The Argosy — page 200: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 183 ‘“‘ There is some coarse, bad influence here,” she muttered. ‘¢ This is certain to be ‘ Jane Shore,’” whispered Lady Laura. ‘She always comes for clairvoyance.” The medium spoke again; her hand was now on the other stick, Allan’s own crook, with the silver ring. “This is strange,” she said, fingering it. ‘ It feels cold and strange : what can be the meaning?” She seemed to ask the question only of herself. Mrs. Grale mur- mured that it was quite right ; that it had been lying on the earth for months and months. ‘ And,” added the poor woman, ‘the ground is always damp round the Black Pool.” ‘““Now, nonsense!” cried Mr. Grale. ‘“‘It can’t be cold through that: it has been standing in the sunniest corner of this house for days.” ‘I expect the control alludes to a psychic chill,” explained Mr. Tempest. ‘‘ But we must not rush to conclusions too readily. Give her time.” She was still groping about the sticks, first one, then the other, as if puzzled. ‘The company watched with absorbed interest. “These do not—I think—belong—either of them—to anybody here,” she slowly said, and the silence of the listeners seemed to give a curious expression of assent. ‘‘ I—stay !—I shall see a form pre- sently :—I see a figure already, but too dimly to describe it yet. Will the friends converse among each other? There is a little want of fusion in the mental atmosphere.” “This is going to be a splendid sitting,” Lady Laura whispered. ‘TI hope it is not going to be too dreadful,” said poor Mrs. Grale. ‘It’s wonderful how she seems to know things by the touch. You see she did not dislike poor Alny’s stick; only the other one—and that, I am sure, never was his.” George Vivian, at this juncture, was seized with a long, troublesome cough. Agnes looked sharply at him, tempted to think that it began in a giggle. Anyhow, it went on seriously enough. He tried to smother it by holding his pocket-handkerchief to his mouth—Agnes noticed that handkerchief of specially fine cambric, with a narrow black line running round it just above the hem. It struck her as singular that so punctilious a dandy as George Vivian should carry a black-edged handkerchief when he was not in mourning. “You are quite sure you never said a word about Alny to Miss Tempest, Lady Laura?” pleaded Mrs. Grale. | ‘Quite positive,” said Lady Laura, decisively. ‘‘ Mr. Tempest can answer that forme. Ihave not been alone with Bessie at all; he has been with us entirely. Dear Mrs. Grale, you may believe me. I have not spoken upon the subject to either Mr. or Miss Tempest.” “Certainly not,” confirmed Mr. Tempest. “It might have a bad effect upon my daughter, were she told anything beforehand—would be almost sure to take her power away.” CORNICLOOOIKKS (C(O)