Sir Arthur Conan Doyle The Land Of Mis

Jones of North Wales was the orator. It has also to be stated that if Mr. Jones shuddered at the beginning it was the turn of his audience to shudder afterwards. Granting his own claim he had proved clearly that an Atlantean spirit might be a portentous bore. He droned on with platitudes and ineptitudes while Malone whispered to Enid that if Alasha was a fair specimen of the population it was just as well that his native land was safely engulfed in the Atlantic Ocean. When with another rather melodramatic shudder he emerged from his trance the chairman sprang to his feet with an alacrity which showed that he was taking no risks lest the Atlantean should return.
  We have present with us tonight he cried Mrs. Debbs the wellknown clairvoyante of Liverpool. Mrs. Debbs is as many of you know richly endowed with several of those gifts of the spirit of which Saint Paul speaks and the discerning of spirits is among them. These things depend upon laws which are beyond our control but a sympathetic atmosphere is essential and Mrs. Debbs will ask for your good wishes and your prayers while she endeavours to get into touch with some of those shining ones on the other side who may honour us with their presence tonight.
  The president sat down and Mrs. Debbs rose amid discreet applause. Very tall very pale very thin with an aquiline face and eyes shining brightly from behind her goldrimmed glasses she stood facing her expectant audience. Her head was bent. She seemed to be listening.
  Vibrations! she cried at last. I want helpful vibrations. Give me a verse on the harmonium please.
  The instrument droned out Jesu Lover of my soul.
  The audience sat in silence expectant and a little awed.
  The hall was not too well lit and dark shadows lurked in the corners. The medium still bent her head as if her ears were straining. Then she raised her hand and the music stopped.
  Presently! Presently! All in good time said the woman addressing some invisible companion. Then to the audience I dont feel that the conditions are very good tonight. I will do my best and so will they. But I must talk to you first.
  And she talked. What she said seemed to the two strangers to be absolute gabble. There was no consecutive sense in it though now and again a phrase or sentence caught the attention. Malone put his stylo in his pocket. There was no use reporting a lunatic. A Spiritualist next him saw his bewildered disgust and leaned towards him.
  Shes tuning in. Shes getting her wave length he whispered. Its all a matter of vibration. Ah there you are!
  She had stopped in the very middle of a sentence. Her long arm and quivering forefinger shot out. She was pointing at an elderly woman in the second row.
  You! Yes you with the red feather. No not you. The stout lady in front. Yes you! There is a spirit building up behind you. It is a man. He is a tall man six foot maybe. High forehead eyes grey or blue a long chin brown moustache lines on his face. Do you recognize him friend?  The stout woman looked alarmed but shook her head.
  Well see if I can help you. He is holding up a book brown book with a clasp. Its a ledger same as they have in offices. I get the words Caledonian Insurance. Is that any help?
  The stout woman pursed her lips and shook her head.
  Well I can give you a little more. He died after a long illness. I get chest trouble asthma.
  The stout woman was still obdurate but a small angry redfaced person two places away from her sprang to her feet.
  Its my usband mam. Tell im I dont want to ave any more dealins with him. She sat down with decision.
  Yes thats right. He moves to you now. He was nearer the other. He wants to say hes sorry. It doesnt do you know to have hard feelings to the dead. Forgive and forget. Its all over. I get a message for you. It is Do it
and my blessing go with you! Does that mean anything to you?  The angry woman looked pleased and nodded.
  Very good. The clairvoyante suddenly darted out her finger towards the crowd at the door Its for the soldier.
  A soldier in khaki looking very much amazed was in the front of the knot of people.
  Wots for me? he asked.
  Its a soldier. He has a corporals stripes. He is a big man with grizzled hair. He has a yellow tab on his shoulders. I get the initials J. H. Do you know him?
  Yes but hes dead said the soldier.
  He had not understood that it was a Spiritualistic Church and the whole proceedings had been a mystery to him. They were rapidly explained by his neighbours. My Gawd! cried the soldier and vanished amid a general titter. In the pause Malone could hear the constant mutter of the medium as she spoke to someone unseen.
  Yes yes wait your turn! Speak up woman! Well take your place near him. How should I know? Well I will if I can. She was like a janitor at the theatre marshalling a queue.
  Her next attempt was a total failure. A solid man with bushy sidewhiskers absolutely refused to have anything to do with an elderly gentleman who claimed kinship. The medium worked with admirable patience coming back again and again with some fresh detail but no progress could be made.
  Are you a Spiritualist friend?
  Yes for ten years.
  Well you know there are difficulties.
  Yes I know that.
  Think it over. It may come to you later. We must just leave it at that. I am only sorry for your friend.
  There was a pause during which Enid and Malone exchanged whispered confidences.
  What do you make of it Enid?
  I dont know. It confuses me.
  I believe it is half guesswork and the other half a case of confederates. These people are all of the same church and naturally they know each others affairs. If they dont know they can inquire.
  Someone said it was Mrs. Debbs first visit.
  Yes but they could easily coach her up. It is all clever quackery and bluff. It must be for just think what is implied if it is not.
  Telepathy perhaps.
  Yes some element of that also. Listen! She is off again.
  Her next attempt was more fortunate. A lugubrious man at the back of the hall readily recognized the description and claims of his deceased wife.
  I get the name Walter.
  Yes thats me.
  She called you Wat?
  No.
  Well she calls you Wat now. Tell Wat to give my love to the children. Thats how I get it. She is worrying about the children.
  She always did.
  Well they dont change. Furniture. Something about furniture. She says you gave it away. Is that right?
  Well I might as well.
  The audience tittered. It was strange how the most solemn and comic were eternally blended strange and yet very natural and human.
  She has a message The man will pay up and all will be well. Be a good man Wat and we will be happier here then ever we were on earth.
  The man put his hand over his eyes. As the seeress stood irresolute the tall young secretary half rose and whispered something in her ear. The woman shot a swift glance over her left shoulder in the direction of the visitors.
  Ill come back to it said she.
  She gave two more descriptions to the audience both of them rather vague and both recognized with some reservations. It was a curious fact that her details were such as she could not possibly see at the distance. Thus dealing with a form which she claimed had built up at the far end of the hall she could none the less give the colour of the eyes and small points of the face. Malone noted the point as one which he could use for destructive criticism. He was just jotting it down when the womans voice sounded louder and looking up he found that she had turned her head and her spectacles were flashing in his direction.
  It is not often I give a reading from the platform said she her face rotating between him and the audience but we have friends here tonight and it may interest them to come in contact with the spirit people. There is a presence building up behind the gentleman with a moustache the gentleman who sits next to the young lady. Yes sir behind you. He is a man of middle size rather inclined to shortness. He is old over sixty with white hair curved nose and a white small beard of the variety that is