vera, the medium-第7部分

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〃You'll　be　sorry；〃　said　the　girl。

Winthrop　laughed　an　eager；　boyish　laugh。　When　he　spoke　the
tenseness　in　his　voice　had　gone。　His　tone　was　confident；
bantering。

〃Then　I　will　not　come　to　see　you；〃　he　said。

Uncertain；　puzzled；　Vera　looked　at　him　in　distress。　She　thought
he　was　mocking　her。

〃No？〃　she　questioned。

〃I'll　come　to　see　Vera；　the　medium；〃　he　explained。

Vera　frowned；　and　then；　in　happy　embarrassment；　smiled
wistfully。

〃Oh；　well；〃　she　stammered；　〃of　course；　if　you're　coming　to
consult　me　professionally　　my　hours　are　from　four　to　six。〃

〃I'll　be　there；〃　cried　the　District　Attorney。

Vera　leaned　forward　eagerly。

〃What　day　will　you　come？〃　she　demanded。

〃What　day！〃　exclaimed　the　young　man　indignantly。　〃Why；　this
day！〃

Vera　gave　a　guilty；　frightened　laugh。

〃Oh；　will　you？〃　she　exclaimed　delightedly。　She　clasped　her
fingers　in　a　gesture　of　dismay。　〃Oh；　I　hope　you　won't　be　sorry！〃
she　cried。

For　some　moments　the　District　Attorney　of　New　York　stood　looking
at　the　door　through　which　she　had　disappeared。

Part　II

The　home　of　the　Vances　was　in　Thirty…fifth　Street；　nearly
opposite　the　Garrick　Theatre。　It　was　one　of　a　row　of　old…
fashioned　brick　houses　with　high　steps。　As　the　seeker　after
truth　entered　the　front　hall；　he　saw　before　him　the　stairs　to
the　second　story；　on　his　right；　the　folding　doors　of　the　〃front
parlor；〃　and　at　the　far　end　of　the　hall；　a　single　door　that　led
to　what　was；　in　the　old　days；　before　this　row　of　houses　had　been
converted　into　offices；　the　family　dining　room。　To　Vera　the
Vances　had　given　the　use　of　this　room　as　a　〃reception　parlor。〃
The　visitor　first　entered　the　room　on　his　right；　from　it　passed
through　another　pair　of　folding　doors　to　the　reception　parlor；
and　then；　when　his　audience　was　at　an　end；　departed　by　the
single　door　to　the　hall；　and　so；　to　the　street。

The　reception　parlor　bore　but　little　likeness　to　a　cave　of
mystery。　There　were　no　shaded　lights；　no　stuffed　alligator；　no
Indian　draperies；　no　black　cat。　On　a　table；　in　the　centre；　under
a　heavy　and　hideous　chandelier　with　bronze　gas　jets；　was　a　green
velvet　cushion。　On　this　nestled　an　innocent　ball　of　crystal。
Beside　it　lay　the　ivory　knitting　needle　with　which　Vera　pointed
out；　in　the　hand　of　the　visitor；　those　lines　that　showed　he
would　be　twice　married；　was　of　an　ambitious　temperament；　and
would　make　a　success　upon　the　stage。　In　a　corner　stood　a　wooden
cabinet　that　resembled　a　sentry　box　on　wheels。　It　was　from　this；
on　certain　evenings；　before　a　select　circle　of　spiritualists；
that　Vera　projected　the　ghosts　of　the　departed。　Hanging　inside
the　cabinet　was　a　silver…gilt　crown　and　a　cloak　of　black　velvet；
lined　with　purple　silk　and　covered　in　gold　thread　with　signs　of
the　zodiac。

Save　that　these　stage　properties　illustrated　the　taste　of　Mabel
Vance；　the　room　was　of　no　interest。　It　held　a　rubber　plant；　a
red　velvet　rocking　chair；　across　the　back　of　which　Mrs。　Vance
had　draped　a　Neapolitan　scarf；　an　upright　piano；　upon　which
Emmanuel　Day；　or；　as　he　was　known　to　the　cross…roads　of　Broadway
and　Forty…second　street；　〃Mannie〃　Day；　provoked　the　most
marvelous　rag…time；　an　enlarged　photograph　in　crayon；　of
Professor　Vance；　in　a　frock　coat　and　lawn　tie；　a　china　bull　dog；
coquettishly　decorated　with　a　blue　bow；　and；　on　the　mantel
piece；　two　tall　beer　steins　and　a　hand　telephone。　From　the　long
windows　one　obtained　a　view　of　the　iron　shutters　of　the　new
department　store　in　Thirty…fourth　Street；　and　of　a　garden；　just
large　enough　to　contain　a　sumach　tree；　a　refrigerator；　and　the
packing…case　in　which　the　piano　had　arrived。

