“Keep your seat, Evans,” he said. “I don’t expect this interview to be
either important or protracted.”
I resumed my seat, but rose again immediately as a neatly dressed girl
entered the room. She was small, golden-haired, and quite pretty. For a
moment she glanced at both of us, standing beside our chairs--then
evidently decided in favor of the doctor’s grizzled Van Dyke.
“I am Greta Van Loan, doctor,” she said, addressing him as if sure she
had spoken to the right man.
“You recognize me, then?” he asked, drawing a chair forward for her.
She sat down lightly, and with exquisite grace.
“To be sure. I have seen your picture in the papers ever so many times,
usually in connection with your investigations of spiritistic
phenomena.”
The doctor did not appear to feel flattered. In fact, his look was
rather one of boredom, as if he expected something unpleasant to grow
out of this subtle blandishment. His voice, however, was quite pleasant
as he replied.
“Indeed. Will you tell me how I may be of service to you?”
She looked at me, and I developed a most unnecessary feeling. I rose
once more, this time firmly resolved to take my leave, but again the
doctor detained me.
“Miss Van Loan,” he said, “allow me to present Mr. Evans, my friend and
colleague. Like me, he is an investigator of the supernormal in psychic
phenomena.”
Her acknowledgment of the introduction was accompanied by a charming
smile that immediately put me at my ease.
“I have heard of your work in connection with that of Dr. Dorp,” she
said. “How fortunate that I find you two together--especially as my
reason for coming to see the doctor has a direct bearing on the very
subject that seems to be of interest to both of you. Won’t you stay?”