CHAPTER VIII By What Means
The night was full of restlessness. Tracy and Professor Hardwick, intheir adjoining rooms, were the only ones in the wing that had the nightbefore also housed Braye and Gifford Bruce.
"Shall we leave the door between open?" Tracy asked, more out ofconsideration for the Professor's nerves than his own.
"Yes, if you will. And don't go to bed yet. I can't sleep, I know, and Imust discuss this thing with somebody, or go mad!"
"All right, sir," and Tracy took off his coat and donned an old-fashioneddressing-gown.
Hardwick smiled. "That's the first ministerial garb I've seen you wear,"he said. "I'd pick that up for a dominie's neglige every time!"
"I'm rather attached to the old dud," and Tracy patted it affectionately."Queer, how one comes to love a worn garment. No, I don't wear clericaltogs when off on a vacation. I used to, till some one told me it cast arestraint over the others, and I hate to feel I'm doing that."
"You'd never do that, my friend. You've a natural tact that ought tocarry you far toward general popularity. But, tell me, as man to man, howdo you size up this awful mystery?"
"I don't know, Professor. At times my mind's a blank,--and then, I get ahint or,--well, I can't call it a suspicion,--but a thought, say, in onedirection, and it's so fearfully absurd, I discard it at once. Then comesanother idea, only to be dismissed like the first. What do you think?"
"I am a complete convert to the supernatural. You know, Sir Oliver Lodgeand many other scientists only believed after they had had undeniablepersonal experience. Now, here were warnings,--definite, positiveprophecies, and they were fulfilled. What more can any one ask?"
Tracy mused over this. "I know that," he said, at last, "but I can'tquite swallow it whole, like that. Do you mean there was no physicalcause? Such as fright, expectant attention,----"
"Expectant attention is a fine phrase,--much like auto-suggestion. Theyare all right as far as they go, but they can't go to the extent ofkilling people. Then again, suggest even a theory, even a possible meansof the death of those two by any human agency. Murder is out of thequestion,--suicide even more so. And they had no desire to end theirlives. A young girl, happily looking forward to gaiety and pleasure,--aman in the prime of life, hale, rich, prosperous--no, they had no wish todie!"
"True enough; but I can't quite see it. Why did the spirits want to killthem? if spirits did kill them?"
"For interfering with this haunted house,--in a frivolous and flippantway. I've always heard that departed souls bitterly resent scoffing, ormerely curious investigation."
"But why choose those two? Or Vernie, anyway? Perhaps Mr. Bruce wasneedlessly sarcastic and sceptical."
"So was the child----"
"Oh, but in such an innocent, harmless way! However, Professor, I'venothing to offer in place of your argument. My creed does not admit of mysubscribing to your theory, but I confess I'm unable to suggest anyother. As you say, it couldn't have been suicide, and there's nopossibility of foul play."
The two men talked on, or sat in silent thought, far into the night. Theclock struck twelve before they at last retired, leaving open theircommunication door, and securely locking their hall doors.
Less than an hour later, a slender white-robed figure tiptoed from one ofthe bedrooms and looked over the banisters. Peering down through thedarkness, the dim outline of old Thorpe's form was visible. He washuddled in his chair, his head fallen forward on the table. Softlyreturning to her room for a wrap, Eve again stealthily came to thestaircase, and sat down on the uppermost step.
Later still, another door silently opened, and a pair of surprised blueeyes saw Eve sitting there. Suppressing a startled exclamation, Normascurried back to her room, but Eve did not hear her.
Milly was wakeful and restless. Several times she declared she heardsounds, but when Wynne wanted to go and investigate, she refused to lethim do so.
The house surely seemed haunted. The aspens brushed against the windowswith their eternal soughing, their leaves whispering,--hissing creepysecrets, and their branches tapping eerily on the panes. The halls werefull of shadows, vague, indistinct, fading to nothingness.
At four o'clock the great clock tolled the hour, and every one in thehouse heard it. No one was asleep, every heart was beating fast, everyeye wide open, every nerve tense.
But nothing happened; no shriek rent the silence, no unusual orterrifying sound was heard.
