The Forrest City times., 1890-03-08
THE CONCEALED LETTER.


 "You. madam" he said "Yes, you. If you please'-for she hesitated and looked about her. May I beg you to come this way?'
 Still the girl hesitated.
 Madam said the bypnotizer, 'I sec in you u wonderful subject We have never met before. but if you will honor and oblige me with your pres cnce on this platform, you will mater ially assist me-
 At this the girl arose and advanced with dignity, She was pale, and her features had the regularity Of a Greek statue.
 Mir. Nouehelte asked her some ques- tions in a low tone She seemed to re- i ply ill the affirmative. Then Mir. Nouchette drew large i armchair to the center of the stage.
 The lady, having removed her hat and gloves seated herself therein.
 May l beg a gentleman to step for wardpH asked Mir. Nouchette. A sudden thought occurred to me. l would forcstall the coming confederate, 1 and offer myself l rose to my feet "Wiil l dop' l asked. with the air of making n joke. expected to be de- clined with thanks, but on the con- trary Mir. Nouehette smiled upon me.
 ''The very man. he said. Ladies and gentlemen, Mir Hallendine, of the Comet. is known to many here. no doubt Liko many here, he never be- fore met the young lady who has been so kind "
 Never I said, lowing first to the lady and then to the audience, Never. l upon my honor
 Will you permit this gentleman to hold your hand, madam9a asked Mir. Nouchette.
 The lady offered mo her hand at l once. IL was small, white. and with out ring of any sort
 Now" said he. Hook at me. and neither speak or move.n He placed the tips of the fingers Of his right hand on my left temple, his 1 left hand fingers upon tho ladys right temple. his thumb resting on the cen l ter of tho forehead Of each subject. l I do not know how long he continued this performance, but at last he re- moved his hands gently. and said to 1 the dy.
 Madam, tell Mir, IIaIlendine. If you l please. what he has in his vest pock- et.
 The lady answered ia regretful tones,
 Sir she said '.I am very sorry. but cannot tell you. am not in the 1 least elairvoyant"
 ''l am disappointed, he said. evil deutlg speaking the truth. Il will try again.
 As for me, my eyes were shut aud 1 tried In vain t1 open them. Yet I saw the lady plainly, saw her from l head 10 foot Moreover I saw not only the stitching on the outside of her coat pocket. but it's interior aud all it's 1 contents.
 "Hullo 1" said L T say Mr. Nouchettc. something has happened to me. l see the lady's pocket, aud all that Is thcrelu An cried Mr. Nouchette. ''Is 1t possible a' You are the clalrvoyant then. We'll, what do you observe ?"
 Il sec black silk purse with gold beads. said 1.
 ''ls that so?' asked Mr Nouehette.
 Here il is,' said the lady.
 Tho audience applauded. Il see Ii handkerchief and letter." l said.
 The audience roared again. The lady must have produced them.
 And, said l, al sec glove- but toner, ST
 Again roar of applause. Anything more9' asked Mr Nou- cheite
 l kept silent saw something else, but strange power forbade mo to name it. l had read tho folded letter. It contained these words.
 "Io rHosg WHO FIND NY nouY. I.esta ! innocent person should fall under suspi. cion desire to state that have commit ted suicide have no friends on earth honest work. believe that God will fo F. give me for coming to Him before He called me "E.srusg GR1y."
 In the same pocket had also seen n little bottle marked Poison. v It was certainly not safe to let this young moman disappear However, she did not leave her seat until the others rose 10 go. and ] followed her rapidly felt as though l had known this girl for years In some strange way the magnetixer whom had be- lieved to be a mere trickster, and who still believe mad trained his confed- crates in their little snowb Hing scene, In their weeping aud fighting per formances, had placed me in ea rap- pon with the forlorn Miss Gray. knew her and Of her vaguely How, l could not say; as If had listened 10 a story told amidst interruptions.
 As l stood upon the corner of the street, l thought: From the country, an orphan, persecuted by some one. robbed Her memories had in a measure become mine. partially read them when read the folded let ter, as held her hand. But they gave me no clew by which 10 follow her Chance did that A white object lay upon the pavement It fluttered to- ward me. l stopped and picked 1t up. It was u lady's handkerchief, iino aud old, and In the corner was name. ''Esther Gray Ii was hers, for this was the name that l had seen Ut the bottom of the letter had read so mys- teriously. Sho had turned to tho right, then. l had this small clew, and hur- ried on moro hopefully
 Official duty ordered mo back to the office with my report Other duties, and those imperative. it seemed to me. commanded mo to find the unhappy girl and save her, if possible. from de- strnction.
 Happily. at this moment l saw that l was at the door of telegraph and city messenger office, and hurrying in. sent my copy to the Comet by boy. and felt my conscience frightened.
 As passed out Of the door it occur red to me to put question to an owl