The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-29

az III 10 listen Tor SOMEBODY. nolfllg Gus
ing Il again and very carefully and close.
And then I was just as certain that
double outside latch was clInched. and
that for the time being | was locked In
with Mrs. Apolyong. az / am certain OF
writing this sentence.
AS | carelessly moved to the centre OF
the lounge and thus monopollzed that
article OF Office furniture ] saw at one
swift. comprehensive glarce that there
was another door behind me leading to
an adjoining room. which communicated
directly with the landing outside BY
this route IL was therefore possible for
an individual so inclined TO slip out OF
sight on the arrival of a victim OF the
planets and cut OF escape from the out
side without the victim being aware OF
Il. BY the same arrangement Mr.. ApoiV-
ong could conveniently size up any GUS
toner through his or her conversation
with Mrs Apolyong. There were TWO
screens in the room and a bare table
covered with pencil charts, some pampn-
lets very much the worse for Dirt some
evidences OF letters received and In pro-
cess OF being answered. and two chairs.
The entire outfit could have been loaded
into a pushcart and carried out OF sight
within fifteen minutes.
All fl1S WAS tNlUfUt III ifV hN'~'N
glance. and the very next thought and
corollary OF the discovery was as TO
the appearance Of Mongsur Apoly-
ong. In the meantime. having fixed
the door 10 her satisfaction. the
smiling blonde returned and drew up
a chair within easy reach.
Are you Mrs. Apolyong? 1 inquired
IA my most affable French.
"Oh, mol" She seemed to be tckled a,
the idea I'm only a visitor
.'Then you don't astrologize yourself. /
want some instruction in the art OF read
ing character"
II used 20 think II a very wonderful
thing. but it's easy enough when you
know how
"But isn't astrology n rather abstruse
science?"
mot q bit Of il. You only have 10
/ figure Il up a little add up. divide and
then subtract, don't you know, and that
/ sort OF thing. There's always more or
less figuring in it. But then, | don't do
II. | know something about phrenology'
she added. laughingly pointing to the
bust on the mantel. the head of which was
manned Off after the usual method. "And
palmistry. too"
1--WE been all over" said she. land
into nearly everything And 1 believed
her.
Il know n lady who wants to take les
sons in astrology and phrenology and all
that sort OF thing" said !, land that's
what / want 10 sec about
The effect was magical. for she arose
and went toward the door, and at the
| same moment tall. dark-eyed man with
closely trimmed. brown beard besprinkied
with gray entered. His dress was plain.
except in the matter Of trousers, which
were huently decorated with three quarter
| inch stripes The stripes ran somewhat
inwardly as they reached the bottom.
| giving a certain twist TO his long legs
| disconcerting to the eye. They also drew
| attention 10 his feet. which were fiat and
housed in shoes that indicated either an
| unfortunate date. astrologically speaking,
on which they were begun. or in more
modern language. stringency in the
money market
He confronted me in a stately and I'm
pressive manner and fixed onme search
! ing look from his soulful eyes. l greatly
admired his grave and almost, but not
quite ridiculously solemn pose, as ii
showed what such a man can accomplish
through practice. One earnest, yearning
darkly mysterious look like that would
completely demolish the Remnant of conf
mon sense in an ignorant and suDersti-
tious searcher after the secrets of the
future.
But I'm afraid my air OF hardened in
credulity and words Of pleasant badnage
discouraged the astrologer for he aban-
doned that line Of operations at once and
bent upon me a suspicious look while
| explained my desire TO learn something
about his class in astrology. The blonde
woman sat In the background and stud
led me furtivey over the top of a news
paper.
81 don't have classes" he said.
"No? What is the character Of the in
structions given? Would they enable the
pupil 10 read character-in public. say?'
A lecturer? yes. l give i'm twelve les
sons instructions in astrology, phrenology.
physiognomy. and palmistry. l charge SIS
for the course"
Does that include book Of instruc-
tons? I'd like to see one of those books. 8,
I'VE don't have any books" he said
very CURLY.
l pulled out the following advertise
ment, clipped from city paper.
APOLONS
APOLON's
APOLON'S
SCHOOL for CHARACTER READING
4S west Twenty-fourth street Books ad-
vice and instruction by mail.
This advertisement while IL doesn't
say anything about astrology Of phrenol-
ogy, is very definite about books with in
| structions."
'Well, we don't have any books. any,
how This somewhat doggedly.
You don't have anything had EXPECT
ed said l. Now. i had an idea from
my reading that the labratory OF an as
trologer was a very different thing from
this But | presume that I'm these mod
ern days astrology has become reduced
TO ar exact science and its DAYS of ex-
pertinent and discovery are over. All
you have to do is to add a little divide
little. and subtract a little, and there
you are eh?'
He frowned and arose. to indicate that
our interview was at an end.
Would you mind giving me single
lesson" l suggested, IF / pay you the
proper proportion"
II don't give anything but the course, -
said he Good dayw
SO | departed without extracting any
OF the secrets OF the other world. but
loaded up with some of the secrets OF
this The fact that the modern fortune
teller can thrive in New York by hun
dreds. Is ample evidence OF the truth of
the saying that "a new sucker is born
every minute" But from what could
be seen here at No as west Twenty
fourth street the patrons are found out
Of town generally and by United States
ODil For ub 10