"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.