The Holly chieftain., 1898-04-15

Wy WucA yVu tVs0 ks1S 0UVOS yVuE 1<Vh-
ish fears in regard 70 hypnotism and
your being the--the tool Of some one
with that power. was so horsiAed,
You seemed 70 earnest about it, and
1t shocked and frightened me 20 that
could not comfort you. But now that
] have thought II all over / am not
worrying at all. Dear, it is only imsg-
ination on your part. You have read Of
such things and fancy them possible to
yourself. don't believe word Of II.
You had nothing In the world to do With
II. II is only an absurd idea"
WILDLY put his arm round her and
drew her to sofa. He did not speak for
a minute, but rat stroking her gioyesl
hand. Then he aid:
"You ought not to come here, dear;
il il imprudent; but It makes me very
happy, for II is such strong proof Of
your love and confidence. Unfortunate
ily, however, my morbid fears have just
been confirmed. DR.. Lampkin. the
hypnotic expert. Of whom spoke
yesterday. Is in the library With Col.
Warrenton. There is now no doubt that
I was hypnotised and made to do the
deed"
What? Oh. Alfred!" Mise Delmar
pnled, and he felt her shudder ns she
leaned nearer to him.
There Is no longer any doubt about
it,v he repeated. "Dr. Lampkin has just
been giving me good talk against wor-
rying over Ashat can't be helped. and
really l do feel more hopeful about II.
Besides. all may come out well In the
end" S
"But-but how do you know YOU did
It? It's perfectly absurl!"
"They put me to test last night. I
won't trouble you with it. It would
only try your nerves to go into details.
knew nothing about II. was hypno-
tized after fell asleep, and they got
sufficient proof to convince them. Now.
don't get excited. darling; you are
trembling all over. just as you did
yesterday"
Miss Delmar drew her hands from his
clasp and covered her face.
"Oh. can't bear it! simply cannot
bear to think that you did 1t in-in such
horrid way. Alfred. you didn't! You
didn't"
The door bell rang. WILDLY sat star
ing into the frank eyes of the girl, un-
able to formulate reply. Neither spoke
just then. They heard Matthews go 10
the door and open it; then gentleman
entered the drawing-room.
II beg your pardon, Mr.. WILDLY"
he said. II am Minard Hendricks. the
detective who witnessed the proceed
ings in your bedroom last night. 1
thought might find DR.. Lampkin and
Col. Warrenton here"
.They are now in the library
answered. WILDLY. Matthews will
notify them that you are here Take u
seat, Mr.. Hendricks"
Miss Delmar arose and extended her
hand to WILDLY.
II must be going" she said, in low
voice.
II beg your pardon" said Hendricks.
"You are Miss Delmar, l am sure.
would not detain you, but am certain
that | can tell you something you would
like to hear. Now. 1 see," Hendricks
went on, smiling reassuringly. 'tha.
you think l nm pretty bold to intro
duce myself in this abrupt way; but
you must remembey that am detec-
tive. and that 1t is my business some
times to introduce myself without
much ceremony"
Miss Delmar smiled family and
bowed. "Of course; that is your right.
sir" she said.
Then Col. Warrenton and Dr. Lamp
kin came in.
Good morning. gentlemen" said
Hendricks. II have been thinking over
our mutual Investigations OF last night.
and have come to the conclusion that it
cannot harm my proceedings to en-
deayor to remove q false impression
from your minds in regard TO Mrl
Whidby's actions when hypnotized by
the criminal. l could have told you the
I truth Inst night, but was not quite
ready to do so.'
you don't think he was mnde to do
the deed ?" asked DR.. Lampkin
He didn't" broke in Miss Dclmar.
cxcitedly. II don't see how anyone
could think SO for a moment"
Hendricks smiled "That's the way
! like to hear it expressed" he said to
the young lady. "If you had been pres
ent last night. Miss Delmar, you would
rot have let them think So"
How are you going to prove it?''
asked Col. Warrenton, hopefully. Don't
make any mistake this time Much de-
pends ~ it. WILDLY has been fretting
his heart out over the horrible idea"
"May we go into Mr.. Whidby's room,
now?" asked Hendricks. Miss Del
mar may come also. l can explain things
better to ladies than to men,"
Wnrrenton opened the door. "Cer.
tainly; the room has been put to rights
Come on"
"Now," began the detective. when
they had d,entered Whidby's room, 1--WE
won't indulge in SO much realism as to
have the colonel representing the dead
man, nor Mr.. WILDLY playing the role
of peaceful sleeper, out Of respect fol
Miss Delmar's nerves; for, while she
would really make better detective
than any one of you, she is only a
woman, after all, and we won't make
the picture any more gruesome than I.
necessary. For our purpose we will
simply imagine that the other room
contains y sleeper, and that Mr.. Whid
by is reclining on this bed. Now. DR.
Lnmpkin. when Mr.. WILDLY WINS hyp
Noticed last night and you made hin
get up, did you notice whether his righ
hand was closed or open?"
II did not" replied the doctor. with ;