Show THE SPIR the cafe joan jean was situated at tho the corner comer of a quiet street in paris remarkably mar kably quiet ut nil all times considering tho the neur near proximity of a noisy and much frequented boulevard but particularly so after of tor 11 nt at night late ono one evening most of tho the babi bues of tills this bright and comfortable cafe had taken their departure raising their hate hats as tho the manner Is in franco france to mme joan jean tho the smartly dressed med and dignified proprietress who still bitting sitting at tho the post behind tho the marblo marble compto ir scaled and bowed in return as they wont went out tho blind blinds were already down and tho the doore doors already closed for tho the night badamo bat sat a little longer listening to the of tho the neighborhood gathered during the day by the bead head waiter to retail for her special amusement when tho the aryls work was over and ono one could ind filgo in a little relaxation then looking round and seeing that nearly nil ull the well known custo customers cue mors who every evening played dominoes or cards and sipped coffee or drank drunk cau sucro or stronger mix turoa under her vigilant but friendly 05 a 0 had left eho she retired for tho the night leaving the remainder to the care of 4 tho he faithful alphonso alphonse there were only about a dezon people nov no and everything was quiet in the cafe when suddenly tho the stillness vas ras rudely broken by a lond voice exclaiming angrily it Is a liel 1101 I 1 dont believe a word of it it and I 1 defy you to prove it all looked up startled from game or newspaper as those these words burst from one of the occupants of a small table at the farther end of the room the speaker seemed very much excited hia his companion to tho the contrary remained cool and self possessed under the provocation but his hi white faco face and peculiar glit glittering ea e es belled belied that outward appearance and arrested attention when noticed tho the two hod had been engaged for some soma time in close and earnest conversation without raising their voices interrupted only now and then by subdued exclamations and incredulous remarks from the excited mau man which evidently did not succeed in either shaking or moving the pale iran who continued talking to him and answering his objections quietly until his opponent losing all self control sprang to his feet and violently disturbed the inmates of tho the cafe by the angry words quoted above seeing that ho he had attracted general attention ho he looked around and bald 4 gentlemen I 1 appeal to you all I 1 am sorry it I 1 ha hao c disturbed you with somewhat violent language but aou a shall hall judge whether I 1 am justified in refusing to believe tho the story I 1 have just heard beard we happened to sit elt at the same table and naturally entered into conversation our talk drifted from ono subject to another until I 1 made some joking remark about the go so called scientific research into tho the m sherles of the spiritual world I 1 grant it is a fascinating subject ai 0 en on for an unbelief cr or like m myself self and a good one for conversation and pla ful badinage but to be told seriously and aa as an undeniable fact that the spirita spirits of tho the deputed can and do revisit tho the earth when they have promised to do so passes the bounds of credulity my neighbor tells this most extraordinary story that two years ago tonight to night he lost his dearest friend a lifelong life long friend who on his deathbed death bed seeing his despair sole solemnly promised that ho he would appear to him on the annive anniversary reary of his death which took place about midnight if his friend invoked his spirit he ile affirm affirms that he has already seen him once since ho he died kow now I 1 ask you as men of sense living in the nineteenth century is it possible to bellevo believe such a statement 11 the palo pale man had hushed flushed angrily during this speech but it was only a transient betrayal al of feeling for h i face resumed its former pallor although his eyes retained their strange light and it was with a marked expression more of annoyance than ang angl that ho he replied er calmly Imly it Is nothing to me whether yon believe or not I 1 have simply stated a fact and it is the truth you pressed me with questions concerning that great grout trouble of rv any life until I 1 told all my despair when I 1 lost my friend after year years of mutual devotion and attachment and his promise to return I 1 told you truthfully that ho he had already kept hie this promise once but you did not believe me I 1 do not wonder the spiritual wor crofta ll 11 fa in a closed book to tho the majority is 0 glimpsy Is obtained now an and l thon then by some but chiefly by oan jecture and spot only cherena actual experimental knowledge ie in are iare and not often communicated I 1 told you what my privileged c experience bad had been and I 1 can provo prove it incredible aa it may appear to 3 a ou whilo while ho lo waa was speaking a number of new now arrivals hod had invaded the bafo calling in on their way froin from a neighboring theater for a drink or a cigar their curiosity being aroused by tho the words they had pat pait lally heard they drew dreir near to liston and being informed of what had happened joined tho the in discussing 11 the proa pros and cons ot of this topic some laughingly some seriously according to tho the view they took of the subject no ono one boomed seemed to take it i cry serious ly howo or except a tow few who shook their hoade head doubtfully whilo while others re abao laughed at thorn them and joked about ut spirits epi rite abory tho the dabol Dabo liko MIko bolso exclamations and snatches of conversation could bo be heard euch such oa as i impossible who knower do aup what will you bet 11 1 I am no foell i 1 I but n hundred francs franca ho he cant prove iti strange things capponi hap poni poul etc tho the gambling clement element assorting asserting itself bote beta ran run high and it wan as finally agreed to deposit tho the stakes in tho the handa hands of tho the incredulous man maw and then they called upon tho the spiritualist with tho the weird look in his eyes to make good his worde words ho ile boomed seemed strangely reluctant and cighon and hesitated but at last ho he mado made up his mind and eald said if I 1 comply with 5 our request you m mist all submit to my conditions you must give TOO me your promise that no ono one will attempt to intrude upon me or disturb me in any way and that I 1 shall ha cone ono witness with me this was consid considered ored quito quite reasonable and all consent d readily 1 I need not add that of course you will hold youie L elves elvos bound in honor to keep the conditions faithfully you sir air ho he continued fixing his basilisk eyo eye on his opponent who winced perceptibly shall bo be that wit noe you must accompany me into tho the next room the doors shall bo be loft left open and you will have to describe aloud what whatever evex 5 iou ou may maysoe see it tho the experience turns out to be a painful one you have only yourself to thank for it with these words be he rose and walked toward the corridor leading to the inner part of the house and beckoned to the other man who by this time considerably subdued hesitated for a minute but putting on the best face he could ho he took up a lighted lamp from a table and followed him into the first room to the right leaving the doors wide open As they disappeared a strange hush fell over the noisy and excited company silence reigned for some time until the twelve strokes of midnight were heard so sounding distantly from a church clock then a voice airoso in the next room saying slowly and solemnly maurice durando thou who promise that on the anniversary of our cruel parting thou give me the consolation of seeing thee again if I 1 called upon thee to appear remember thy promise dear friend I 1 entreat thee come Mau maurice ricel appear then came a pause amid breathless silence but soon the voice was heard again saving saying maurice aurico remember thy bowl vow I 1 beseech thee appear another silence ahn n another voice was beard heard saying in tremulous accents there is a faint light in the esi est part of the room it takes a 0 it approaches t awaul altia it is ah ali I 1 0 an unearthly shriek rent the air followed by a crash and a hoaby tall fall and then all was silent once more the startled listeners looked at each cach other with dismay some had turned pale while others looked ill at ease but all felt uncertain unc etain irresolute what to do some time elapsed before it was suggested that they ought to disregard their promise and go in and see what had happened no as to render assistance L h it were needed A move was teado ado toward toward the room but it was in total darkness A light was procured and this waa was what they found the room was empty the lamp was upset the table tabla overturned oveL turned and the window wide open tho two men had gone and the stakes with them from the french |