Page:Resurrection Rock (1920).pdf/358

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346
RESURRECTION ROCK

brave men. He is satisfied. He wants you to be."

Mrs. Lucas Cullen, Junior, bent to her father-in-law's ear and whispered. Barney could not hear what she said, but he did hear his nearest informant whisper, "Mr. Woolston sent yesterday to have his brother's body brought home!"

If it was this which Lucas Cullen was hearing from his daughter-in-law, he silenced her with an impatient shake of his head which meant, "I know."

The Voice ceased to speak of the spirit beside the man with the rosette; and though its next words stirred to a sobbing cry one of the unveiled women in the first row, old Lucas sat back and relaxed. The woman hysterically attempted to find with her arms a child described before her; but Lucas was little moved, probably because—so Barney thought—he did not know the woman. Similarly the next emotional demonstrations on the part of evident strangers concerned him so little that for a few moments he seemed not to pay attention at all. He glanced toward Jaccard who looked at him and slightly nodded; and Lucas Cullen nudged his daughter-in-law who sat back consciously, evidently preparing herself for some act, when the Voice suddenly said:

"Laura is here!"

Jaccard jerked.

"She is there before you!" the voice continued without more definite designation. "She is young and beautiful—a beautiful soul always; beautiful in face, too. She has beautiful, red hair—dark auburn and eyes very blue; and hands white and small and very smooth. There is a least bit of blemish—a scar on the back of her left hand. Yes; she says it is a scar; she shows how a dog, playing with her, bit her too