Relieved, some went to sleep again, some tossed restlessly on theirpillows until rising time.
At breakfast all looked haggard and worn. The day was cool and pleasant,the dining room bright with sunshine, and old Hester's viands mostappetizing.
Thorpe had closed the doors of the rooms given over to the presence ofdeath, and as the various members of the party came down the staircasequick apprehensive glances were followed by a look of relief.
Elijah Stebbins came while breakfast was in progress, and at Milly'sinvitation took a seat at the board.
"Well," he said heavily, "you folks wanted spooks, I hope you'resatisfied."
"Don't use that tone, Mr. Stebbins," Landon reproved him. "A dreadfulthing has happened. I cannot think it is by supernatural causes nor can Isee any other explanation. But that is no reason for you to speakflippantly of our investigations of your so-called haunted house."
"No offence meant," and Stebbins cringed. "But I'm thinkin' you folks hadbetter go away from here, or there's no tellin' what might happen."
"Do you know anything about the mystery?" Professor Hardwick shot out thequestion so suddenly that Stebbins jumped.
"No, sir, of course I don't, sir! How could I?"
"Then why do you warn us off the premises?"
"I don't exactly do that, but I'd think you'd reason for yourselves thatwhat happens once can happen ag'in."
The dogged look on the man's face seemed portentous of evil, and Millybegan to cry.
"Oh, take me home, Wynne," she begged; "I don't want to stay here!"
"Come with me, Milly," said Eve, and rising, she led Milly from the room.
It was shortly after that the coroner arrived.
"I don't want to see that man," said Stebbins, "him and me ain't goodfriends," and rising quickly, the owner of the house fled toward thekitchen quarters, and spent the rest of the morning with the Thorpes outthere.
Doctor Crawford, the county physician and coroner, was a man of slowspeech and dignified manner. He was appalled by the circumstances inwhich he found himself, and a little frightened at the hints he had heardof ghostly visitations.
Indeed, that had been the real reason for his delay in arriving,--he hadnot been willing to brave the darkness of the night before. This was hissecret, however, and his excuse of conflicting duties had been accepted.
The whole party gathered in the hall to hear what the newcomer had tosay.
Eve and Milly returned, the latter, quivering and tearful, going straightto her husband's side, and sitting close to him.
Norma was pale and trembling, too, and Tracy's watchful eye regarded hersympathetically, as he led her to a seat.
Eve, self-reliant and calm, flitted about incessantly. She went to thekitchen and talked over household matters with Hester, for Milly wasunable to do this. Then, returning, Eve went into the drawing room, andafter a few moments returned, closing the door again after her. Then shestepped into the Room with the Tassels. She was there longer, but at lastcame out, and locking the door behind her, retained the key. No onenoticed this but Norma, and she kept her own counsel, but she also kept awatchful eye on Eve.
Even before he went to look at the bodies of the two victims of thetragedy, Doctor Crawford asked some questions.
His slowness was maddening to the alert minds of his listeners, but hemethodically arrived at the facts of the case.
"I am told by my colleague, Doctor Wayburn," he said, "that there is nomark or sign on the remains to indicate the cause
of death. There will,of course, be need of autopsies, but for that I will await DoctorWayburn's return. He will be here shortly. Meantime, I will inquireconcerning this strange information I have received, hinting at a beliefin--ahem--in spiritualism, by some of the people here present. Is suchbelief held, may I ask?"
"Perhaps belief is too strong a word," the Professor volunteered, as noone else spoke, "but I may tell you that we came here to this house forthe purpose of investigating the truth of the story that the house ishaunted."
"And have you made such investigations?"
"We have tried to do so. The results have been mysterious, startling andnow,--tragic,--but I cannot say we have proved anything, except thatsupernatural influences have most assuredly been at work."
"I am not willing to accept such an explanation of two sudden deaths,"Crawford said, in his dignified way, "at any rate, not without a mostexhaustive investigation into the possibility of their having beenbrought about by natural agencies. Let me take up first the case of Mr.Bruce. Was this gentleman in robust health?"
