The times., 1898-07-31

nature he was inclined to be petulant,
nervous and even spasmodic. During the
voyage ne became exceedingly jealous or
a certain nobleman on board, and on the
last day out made quite scene through
his hot temper and excitable ways. For
moment things looked as though they
might end in a duel but the American
was finally calmed down and begged par
don of his former antagonist IN the most
gentlemanly way.
Somewhat earlier in the trip ] bad
discovered my friends one great vice.
His father and grandfather had both
been professional gamblerS-the one on
a Mississippi River boat, and the o.her
in a Western mining town. Elkins had
gotten from them the instinct in its
fullest degree, and, while cultivation ana
education had done much TO eradicate
it, the cards and dice were stil his mas
ters. During great part of our jour
ney he and the count. with whom he had
quarreled, were closeted in the smoking
room playing poker. generally with rath-
| er ill-success on the part of your coun-
| tryman.
1T was. indeed. during one of these
games that l discovered a certain ten
dency to temporary insanity that must
| have been bequeatned to him with his
| other hereditary influences The malady
| made itself known only when he was
| product of great excitement upon nat
urally nervous temperament. While un-
der its con.rol Elkins was perfect
beast in manner and appearance His
| eyes would be bloodshOt, his breath
would come in long, quivering gasps
| and his sharp, white teenth would gnaw
| increasingly at his lower lip.
''Strangest of all was the attitude of his
| hands, the fingers of which would double
over until they resembled the claws of
| bear. and would move spasmodically,
| clutching at anything that came in their
/ way. His face would be ghastly pale and
/ ightfullyedistorted. No man could have
seen him N that way and have remained
his friend without having some powerful
| purpose. Horrified at my first glimpse of
| the man under the influence of his NAL
| ady, / recalled certain tales his wife had
told me Of the sudden deseItion of ac-
! quaintances and even relatives and
| thought l knew and understood the rea-
| son for their conduct
Poor Elkins knew how ne looked during
| the spells quite as well as did anyone
| else, and had tried hard to cure himself
| of them. Once he had visited a doctor
but that puzzled worthy had been unable
to assist him. The trouble was due to
| psychological influences superinduced by
extreme nervousness, the physician had
said, and only a complete abandonment
of the gaming table could aid him. EIkins
endeavored to obey Instructions but his
vice was that of his ancestors, and he
failed.
Meanwhile he had worked hard 10
keep all knowledge of the malady from
his wife. whose sensitive nature would
probably have been shocked beyond
reparation by 1t. Never did he pey
while she was anywhere near, and then
only with those of whose discretion and
, honor he was sure. My sympathy with
him in this regard made me feel sorry TO
see him so constantly with the Count
who l knew was making diligent love to
t my friends foolish spouse all the way
over. I said nothing however. and fin
ished my voyage feeling much as might
man whose bed and chair were both
! located over dynamite.
l AFTER our arrival in New York I saw
} very little Of EIkins or any of our party
same my countryman. Once or twice
went 10 the young fellow for favor-
which We're readily granted This being
) the case l was much disturbed at learn.
I ing that the Count was a regular visito;
} at the house and at seeing for mysel!
E that his habits were vicious and hi.
methods questionable.
You will ask how all of this concerns
! my hypnotic theory. and in response
l l will tell you that am just reaching thai
reached a climax in my financial affairs
1 had not secured an engagement. haG
= not paid my board bill, had not purchas
ed such clothing as one must wear al
that time of the year and had in all some
thing less than 81 in my pocket. After
due consideration / determined 10 re
turn to Russia and also to borrow tn,
means from my good friend Elkins. Ac
cordingly visited his residence and wa.
j met at the door by his WIFE From he
e l learned that the object of my cues
a had gone out. She did not invite me Il
enter and this seemed so curious that
took it upon myself to walk in and en-
n gage her in conversation.
e ITO my surprise she seemed moody
silent and strangely depressed. She re
: piled to my questions in an absent-mind
ed way. and only eYinced interest whel
: l spoke of the Count a few moment
later. She was evidently embarrassed b,
= my presence, and I made haste to leave
. Mrs. EIkins did not show me to the door
but remained in the upstairs parlor
: while I found my way down. On tn
h second step was bit of white paper, an
: 1 picked it up shiftlessly. Once outsid
d the house and under a corner lamp
a untwisted and read IL. The content
a shocked and panied more than they mys
r titled me The upper end of the scra
+ had been torn away. but on what re
II matned had no dlflculty In making Ou
a the words. convinced of your husband
a unworthiness, come at u O'Clock to m
"a room, at lie West SEVENTEEN Stree
n and enter after knocking The Who'll
thing was most clear. That damn Coun
had trapped my friend into a game,
. which he had no chance of winning, an
had then sent for his wife to see him i
a one of those strange tantrums he ha
> kept from her for so long. What woul
follow was easily guessed, and, stand
: ing under the gaslight, 1 determined tha
the deviltry should be stopped. if tn
J force of mind and body could do It.
! called a cab and drove to the address
h given.
ION my way up the steps of the hous
determined to tell Elkins everything an
. let him act for himself bu
q one glance at his face upo
a my entrance changed my plan
! utterly. Both men were seated before
= small cherry table playing silently bU
"a with cool desperation. Through the C
n gar smoke I discerned that luck had a
been with the Count and that the Amer
90 can had lost heavily. The steely glittt
A was already In his eye and l knew ths
"A murder would result if ] explained the
>, Besides the excitement Of the game ha
A., entered my own soul. 1 was resolved thi
Elkins should win, if not by fate at lea.
% by will power-my will power.
" Both men noticed my entrance. thoug
Is my compatriot was the only one WI
% spoke. His opponent was beyond tina
m | There were thirty-two red chips, eighties
70 blue ones and forty white in front of Il
n Count, while the American had less ths
~ | a fifth of that number. His face W.
! so. an III ,Na