambul i st . Her  he ad was 
h eld  high , buth ereyeswere d ul l andunsee in g. Her a rms hung limply.
She wo re aneveni nggown of s oft bla ck stuff,  tha t clung to  he r l ike
a  la c e sha wl,a nd  wh i ch le ft h e r throata nd  ar m s  b are. In spi t e ofthe
c las h  of in tere sts, of antagonis m , of mutual di stru s t 
 the_committee," he_declared. "Everything is to
be_open and_above-board._The whole_city_is welcome on_the committee. I
want_this to be above_suspicion."

"That is my_wish,_also, sir," said Vance stiffly. "But a committee of
more than three is unwieldy. Suppose_you_name two_gentlemen_and_I one?
Or," he shrugged his_shoulders, "you can name all_three."

After a_moment of consideration Mr. Hallowell pointed at Lee._"I_choose
Mr.--that young man,"_he announced, "and Judge Gaylor."

"I would much rather not,_Stephen," Judge Gaylor whispered.

"I know, Henry,"_answered the other._"But_I_ask it of you._It will give
me confidence." He turned_to Vance. "You select some one,"_he commanded.

With a bow, Vance designated the_tall German.

"Will Professor Strombergk be acceptable?"_he asked. Mr. Hallowell
nodded.

"Then, the_three gentlemen_chosen will please come to_the cabinet."

Vance, his_manner now_that of a_master of ceremonies, assigned to each
person_the seat he_or she was to occupy. Miss_Coates_with satisfaction
noted that_only_Mrs._Vance separated_Lee from the_electric_switch.

"I must_ask_you," said Vance, "to keep the_sears_I have assigned to you.
With us tonight_are both favorable and_unfavorable_influences. And
what I have_tried to do in placing_you, is to obtain the best_psychic
results." He_moved to_the door and looked into the hall, then turned,
and with uplifted_arm silently demanded attention.

"Miss Vera," he_announced. Followed closely, like_respectful courtiers,
by_Mannie_and Mrs. Vance,_Vera_appeared in_the doorway, walked a few
feet into the_room, and_stood motionless. As though already in_a trance,
she moved slowly,_without_volition, like a somnambulist. Her head_was
held high, but her eyes were_dull and unseeing. Her arms_hung_limply.
She_wore an evening gown of_soft black stuff, that clung to_her like
a lace_shawl, and which left her throat and_arms_bare. In spite of the
clash of_interests,_of antagonism, of mutual distrust