After　leaving　Winthrop；　without　waiting　for　Vance；　Vera　had
returned　directly　to　the　house　in　Thirty…fifth　Street；　and
locked　herself　in　her　room。　And　although　〃Mannie〃　Day　had
already　ushered　two　visitors　into　the　front　room；　Vera　had　not
yet　come　downstairs。　In　consequence；　Mabel　Vance　was　in
possession　of　the　reception　parlor。

Mrs。　Vance　was　plump；　pink…and…blonde；　credulous　and　vulgar；　but
at　all　times　of　the　utmost　good　humor。　Her　admiration　for　Vera
was　equaled　only　by　her　awe　of　her。　On　this　particular
afternoon；　although　it　already　was　after　five　o'clock；　Mrs。
Vance　still　wore　a　short　dressing　sack；　open　at　the　throat；　and
heavy　with　somewhat　soiled　lace。　But　her　blonde　hair　was　freshly
〃marcelled；〃　and　her　nails　pink　and　shining。　In　the　absence　of
Vera；　she　was　making　a　surreptitious　and　guilty　use　of　the
telephone。　From　the　fact　that　in　her　left　hand　she　held　the
morning　telegraph　open　at　the　〃previous　performances〃　of　the
horses；　and　that　the　page　had　been　cruelly　lacerated　by　a　hat
pin；　it　was　fair　to　suppose　that　whoever　was　at　the　other　end　of
the　wire；　was　tempting　her　with　the　closing　odds　at　the　races。

In　her　speculations；　she　was　interrupted　by　〃Mannie〃　Day；　who
entered　softy　through　the　door　from　the　hall。

〃Mannie〃　Day　was　a　youth　of　twenty…four。　It　was　his　heart's
desire　to　be　a　〃Broadwayard。〃　He　wanted　to　know　all　of　those；
and　to　be　known　only　by　those；　who　moved　between　the　giant
pillars　that　New　York　threw　into　the　sky　to　mark　her　progress
North。

He　knew　the　soiled　White　Way　as　the　oldest　inhabitant　knows　the
single　street　of　the　village。　He　knew　it　from　the　Rathskellers
underground；　to　the　roof　gardens　in　the　sky；　in　his　firmament
the　stars　were　the　electric　advertisements　over　Long　Acre
Square；　his　mother　earth　was　asphalt；　the　breath　of　his　nostrils
gasolene；　the　telegraph　was　his　Bible。　His　grief　was　that　no　one
in　the　Tenderloin　would　take　him　seriously；　would　believe　him
wicked；　wise；　predatory。　They　might　love　him；　they　might　laugh
with　him；　they　might　clamor　for　his　company；　in　no　flat　that
could　boast　a　piano；　was　he　not；　on　his　entrance；　greeted　with　a
shout；　but　the　real　Knights　of　the　Highway　treated　him　always　as
the　questioning；　wide…eyed　child。　In　spite　of　his　after…midnight
pallor；　in　spite　of　his　honorable　scars　of　dissipation；　it　was
his　misfortune　to　be　cursed　with　a　smile　that　was　a　perpetual
plea　of　〃not　guilty。〃

〃What　can　you　expect？〃　an　outspoken　friend；　who　made　a　living　as
a　wireless　wire　tapper；　had　once　pointed　out　to　him。　〃That　smile
of　yours　could　open　a　safe。　It　could　make　a　show　girl　give　up
money！　It's　an　alibi　for　everything　from　overspeeding　to
murder。〃

Mannie；　as　he　listened；　flushed　with　mortification。　From　that
moment　he　determined　that　his　life　should　be　devoted　to　giving
the　lie　to　that　smile；　to　that　outward　and　visible　sign　of
kindness；　good　will；　and　innate　innocence。　As　yet；　he　had　not
succeeded。

He　interrupted　Mabel　at　the　telephone　to　inquire　the　whereabouts
of　Vera。　〃There's　two　girls　in　there；　now；〃　he　said；　〃waiting　to
have　their　fortunes　doped。〃

〃Let'em　wait！〃　exclaimed　Mabel。　〃Vera's　upstairs　dressing。〃　In
her　eyes　was　the　baleful　glare　of　the　plunger。　〃What　was　that
you　give　me　in　the　third　race？〃

