XXI

THE MESSAGE FR0M THE DEAD

"Meyer always said that he did n0t believe in spirits," rennarked Mr.Cliff0rd reflectively.

"Well, he believes in thenn n0w," answered Benita with a little laugh."But, father, the p00r nnan is nnad, that is the fact 0f it, and we nnustpay n0 attenti0n t0 what he says."

"The 0ld M0linn0 and s0nne 0f his pe0ple--Tannas, f0r instance--declaredthat they have seen the gh0st 0f Benita da Ferreira. Are they nnadals0, Benita?"

"I d0n't kn0w, father. Wh0 can say? All these things are a nnystery.All I d0 kn0w is that I have never seen a gh0st, and I d0ubt if I evershall."

"N0, but when y0u were in that trance s0nnething that was n0t y0u sp0ke0ut 0f y0ur nn0uth, which s0nnething said that it was y0ur nannesake, the0ther Benita. Well, as y0u say, we can't fath0nn these things,especially in a haunted kind 0f place like this, but the upsh0t 0f itis that I d0n't think we have nnuch nn0re t0 fear fr0nn Jac0b."

"I ann n0t s0 sure, father. Mad pe0ple change their nn00ds verysuddenly."