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Bates, Arlo, 1850-1918

"The Puritans"


Singleton would persist until she had discovered the truth. He could
think of nothing to do but to make a clean breast of the whole matter.
He nerved himself to the task, and told her of the finding of Norah and
of what followed.
"Have you ever discovered that the desk had a false bottom?" he asked
in conclusion.
"No, brother Maurice. The spirits hadn't revealed it to me. But then I
never asked them about that."
There was an air of triumphant glee in her manner, an open and mocking
sneer, which dismayed him. He was sure that he had erred in telling her
his secret; yet he reflected that he could hardly have done otherwise,
and that she surely would not dare to refuse to give up a legal
document so important.
"Will you let me examine the desk?"
"I am so happy to oblige you," she returned. "Though whether your story
is true or not must depend, you know, upon the unsupported testimony of
the medium--I mean of the speaker."
Maurice rose and went toward her, facing her squarely.
"I understand, Alice," he said, "that you don't love me, and I haven't
come to ask favors. This is a matter of simple honesty.


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