The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-08

before my face. 1 was a stronger man
than he, but in few moments l began to
feel his powerful influence over me. l
felt sharp shock pass through my whole
system, followed by hot fushings in all
my eXtremities.
For moment felt that in this strange
game of bluff he was going to be the vic
| tor. l pulled myself together sharply.
But my eyes were terribly heavy, and
| felt an irresistible desire to close them,
Before very long he was satisfied that 1
! was to quote his own language, "in
workable mood"
But on this vital point he was mistaken.
What 1 suffered during those few minutes
would defy description, defy belief. had
made up my mind that his intention were
felonous. and 1 determined to keep my
mental eyes open though my physical eyes
were closed.
"Pll be sure about it; I'll stick a pin into
him." he said in a jocund tone
1 shuddered. The pain was horrible as
he pushed a pin into my leg, but l did
not cry out; think 1 hardly moved.
He was satisfied
! where are Miss Phillipsons jewels?'
he asked.
IN the strong room in the cellar beneath
the bank 1 replied. after some hesita-
ton.
Where are the keys?"
"In my bedroom"
"How can the jewels be secured?'
"By presenting a CIPHER now in the pos
session of Miss Phillipson."
Thus ended our conversation. He had
gained the information he required; so
| had l. l may say here that l was not
quite such fool as readers of this mar
ratve may imagine from this brief but in
teresting conversation. He was playing
one game, was playing another; and per-
haps it viii be as well if readers will sus-
pend judgment for a short time.
Soon after the conversation terminated
L could feel that his hands were slowly
passing over my face again. He was try
ing to bring me out of a mesmerized state
a state in which, by the way, had never
existed.
When I opened my eyes Mr.. Wilkinson
was laughing almost uproariously.
"WeH, you are the strangest subject l
ever operated upon. You begin by declar-
ing yourself a rank unbeliever in mes
merism and yet 1 sent you off in very
few minutes. 1 dare say you feel bit
| squeamish. Have drop of whisky, and
never again tell any one that you do not
| believe in mesmerism. Why, my friend,
you are an easier subject than Miss Phil
lipson."
This intimation came as a painful sur
| prise to me. / was veXed to think that
| he had been exercising his undoubted
power over her-the woman loved. l
know very we'll that he could, whilst she
! was under his influence, put all manner
of thoughts into her dear head-thoughts
she would not be able to throw off COM
| pletely after the operation was over.
But it was useless. 1 had played my
trump card; in fact both of us had done
So 1t remained to be seen which in real
ity was the trump.
When reached home that night look
ed at the precious stones and thought
| grimly of the lives they we're influencing
| by their pewitching beauty; thought of
the strange deeds which were being per-
formed for the sake of obtaining posses
sion of them.
CHAPTER III.
I was not a bit astonished to see Mr..
Wilkinson walk unconcernedly into the
bank about noon on the following day.
II suppose the whisky hasn't inter-
fered with the totting up of your ledgers
to-day" he said, with a laugh.
mo, nor the mesmerism, either" 1 re-
piled lightly.
NO of course; 1 knew that it would
not do you any harm. guess you finished
off your breakfast with a hearty relish
this morning. Nothing like mesmerism
for giving one a brisk appetite. Good
/ day."
/ was staggered. 1 was quite prepared
for sight of the cypher.
A moment later he returned.
ooh, by the way, Miss Phillipson gave
me this, and asked me to bring a packet
which she says you have been keeping
for her."
l opened the envelope, which was adj
dressed to me in a lady's hand-apparent-
ly Miss Phillipson's.
yes all right" 1 said, quietly, but 1
am afraid I showed a good deal of hest
| tation and emotion. At last, l had got to
nearly the end of the tragedy which 1
suspected from the first this man was
playing.
1 stepped into the inner Office, leaving
Mr.. Wilkinson standing at the counter
Hastily 1 pencilled note to the detective
officer, Send your most trusted officer
round at once" and dispatched one of
| the assistants with it.
Then l stepped into the cellar, and re-
turned with the box, into which, in the
presence of Mr. Phillipson and his daugh-
! ter l had placed the precious stones. 1t
waAnot a large box, but the weight was
considerable
| AS handed it across the counter said:
Miss Phillipson has a key for the box.
You can return the box any time conve-
nient to you"
| box of any valueY
He was a consummate trickster, evil
IDENTIFY.
81 believe they are Of value" replied.
Then in the most composed manner pos
sble. he shook hands with me and left the
| building.
Five minutes later the detective arrived
In few words l told him the story, and
told him that in all probability the thief
would be found on the next train for Lon
| don, which left in about forty minutes
We left the bank together. A hanson
was passing and the detective hailed it.
ITO the Grange and sharp" he said
quickly Then, turning to me, he said:
Just mount this rigout and leave the mat
| ter to me-"
we pulled down the blinds of the cab
and in a few minutes we appeared as two
! parsons, as neatly and as respectaby-clad
! as any parson who ever entered pulpit
The detective, Mr.. Charlesworth, asked
| Miss Phillipson one question only. Have
you given the cypher to any one?" mo,
! certainly not" was the reply. Then she
went to the safe where she kept 1t locked,
but Of course, it was not there. Mr.
wilkinson had mesmerized her with a
vengeance.
Then / told her how the cypher had
been presented, but gave her an assur-
| ance that within twenty-four hours the
nrecious stones would be returned to her