The Ghost Makers

"Little Flower," came the shrill voice. "Little Flower tell the lady what the lady want to know. She see lady want to know what she to do with money. Big, wise man spirit, he tell Little Flower what to say to lady. He say he know lady back on earth. He say lady's name. Little Flower listen—" A pause followed. There was a tenseness in the room. The woman who was expecting the message was seated not far from Cardona, and the detective could see her pale face.

Cardona glanced toward the corner, also; but the man with the hawklike face was invisible in the gloom.

"Man spirit, he tell Little Flower," came the voice from the medium. "He say he speak to lady who he call Maude Gar—"

"Yes, yes," whispered the woman breathlessly.

"He say another name," resumed the voice of Little Flower. "It is like Gar — something.

Little Flower listen. Yes, Little Flower hear it. She hear the name — Garwood."

"That is right'" exclaimed the woman, in an impressed tone. "That is right!" The medium writhed for a moment, then quieted, and let her head fall back in her chair.

"Man spirit tell Little Flower he know what trouble lady," the falsetto voice went on. "He say lady wonder what she do with money. He say lady must be wise. He say lady put money in good stock."

"Ask him what stock!" exclaimed the woman. "He knows. He knows—"

"Man spirit he say funny words," continued Little Flower. "He say word like Coro. It is long word. It is Coro-nad-o. He say another word, too. Little Flower hear him say tell lady Cop — Cop-per. He say two words go together."

"Coronado Copper!" the woman exclaimed.

"That is what the man spirit say," resumed the falsetto voice. "He say tell good lady Maude. He say tell good people—"

The babble ended suddenly. Another sound had entered the room. From somewhere in the circle came the rising tone of a shuddering, mystic laugh!

Its wild, heart-rending echoes swept through the room and seemed to thrum with a loud, pulsating beat. Then, like a departing wind, it whispered away into an unfathomable distance. Startled gasps were coming from the sitters. White faces were peering at one another. Even Joe Cardona was dumfounded.

Silence followed that dreadful laugh. Then, at length, the medium spoke, in her own voice.

"Turn on those lights," she ordered.

With the room illuminated, Anita Marie sought to regain her composure. She succeeded. Sitting up in her chair, she glared about, seeking the author of the weird disturbance.

"Someone here is atryin' to make trouble," she rasped. "I'm awarnin' them. I won't stand for nothing like that!"

Cardona was looking toward the corner. He saw the firm-faced man with the hawkish countenance. That visage was inscrutable.

Looking toward the medium, Cardona saw her meet the gaze of the man's unyielding eyes. Anita Marie seemed to tremble. With an effort, she resumed her challenging attitude.

"I'm agoin' on with this," she declared, "and I'm agoin' to call an officer of the law if there's any more trouble. You people are here in my home. I've got my rights, I have!" The side lights were extinguished. The medium gurgled. Again she spoke in the voice of Little Flower.

"Man spirit, he say lady name Maude do as he tell," came the falsetto. "He say she be glad. He say lady must come see man from India. Man from India is medium. He tell lady—" In cut the mocking laughter. It sounded high above the blabbing voice of Little Flower. It was short — bursting forth with uncanny suddenness; consternation reigned.

Cardona, rising from his chair, edged toward the door of the gloomy room. He saw other people standing up. He heard a call for lights. The switch was turned.

The medium, pale and thoroughly frightened, was clutching the arms of her chair, staring wildly about the seance room.

Men and women were clustered near the door, where they had sprung spontaneously to escape that terrible sound which had seemed to come from all about them.

Cardona knew that the seance was ended for the night. This terrified group could stand no more. The medium was completely bewildered. She could not imagine whom to blame for the disturbance. Cardona, too, was bewildered; but for a different reason.

He knew who was responsible for the startling outburst. He was looking toward the corner of the room, and from that point he was scanning every spot. It was this search that astounded him. The hawk-faced man was no longer in the seance room! Swiftly, silently, he had departed. The Shadow had gone — laughing!

Chapter V — Through the Window

While the seance was in progress at Anita Marie's home in Philadelphia, a train from the West was nearing that city. Two men were seated in the drawing-room of the club car. They were conversing in low tones.

"The old lady is getting the bunkum to-night," said one. "I talked with Anita Marie over long distance, last night. I didn't tell her where I was. Maybe she thought I was calling from Bombay."