The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-30


sponsive subject. And you have WV
id imagination. That is something the
hypnOtist cannot supply. lie can ohly
suggest and set the imagination at
work. But yours is so active that you
fairly stand in dread of it. When you
Were child you hardly dared close
your eyes. because your fancy Llstant-
ly peopled the darkness with its un-
welcome creations
That was true; hut how did he know
| it? | felt sudden terror of the man,
and evidently he perceived 1t.
"Sit down." he said. You are nerN-
Ously OVerwrought.
sank into a chair, for "a sort of gid
diness had come upon me.
That will quickly pass" he said.
"Your nerves have for some time been
under excessive tension, though you did
not realize il.
His manner had changed: there was
really some fascination about the lei
low, though | still distrusted him.
Don't YOU see that there is nothing
very bad about me? | am hypnotist,
il is true. but l am not seeking TO hyp-
notiZe you. Tonight at all events. that
is no part of my programme. But l eX-
pectcd you, and have prepared a little
surprise--you shall be mtre specta-
tor. If YOU choose
He stood towering over me: his
stature was really extraordinary. His
eyes no longer wandered, but cleaned
with a stcely glitter.
you had better taste this Wine,' he
said. you are a little faint
"No!" | protested, confusedly, Tor L
feared it might be drugged.
He drank ii off himself. 1T is harm
less, You see
He laid his hand on my head and
stroked it. The dizziness was soon re
| lieved. | felt stronger, and my mlnd
grew clearer
AT least" he said. 'you will taste
| this fruit-both Of you.
| 4 was ashamed to refuse and TOOK an
| orange-as did Else, with a queer ht-
| tie laugh.
us it good?" she asked.
mo" | answered, and laid ii down.
She laughed again.
| | rubbed my eyes What have you
done with yours" / demanded
she dropped it on the floor, re-
sponded the professor quickly, picking
| il un. Never mind the oranges; they
are not good, as you say. | have some
| thing better to offer. It's Halloween,
you remember. When Miss Elsie was
| here before she came with number
of friends
He looked at me tixedly. =,
| yes" | RESPONDED, she told me.
81 really very much desire your good
opjnion," he continued. There is no
reason why you should not trust me.
Look me full in the face as you would
any other man. You see hothlhs there
that BODIES you i'll
| His look was quiet and commando
! ing; there was no trace of charlatanry
| i'm his manner now. | felt no diStrust,
and told him so.
| Il foresaw that you would find II
much pleasanter," he said, land that
| our experiments would be much more
| convincing if there were present q
number of witnesses in whom you had
confidence. | have invited several ol
.~pur friends to join us, and it has been
| suggested that we make the occasion
a sort of Halloween celebration. They
have been waiting while we talked.
and I wonder that they We're able TO
, restrain themselves so long.
| He threw open Il door. 1t disclosed a
brilliantly lighted room, and chorus
of merry shouts arose.
.'Go ill.," he said, and greet them"
| was Immediately surrounded by a
| throng of laughing acquaintances.
whose hearty welcome quickly put me
at my ease. Hypnotism, they said.
was great snort. They had been look
ing up something new and lively for
n Halloween party, and this plan met
their ideas exactly. Elsie, they de-
clared, had promised them that /
should come.
Soon, at the professors instance, We
began the games of the evening, which,
as he shaped them, proved marvel
Gus mixture of hypnOtism and Halo
, Ween.
First we had a novel exhibition of
"bobbing for apples" A large empty
pan was brought in, and placed on the
middle of the floor. Tom Tuttle then
submitted to be "mesmeriZed." After
a series of passes he was assured
that the pan was full of cider, with
roasted apples floating in it. Forth
with he thrust down his head and made
ludicrous efforts to seize the imag-
mary aprArs with his teeth. AT length
he seemed to catch one, and trium-
phantly held up--nothing-sputter
all the while as if his nose were full OF
cider
Then Philo Potter was mesmeriZed.
He had seen Toms performance and
laughed heartily at it, but that made
no difference; he knelt on the floor and
began ducSing in the pan with the
greatest earnestness. But just as he
plunged his face into the supposed
liquid. the professor cried out thai it
was scalding hot. Poor Phio sprang to
his feet with howl of anguish, and his
face grew as red as beet. Very mad
he was, too, at the trick played upon