The herald., 1894-08-05
A HYPNOTIC CRIME.

fill it in with "stock season, :" worked
on the joint stock system at Beaching-
ton. We extended the commonwealth
principle from the stage to the home
and took furnished house, wherein we
all resided with more comfort and at
less expense than is possible in seaside
lodgings. We fellows had a smoking
billiard room for our amusement, the
girls had q boudoir Tor their gossip, and
the married ladies kindly looked after
the consumable properties and the pro-
prieties And very good company we
voted ourselves.
My sister We're and her husband, Ed
ond Hatherleigh, were in the "crowd," F"
sld their special favorite was young
Spanish girl, who had taken to the
boards-the Senorita Aloida Velasquez.
She was my especial favorite, too, but
I mustn It anticipate.
Being seriously in love with the fair
Epaniard-who was dark, by the bye
my jealous eyes noted all things affect
ling her in any way, and it seemed to
me that my brother-in- law admired her
lust little too much. He was most po
lite and attentive to his wife, but every
now and again caught him looking at
Alcida with more admiration in his i'm
pressive eyes than was good for him or
for the object of it either.
One evening after the performance at
the theater, the ladies having retired for
the night, we gentlemen adjourned to
the smoking room for weeds and whis-
Ky. There the desultory talk somehow
veered round to hypnotism and such
phenomena, whereon most Of us, being
ignorant Of tho subject, expatiated with
force and volubility
Hatherleigh, however, who had been
medico before he became a hummer,
spoke about it as one having authority,
and we were all astonished, though l
was by no means convinced by the ar
guments he advanced and the evidence
he adduced in support of the theory Of
hypnotic suggestion, especially in its re-
1ation to crime.
''But do you mean to say" said in
credulously, "that if you suggest crime
to hypnotized subject he will commit
it?''
Certainly" Hatherleigh replied.
'sWhen in practice hypnotized several
patients and by suggestion relieved many
of them Of diseases which had hitherto
been considered incurable." :"
$50 you have frequently said, re-
turned, ''bzt for my part doubS if there
is any such thing as hypnotism at all.
You may possibly obtain influence over
weaRminded persons and by working
on their crodulous imaginations effect
cures OF nervous disorders, but-well, I
should like to see the man who could
hypnotize me!'
"Wouldyou?' Hatherleigh inquired,
with smile that was half a sneer.
"What do you say to allowing me to
make the experiment."
"Oh, I'm game, if you're willingp'
] retorted rather warmly.
Every well, - said my relative coolly.
"When shall we begin?'
''Now," answered boldly.
Thanks" said Hatherleigh, with
another sarcastic smile. "Now, gen.
tlemen"-turning to the others-''may
I ask you to leave us alone for few
minutes?''
For answer the fellows went solemn
1y out of the room, adjuring me to bear
up and promising me a really hand
some funeral should the experiment
provo fatal. As for me, I now felt
pretty much as man feels when he's
going to have tooth out. Now, Sir
Doubtful" said my brother-in- law,
"just throw away your cigar and look
mo full in the face.
did so. Looking up into the man S
face, began to realize that it was Sc
rious matter for him, and that it mieglt
be serious for me also. For moment
] felt inclined to withdraw, for Hather-
leigh looked as though he really did
possess the power he claimed but OBJ
stinacy and pride ovcrcame fear, and I
said carelessly, $50 on with your hyp-
nothing y
II have already commenced, he re-
piled, fixing his eyes on mine.
| had expected him to make passes
with his hands and perform all that sort
of munmery, but he sat quite still,
looking me quietly in the face For a
time fearlessly returned his gaze, but
suddenly all my surroundings seemed to
fade away, and saw nothing but
pair of fiery eyes which seemed to burn
into my soul tried to shut my own
eyes to thu sight, but in vain. Those
terrible eyes grew larger and larger
until they seemed to fill the limits Of
spaoe, and then I awoke to find Hather-
leigh regarding me with an anxious
but satisfied look. The other fellows
had returned, and they began asking
me all sorts Of questions But l had
nothing to tell. I had no unpleasant
feeling. Iseemed to have been dozing-
that was all The clock, too, showed
that the experiment. had lasted but
few minutes "Well," l asked Hather-
leigh, ''how have you succeeded?"
"Beyond nay most sanguine expecta-
lions, he replied, with deep meaning
IN his tome "How do you feel?'
''Oh, pretty well, answered. "I
don't want to hurt your feelings, Ed
nond, but I don't feel hypnotized q
bitP'
"No? Well, we shall see,' he said
quietly, Struggling his shoulders. He
looked fatigued, and staggered as he
crossed the room.
Aren't you well?" asked.
"Quite we'll, thanks" he replied,
6e3>r7< tboco owva~.i ~, ,fa xuaa lo,, ma FOR