Page:Flaming Youth black on red.pdf/83

This page needs to be proofread.

FLAMING

YOUTH

79

“Ts it very foolish?” he asked indulgently. “Imbecile to the verge of asininity. . . . Do you believe

in spiritualism?” “No.??

“What a flat and flattening negative. But I’m not to be flattened. If you don’t believe in it, there couldn’t be any harm in carrying out my silly little scheme.” ‘Which is?” “I’m going to want to know about Pat. If I don’t, P’'ll worry.” “About Pat?” he queried, not comprehending. “But, as she’s away at school I’ll be no more in touch with her than you.” - “T’m talking about afterwards.” “Afterwards?” “Yes, After I’m dead. What makes you so slow, Bob? I want you to write me.”

“What? Spirit letters? of a medium?”

Through some cheap fraud

“Qh, no! Direct.” “Do you believe they’d reach you, my letters?” he asked sadly. _ “Not the letters themselves, certainly. I don’t know that I actually believe anything about it. But what is in the letters might sift through to me in some way we don’t understand. It might, Bob,” she pleaded. “I’ve heard of strange cases, And, anyway, I should think you’d like to write, in case you miss me.” “Miss you!” he repeated hoarsely. “Yes; Vil miss you.” “Then wouldn’t you give up just a little, tiny time to writing me?” she cajoled. “Just a promise to please silly me. After I’m dead you needn’t keep it, you know,

if you don’t believe that I’ll know.”