“Yet the mediums continue to fleece the public?”
“The more gullible strata of it. Until recent months the situation here has been no worse than in other cities of comparable size. Lately an increasing number of charlatans has moved in on us.”
“Why don’t you start a campaign, Dad?” Penny urged. “You would be doing the public a worthwhile service.”
“Well, I hesitate to start something which I may be unable to finish.”
“At least the public deserves to be warned.”
“Unfortunately, Penny, many persons would take the attitude that the Star was persecuting sincere spiritualists. A campaign must be based on absolute evidence.”
“Can’t it be obtained?”
“Not without great difficulty. These mediums are a clever lot, Penny. They prey upon the superstitions of their intended victims.”
“I wish you would let me work on the story, Dad.”
“No, Penny,” responded her father. “You attend to your society and allow DeWitt to worry about the Celestial Temple crowd. Even if I should launch a campaign, I couldn’t allow you to become mixed up in the affair.”