The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-12-25
CARRISTON'S GIFT.
The Story Of an Occult and Nys
teriouo Power.
The Danger to which Its Ressessof Wa
Subject. aaa How Il Wa Used to
Discover the Lost-kvn Nochl-
nations Thwnrtod.
~ Hi,oA Conscdv Author # Ddrk Logs.
"Cdued Back" etc.
PART L-CoNrrSuEp.


my face about foot from his looked
straight into his eyes. They betrayed
no sign of recognition-no knowledge
of my presence. am ashamed to say
Icould not divest myself of the impress
sion that they were looking through me.
The pupils were greatly dilated. The
lids were wide apart I lighted .apeI
and held it before them, but could SEE
no expansion of the iris. 1t was a case,
confess, entirely beyond my compre
hension. had no experience which
might serve as guide as to what WIS
the best course to adopt All l could
do was to stand and watch carefully
tor any change.
Save for his regular breathing and a
sort of convulsiye twitchiny of his
fingers, Cnrr.ston might have been a
corpse or statue. His face could
scarcely grow paler than it had been
before the attack. Altogether. it was
an uncomfortable sight-a creepy sight
this mo:ionless man. utterly regard
less of all that went on around him. and
seeing. or giving one the idea that he
saw. something far away. Isighed as
L looked at the strange spectacle. and
foresaw what the end must surely be.
But although longed for him to awake.
I determined on this occasion to let the
trance. or fit, run its full course. that
might notice in what manner and how
soon consciousness returned.
must have waited AMI; watched some
ten minutes minutes which seemed to
me interminable. At last l saw the
lips CULVER. the lids flicker once or twice.
and eventually close weariiy over the
eyes. The unnatural tension of every
muscle seemed to relax, and signing
deeply. and apparently quite exhausted,
Carriston sank back into his chair with
beads of perspiration forming on his
white brow. The hit was over.
In moment | was at his side and
forcing glass of wine down his throat
He looked up At me aud spoke. Hi
voice was FAINT but his words were
quite collected.
81 have seen her again." he said.
''She is well: but so unhappy. l saw
her kneel down and pray. Size stretched
her beautiful arms out to me. And vel
I know not where to look for her-rly
poor love! my poor lover
/ waited until l thought he had suf.
ficiently recovered from his exhaustion
to talk without in. urious consequences.
.Carriston." l said. '.let me ask you
one question: are these frances or WIS.,
.ons voluntary. or not?"
l. s.. Al
cant quite tell you." he said: 'or,
rather. l would put it in this way.
do not think l can exercise my power
at will; but can feel when the fit is
coming on me, and, believe. can. If
choose, stop myself from yielding
% it."
Very we'll. Now listen. Promise
me you will fight against these seizures
rs much AS You can. If you don't, you
will be raving mad in a month"
Il can't promise that" said Carris-
ton. quietly. ..See her at times must,
or shall die. But promise to yield
rs seldom rs may be. know. as well
as you do, that the very exhaustion
now feel must be injurious to any one. "
In truth, he looked utterly worn out.
Very much dissatisfied with his conces.
sion. the best could get from him.
sent him TO bed. knowing that natural
rest if he could get it. would do more
than anything else toward restoring q
healthy tone to his mind.
VIII.
Although Carriston stated that he
80 Gov L..
protection, he manifested the greatest
reluctance in following any advice
offered him. The obstinacy of his re
fusal to obtain the assistance of the pc
lice placed me in a predicament. That
Madeline Rowan had really disappeared
i was, of course. compelled to believe.
1t might even be possible that she was
kept against her will in some place Of
concealment. In such a case it be-
hooved us to take proper steps to trace
her. Her welfare should not depend
upon the Authorizations and eccentric
ideas Of a man half out of his sense;
with love and grief. l all but resolved,
even at the risk of FORGETTING Carriston'
friendship. to put the whole matter in
the hands of the police, unless. in the
course of day or two. We heard from
the girl herself, or Carriston suggested
some better plan.
Curiously enough. although refusing
to be guided by me, he made no sug
gestiOn On his own account He Wa;
racked by fear and suspense. yet his
only idea of solving his difficulties
seemed to be that of waiting. He did
nothing He simply waited. as if he
expected that chance would bring what
he should have been searching for high
and low.
Some days passed before / could ge,
> tardy consent that aid should be
sought Even then he would not 90 to
the proper quarter; but he allowed me
to summon to our councils 8 man who
advertised himself as being private
detective. This man, or one of his
men, came at our call and heard what
was wanted of him. Carriston re-
luctantly gave him one of Madeline s
photographs. He also told him that
only be watching and spying on Ralph
Carriston's every action could he hope
to obtain the clew ] did not much
like the course adopted. nor did 1 like
the look of the man to whom the in
quiry was intrusted; but at any rate,
something was being done.
A week passed without news from
our agent Carriston, in truth, did moi
seem to expect any. believe he only
employed the man in Difference to my
wishes He moved about the house in
. disconsolate fashion. / had not told
him of my interview with his cousin.
but had cautioned him on the rare oc-
NAs;nnR uuon which no went OyYt-of.