The Ghost Makers

The death of Geoffrey Garwood was a closed case so far as the Philadelphia police were concerned. The funeral was over, and Maude Garwood was back in her home. But the unfortunate widow lacked neither companionship nor solace.

Her nephew, Richard Terry, had arrived from Texas in time for the funeral. He had promised to remain for an extended visit. He was Maude Garwood's only living relative, and his presence kept her free from loneliness.

As for solace, Maude Garwood received that from Anita Marie. She had often consulted the medium privately for advice, despite Anita Marie's pretext in the circle that Maude Garwood was scarcely more than a chance visitor.

Maude Garwood had poured out her sudden grief to Anita Marie, and had been cheered by words of comfort.

With only two persons upon whom she felt she could rely, it was only natural that the widow would tell one or the other. Hence, the second evening after Dick Terry's arrival, she told her nephew of the wonderful medium who had been such a help in time of trouble.

Aunt and nephew were at dinner when Maude Garwood first mentioned the name of Anita Marie.

"Dick," she said confidingly, "I don't know how I could have borne this misfortune but for Anita Marie's sympathy."

Dick, brown and husky as one of the steers in his native state, looked up in surprise when he heard the name.

"Who is Anita Marie?" he questioned.

"A wonderful woman, Dick," declared Maude Garwood. "She has psychic powers. She can see into the other world."

"A fortune teller?" demanded Dick, in a hostile tone.

"Don't speak that way, Dick," reproved the aunt. "Anita Marie is not a fortune teller. How I dislike that term! Anita Marie is a psychic — a medium who communes with the spirits."

"They're all alike to me," grunted Dick. "A bunch of fakers! Those buzzards don't last long down in Texas. I don't like to hear this, Aunt Maude."

"Why not, Dick?"

"Because you're a rich woman, Aunt Maude. Most of Uncle Geoffrey's estate belongs to you. You're the kind of person that swindlers would be after. But they're not going to get far while I'm around!"

"You talk like your Uncle Geoffrey," sighed Maude Garwood.

"Did Uncle Geoffrey know that you went to see this spirit woman?" questioned Dick.

"Yes," said the aunt, "and he always objected. I can't understand why, Dick. Anita Marie told me some wonderful things facts that she could not have learned from any one else. Only spirits could have told her, Dick."

The young man grunted disdainfully. Then he noted the far-away look in his aunt's eyes. He realized immediately that her belief in the supernatural was more deep set than a fleeting fancy. It would not be wise, Dick decided, to voice his contempt of spirit mediums. He could accomplish more by pretending to humor Maude Garwood's whim.

"Well," he said gruffly, "I'm open to conviction on anything, Aunt Maude. But at the same time, I'm no child. I've seen so much hokum in my life that I go around with my eyes open.

I'm not going to stand by while you lose your money."

"I know that, Dick," said Maude Garwood gently. "I have great confidence in you. But I hope you will not be narrow in your view, as Geoffrey was.

"I told him advice that I had heard Anita Marie give to others as well as to myself. Ways that people could make a great deal of money. But poor Geoffrey would never risk a single penny, and he forbid me to do so."

"Hm-m-m," thought Dick. "They've been working already!" But he did not express the thought aloud.

"I am going to visit Anita Marie tonight," declared Maude Garwood. "She holds her seances only twice a week. On other nights, she may be consulted for a reasonable fee."

"All right if I come along?" questioned Dick pleasantly.

"Yes, indeed," replied Maude Garwood. "I should like to have you meet Anita Marie. If you could only understand, Dick! I think you will, after you have seen this wonderful woman."

After dinner, Maude Garwood summoned the limousine, and she and her nephew rode to Anita Marie's home.

Dick remained taciturn; he listened thoughtfully to his aunt's elated description of Anita Marie. He realized that Maude Garwood regarded the medium as a sort of superior being, and he did not like it. The large seance room was dark. Maude Garwood and her nephew were ushered into a small reception room. Dick Terry glanced suspiciously at the sharp-faced maid. When the visitors were alone, Maude Garwood became confidential.

"I was here, Dick," she explained, "the night that your Uncle Geoffrey had his accident. I had received a wonderful message, Dick. But it was interrupted by a horrible laugh that came through the room." The woman paused and shuddered as she recollected that terrifying occasion.

"Do you know, Dick," she said, "it must have been a warning! A warning that my husband was dying! I have wondered about that since.

"I asked Anita Marie if it could have been a warning. She said she thought perhaps it might have been. She says that the spirits know everything."