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"Something terrible may have happened." Aunt Josephine had hardly left Savetsky when the trance was resumed and, in a few minutes, there came all sorts of supernatural manifestations. The table beside Elaine began to turn and articles on it dropped to the floor. Violent rappings followed in various parts of the room.
In spite of it all, she was almost about to kiss the portrait when something seemed to stay her hands. Instead she laid the picture down, with a sigh. A moment later, Jennings entered with a card on a salver. Elaine took it and saw with surprise the name of her caller: MADAME SAVETSKY, MEDIUM
Seated in her chair, the medium muttered wildly for a few moments, rolled her eyes and with some convulsive movements pretended to go into a trance. Savetsky seemed about to speak and Elaine, in the highest state of nervous tension, listened, trying to make something of the gibberish mutterings. Suddenly the curtains were pushed aside and Aunt Josephine and Bennett, who had just come in, entered.
I rushed to the window, threw up the shade and opened the sash, waving our preconcerted sign, turning again toward the room. With a sudden accession of desperate strength, Savetsky broke away from the plainclothesman and again attempted to get at something concealed on the wall. I had turned just in time to fling myself between her and whatever object she had in mind.
At the same moment, the medium drew a vapor pistol from her dress, and, as the ghost of Long Sin leaped at Elaine, Savetsky darted forward and shot a stream of vapor full in Bennett's face. Bennett dropped unconscious, the lights in the darkened room flashed up, and several of the men of the Clutching Hand rushed in.
While Elaine was facing death in the power of the devil worshippers, I had reached the house of Savetsky next door with the police, and the place had been quietly surrounded. With the plainclothesman, a daring and intelligent fellow, I went to the door and rang the bell. "What can I do for you?" asked the medium, admitting us. "My friend, here," I parleyed, "is in great business trouble.
"I must go into a trance again to get it," replied the insinuating Savetsky, "and if you like I can try it at once, provided we can be left alone long enough." "Please don't wait," urged Elaine, pulling the portieres of the doors closer, as if that might insure privacy.
Hurriedly, Elaine poured forth to her aunt and Bennett the story of the medium's visit and the promised message from her father in the other world. Aunt Josephine, who was not one easily to be imposed on, strongly objected to Elaine's proposal to accompany Savetsky to the seance chamber, but Elaine would not be denied. She pleaded with her aunt, urging that she be allowed to go.
"I can do nothing here," exclaimed Savetsky, starting up and looking about severely. "You must come to my seance chamber where we shall not be interrupted." "I will," cried Elaine, vexed at the intrusion at that moment. "I must have that message I must." "What's all this, Elaine?" demanded Aunt Josephine.
I will give no message until one named Josephine leaves the room." No sooner had the words been uttered than the medium came writhing out of her trance. "What happened?" she asked, looking at Elaine. Elaine reported the spirit's words. "We can get nothing if your Aunt stays here," Savetsky added, insisting that Aunt Josephine must go. "Your father cannot speak while she is present."
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