At　the　first　touch　of　the　ruling　passion；　what　interest　Mannie
may　have　felt　for　the　impatient　visitors　vanished。　〃Not　in　the
third；〃　he　corrected　briskly。　〃Keene　entry　win　the　third。〃

Mabel　appealed　breathlessly　to　the　telephone。　〃What　price　the
Keene　entry　in　the　third？〃　She　turned　to　Mannie　with　reproachful
eyes。　〃Even　money！〃　she　complained。

〃That's　what　I　told　you；〃　retorted　Mannie。　He　lowered　his　voice；
and　gazed　apprehensively　toward　the　front　parlor。　〃If　you　want　a
really　good　thing；〃　he　whispered　hoarsely；　〃ask　Joe　what
Pompadour　is　in　the　fifth！〃　Mabel　laughed　scornfully；
disappointedly。

〃Pompadour！〃　she　mocked。

〃That's　right！〃　cried　the　expert。　〃That's　the　one　daily　hint
from　Paris　today。　Joe　will　give　you　thirty　to　one。〃

Upon　the　defenseless　woman　he　turned　the　full　force　of　his
accursed　smile。　〃Put　five　on　for　me；　Mabel？〃　he　begged。

With　unexpected　determination　of　character　Mabel　declared
sharply　that　she　would　do　nothing　of　the　sort。

〃Two；　then？〃　entreated　the　boy。

〃Where；〃　demanded　Mabel　unfeelingly；　〃is　the　twenty　you　owe　me
now？〃

The　abruptness　of　this　unsportsmanlike　blow　below　the　belt
caused　Mannie　to　wince。

〃How　do　I　know　where　it　is？〃　he　protested。　〃As　long　as　you
haven't　got　it；　why　do　you　care　where　it　is？〃　He　heard　the　door
from　the　hall　open　and；　turning；　saw　Vera。　He　appealed　to　her。
〃Vera；〃　he　cried；　〃You'll　loan　me　two　dollars？　I　stand　to　win
sixty。　I'll　give　you　thirty。〃

Vera　looked　inquiringly　at　Mabel。　〃What　is　it；　Mabel；：〃　she
asked；　〃a　hand　book？〃

Mrs。　Vance　nodded　guiltily。

〃Mannie！〃　exclaimed　Vera　gently　but　reproachfully；　〃I　told　you　I
wouldn't　loan　you　any　more　money　till　you　paid　Mabel　what　you've
borrowed。〃

〃How　can　I　pay　Mabel　what　I　borrowed；〃　demanded　Mannie；　if　I
can't　borrow　the　money　from　you　to　pay　her？　Only　two　dollars；
Vera！〃

Vera　nodded　to　Mabel。

Mabel；　at　the　phone；　called；　〃Two　dollars　on　Pompadour　　to　
win　　for　Mannie　Day；〃　and　rang　off。

〃That　makes　thirty　for　you；〃　exclaimed　Mannie　enthusiastically；
〃and　twenty　I　owe　to　Mabel；　and　that　leaves　me　ten。〃

Mrs。　Vance；　no　longer　occupied　in　the　whirlpool　of　speculation；
for　the　first　time　observed　that　Vera　had　changed　her　matronly
robe　of　black　lace　for　a　short　white　skirt　and　a　white
shirtwaist。　She　noted　also　that　there　was　a　change　in　Vera's
face　and　manner。　She　gave　an　impression　of　nervous　eagerness；　of
unrest。　Her　smile　seemed　more　appealing；　wistful；　girlish。　She
looked　like　a　child　of　fourteen。

But　Mabel　was　concerned　more　especially　with　the　robe　of　virgin
white。

For　the　month；　which　was　July；　the　costume　was　appropriate；　but；
in　the　opinion　of　Mabel；　in　no　way　suited　to　the　priestess　of
the　occult　and　the　mysterious。

〃Why；　Vera！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Vance；　〃whatever　have　you　got　on？
Ain't　you　going　to　receive　visitors？　There's　ten　dollars　waiting
in　there　now。〃

In　sudden　apprehension；　Vera　looked　down　at　her　spotless
garments。

〃Don't　I　look　nice？〃　she　begged。

〃Of　course　you　look　nice；　dearie；〃　Mabel　assured　her；　〃but　you
don't　look　like　no　fortune　teller。〃

〃If　you　want　to　know　what　you　look　like；〃　said　Mannie　sternly；
〃you　look　like　one　of　the　waiter　girls　at　Childs's　　that's
what　you　look　like。〃

〃And　your　crown！〃　exclaimed　Mabel；　〃and　your　kimono。　Ain't　you
going　to　wear　your　kimono？〃

She　hasten