"Entirely so," said Landon, "so far as we know. It is not inconceivablethat he had some heart trouble or other malady that was not noticeable,but of that I cannot say positively. It seems to me, Doctor, you wouldbetter look at him, you might note some symptom that would enlightenyou."
Crawford shuddered perceptibly, but tried to hide his disinclination.Though accustomed to gruesome sights, his dread of the supernatural wassuch that he feared the proposed examination. However, ashamed of hishesitation, he rose, and asked to be shown the body of Gifford Bruce.
Landon started to officiate, but Milly's detaining hand held him back;the Professor made no move, but Eve and Tracy started simultaneously torise.
"I'll go," said Eve, a little officiously, and Tracy sat down again.
She led the way to the big drawing room, where the remains of GiffordBruce lay, and stood by while Doctor Crawford looked down at the still,white face.
A long time they stood there, no word being spoken. Then Eve said softly,"Don't let your disbelief in supernatural powers blind you to theirpossible reality. There are many matters yet unknown and spiritism is oneof them. Remember that we who are here gathered are sensitives andpsychics. We are prepared for and expect experiences not vouchsafed toless clairvoyant natures,--though we did not look for _this_! But I begof you, sir, to realize that there are things of which you have nocognizance, that yet are real and effective."
Doctor Crawford looked at the speaker. In the partially darkened room,Eve's strange eyes glittered with an uncanny light. Her face was pale,and her red hair like a flame aureole. She took a slow step nearer to thedoctor, and he recoiled, as from a vampire.
"You are afraid!" she said, and her tone was exultant. "Do not beafraid,--the phantasms will not hurt you if you do your duty. Unless youdo your duty----" she stretched her hand toward him, and again he drewaway, "the phantasms will haunt you--_haunt_ you--_haunt you_!"
Her voice fell to the merest whisper, but it thrilled through the roomlike a clarion note to the shocked ears of the listening man.
Against his will her eyes held his; against his will, without hisvolition, he whispered, "What is my duty?"
"To declare,--to declare in accordance with your own conviction, in proofof your own belief,--that these two deaths were the direct result of asupernatural power. What power, you know not, but you do know--remember,you _do_ know, that no mortal hand brought the tragedy about, either thehands of the victims themselves or of any one else."
Fascinated, frightened, Crawford stared at this strange woman. He hadnever before encountered such a face, such a sinuous, serpentine form, apersonality that seemed to sway his very being, that seemed to dominateand control his whole will power, his whole brain power.
"Don't misunderstand me," Eve went on, "don't think for a moment, I amadvising you wrongly, or with intent to deceive. Only, I see you knownothing of occult phenomena, and moreover, you are even ignorant of yourown ignorance of them. Therefore, seeing, too, your quick appreciationand perceptive faculty, I warn you not to ignore or forget the fact thatthese things exist, that unseen powers hold sway over us all, and they_must_ be reckoned with."
The flattery was subtle. More than the words, Eve's glance implied a keenapprehension on the part of the doctor, which, as he didn't possess it,seemed a desirable thing to him, and he gladly assumed that he had it.
"And now," Eve said, as they left the room, "do you want to go to theother room--the Room with the Tassels?"
"No--please, not now," and Crawford shuddered, for he had heard much ofthat room. Also, he was desirous of getting back to more normalassociates than this strange being, and he resolved to leave theexamination of the other victim until the return of his fellow physician,who at least was practical, and an unbeliever in spooks.
Shaken by the whole episode, Doctor Crawford concealed his disquiet by amanner even more slow and deliberate than usual. He said no word ofGifford Bruce, but announced his desire to ask a few general questionsconcerning practical matters.
"Where is your home, Mr. Landon?" he inquired, and then asked the samequestion of each.
He learned that they were all residents of New York City, except Mr.Tracy, who had lived in Philadelphia, but was contemplating a move to NewYork.
"I have had a call to a pastorate there," Tracy stated, "and it seemsadvisable to me to accept it."
"Mr. Bruce lived in Chicago, did he not?" went on Crawford, "and MissReid, also?"
"Yes," said Landon, "but Miss Reid had been at school in Connecticut forthe last three years. She was graduated in June, and her uncle andguardian, Mr. Bruce, came East for the occasion. They concluded to spendthe summer with us, intending to return to Chicago next month."
