The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-05-01

iSafIul lest the SnlrN Snoulu up SollS serious damage in his fury al being robbed of the fruits ot his lahorS hy a systematic >coundrel. aS he called his captor But he was powerlesS Ia do TompkinS any material harm at present, although he promised to make II warm for him when his turn came to enter the >pirit-realnl. threat which that gentleman treated with the con tempt it deserved And so TompkinS went on sucking the brains tor what correSpouded to hrainSl of the uutortuu- ate spirits who came within reach of his malign influence. and sending the pro duct of his thctt~ to the reviews and magazines, with the result narrated in the previous chapter shrink from mentioning tho names of the illu>triau> dead whose spirits where thus robbed of their intellectual treasures hN this unpriueiplrl rutiian II wa> na wonder that the critics in noticing his coutrlhu tion> remarked that they Were strangely reminded ot the late distinguished Mir. So-and-So in reading Mr Nathaniel B Iompkn> most recent poem or that the taking style m which thi~ article i> written recalls the late lamcntcd Mr What ~-hi> name in his happiv>t mo mrut What the late Mr What hi>- name > most miserable moment was like, l don know and l don want r. All can >aN k that when the article which reminded the reviewer ot hiS haplae,t one was obtained from the late dl~tu. gui~hcd gentleman, the had language which formed d running aeeo4npaul men! to Il was >o proia~r and violent a> to lead even rompku> te rcmou>tratr with the spirit on the subject
 When he had all @elder to.eNeeute for special information upon some i'm portant subject Tompkius would retire to his room and interview every spirit that came within his influence lvttur him go again If unable to furnish auN thing of value upon the ease Ill point, until al last he hit upon the one he wanted and then he would Stlc< to hlm 1 like d lecch until he had pumped hun i thoroughly dry He had mo fear that his gift ot wil-contrul would tycr leave him, as he had taken the trouble Ia ascertain how matters Stood from one of hi, captlvcs This spirit had told him that his power would continue as long as he lived subject only to one condition and that Was that if any >Iirit eyer succeeded in causing hml to feel terror eNen for a few moments. hls will.controling influence would thereby be overcome and his bower gone for ryer This. however Fompkins i,lt no anxiety about, as he had already Inter viewed th" spirits of murdcr"t>, would be poet, burglars. autograph collectors rcsurrcctionist~ tax gathefcr> and other desporadoes without as much as turn. ing a halr so that he had m cause for unca~nos> i'll that respect The must inconVcnicnt thing in the whole affair was that after he had been III q place for about three weeks ar a month all the spirits in the meighborhood got tu know of tn" unprlnciplrd designs which he entertained towards their fraternity and systematically abstanod from com ing aHYWncr" within range of hIs malign influence. so that his newly found ncans of making Il forum" seemed likely to meet with prcmatur" end. After he had worked district H. he called 1t, until the spiritual supply be gan to show signs of running short. he would wisely transfer himself therefore and hi, pen ink and paper. to fresh woods and pastures new Whrr,. the un- suspcctng spirits would come hulling round him with th" most artl,.~. conf deur" until they too had learned the cruel lesson of experience and hctakcn thcm~clvr, ont of reach of his dreaded power And ~o fouk lu> went ou. litch- ing his tent every tw" ur three week in different locality. and living upon the intellectual requirements of tn" untor tunatc spirit, who happened to h" guar 4 all America was ringing with thc fame and renown of hi- apparently marvel lott- wisdom and learning
 One day rompkin- had n very hig c;l,e in hand for which If he succeeded in obtaining any information h" wa- prom ised anuuu,ually iarg" fee He felt that if he was tp get any spiritual help on the matter t must be from tho -hadc of q very distinguished and learned man indeed so h" retired to his room, armed with an extra supply ot pen ink and paper in order to prosecute hl- search ; II" interviewed some fifteen or sixteen spirit- none of whom could give hm the information he required slud then he felt that he WA, in the immediate neighh6rhood of spirit ot unusual force and strength judging from the desp"rat" efforts jt made tp r>cap" from his aIl-Iowerfu influence Tarnation take the pe-ky thing said 'T9mpkin.. a- he got red in the face in h- effort. to exert an unusual amount of will power upon the rebolliou- shade never came across such 4 darncd onory eu-s in my life, but guess hes hooked now. Pears he- g"ttin fecblcr-Iikc kinder reckon ye lined hig fish this time; lets see who hei~ l. thcr" spirit there?
 There was no reply The .ririt ~a- evidently -ulky and unwilling to com" to terms
 All right, colonel said Tompkins he grit his teeth in his efforts c. turn on the will-tsp 4 screw higher. and so. a' purpl" in the face A turk"ycock
 all right, my boy, well soon ,"" whoa ,h