The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-03-21

from returning to the other two at The
further end OF the room; and az last
he said abruptly:
81 must not tire my pretty cousin
Dolores with too much OF my friend
Van Tassel. at leas: Oh c first visit. I
think I will take him away now.
Polly: but il you will let me, I will
return aul dine with you this even
ing"
"Do. Clarence-be sure to come.
Mamma told me to ask you, hut there
is no need to hurry away low. Lorita
does not seem in the least tired Of
your friend
But Stanley would not accept the
implied invitation to remain; and as
soon as he was in the street with Van
Tassel he hastened to say:
"Well, you seemed interested.
Does the senorita strike you as being
a genuine clairvoyant?"
Van Tassel, whose exaltation OF
spirit-for it was nothing less-had
already left him, answered in tone
of dejection:
"Senorita Mendoza can never be
anything but genuine in every way.
7 think she is clairvoyant, an un-
usual and extraordinary one: but you
will never be able to control SO high
and pure spirit. If you will take my
advice, you will not make the at
Tempt -
rubbish! OF course I will make
the attempt and succeed, too; it isn't
my way to fail. Already she is under
my influence" sSj
"She feels your influence, She is
not under it." said Van Tassel,
promptly.
he same thing; I'll soon have her
under it." a...
"You will find it is not the same
thing at ALL" said Van Tassel, per-
sistently. ''That girl has a soul like
deep, clear spring; you may trouble
it, as you may trouble pure water by
throwing mud into it, but after a
time the disturbance ceases, the mud
sinks to the bottom, and the water IS
clear ana pure ds peiole'
"Ah, thanks, so much for the COM
parison!" exclaimed Stanley, in a
! fiippant tone, while he thought:
"Addle-headed fool! He's nothing
but half-crazy dreamer, and I am
probably wasting time trying to learn
anything from him." But after some
moments silence he suddenly spoke
again: 81 say, Van, let US not quarrel
about the senorita. You know by this
time I don't give up easily; Lam
bound to get control of that girl, and
if you have any secrets in your con-,
founded hanky.panky mesmeric bust.
ness that you haven't told me yet, Just
yield them up. Now, you are going
to help me with this girl in every way
in your power, aren't you?"
Van Tassel turned fercely, like
some timid animal at bay, and his eyes
cleaned with the frantic fury of weak
ness grown desperate.
"No" he said hoarsely. ''No! Not
TO save my soul from perdition, will /
help you to do that girl moments
injury!
81 don't want to harm her, you
fooll" exclaimed Stanley. For a
moment he thought of brushing Van
Tassel aside and out Of his life for
ever; but even as he looked at him,
the professor began to tremble, the
fierce light of defiance left his eyes,
and he sighed feebIy. "Let's say no
more about it, Van," said Stanley,
with smile. "Come on over to the
hotel; I want to ask your help about
something easier; only about the
cryptograph, SO yon needn't worry.
I shall not speak of the senorita
again." r..
Van Tassel sighed once more, bat
he could not refuse, even if LIE had
wished to do so; and the two walked
on in silence till they were in the room
of Clarence Stanley.
Van Tassel sank helplessly into a
chair and looked up at his captor-for
so he felt him to bc-with the fascir-
ated gaze of the bird under the eye
of the rattlesnake. Stanley answered
with q cruel smile. and then raising
his hands, made swift downwardpasses
before his victims face, and in a few
moments Van Tassol's head lay back
against the chair and lie was uncon-
scious.
"Foolr' muttered Stanley. "Taken
in your own trap! Had yon not de-
fed me, I would not have used my
power against you. From this time
forth, refuse me nothing. Come here
every day. When I need you, I will
use you. When T need you not, I
will send you away. In everything
you arc my slave. Bring me every
book on mesmerism that you possess
or know of. You shall have money
for that and for everything I need,
anu for your own needs, also. Do you
hear and understand"
'sI hear and understand.
''Do you obey?"
ri obey" .
TO BE CONTINUED.