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The reporter moved slowly toward the door。 〃I am satisfied；〃 he
said； 〃that the man doesn't admit any one without Dr。 Rainey's
permission。〃
Indignantly； as though to intercept him； Judge Gaylor stepped
forward。 Both Rainey and himself spoke together。
〃What do you mean by that？〃 Rainey demanded。
〃Are you trying to be insolent； sir？〃 cried the Judge。
Lee smiled pleasantly。 〃I had no intention of being insolent；〃
he said。 〃We have the facts I only came to give you a chance
to explain them。〃
Gaylor lost all patience。
〃What facts？〃 he shouted。 〃What facts？ That mediums come here？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Lee。
〃When？〃 Gaylor cried。 〃Tell me that！ When？〃
Lee regarded the older man thoughtfully。
〃Well； today is Thursday；〃 he said。 〃They were here Monday
morning； and Tuesday morning and the one they call Vera
will be here in half an hour。〃
Rainey ran across the room； stretching out eager； detaining
hands。
〃See here！〃 he begged。 〃We can fix this！〃
〃Fix it？〃 said the reporter。 〃Not with me； you can't。〃 He turned
to the door and found Garrett barring his exit。 He halted； fell
back on his heels； and straightened his shoulders。 For the first
time they saw how tall he was。
〃Get out of my way；〃 he said。 The butler hesitated and fell
back。 Lee walked into the hall。
〃I'll leave you gentlemen to fight it out among you；〃 he said。
〃It's a better story than I thought。〃
As he descended to the floor below； the men remained motionless。
The face of Judge Gaylor seemed to have grown older。 When the
front door closed； he turned and searched the countenance of
each of his companions。 The butler had dropped into a chair
muttering and beating his fist into his open palm。
Gaylor's voice was hardly louder than a whisper。 〃Is this true？〃
he asked。
Like a cur dog pinned in a corner and forced to fight； Rainey
snarled at him evilly。 〃Of course it's true；〃 he said。
〃You've let these people see him！〃 cried Gaylor。 〃After I
forbade it？ After I told you what would happen？〃
〃He would see them；〃 Rainey answered hotly。 〃Twas better I
chose them than 〃
Gaylor raised his clenched hands and took a sudden step forward。
The Doctor backed hastily against the library table。 〃Don't you
come near me！〃 he stammered。 〃Don't you touch me。〃
〃And you've lied to me！〃 cried Gaylor。 〃You've deceived me。 You
you jailbirds you idiots。〃 His voice rose hysterically。
〃And do you think；〃 he demanded fiercely； 〃I'll help you now？〃
〃No！〃 said the butler。
The word caught the Judge in the full rush of his anger。 He
turned stupidly as though he had not heard aright。 〃What？〃 he
asked。 From the easy chair the butler regarded him with sullen；
hostile eyes。
〃No！〃 he repeated。 〃We don't think you'll help us。 You never
meant to help us。 You've never thought of any one but yourself。〃
The face of the older man was filled with reproach。
〃Jim！〃 he protested。
〃Don't do that！〃 commanded the butler sharply。 〃I've told you
not to do that。〃
The Judge moved his head slowly in amazement。 The tone of
reproach was still in his voice。
〃I thought you could understand；〃 he said。 〃It doesn't matter
about him。 But you！ You should have seen what I was doing！〃
〃I saw what you were doing；〃 the butler replied。 〃Buying stocks；
buying a country place。 You didn't wait for him to die。 What
were we getting？〃
With returning courage； Rainey nodded vigorously。
〃That's right； all right；〃 he protested。 〃What were we getting？〃
〃What were you getting？〃 demanded Gaylor； eagerly。 〃If you'd
only left him to me； till he signed the new will； you'd have had
everything。 It only needs his signature。〃
〃Yes；〃 interrupted Garrett contemptuously； that's all it needs。〃
〃Oh； he'd have signed it！〃 cried Gaylor。 〃But what's it worth
now！ Nothing！ Thanks to you two nothing！ They'll claim undue
influence； they'll claim he signed it under the influence of
mediums of ghosts。〃 His voice shook with anger and distress。
〃You've ruined me！〃 he cried。 〃You've ruined me。〃
He turned and paced from them； his fingers interlacing； his
teeth biting upon his lower lip。 The two other men glanced at
each other uncomfortably； their silence seemed to assure Gaylor
that already they regretted what they had done。 He stood over
Garrett； and for an instant laid his hand upon his shoulder。 His
voice now was sane and cold。
〃I've worked three years for this；〃 he said。 〃And for you； too；
Jim。 You know that。 I've worked on his vanity； on his fear of
death； on his damn superstition。 When he talked of restitution；
of giving the money to his niece； I asked Why？' I said； Leave it
for a great monument to your memory。 Isn't it better that ten
million dollars should be spent in good works in your name than
that it should go to a chit of a child to be wasted by some
fortune hunter？ And then I evolved the Hallowell
Institute； university； hospital； library； all under one roof；
all under one direction； and I would have been the director。 We
should have handled ten millions of dollars！ I'd have made you
both so rich；〃 he cried savagely； 〃that in two years you'd have
drunk yourselves into a mad…house。 And you couldn't trust me！
You've filled this house with fakes and palm…readers。 And； now；
every one will know just what he is a senile； half…witted old
man who was clay in my hands； clay in my hands and you've
robbed me of him； you've robbed me of him！〃 His voice； broken
with anger and disappointment； rose in an hysterical wail。 As
though to meet it a bell rang shrilly。 Gaylor started and stood
with eyes fixed on the door of the bedroom。 The three men eyed
each other guiltily。
The butler was the first to recover。 With mask…like face he
hastened noiselessly across the room。 In his tones of usual
authority； Gaylor stopped him。
〃Tell Mr。 Hallowell；〃 he directed； 〃that his niece and District
Attorney Winthrop will be here any moment。 Ask him if he wishes
me to see them； or if he will talk to them himself？〃
When the faithful servant had entered the bedroom Gaylor turned
to Rainey。
〃When do these mediums come today？〃 he asked。
Rainey stared sulkily at the floor。
〃I think they're here now downstairs；〃 he answered。 Garrett
generally hides them there till you're out of the house。〃
〃Indeed；〃 commented Gaylor dryly。 〃After Winthrop and Miss
Coates have gone； I want to talk with your friends。〃
〃Now； see here； Judge；〃 whined Rainey； 〃don't make trouble。 It
isn't as bad as you think。 The old man's only investigating 〃
〃Hush！〃 commanded the Judge。
From the bedroom； leaning on the butler's arm； Stephen
Hallowell came stumbling toward them and； with a sigh； sank into
an invalid's chair that was placed for him between the fire and
the long library table。。 He was a very feeble； very old man；
with a white face； and thin； white hair； but with a mouth and
lower jaw as hard and uncompromising as those of a skull。 His
eyes； which were strangely brilliant and young…looking； peered
suspiciously from under ragged white eyebrows。 But when they
fell upon the doctor； the eyes became suddenly credulous；
pleading； filled with self…pity。
〃I'm a very sick man； Doctor；〃 said Mr。 Hallowell。
Judge Gaylo