"Mr. Bruce was a wealthy man?" inquired the questioner.
"Yes;" answered Landon, "not a financial magnate, but worth at least twomillion dollars."
"And who are his heirs?"
The question fell like a bombshell. It had not been thought of, or atleast not spoken of, by any of the party. The bareness of it, theimplication of it, gave a shock, as of a sudden accusation.
"I hadn't thought of that," Wynne Landon said, slowly.
"But you know?" queried Crawford.
"Of course I know. Unless Gifford Bruce left a contradictory will, hisestate must revert to Rudolph Braye, the son of Mr. Bruce'shalf-brother----"
"Why, Wynne," interrupted Milly, "you're a cousin."
"I am," and Landon flushed unaccountably, "but I'm a second cousin. Brayewould inherit, unless a will made other proviso."
"Where is Mr. Braye?"
"He went to New York last evening and has not yet returned."
"You expect him soon?"
"This afternoon, probably. Of course, he has realized that he is the heirof a great fortune, but naturally he would not discuss it last evening,when we were all so alarmed and excited over the awfulness of thesituation."
"Was Mr. Braye present at the time of the--tragedy?"
"No;" Landon stopped to think. "He wasn't. Where was he?"
"He was with me," said Milly. "We went in his car to East Dryden. We wentto the markets and did some other shopping at the stores."
"And when you returned it was--all over?" Doctor Crawford looked gravelyat her.
"Yes," said Milly, "we were both away, and oh, I am so glad! I couldn'thave stood it!"
She broke down and sobbed in her husband's arms, but Crawford went onasking questions.
"The autopsy will show," he said, "but I will ask if any of you can showcause to suspect that a poison of any sort could have been administeredto the victims of this disaster."
"Not possibly," said Professor Hardwick. "We were at tea, and had allbeen served from the same teapot and from the same plates of cakes. I canaffirm this, for I've thought over every moment of the occasion. Mr.Bruce had taken part of his tea, and had eaten part of his cake,----"
"Are you sure of this?" the coroner interrupted.
r /> "I am sure that he sat next to me, that he was talking to me, and that hereceived his tea at the same time I did. We sat stirring our cups, andnibbling our cake as we discussed a matter in which we were bothinterested. Less than a half minute before that man died, he was as wellas he had ever been. The scene is perfectly before my eyes. He held hiscup and saucer in one hand, his spoon in the other,--when I saw his eyesopen queerly, his face change to a clayey gray, and his fingers relaxed,letting his cup fall to the floor. I set down my cup quickly and sprangtoward him, but in an instant it was all over."
A hush fell on the group as all remembered the details, so exactly as theProfessor had related them.
"And the young lady," said Crawford, at last, rousing himself fromthought, "did she too drink tea?"
"No," said Eve Carnforth, musingly. "I remember I was just fixingVernie's tea. She liked it sweet, and I was adding a lump of sugar whenthe commotion began."
"I noticed Miss Reid first, I think," offered Tracy; "at least, Ihappened to look toward her when Mr. Bruce fell forward in his chair. Shemade a slight sound, as of horror, and when I glanced her way, she lookedso stunned I thought she was going to collapse, so I stepped acrosstoward her. As I did so, she looked suddenly very strange, and I fearedshe was ill,--aside from her shock at sight of Mr. Bruce. I grasped herby the shoulders just as she was about to fall. She cried out as if inpain, and then Miss Carnforth came to my assistance, and we laid thechild on that sofa. In an instant, she, too, was gone."
"She had taken no tea?"
"No," said Eve, positively. "Nor any cakes. As a rule, the elders wereserved first and Vernie last. So there is no chance of there having beenpoison in the tea or cakes,--nor could it be possible, anyway, as we allate them,--didn't we?"
Every one present affirmed that they had partaken of the tea and thecakes, and declared they were both harmless and just such as they had hadserved every afternoon since their arrival.
"That settles that point, at any rate," and the coroner nodded his head."There can be no question of poison after what you've told me. Unless,either or both of them took poison themselves or gave it to the otherintentionally."