National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-21

this house,
"What have told you obtained princi.
pally from an old newspaper file. OF course
/ was unable to learn the exact cause Of the
removal of the Dawsons, but IL seems quito
reasonable to suppose that Mrs Dawson,
being reminded of her lost daughter every
timo she entered this room, urged her hus-
band to vaCate the house. However, | am
inclined TO think that n moro powerful mo-
tive was tho cause and since | have deter
mined to clear up this mystery, this will be
my starting point. Ten thousand dollars is
a prize worth working for, and | may as we'll
tell you, since you will Of course assist me in
the undertaking. that have n theory Of the
case quite at variance with that of tho do
toctives. They looked for motive and
found n natural and reasonable one. Since
this has failed, / shall adopt an entirely diff
foront method-ono Mt once unnatural un.
reasonable, and without apparent motive"
"Will you give mo your doductionsP" /
asked.
mot yet; / need n few links to connect the
chain. Let us retire. / can think better Just
before | sleep"
1t was late when fell nslecp and / could
not have slept long when awolse and found
my companion sitting up writing. | soon
fell asleep again, and was awakened this time
by tho strong smell of coffee. My friend had
breakfast prepared We drank our coffee,
left the house, hailed car, and road down
into the city.
"Now," said my companion, ~ have pre-
pared q synopsis of this case and l find that
our first step is to see Mr.. Dawson. He con
be seen at his Office at II. We have nearly
two hours to spare, and We can use It to good
advantage by searching an old file Of news
papers"
shortly after II a carriage drove up to tho
office, and Mr.. Dawson aud young man
alighted. They found us waiting for them.
nv nauvapn uraAfh6 n pnrIialttr mud thh
other, his afflicted son, grinned and left the
room.
After n few commonplace remarks, my
companion alluded to tho son, and asked II
he was under treatment at present.
"a hopeless case" the father said. "Evory-
thing has boon dono that can be. / am not
encouraged to try again"
Ny companion asked if he had tried mano-
patty or mesmorism; and he launched out
into a comprehensive and entertaining ex-
PLANTATION of their philosophy, their causes
and effects, how equilibrium had been re-
stored and many diseases of the nervous sys.
tenn relieved and positively cured by this
treatment. He cited many instances Of such
cures-many of them cases coming under
his own observation. Mr.. Wells was an earn
est talker, positive in his statements, and car
red conviction with nearly everything
he said. On this subject he was entirely at
homo" and what he said interested Mr..
DHWSOu. MY companion uskeu IL NO mlRnJ
sec the son, and the father called him in.
The young man seemed quito shy at first,
grinned and hung his head, but my friend
was not long interesting him, and at nod
Of approval from tho father the operator
secured the imbecile's attention, gazed for
II moment or two into his eyes, and made a
few mesmeric passes Tho subject evinced
signs of somnoency; the idiotic grin faded
from his countenance, and a look of intense
interest took its place. In q few moments
the young mans head dropped upon his chest
and he slept At word from the operator
he awoke, stared vaoantly about him, and in
moment the idiotic grin returned to his
countenance. Again the subject was i'm
pressed, and the same facial changes took
place. Tho operator questioned him and
received lucid responses. The father was
astonished and delighted, and before we
took our departure an appointment was
made for my companion at Mr.. Dawson's
residence.
On our way to the Castle my friend said
II have succeeded in my first step, and the
way is now clear"
II cannot comprehend just what connec-
ton all this has with the mysterious disap-
peerance of Alice Dawson" l said.
"You shall very soon know"
Tho next evening he proceeded to the resi-
,dence Of Mr.. Dawson. / was to meet him
at theater near by at 10 o'clock. Return
lnB 10 our lOuRlnHb no Seelucu III eACcllcnt
spirits, and remarked that everything was
going smoothly. II will reach the climax
Tuesday evening, and you are to be present"
He spent the greater portion of that night
in reading an old volume entitled, "Philoso-
p by of tho Mind" and in making notes.
Tuesday evening arrived and we were
ushered into the magnificent parlors at the
residence of Mr.. Dawson. l asked my friend
if the portrait over the mantel was of Alice
Dawson, but at that moment Mr., Mrs, and
Alfred Dawson entered. Tho latter greeted
my companion very cordially, but did not
seem pleased OF my presence. In % few min
utes no evinced signs of "sleep-waking," and
the wonderful changes of facial expression
took place which / had noticed on tho pre-
vious occasion. The operator made one or
two passes and the subject closed his eyes and
slept Mr.. Dawson held whispered consul
tation with my friend, and Mr.. Dawson with
drew from the room.
Nov, Mr.. Dawson" said my companion,
~ have been informed that q reward Of $40 600
has been offered for the recovery of your alb
Quoted daughter, or for the conviction of the
abductor or abductors. Have ] been cor
rectly informed ~
"You have" said Mr.. Dawson, "but what
has hat to do with your operations upon my
son?"
81 will tell you, At my last operation l
ascertained that your son is II clairvoyant;
That the iaCtS relating 10 TINS mystery are
known to him, and the principal circum-
stances are now in my possession. / have not
succeeded, however, III oiiciting all tho in
| cidents but | am convinced that the con-
ditons arc such tonight that everything
| will be related just rs il occurred"
Convince mo that what you say is true
and you shall havo tho reward before you
leave the house."
You shall be entirely satisfied and at
once" said the operator, and he took a note;
| book from his pocket, knelt by the imbecile,
and the following dialogue ensued
Question. You are about TO witness the
great drama of "Nobody's Daughter" The
orchestra has ceased playing and the curtain
is about to rise. Do you see clearly?
| after pause of about thirty seconds
| Answer. Yes, ! see.
| Q. You do not like this play. You are
restless-disturbed. About whom arc you
thinking?
| A. About Alice.
O. The curtain Is about to fall upon the
first act and you arc going out. Where are you
going3
| A. I'm going home to see my dog Fido.
You love me, don't you, Fido2 But pa and
ma don't They love Alice, and buy her nice
things, and broastpins, and fine dresses, and
everything; and don't have anything, do /.
| They don't care for me. Pm only an idiot,
and she can read books. See the light in her
window? She's reading now, ] guess; and
she's all alone. She took "a and ma away
from us, didn't she; but If can hide her
away from where they can't find her, they'll