The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-30
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER II.
Three days after the departure OF Mr.
Pnsiiipson / received from Mr. wilkinson
an invitation 10 dine with him that even
Ing at the Bull hotel / must confess that
! was astonished when ] received this
neatiy-written epistle. Why should he
ask me 10 dine with him az ALL Why ask
me 10 dine with him at the Bull hotel
when he was staying at the Granger Il
seemed singular. j had met Mr. Wilkin-
son only once. ard that was purely for
mai meeting. One morning. when Miss
Phiiipson had a little business TO trans
act with me. he accompanied her and
she went out of her way 10 introduce him
to ne. remember. with almost painful
dssiinctness, that my firsz desire on see
ing his handsome face was TO kick hin,
rather than 20 shake hands with him
anu express the commonplace greetings
usual on such occasions.
Why this feeling was within me it
would be difficult TO say. The fact that IL
was within me produced another piece of
evidence Of the unsettled state of my mind
at the time. Surely I had no dream Of
ever being accepted as a sutton for the
hand OF Miss Phiilpson. And yet / must
confess that in some wild moments / did
cherish this hope. l felt. too. that he was
standing between US. and that the prize
greater IN value than ali the jeweis-was
10 be his rather than mine.
When / received that invitation I had
half an hours hard reckoning with my
self and the things that were springing
up around me. / feif certain that a
strange game was being played before
my eyes. and Ike an average English
man. / was curious enough to feel de-
sire 10 be In at the denouemenf. / was
anxious not To accept the invitation: /
n - Il
end of hard struggle was the acceptance
OF the invitation.
With all the strange facts now before
me. j am not sorry that / did accept the
invitation. as 1t enabled me 70 do a real
service 10 one I loved. but, alas. one who
did not love me in return
Mr.. Wilkinson proved a charming
host. up 10 certain point in our enter
tainment. and then / began TO read his
character as an average boy reads a
penny book. Literally he forced the wors,
side Of his many sided character upon
me. and | could not DO anything else
than read IL, as a fairly intelligent man.
We spent an exceedingly plea sant hour
together. Mr. Wilkinson entertained me
with all manner Of bright and cheerful
stories which he had picked I'D during a
HE or adventure. He was a handsome
man, and / hated him for that alone He
was an accomplished man and l hated
him all the more for that.
When the remains OF the dinner were
removed Mr.. Wilkinson rose and locked
the door Of the private room in which we
were sitting with our cigars and whisky.
wondered why be did srch an unusual
thing.
Il hate TO be interfered with when we
are engaged IN pleasant conversation"
be said In the most careless and casual
way. which had some effect in making
| me laugh al the suspicious which had
taken possession Of me.
oh I think We are quite safe from in
tsrruption without taking the trouble to
lock the door 1 replied. by way OF a
Md protest
1T is 10 trouble. my friend. IT can do
no harm. anyway"
When h resumed his seat he startled
ne hy asking abruptly.
Are you "a believer in mesmerism or
hypnotlsn. as /; has become the fashion
10 cali II. Mr. Norman
Not T. was my prompt and oT-hand
reply.
''Ah. there you make a great mistake
II IS most delightful study. You know
there Is a great deal In thc theories Of
cid Mesmer which modern science cannot
oYerturn or explain" he said with evil
dent sarnesiness.
Probably so: bat I do not think that a
!. knowledge Of old MeSmer's theories
would help me 10 tot up the columns OF
ledger
II am going 10 give you proofs Of the
value OF old MeSmars theories in a very
practical manner. for ! am going to mes
fnsrize Yea before you leave this room to-
hight"
This statement was made I'm the most
frattsr-of-fact tone cf voice Evidently
Ar. Wilkinson was accustomed to COM
naana with every expectation - being
promptly ana unausstiouingiy obsysd In
the moment e silence which followed
this unusual declaration had 10 come 10
a conclusion y this determination 81 MS
was due 30 wAim and nothing more
there could b. no harm gu IT, bur II there
was some exit design behind IL perhaps I
should have opportunity Of discovering
what ~ was
"An right; fire away" 7 said cArelessly.
so In this chair. please" h. said
took tho chair. feeling more deter
mined in nv own mind tha; would not
lso mcsmerized. hUt. al the same time
would convince hfm that | was PERFECTLY
under hiS influence
Thea ne csmmencg3 that peculiar pro-
cess e. passing and repasSing Is. Cages
before my face. / was a stronger mar
than he. Aut in fsw rntuafee I feit a
sharp shock patgS through my "a hale x,s~
ten fal5oesd by 10, aashingz IN ali my
extre mites.
Gof moment felt that Ia thts strarts
game - etuT Pee Wa going go ~ the VIE
teT gul5td usyseif together SHARPLY.
but sny ewes we've terribly heavy nnd
fe,s a. irresistible desire 70 close them
Atf7Fs WY SONG as wss satisfied shst
was to aSe hrs OWE language. "tn
N.0r&a h5e rneass 30
hus "a STATS vusl poirt hy was mistaken.
What suffered dur3nE those few isla-
Hses wgaid eegy description. 5sgv hesief
] had made ep fny mluA ts.2r hfs .asen-
tioaS wrre fela1laus sEa Z determined so
ke~a gfy snrar&l syfs aEen. though ny
pENsiCal eyes gt-s closed
"tG hs sEse ahess b. 81 ssIrk rsa sat3
ktr" ee sst6 iH t-.ers 'en~
I shad&ered Taa pasu wSs 1arrih5n as
Ae pgs -sG 8 p.a Snto Pas ieS hst ID ugE
oFy ou3 t,tnk 7 AzrG,y Iscye4.