The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-09
A SUGGESTED JOURNEY.


mines our future lives for good or IL.
Nothing more curious and complex than
the forging OF that chain from irnpossi-
ole links TO round out the circle OF des-
| tiny in its final evolution Let not the
iconoclast shatter our belief in miracles.
They are accomplished every day
| when Joseph Breen registered at the
Great Northern ana was given room 697
ror the night he expected 10 90 TO Dekalb,
/ H., the following day. There was no
earthly reason why he should change his
mind and go TO Detroit. Mich. instead, a
town he had never visited and which was
not included IN his business route. while a
| number Of his regular customers lived in
Dekalo and were expecting to give him
| hoeral orders for spring goods.
| Joseph Breen was a practical. steady
| fellow, who had worked himself into a
good position and knew how to take care
| OF himself. He was single because he
had never yet met the one girl who was
TO charm him into marriage. He longed
for home of his own. hrt that first pre-
| liminary-a wife-was lacking. Given that
| he would have all things else.
! Quite accidentally-is there anything ac-
| cidental in this strange life of ours?-he
| had stumbled on some volumes of trans
| cendental philosophy, stories of hypno-
| tism and suggestion, and had become
much interested in those experimental
sciences which are only snare and de-
fusion when applied without an under
standing of the laws that govern them.
Joseph Breen fell easily into the receptive
state, where his will became plastic as
wax, and he a fit subject for any IN
prfncipled hypnotist into whose power he
might drift. At this juncture destiny
took matters in her own hands. using as
ar instrument an obtuse hotel porter.
When Breen retired that night-after a
liberal dose Of his usual evening htera-
ture-he slept soundly and TRANQUILITY, bal
ancing on the edge OF either world after
the manner OF dreamers. and with no
nightmare of early rising or q call for a
train in his mental consciousness.
But another traveller had registered,
whose number was 7l6. He had asked
particularly TO be called at 5 a. m, as he
was 20 take an early train. He empha-
sized his order for a call with the re-
mark or command: when you call me
remind me that I must take the $40 train
for Detroit Mich.-that will fetch me.
The clerk promised TO attend TO the mat
ter, and before going of duty in the
morning impressed the nature of the
"can' on the mind of sleepy porter.
who at the hour specified raped loudly at
the door of 607.
Get up.' he yelled; ''you're-booked-for
the-Detroit-mail-a d-express-train-6:45
Joseph Breen pulled open the door.
- W SSI lAS WINS AuH4S0As no saAu
You're COZ. amt you?"
Yes"
"And you left a call for the Detroit
mail and express7 If you don't hustle
you'll be left. You're going to Detroit.
Mich. It's down with the call"
''All right
his clothes. He went down 10 the office,
paid his bill and left without waiting for
his breakfast, deciding that ne would get
his coffee at the depot il he had time. He
was controlled by the suggestion that he
was going TO Detroit. and neither resisted
nor wondered. He was subject OF IN
conscious hypnotism.
At the depot an obscure remembrance
came to him that some remote relatives
lived in Detroit, and he sent a wire to an
uncle in St. Paul asking that their ad- |
dress be forwarded TO him at that point. |
And on the way he wondered vaguely !
what sort of people they were. and if |
he should care to know them, and decided 1
that he would investigate before making /
himself known. And all the time another /
link was forging IN his strange chain of /
1t was an ideal railroad trip. that days I
stolen ride-food to tempt an epicure, /
flowers to gladden. the eye and an at /
mosphere of repose that lulled still I
deeper the vague influence that had d.
verted Joseph Breen from his projected
journey other places and his business
interests. Dominated by this new power
l.. waiting, and so gave himself up COM
pletely to an indefinite feeling a being
guided through safe and pleasant paths
10 some fortunate end. And, feeling elat-
sd at the prospect, he passed with the
crowd through the long, well-lighted sta
ion to the entrance gate which opened
nto the depot. There friends were await
ns some Of the passengers. As Breen
passed through, a tall, handsome young
woman, fashicnably CARRIED, laid detain-
ng hand on his arm.
rs this Cousin Joe?" she asked pleas
lntly. Pardon met said the young man.
fitting his hat, I'm afraid you are mis-
AIKEN. Ny name is Breen."
why, of course-CousIu Joseph Breen-
,ou have the family features. Besides,
Uncle Joe telegraphed US you were COM
ng. Mother is waiting in the carriage
he will be glad to see you"
And you?' he was looking into the
parking face, beaming welcome with a
lew sensation Of interest and admiration
Cousin Edna Breen. Step right into
he carriage. Mother. here is our new
elation-COusin joe
In a few moments the young man was
vhirling through the smooth avenues OF
ne beautiful town, accepting as a matter
Z course the honors that had been thrust / .
pom him and wondering to himself at
ines did he wake or was he dreaming
It all events, he was glad to be there
nder such favorable circumstances, over
7hich he had no control. I
But what OF the other traveller who was !
ot called, who missed his train and his
ppointment through the porter's reversal ]
I a number? Did he go to Dekalb In {
tead of Joseph Breen? Not likely, for !
hose strange incidents never work 10 a {
ane conclusion through any law Of com
ensation. The other man in the problem /,
emains an unknown quaHtity--Airs. n !
4. Rayne.