"Well, I don’t know." Mr. Payson shook his head and seated himself. "It’s all very strange and mysterious. But I’m only an investigator, and what I want is the truth, no matter what it may be." "That’s the right frame o’ mind to come in," said Vixley; "you treat me right and I’ll treat you right. Have a cigar?" He took one from his pocket and put it unlighted into his mouth, offering another to Mr. Payson. "No, thanks, I don’t smoke." "Well, if you don’t mind, I will. It’s a bad habit, I’m told, but it sorts o’ helps me when I’m nervous." Mr. Payson placed the tips of his fingers together, palm to palm, and gestured with them. "Now, Professor Vixley, seeing that I know nothing about you, would you mind letting me see what you can do first in the way of a test, before we go to the main object of my visit?" "Why, certainly, though I can’t promise to do anything conclusive the first time. I want you to feel at liberty to try me in any way you wish." "Well, I’ve got three questions I’d like to have you answer. I happen to know that you couldn’t possibly know what they are. If you can answer them, I’ll be satisfied that you can help me." "I’ll try," said Vixley modestly. "It all depends upon my guides, and we can’t tell till we begin." He arose, walked to the mantel and brought back a small pad of paper. "Here’s what I generally use. This paper is magnetized in order to make it easier. Examine it all you please—you won’t find no carbon transfer paper nor nothin’ like that." "Why can’t I use my own paper?" "I ain’t got no more idea than you have," the medium confessed candidly. "Why can’t a photographer take a picture on common glass? I don’t know. I ain’t a photographer. All I do know is, that we can get results from this paper that my control has magnetized, when we can’t from yours. The spirits may be able to explain it—I can’t. Now you write down the name of your control and your three questions, one on each piece and fold it over twice. Then I’ll pull down the shades and see what I can do." Mr. Payson brought his hand down on the table querulously. "That’s another thing I don’t like," he said. "Why can’t spirits work in the light as well as in the dark, I’d like to know? It looks suspicious to me."