The Room with the Tassels

A Haun

Mrs. Fairbanks saw it her

Eve Carnforth was well worth smiling at. Her red hair was of that thin, silky, flat-lying sort, that spells temper, but looks lovely, and her white, deli

l more wisdom. "And Professor Har

try to gild his refinement! But really, Eve,

rd spiritualism just now. Why, Sir Oliver Lodge says that after the war great and powerful assis

she politely clapped a little, fa

g of a little woman who ever giggled her way through life. And as hostess on this present Sunday afternoon occasion, she

ch like the people talking in those other parlours, that Sunday afternoon. Their only superiority lay in

and the herein-before described Eve Carnforth, two pleasing callers, and the talk had turned

ut thirty or forty years ago, and then because of fake mediums and fraudulent séances, it fell

d, Eve," and Milly looked

it is," declared Landon, "very rubbish

ed, but she believed thoroughly in the spiritual reappearance of her friends who di

ieve or not, according to your character or disposition. You know, it depended on your own nature, whether you

e," begged Eve; "say pha

l, I think I could more easily believe in a spook than a phantasm. The latt

immaterial, of course, but that isn't being unreal. You have a real soul, haven't you, althou

heard, or felt by mortal human beings. All the stories of such things to the contrary notwithstanding. If you or any one else has power to show me a visible spook,-I beg pardon, phantas

f one, I'm sure, but if Wynne wants to see one, I do. Let's al

ys fakes. And I don't aspire to see one. If we could ge

ges how?"

ja board, or

ndon; "that's the b

ourselves and if we all trusted each other not to sto

leased anticipation. "That wouldn't fri

ldren who want to trick one another. If we could get together some evening and have an earnest,

allers arrived, and Mill

w nice to see you! And Vernie,-

and energetic sub-deb of sixteen, darted fro

after Miss Carnforth, I s'pose. Dear Mrs. Landon, let me

just had commence

pected Cousin Rudolph, over there, sent me this pendant. Isn't it stu

ng to school an

ay. And, too, out in Chicago, you know, we're not such terrible highbrows. Something tells me my schooldays are over. I think Uncle Gif nee

your cousi

t of evens up. Anyway, I like Cousin Rudolph, because he's such a good-looking young man, and he's pr

t the school from which she had just been graduated. And after a summer spent among the Eastern resorts, she and her Uncle were to return to their Chicago home, where they had live

rnie asked, smiling at Milly. "You were all so in

e, looking at the pretty c

l we just ate 'em up! Table tippings and al

ort," said Eve. "We w

weren't a bit real. I did most of 'em myself, jo

n a narrow line, but the others la

uija board. I can make i

ike your notion of these things better than the ide

uthoritative books on the subjects. There are many writers more diffuse and circumstantial, but Andrew Lang sums up t

eyes took on a mystic, faraway look.

chic?" interrupted

l and The

ic bunch have been in

in Milly, "the whole bu

nce there has been man and a house for him to live in. Some are spoken of in the Bible, the primitive Australians had legions of ghosts, the awful Dyaks record them, and there is scarce a castle or palace of the m

nt over and sat on the arm of his chair. "Tell us more. I like this

merely stories, and in no case a true relation of happenings. Lang investigated

hat eleventh case that interests t

proven, it never has been shown that

g perpetrated proves that there was something to imitate. If no spirit had ever returned

tended! You don't remember the Keeley Motor, but that deceived thousands into believing that perpetual motion was at

im come just now! Sit down, Professor, and get right into the game. Y

plomas and lots of presents. Now, I'm out in the great world, and glory, but I love it! But

I don't know any

ou believe

by ghosts? How do

eans a scarecrow phantom rigged up in sheets, Miss Carnforth means a supernatural being of some

n by visible sou

uppose I mean clothed in a bo

" asked the o

I never heard o

h, and clothes, of fabric, or, at least, apparently so

uce. "Give them a jolt, they n

? What do you m

this ghost

sproved it? Do you mean intentional rubbish? Are they

my diction carefully. Do you, then, believe that so-called supernatural appearances are caused b

r clearly. I never express an

press an involuntary giggle. "A grave q

state an opinion without being sure of my facts. Now, I've had no experience, personally, with supernatural matters, an

ked interested. "I can arrange

re the so-called medium throws flowers and things out of a cabinet, or

oose as an experie

d in circumstances that preclude all possibility of fr

hat would be the rippingest fun! If you ev

scientific and open-minded man as the Professor, and a few others who are in e

you enthusiasts straight. But haunted houses are not to be found

ndon asserted. "I read of one rec

"and spend our summer vacation

'd just love it! May I go, Unc

beg their pardon, phantasms, might carry yo

d though I'd like to consider this plan, I'd only do so, if we we

st promise to be earnest and honest. Must promise to do nothing to fool or mislead the others, but keep a fair and open mind f

f the crowd, if, as Wynne says, there'll be no developments. I'd love the outing, and I think this a splendid party

a little petulantly. "The crowd here now s

don't know said Norma, but I agree with Eve

or child never gets an outing,

on. "In the first place, Milly, I doubt if we can find a pro

on, I'll go along, and take this little piece of property." He looked smilingly at the eager-eyed Vernie

t out to find a h

firm of real estate agents, that I'll bet co

orma," insisted Mill

sh, my cherished one. But then,

ns, without plenty of menfolks about. Who knows a n

ster. Or, at least, he used to be. But he's an awful

s name?" a

Chicago, some years ago,

you ask your friend, but it's a

and fairly comfortable," Mil

hed Braye. "I don't believe in the things, but I'd like to have a

hing," said Vernie, "and if we do