The Land of Mist Chapter 9 - Which Introduces Some Very Physical Phenomena

**Amanda Leung** (0:00)
Chapter IX. Of The Land of Mist. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit librivox.org. Read by Amanda Leung. The Land of Mist by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which introduces some very physical phenomena.
Malone seemed destined to be entangled in the affairs of the Linden family, for he had hardly seen the last of the unfortunate Tom before he became involved in a very much more unpleasant fashion with his unsavory brother.
The episode began by a telephone ring in the morning and the voice of Algernon Mailey at the far end of the wire. Are you clear for this afternoon? At your service. I say, Malone, you are a hefty man. You played rucker for Ireland, did you not? You don't mind a possible rough and tumble, do you? Malone grinned over the receiver.
You can count me in. It may really be rather formidable. We shall have to possibly tackle a prizefighter. Righto, said Malone cheerfully.
And we want another man for the job. Do you know any fellow who'd come along just for the sake of the adventure? If he knows anything about psychic matters, all the better. Malone puzzled for a moment. Then he had an inspiration.
There is Roxton, said he. He's not a chicken, but he is a useful man in a row.
I think I could get him. He's been keen on your subject since his dorsure experience.
Right, bring him along. If he can't come, we shall have to tackle the job ourselves. 41 Belle Shaw Gardens, Southwest, near Earls Court Station, 3 p.m. Right. Malone at once rang up Lord Roxton and soon heard the familiar voice. What's that, young fella? A scrap? Why, certainly. What? I mean, I had a golf match at Richmond Deer Park, but this sounds more attractive. What? Very good. I'll meet you there.
And so it came about that at the hour of three, Mailey, Lord Roxton and Malone found themselves seated around the fire in the comfortable drawing room of the barrister. His wife, a sweet and beautiful woman who was his helpmate in his spiritual, as well as his material life, was there to welcome them.
Now, dear, you're not in on this act, said Mailey. You will retire discreetly into the wings. Don't worry if you hear a row.
But I do worry, dear, you'll get hurt.
Mailey laughed. I think your furniture may possibly get hurt. You have nothing else to fear, dear. And it's all for the good of the cause. That always settles it, he explained as his wife reluctantly left the room.
I really think she would go to the stake for the cause. Her great, lovingly, womanly heart knows what it would mean for this gray earth if people could get away from the shadow of death and value this great happiness that is to come. By Jove, she is an inspiration to me. Well, he went on with a laugh. I must not get on to that subject. We have something very different to think of, something as hideous and vile as she is beautiful and good. It concerns Tom Lyndon's brother.
I have heard of the fellow, said Malone. I used to box a bit, and I am still a member of the NSC. Silas Lyndon was very nearly champion in the welters. That's the man. He's out of a job and thought he would take up mediumship. Naturally, I and the other spiritualists took him seriously, for we all love his brother, and these powers often run in families, so that his claim seemed reasonable. So we gave him a trial last night. Well, what happened? I suspected the fellow from the first. You understand that it is hardly possible for a medium to deceive an experienced spiritualist. When there is deception, it is at the expense of outsiders. I watched him carefully from the first, and I seated myself near the cabinet. Presently, he emerged clad in white. I broke the contact by prearrangement with my wife, who sat next to me, and I felt him as he passed me. He was, of course, in white. I had a pair of scissors in my pocket, and I snipped off a bit from the edge. Mailey drew a triangular piece of linen from his pocket. There it is, you see? Very ordinary linen. I have no doubt the fellow was wearing his nightgown. Why did you not have a show up at once? asked Lord Roxton. There were several ladies there, and I was the only really able-bodied man in the room.
Well, what do you propose?
I have appointed that he come here at 3.30. He is due now.