Connecticut western news., 1895-08-15
THURSDAY AUGUST


 and he was restored to his normal con- dition, looking very foolish.
 There were some amusing and some perplexing exhibitions of the professor s power, then the company followed host and hostess to the dining room, where generous spread awaited them. Mrs. Darl was rather silent. Her test would be the next one, and she watched the wiry hands of the young professor as if his secret lay in them. But they were harmlessly busy with the sandwiches. His face was quite noncommittal too. What was the power he held of reducing the will to a mere blank? She would soon know.
 Back in the parlor Mrs. Darl seated herself under the brilliant chandelier.
 "Not there" said the professor, but she did not intend to yield to any com mand of his and said quietly:
 1T prefer to sit here"
 "Then cannot hypnotize you.
 "Oh, you acknowledge that it is only under certain conditions that this great power can be displayed?"
 Certainly, there are conditions that must be complied with. 1 am positive, and you are negative, but you are a very difficult subject because you are re- sisting me with all your might.
 Mrs. Darl looked responsibility at her husband and said in the dumb alphabet of the married, "You have told him.
 He flashed back in the same language, "I have not, 7" and she moved in accord ance with the wish of the professor and sat with her back to the light. Some of the company were removed to remote parts of the room, but few, including MT. Darl, stood near.
 Look into my eyes" said the pro lessor Permit me. 7" And he took her hands and pressed the thumbs gently.
 Ut is like being in dentist's chair, y said Mrs. Darl, with little forced laugh. Then she attempted to rise, struggling slightly, but continued to look into the eyes of the hypnotizer un- til in the place of two eyes she Saw 20. Then she asserted her will and shook herself free.
 "I-told-you-I-cou be- hypnotized, " she said. Her voice sound ed strange and far away. "How queer feel! Staring so long has made me dizzy"
 Drink this,'' said MT. Darl, giving his wife glass of water.
 She drank 1t, then rose to her feet and said she felt as well as ever.
 "Where is the professor" she asked. II expect he has lost faith in his sci- ence.
 "He was here moment ago." said her cousin Fanny anxiously. He thought he had succeeded in hypnotiz- ing you, Leona. Were you not uncon- scious?"
 "Not for one moment" said Mrs. Darl triumphantly. "He held my thumbs until they were numb-why !! where Med P'
 "What is it, Leona?" he asked in sur- prise at her peculiar tone
 "Where are my diamonds?'
 There was startled exclamation from every one present. Mrs. Darl stood there bereft of every jewel she possessed. Not a single one of her gems which had fash ed on her fingers, at her throat, in her ears, was now visible. Dazed, she held up her ringless hands and said.
 "Is this joke? What does it mean? ? Where are my diamonds?" "Where is the professor" "Search the housep' "Sendffor the policeP' But the professor had left for parts unknown, and with him went Mrs. | Darl's diamonds, and neither the police nor the Darls ever saw or heard of them or him again. But one thing was ill his favor. Not only had he successfully hyp- notized Mrs. Darl, but, as MT. Darl ad- mitted, he must have hypnotized the whole company in order to bring his hypnotic scheme to such climax. | And Mrs Darl is at last convert to both the theory and practice of the oc- cult science and firm believer in the power of the hypnotic will-Mrs. M. | IL. Rayne in Free Press.