Page:Resurrection Rock (1920).pdf/263

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A FLAMING TORCH
251

acterized the presence of the "control." Mrs. Davol slowly sat upright and gazed dully about like an ordinary, over-fed woman making an apparent effort of memory to recognize her callers.

"Well, dearie," she said at last to Ethel. "Did you get satisfied? Was there good results?"

Ethel realized, with a gasp, that the séance was over. "Satisfied?" she repeated to herself, questioning her own sensations. No; she was not satisfied at all in the sense that she had received from her father any such communication as she had hoped for. Indeed, she could not feel that she had heard from her father at all; and what she had gained from the extraordinary recital about J. Q. was almost meaningless. The communication from the Indian spirit meant little to her; but it had given much to Barney. In his emotion, she had almost forgotten about herself; and it was for him she was feeling when she said, "Yes; we got a good deal, Mrs. Davol."

"I'm right glad," Mrs. Davol said, standing up. "I nearly always get good results, though, as I said, I can't guarantee 'em." She gazed at Barney and, evidently satisfied that he had felt the results, she appealed to Bennet. "You're pleased too? You're all pleased?"

"Oh, we'll come again, probably," Bennet assured her, looking about for his coat and hat.

"I don't like to take money except for good satisfaction," Mrs. Davol said placidly; and Ethel opened her handbag. But Barney paid before she could. The amount was twenty dollars, and as Bennet insisted that he had been in on the show, and it was worth the money, he shared the payment.

It was barely half-past nine when they found