The session was interesting. Carly never, in any circ.u.mstances, pushed or guided the board in the very least,--nor did she ever sit with any one whom she suspected of doing so. But with her friends in whom she had perfect confidence, or with acquaintances who, she knew were eagerly wanting to learn, not anxious to tell, she often tried the uncanny thing.
Lightly they rested their finger-tips on the little wooden heart, and after a short wait it began to move.
At Carly"s questions, replies came that there was a spirit present and that it was Peter Boots.
Neither of the inquirers was surprised at this, for they had fully expected it. Moreover, both had watched most closely the other"s muscles and fingers and wrists, and each was positive the messages, whatever their source, were not the result of human deceit.
After some preliminary talk, Carly said, "You put the questions, Kit."
So Shelby said, "Peter, you know Blair"s gone?"
"Yes," returned the board.
"Have you seen him--or I mean, is he with you--in spirit?"
"Yes" came the answer.
"Will he talk to us?"
"No."
"Well--then can you give us a message from him?"
"Yes."
Yes and No are designated on the Ouija Board as words. The movement of the Board toward these was quick, almost jerky.
But when the message was asked for,--when Shelby said, "Will he tell us how he died?" there was a pause and the Board moved aimlessly about.
At last, Carly said, "Peter, was Gilbert killed?"
"Yes," came the quick reply.
"Do you know who killed him?"
"Yes."
"Who was it?"
Carly shot out the question quickly, and immediately the board moved to T. From that, as the two breathlessly waited, the pointer very slowly spelled Thorpe.
The word did not go smoothly,--the board swung round in large loops, but paused positively at each letter, and then started slowly to the next.
"You didn"t push, Kit?" Carly asked, but more from force of habit than any doubt of him.
"Of course not. n.o.body could push with you watching, nor was there any reason why I should. Did you?"
"Of course not. Don"t let"s ask each other that. We"re both honest. But you know, Kit, Mr. Crane had a communication from Peter and he said Thorpe did it. But Mr. Crane thinks maybe Peter doesn"t know."
"Let"s try to get Blair"s spirit."
They tried,--if receptive waiting can be called trying,--and at last they succeeded in receiving the information that Gilbert Blair"s spirit was present.
"Will you tell us who killed you?" Carly asked at once, fearing lest he go away.
Slowly the pointer moved away from the letter T. But after a series of swirls it stopped definitely at M.
"Go on," said Carly, in a whisper.
A long swing of aimless motions and then a stop at A.
The next stop was at C, and then the board would move no more.
Carly sighed, and took her hands off.
"Well, there"s the message, Kit. You know Gilbert always called him Mac,--now what do you think of Ouija?"
"I don"t know what to think, Carly. Mayn"t it be only that Thorpe was in both our minds, and that we subconsciously----"
"Oh, well, if you"re going to take that tack, there"s no more to be said. It"s easy enough to say that,--but how can the dead send messages if the human beings always say,--oh, subconscious pushing!"
"But, are you so anxious to believe in Thorpe"s guilt?"
"Not that,--but I want to know. Julie"s devoted to him, and if he"s a--a murderer, Julie must be saved from him. If he isn"t,--we must find it out, and give him to Julie free and clear of suspicion."
"We! Are you responsible for Julie"s affairs?"
"Yes, in so far as I can help. You say, everybody says, that I have occult powers. If so, I must use them to help,--if they really do help.
But how can I be sure?"
"I don"t know. But I think, perhaps, you"d better leave the whole occult business alone. It"s uncanny if it"s real, and it"s foolishness if it"s faked."
"I think Mr. Crane is going to get a special detective," Carly said, "but, oh, my gracious, I forgot I promised not to tell that. So don"t tell anybody else. I don"t suppose they"d mind you knowing."
"Who"s the man?"
"I think his name is Wise,--good name for a detective!"
"Never heard of him. But, let"s hope he clears Mac."
"Yes, and finds the real murderer. Do you know I can"t realize Gilbert"s gone,--even yet."
"Don"t think about him, Carly. It can"t do any good, and it only makes you sad and morbid. Let me tell you of my hopes and fears, mayn"t I?"
"Of course, go ahead."
"Well, I"m getting up a big,--a really big enterprise."