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"That, too, could be a delusion--medical science is full of cases of auto-hypnotis what a bloo beauty she is in the ives Clarke and the ument--they say 'it hasn't hurt her, you see' But what future has the poor girl? Think of going through life in that way!"
Morton's eyes were sad as he said: "Her future is a dark one, froiven in the land of shadows She is beautiful, but it is the beauty of a blighted flower"
Kate regarded him with affectionate eyes "I don't wonder that she has bewitched you, Morton She can never be anything to you, of course But we must help her, just the same, and I confess I am crazy to see one of her 'perforhtened "Hoould it do to invite thee then of her truth"
"Sacrifice her to ht better of you than that Isn't that precisely the poor girl's complaint that everybody wants to use her as a sort of telephone connection with the other world? No If you invite her here, receive her as a lady, not as a pervert But, now, let us see You say Clarke is going to issue his challenge soon?"
"On the second"
"And that she has consented?"
"Consented? Poor thing, she has no choice"
"If he issues that challenge, she is lost" His brows knitted "To defy the world of science in that ill ame for every charlatan in the city The press will unite to destroy her I will see Clarke and Pratt myself For the sake of their own cause they must not enter on such a foolish plan Unless this life has already eaten deep into the essential purity of the girl's nature, she will be corrupted This public-test business will drive her into all kinds of artifices and shifts Her exposure will be swift and sure Yes, I will see Clarke If necessary I will undertake to secure a purely private investigation of her claims--"
Kate rose and caood of you, Mort I can't begin to tell you how that girl's face has worked on me to-day I feel that it would be cri when she expects it of you She looks to us to save her She passionately desires your help Go over there to-e any ry and alaro, Morton You can't afford to stand on cereer"