The San Francisco call., 1899-04-09

covered with hair Of midnight black
ness, parted in the middle and falling in
picturesque disorder over his white fore
head, great black restless eyes which
shOne out from underneath straight
black eyebrows, long armed, with mar
row. slender white hands adorned each
with an Oriental ring of value, attired
in fautless evening dress of the smart
world of to-day, with the charming ease
of a man perfectly at home among peo-
pie of the world Khaldah explained to
his anxious guests that he should at
tempt to give them a few tests of his
ability to read the mind Of another.
There is nothing mysterious in what 1
shall attempt TO do said he; no trick
cry. I cannot possibly know what you
may choose to think about. never saw
any of you, except our host and his broth
er, before in my life TO my knowledge. ]
do not know your names even.
But l shall try" he added, smiling
and showing a double row Of fine white
teeth "to tell each OF your Christian
names your friends names, some of your
thoughts, and to do many things TO amuse
and interest you"
Approaching several of the ladies, Khal
dab said, with a smile: Now, if you will
be kind enough 10 tell me when you were
born l will tell you your name-your first
name Oh, no, no; l don't mean the year
you were born, just the month and the
day"
He began with the hostess, who said
that her birthday was in June. Stepping
back. he wrote the month and day on
sheet of note paper, together with some
queer Arabic figures then, looking up
quickly, said:
Florence. Is that right?"
a little sally of applause greeted this
clever answer. Then he turned to another
lady and said apologetically:
perhaps I may not do as we'll this
time, but won't you tell me your birth
day?"
September g."
And what is the first letter of your
given name?"
"E."
"AIl right. Let me hold your hand
moment Now spell 1t to yourself just as
If you were writing Mary, So
His black eyes sparl;led and the veins
in his forehead were plainly visible as he
held the tips of the lady's fingers. He
turned his head aside so that there was
no suspicion of lip reading on his part.
"Et-no, no." he said, that Is not
right Etta-that is peculiar name"
"Yes-murmured some one; '1t is not a
full given name but a diminutive."
Quick as a fash Khaldah called out,
E@ltdt lifdl II sOAl AlsLAAA|'
He was right.
Turning to another lady, without touch
ing her hand, Khaldah said: Wont you
please think of some one, living or dead,
and tell me his or her birthday? Don't
tell the letter; give me no letter at all
just the day Of the month"
July TO-"
Henry" responded Khaldah. with
marvellous quickness, land l think he
was your brother, but he has long been
dead"
Again Khaldah was precisely correct
The lady's brother had been dead almost
a score of years.
Now let me try something else" con-
tlnued Khaldah, going over to an escri-
tolre and taking up a package of note
paper. "Will some one write down three
figures, like 991?" One of the gentlemen
did So Now reverse the figures, said
Khaidah. like 991-199. Can you subtract
them now?"
After the numbers were written down.
reversed and the subtraction made, Khal-
dah said: Hold the paper close to your
chest, and I will tell you the last number
you put down."