The National tribune., 1892-05-12
bled signing statue, and melancholy one at

/
Decidedly, my dear sir; you are a splendid
subject much better than l thought you at
first"
As she said this Miss Eva allowed her pretty
head to fall back against the lace pillow while
she dropped the revolver from her right hand
| upon the counterpance of pink silk, where its
ivory handle made it look like little cream
island. Then from bowl of malachite cir
cled with gold she took cigaret of pale lata-
quieh. and fitting it into an amber holder set
with turquoses, she lighted it with wax
match and began to smoke as if she had for
gotten all about the burglar.
But Nj. Barton was watching her. When the
young lady took her eyes from him he felt
| blissful relief, and yet they were lovely eyes.
Still he was possessed by the idea-by the
certainty, in fact-that in whatever way she
might be looking, and however Indifferent to
him she might appear, Miss Eva really was
reading his innermost thoughts as if from
book open before her.
"My revolver? No, Monsieur, you are not
in a condition to use it," and she lit another
match without even looking toward her vic
| tim.
"Your chloroform2 That Is of no use either,
my friend! am not mistaken, am J. in say
| ing that you have vial of chloroform in your
right hand pocket?"
That made twice that she had read his
thoughts and NJ. Barton jumped Immediately
to the conclusion that she must be witch.
although a very dainty one he was forced to
admit.
This is sort of surprise TO you, is it not NJ.
| Barton? By the way, would you mind passing
me those diamonds you came after? There in
the top drawer the one you had started to
open. Oh, you were well posted Yes that's
| 1.-THE morocco casket. Let me have it, please"
Like soldier or an automaton the burglar
obeyed, turning his back upon the young girl
| rs he did So and in this position, freed from
/ her dominating gaze, he was seized with
desire to break away from her strange in
fluence. But she, anticipating him, said, almost
| caressingly:
ain your place, NJ Barton, would not try
to rebel. There is nothing to be done. You
are positively altogether too good a subject"
and this was perfectly true although poor NJ.
| Barton had but vague idea as to what the
word meant Like slave he carried the
casket to small table near the bed, only
couple of steps from where the lace coverings
nodded the outline of Miss Eva's young and
supple body. The situation was becoming
more and more trying for the veteran burglar.
As he approached the bed the fair young
American, in order to save situation which
might otherwise have contained in it some
thing of the shocking. began to blow about her
clouds of perfumed smoke. which shielded her
from too inquisitive inspection quite alter the
manner of the old-time goddesses.
:" / hope you do mt mind my smoking" she
said. II often enjoy cigaret when alone"
Again she spoke in reply to N. Barton's
secret thought:
mo, the casket has no lock-only spring,
like that" and touching the catch she caused
the cover of the casket to fly back, showing a
thousand ranbows made doubly brilliant I'M
der the glare of the electric light.
:" i feel, sir, that / owe you at least, after all
the trouble you have taken, whatever pleasure
you may get from the sight of my jewels.
What do you think of them? One hundred
Thousand pounds sterling, that is what they
will bring me any day / choose to sell them.
There it is, right before you, 100000 to be
had for the taking and over in those other
drawers there 10000 pounds in gold
always feel that it is safer for me to keep my
valuables than to put them in the bank. Don't
you think so? It's a shame, though. that
have spoiled your nicely-laid plan; and yet
have done nothing extraordinary, except to
make wise and fortunate application of the
latest discoveries of science"
While she was speaking she lighted second
cigaret with that pretty left hand, pink-and-
white, which she afterward threw back over
her head among the silken masses Of golden
hair Then she went on with the one-sided
conversation:
How old are you, NJ Baritone Thirty-six?
Yes2 Six years ago ! was 90. 1t is long
time since / discovered my mesmeric power. /
was only little girl then. ! have cultivated
it ever since, and at 10 had made my fortune
/ live all alone with Julia who is one of the
best subjects / ever had. You would make
another. How's that: you don't like the idea?
Alb but that is not my fault. Now, let me
see what can do with you. All! | have it."
She pressed the electric button, while he
stood petrifed unable TO speak, think, or act.
:" / am calling your fance. as l often do at
night when / want to make an experiment.
See. here she comes"
At the same moment Julia entered the bed
room in her robe de mutt, and in his condition
of stupor the unfortunate Barton thought his
misused sweetheart almost as much to be
dreaded the revolver of her mistress.
Miss Eva raised her hand toward Julia, who
stopped abruptly.
"A remarkable subject she Is, assure you,
sir / do with her whatever / wish at the
slightest sign. You may judge for yourself.
| Julia here is NJ Barton. He is here on bust
ness. You guessed his profession, but your
mistake was in imagining that he would d.
vide the plumber with you. Didn't she make
mistake, N. Bartonf"
"Bien, sur" said the latter, "she would never
have got dollar"
"And you also made a mistake, Julia, in
thinking that he would marry you. You would
never have done that, would you, III. Bar
ton2"
81 would sooner have been hung" This In
fierce tone. which made the ungainy maid rub
her eyes.
THAT makes the ninth marriage which he
has falsely promised in the same way, my good
! Julia"
Traitor" screamed the latter "if Mad moi-
| selle will allow ME will tear your eyes out"
"No, Julia; do not mar the countenance of
your lover. See how handsome he is as he
/ laughs now"
The fact was NJ. Barton's face was in state
Of goblin-like contortion.
Miss Loring, reclining against the pillow,
watched with amusement the comedy which
| was transporting before her, smoking her cigar
ct meantime. Presently she said, with ex-
| quiste politeness:
IN. Barton, would you have the kindness to
| put these diamonds back in their place?"
lie obeyed with ludicrous humility for he
was now completely under the magnetic infiu-
ence, and no longer made any attempt at resist
| ance.
Now" ordered the young woman speaking
sharply for the first time, look me in the
face"
From head to foot the fame of her eyes
swept over him disdanfully.
1t is needless for me TO call your attention,
NJ Barton to the fact that your little escapade of
this evening is not success. You must lay all
blameto your eyes, whose buish-steel tint show
you TO be one OF the most remarkable mesmeric
| subjects / have met with thus far. / might
keep you in the state Of subsection you are now
| in, and put you on exhibition at my mesmerc
! conferences but have not time to attend to