The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-07-24

calls IL downright wickcd OF MIN 10 ~
on deceiving folks by it, rs he does.
"You arc aware, then" demanded tn
canon, with evident interest, .that he bal
recourse TO trickery in carrying out hii
experiments?"
81 am, sir" was the emphatic reply
'And am also aware that ho and hi
friend, Mr., Jolliffc-you know who
mean, sir?" (the canon noddcd) "arC
Matching plot, sir, by which they mean
TO circumvent you, and make you appear
TO have been hypnotized."
"HOw will they manage that, / won.
der9n rejoined the canon, rather scorn-
fully.
II cannot tell you, sir,n the man re-
piled, because have not yet learned
the details myself; but know that my
master and Mr.. Jolliffe are going to dis
cuss their plans tonight in my masters 5
bedroom, and thought that you might,
perhaps, wish to overhear their conver-
satiOn."
THAT would be rather difficult mat
ter. would il n0t?' asked the canon.
"Why, no, sir,n the man answered,
looking carefully round him and drop
ping his voice to yet lower pitch, 81
don't think it would. In fact, could
easily put You in the way of doing so.
There's place in my masters room, sir
Ia sort of old wardrObe-where you
could remain with perfect safety, and
from which you could not fail to catch
every word that was said. Now, if l
was to place you there, sir, before mas
ter came up-staiIs--"
mo, no. interposed the canon with
dignity. II really could not stoop to
that, my man."
The valet looked disappointcd-even
rather hurt.
"Well, sir" he rejoined, 'of course
you know what's right much better than
do. At the same time, should have
thought that, as my master and his
fliend were playing such n mean trick
upon you, it was quite fair for to play q
counter-trick upon them. However, rs
1 said before, you know what's right,
and shouldn't, of course, presume to
try and persuade you"
With that he turned on his heel and
began to move away.
"Stay," cried the canon quickly. 1t
had occurred TO him, while the man was
speaking, that this opportunity Of show
ing up the humbug of hypnotism was
not, after all, one to be lightly thrown
away. perhaps was hasty in my re-
/ ply. S0Oulu ike Jline W Illlk over
what you have told me-"
''Very good, sir" answered the other,
turning round and touching his hat.
when will you let me know your dccis-
ion?"
"If you will come to my room just be-
fore evening l will do so them" replied
the canon, "and-and-" drawing a
sovereign from his waistcoat pocket and
| n,,apoinfy ~ into fha valafsc for from nm
willing hand), I'm much obliged to you
for your information"
The fellow received the gratuity with
prOfuse thanks and wch-satisiied
smirk. Then, uttering a polite ''good-
morning, sir" he walked away, and left
the canon to continue his constitutional
alone.
The greater part of that day the wOr-
thy divine spent in trying to decide how
to act. On the one hand, the prospect
of being in position to battle Perkins's S
little dodge and to show up the trick
cries of hypnotism was excessively
tempting; on the other, the meanness Of
such eavesdropping and the risk Of being
found out in it was decidedly repelling.
Urged by these conflicting considera-
tions, the canon found it so hard to make
up his mind that at five o'clock in the
afternoon he was still undecided. But
when the scales are poised even, the
merest trife will incline the balance to
one side. And that triflc in the present
instance, took the form of few casual
remarks made in the dIawing-room at
tea.
81 say, Perkins," Sir >Alaric Glanced
to observe, shave you determined how
TO hypnotize the canon yet?"
81 think So" Perkins replied, with a
smile of easy confidence. "Before this
time tomorrow, shall make the expert
ment; and, what is more, feel sure /
shall succeed"
upon my word, you almost make me
tremble," said the canon, assuming a
careless, jocular tone. But inwardly he
thought TO himself, "The boastful hum
bug! will go to his room tonight and
overhear his little plot, and then we'll
see what a fool we shall make him look
when he tries his tricks on me to-mor-
row."
So when, shortly before dinner, Jack
Perkins's valet came to the canon's
room, the latter said decidedly: 81 have
made up my mind, my man, to follow
out your suggestion, and 60 to Mr.. Per-
lSins's bedroom this evening to Overhear
his conspiracy against me, provided you
can assure me that what you have told
me is true, and that there is no apprecia-
bic risk of discovery involved"
~ can assure you Of both, sir" an
swered the man, emphatically. "The
wardrobe of which told you is an un-
used one, and nobody ever goes near it.
Then you see, sir, as TO getting away
again, you're merely to wait till Mr.. Per-
lIins is in bed and asleep, and then you
can slip out and back to your own room
as easy as anything"
every well," said the canon, who had
now lost sight of every other considora-
ton in his eager desire to floor Perkins,
and to gain strong handle against hyp-
notism. 81 will come up early tO bed to-
night. Do you be here about eleven
o. clock, and then you can conduct me to
your masters room. Mind, If all turns
out right, / will make it well worth your
while"
"Thank you, SIR" returned the valet.
"rll not fail to be in waiting for you
here at eleven o'clock"
That evening seemed to Canon Cruth'
all 10 drag terribly; but at length eleven
o'clock came, and he managed, on the
plea of headache, to escape upstairs
from the smoking-room.
The valet had not omitted to keep the
appointment, and was ready for him.
"You had better take off your shoes
sir,n he said in q low voice, ''as l have
done; for then we shall be able to move
more quietly"
The canon Immediately kicked off his
pumps and stood in his stocking-feet.
"Now," continued the other, 1--WE had
better go TO Mr.. Perkins's room at once
as there is no saying how soon he may
come upstairs. Begging your pardon
sir, it will be safer not TO bring candle
There is less chance Of our being seen il
we 60 in the dark"
''frue," the canon answered, setting
his candlestick down on the table. LEAD
the way, then, and viii follow"
Without speaking another word thS
man conducted HIM along the dimly
lighted passage, up one flight Of stair
and into bedroom at the top of them
"Here," he whispered, drawing bach
large curtain in one corner Of the room
sis the place Of concealment. Just stel
, behind this and I'll arrange it all righ
on the outside"
Canon Cruthall did as requested.
was not exactly a wardrobe, but a sort o
recess, with pegs at the back for hangin,
clothes upon and large curtain in front
''Now, SIR" said the valet in a Low
voice, when he had drawn the curtain
across again and carefully arranged IL
folds from the outside, "just you stol
quiet inside there, sir, and you'll be a
safe as church. l must not remail
here longer now, for my master ma,
come up at any moment"
Thereupon he quietly. withdrew, leas
J ing the canon ensconced behind the cur
. tain. The latter peered cautiously out
BY the dim light, which struggled Il
from the landing through the half-closel
door he could Just see the outlines o