Arthur B. Reeve

“ Alpha was trembling now in her trance-like state.
“Maude sends her love and asks you not to be unhappy. Don't grieve for her!”
Creedon did not know precisely how to take it. It shook his new scepticism to its shallow foundation. As for me, I wondered. It was not ventriloquism. The ventriloquist is not so successful in the dark. It is not the ear he deceives. It is the eye. He directs your attention to a place from which he wants you to think the voice comes. ”

“ Before any one could answer, Evelyn's active mind had seized upon the truth. Before Craig could stop her she was at Maude's side. One glance was enough. Clasping Wiley's arm, she broke into violent sobbing. She seemed to stumble blindly toward Craig. “Mr.—Mr.——”
“Mr. Kennedy,” he soothed.
“Did she die—while I was ill?”
“No,” he answered gently. “She died on your arm, before we came to you.” He put his own arm out to support her, then turned to the others. “We must get her away—home. Where are her father and mother?”
Creedon was nearest. “Her mother is dead. And her father—is away.” ”

“ The greeting of eyes between the young man, Mark, and Evelyn left no doubt of their close understanding.
“And who are you?” asked Craig.
A little laugh and the woman tossed her black bobbed head. “It's easy to see you don't get to see much big-time vaudeville! I'm Kate Heffron. Everybody knows Kate! That's my line.”
Kennedy liked her face, her big-hearted manner. “And the gentleman, Mark?” he asked.
Kate nodded toward Wiley. “Mark Winslow. They had a team once. But they got divorced.” ”

“ It was the voice again. “It was the one who dyed with henna some strands of hair to throw off suspicion!”
“Did you?” reiterated Evelyn. “Why?”
The voice went on relentlessly. “She did it! She wanted the old man with the fortune for herself. Maude stood in the way. There was only one thing to do—get rid of Maude. Maude had found out something she intended to tell Enoch Creedon. It was Madame Alpha's part in the fraud on him—on my husband, James Murray!” ”

“ With no light, the eye can not fool you.
Alpha stiffened. “There are malicious spirits—as well as good, beneficent spirits!” she muttered.
Nevertheless the new voice rang out just as clearly, though rather muffled. “I have a message from the mother of the Murray girls!
“I know where your father is. I have found him. He is ready to make restitution for his fault, if he is taken back, free of punishment. He is ready to tell the story of the fraud on old Mr. Creedon. He fell into it and lost, too. That was what Maude had to tell Enoch Creedon!” ”

“ Craig and I were now carrying the inert girl to the Lounge, past craning necks and curious glances, followed by much advice from those who before had not known what to do. By this time there was panic in the audience, a scramble to get to the aisles. The ushers were utterly unable to keep back the jamming crowd. ”

“ If Dad would only come to me!”
“What happened at Madame Alpha's when your father was with you last?” asked Craig.
“Nothing to make Dad go away. Mr. Wiley called Maude up late that night, told her about the shortage in father's books. Maybe he was trying to square himself. He thought a great deal of Maude—at least as much as that type of man can think of a woman. I remember I heard Maude cry sharply to him, 'But you told him to buy that!' She was very angry, hung up, then said to me: 'Evelyn, Dad has gone away. There's some trouble with his accounts at Creedon's.' That was all she said. ”

“ They were afraid of Madame Alpha, the medium. For every one recognized Madame Alpha from the picture. “The Wireless Phantom” had been financed by old Enoch Creedon to exploit spiritism and to please Madame Alpha, who appeared in it with the Murray sisters.
“Where are those two blessed girls? Evelyn, you poor child, I am so sorry!” She turned to Craig. “I am Madame Alpha. I have worked with these poor girls for weeks at the studio. Now I must help them. Let me go home with Evelyn. She needs a woman at this time. ”

“ Evelyn betrayed nervousness as she and Winslow entered and bowed to us. Her thoughts were probably on that last meeting when Maude had been with her. She sat down quietly and was very still. Winslow was ill at ease. Never had I seen a man whose hands bothered him so much. He was uncomfortable. He didn't like it and his usual easy manner had forsaken him.
Old Creedon came in by himself. He had had enough of these things. He was through. Compulsory attendance, as, in a way, this was, made him irritable, belligerent. He scarcely noticed Craig or me. ”

“ I warn you to stop looking for me before it is too late. Nothing but evil can come to you if you keep up the search. No one will find me in this world.
James Murray
Kennedy learned that the girl had been seeking to clear their father of the charge made against him after his disappearance. Then this sinister message had been picked up by an amateur radio enthusiast.
Craig was all sympathy and encouragement as Kate Heffron put her arm about Evelyn and with Mark Winslow managed to induce her to leave things to Craig and Creedon
IT WAS such a situation as enabled Craig to use his influence. ”

“ Whatever possessed you girls to sit out alone among strangers instead of with the rest of us?”
It was the elderly man. The younger had made his way quietly to the group about the settee where Maude was lying. He did not try to hide how greatly he was shocked.
Evelyn tried to smile. “Mr. Creedon, Maude and I thought if we sat out in the audience we might get the real verdict on the picture. That was all. ... But ... what arrangements do you have to make?”
The girl hesitated. Creedon looked at Kennedy in a blundering, confused way. ”

“ Sleep will help. We two-a-day people know that.” She nodded good-naturedly as she led Evelyn to a dainty bedroom.
When she reentered the room her face was grave. “Do you know who Maude Murray was with, just before she died—alone, too?”
Kennedy shook his head.
“You know they can't serve cocktails in the public dining-room at that hotel. So they had a private dining-room for the party. It had a little coat room. That's where you keep the stuff. You have to bring it yourself. Well, I saw old Creedon in there, alone, with Maude, and I'm thinking it was the cocktails!” ”

“ It was done in a shrill, whining voice, quite frankly from the medium who now reclined in the chair, arms tense, eyes closed.
“I want to tell a young lady, one who comes often with her father, that some one from the other world is here—some one who is happy—a recent arrival!”
POOR Evelyn was startled. She seized Winslow's arm, as he sat on the other side of her. I could imagine the tears that must be creeping down her face. Maude's death had been too recent for even Madame Alpha to discuss it without a sad effect on Evelyn. ”

“ It made me think of the wireless message. At once we began a search of the various stations for her. Just before eight o'clock when its program opened, we found Evelyn at WBS.
“Mr. Kennedy, I am trying to get Dad,” she explained. “It may be useless, but I am hoping for some answer. That note to Maude was a wireless message. Dad might be afraid to go out very much. It may be that he passes his time somewhere listening in.”
Craig nodded as Evelyn told of broadcasting the appeal to her father, a sort of “spirit message,” to locate him wherever he might be. ”

“ Craig asked Evelyn.
“Please find Mr. Creedon. ... Mr. Wiley ought to know. ... Have you seen Mr. Winslow?”
I raised my eyebrows at the name of Creedon. Old Enoch Creedon was the millionaire owner of the Creedon Manufacturing Company. Wiley's name was not so reassuring. Nor was Winslow's. The Star had been running an exposure of some of the bucket-shop practises of Wiley, Winslow & Co.
A rather dapper elderly man and a ponderous young one were pushing their way past the man at the door.
“Evelyn! ... I'm sorry. I came just as soon as I heard. I'll help you make the arrangements. ... ”

“ Several hundred exhibitors, exchange men and their guests, including ourselves, were there. First there had been a luncheon for the stars, the cast, director, producer, and those financially interested. ”