Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-23

this?''
The Major sank into chair, expressing
his thoughts by gasp. Mr.. Paley Eurned
his attention to the doctor.
What do you say, doctor?"
81 say?-I say nothing"
81 suppose" murmured the Major. In
what seemed to he the ghost of mis- natural
voice. "that did knock him down?''
The doctor seemed to have something to
say on that point. at any rate.
KNOCK him down!-I should think you
didl Like log of woodP'
The Major glanced at the governor. Mr.,
Paley shook his head. The Major groaned.
The governor began to be little agitated.
Something must be done. 1t is out Of
the question that such u scandal should be
allowed to go out into the world. do not
hesitate to say that If the chaplain sends in
to the commissioners the report which he
threatens to send, the situation will be to
the last degree unpleasant for all of u.s.
"The point is, observed the doctor-"are
we, collectively and individually, subject
to periodical attacks of temporary insan-
ity."
Speaking for myself should say GER
tainly not"
DR.. Livermore turned to tbe governor.
"Ihen perhaps you will suggest hy-
pothesis which will reasonably account for
Wude las Juob OCCuIACu. Lie SONeTuOf was
silent. "Unless you are prepared to seek
for cause in the regions of phenomena."
"Supposing," murmured the Major,
'there is such a thing as witchcraft after
alp"
"We should have the sPsyehical Research
Society down on us, il we had nobody else,
if we appended our names to a confession Of
faith" The doctor thrust his thumbs into
his waistcoat armholes. "And L should
lose every patient have"
There was tapping at the door. In re-
sponse to the governors invitation the chief
warder entered. In general there was in
Mr.. Murray's bearing a not distant sug-
gestion of an inflated bantam cock or
peuter pigeon. It was curious to observe
how anything in the shape of imitation was
absent now. He touched his hat as he ad-
dressed the governor-his honest, rubicund,
somewhat pugnacious face, eloquent OF the
weight that was on his mind.
Excuse me, sir. 1 said he was Q
witch"
'Your saying that he was a witch-or
wizard" remarked the governor dryly,
"will not. fear, be sufficient excuse, in the
eyes of the commissioners, for your throwing
o pail of water over the chaplain"
"But mans not answerable for what he
does when he's bewitehed," " persisted the
chief warder, with characteristic sturdi-
ness"
ut Is exactly that reflection which has
constrained me to return"
They looked up. There was the chaplain
standing in the door-still with his hand
kerchief to his nose.
"Mr. Murray, you threw pail of water
over me. If you assert that you did il
under the influence OF witchcraIt, /, who
have myself been under a spell, am willing
to excuse you"
"Mr. Hewett, sir, you yourself know I
was bewitched."
sI do; as believe it of myself. Murray,
give me your hand" The chaplain and the
chief warder solemnly shook hands. There
is an end OF the matter as it concerns US two.
Major Hardinge; do 1 understand you to ss-
sert that you too were under the influence of
witchcraft?''
This was rather delicate inquiry to ad-
dress to the Major. Apparently the Major
seemed to find it so.
81 don't know about witchcraft," he
growled; "but 1 am prepared to take my
oath in any court in England that 1 had no
more intention OF striking you than I had
of striking the MOON"
"That is sufficient, Major Hardinge I
forgive you from my heart. Perhaps you
too will take my hand"
The Msjor took it-rather awkwardly
much more awkwardly than the chief
warder had done. When the chaplain re-
linquished it, he turned aside, and picking
up his coat, began to put it on-scarcely
with that air of dignity which is proper to q
nF'ff' f PfssRa&s, aRaRfGtS continued Mr.. Hewstt,
"that we all allow that what has occurred
has been owing to the malign influence Of
the man Oliver Mankell?"
There was silence. Apparently thev did
alI a1Iouy IL ar ~ fvuo nil 70
"Hypnotism," muttered the doctor, half
aside.
"HypDotism! 1 believe that the word
simply expresses some sort of mesmeric
power-hardly sufficient explanation in
the present case"
81 would suggest, Major Hardinge," in
terposed the governor, "sll theorizing
aside, that the man be transferred to an
other prison at the earliest possible mo-
menL."
He shall be transferred to-morrow,"
affirmed the Major. "If there is anything
in Mr.. Hewett's suggestion, the fellow shall
have chance to prove it-in some other
Jail. Oh, good Lord! Don't! He's kill
ing me! Help-pi'
"Hardinge!" exclaimed the doctor;
"what's the matter now?'
There seemed to be something the matter.
The Major had been delivering himself in
his most pompously official manner. Sud-
denly he put his hands to the pit of his
stomach, and began to cry out as If in an
ecstasy OF pain, his official manner alto
gether gone.
HELL murder mel know he willP'
Murder you? Who?"
"Mankell."
"Oddly enough, 1 too was conscious of
Yery curious sensation.
AS he said this, the governor wiped the
cold dew of perspiration from his brow.
He seemed unnaturally white. As he ad-
iusted his spectacles, there was an odd
tremulous appearance about his ewes.
'.It was because you spoke of transferring
him to some other JAIL" The chaplsin's
tone was solemn. "He dislikes the idea Of
being trihed with"
The Major resentedthe suggestion.
''Trifed wifi? He seems uneommonly
fond of trifing with other people. Confound
the mani Oh-hP'
The Major sprang from the floor with an
exclamation which amounted to a positive
veil. They looked each other in the face.
Each man seemed little paler than his
wont.
"somsthing must be done, :" the governor
gasped.
The chaplain made proposition.
ST propose that we summon him into our
presence, and inquire Of him what he
wishes us to do"
The proposition was not received with ac-
clamatlon. They probably felt that GER
tain amount of complication might be ex.
pected to ensue If such inquiries began to be
to prisoners.
81 think I'll go my rounds" observed the
doctor f0This matteY scarcely couearns ma