With a wave of the hand he beckoned forward a stout, gray-haired woman with bulging, near-sighted eyes that rolled meaninglessly behind heavy gold spectacles. “Mrs. Marsh of Lynn, Massachusetts,” proclaimed Vance, “of whom you have heard. Mrs. Marsh,” he added, “is probably the first medium in America. The results she has obtained are quite wonderful. She alone foretold the San Francisco earthquake, and the run on the Long Acre Square Bank.” “I am glad to know you,” said Mr. Hallowell. “Pardon my not rising.” The old lady curtsied obsequiously. “Oh, certainly, Mr. Hallowell,” she protested. “Mr. Hallowell,” she went on, rolling the name delightedly on her tongue, “I need not tell you how greatly we spiritualists rejoice over your joining the ranks of the believers.” Hallowell nodded. He was not altogether unimpressed. “Thanks,” he commented dryly. “But I am not quite there yet, madam.” “We hope,” said Vance sententiously, “to convince Mr. Hallowell tonight.” “And I am sure, Mr. Hallowell,” cried the old lady, “if any one can do it, little Miss Vera can. Hers is a wonderful gift, sir, a wonderful gift!” “I am glad to hear you say so,” returned Hallowell. He nodded to her in dismissal, and turned to the next visitor. “And this gentleman?” he asked. “Professor Strombergk,” announced Vance, “the distinguished writer on psychic and occult subjects, editor of The World Beyond.” A tall, full-bearded German, in a too-short frock coat, bowed awkwardly. Upon him, as upon Mannie, had fallen the spell of the Hallowell fortune. He, who chatted familiarly with departed popes and emperors, who daily was in communication with Goethe, Caesar, and Epictetus, thrilled with embarrassment before the man who had made millions from a coupling pin. “And Helen!” Mr. Hallowell cried, as Miss Coates followed the Professor. “That is all, is it not?” he asked. Miss Coates moved aside to disclose the person of the reporter from the Republic, Homer Lee. “I have taken you at your word, uncle,” she said, “and have brought a friend with me.” In some trepidation she added; “He is Mr. Lee, a reporter from the Republic.” “A reporter!” exclaimed Mr. Hallowell. Disturbed and yet amused at the audacity of his niece, he shook his head reprovingly. “I don’t think I meant reporters,” he remonstrated. “You said in your note,” returned his niece, “that as I had so much at stake, I could bring any one I pleased, and the less he believed in spiritualism, the better. Mr. Lee,” she added dryly, “believes even less than I do.”