The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-07-02
SWAMI SPRAGGE
By EVAN MACPHERSON

> Then: if you don't mind. perhaps you
might"
1 The stocky man broke in with a gleefui
laugh throwing his head back in the chair.
''If you should me, for instance, float up
to the ceiling, chair and all, what good would
that do?'
II thought you oeculists wanted to con-
vince the public"
And you are one Of the publcs pairs Of
eyes? But If l did give you an exhibition
like that" spragge stopped tantalizing and
looked at the reporter.
Wickham sat on the very edge OF his chair
In GREATNESS expectation Of something mirac-
| uous.
IF did anything of that kind, you'd have
two columns about it in the Morning Star,
wouldn't you?"
Il should think So" said wickman. relax
ing into more comfortable attitude
| The Englishman laughed again. well.
perhaps your editor might let it get into print,
but much more likely he would say you
were drunk
= There was a pause, Wickham turning over
| in his mind the probabilities of this hypothe-
| teal case. If a reporter was to be accused
| of seeing double when be reported this kind
| of thing, what was the use of sending him to
| interview magician? He began to think he
had better let the interview go at that Then
| he remembered Olive Parker again and
nervously pulled out his watch.
| Al LnlS the OlneF man SmlleC ana SHOOK MS
head. I'm afraid you're too late. Besides,
the young lady has changed her mind and
| gone to friends house"
! Wickham's jaw dropped. and the stare In
| which his face was set was of one who sew
| specter.
That evening the city editor cross-examined
| Wckham, for the city editor was confident
| there was good news matter in this swami
| affair.
"You say he admits that spragge isn't his
real name?"
| Yes in a sort Of way
well, what is his real name?
| HE didn't tell me that He's magician
| all right He knew l was looking at his
name in the hotel register when my back was
| turned to him.
HIN! Is that all7"
He knew l was a Star man without my
| telling him.
''Wickham, if you think it would take
| mahatma to find that out-What else?"
| Wickham turned red and stammered It
was borne in upon him that the final proof
of Spragges preternatural powers was much
| too delicately personal to be mentioned to the
city editor. AS for putting 1t into print, that
was unthinkable.
! The city editor sighed in weary disappoint-
ment, looked all around the room and shifted.
Wickham went to his desk feeling that all
| his rosy prospects of journalistic advance
ment were fading: but when he reached his
| desk, behold, square envelop OF a delicate
gray green tint! He opened it and read
Dear Mr.. Wickhan-Just home from Mrs.
Cowley's reception, where Alex would have
me with her, and l didn't care to say what
in particular urged me to shop just this
| afternoon.
AT Mrs. C.'s something turned up that
may make good item for you. She and lot
of them are theosophiets, and it seems there
| is man here who gives himself out to be
n. lit
committee women got private warning that
this spragge is the same English detective
who was watching them at Philadelphia. He
is an old Indian scout service man like you
read about Two of the B. R. C. saw him
on the steamboat last night. They teased me
about him, because they said he was watch
ing us and taking you to be recruit was
enlisting for the Beers. At Philadelphia the
first thing he did was to find out all he could
about newspaper men, gave his name as
Southgate and let them think be was some
lord in disguise looking for chances to invest
money.
cant you make something of this for Ns
paper? He is at the Grand Circular, think.
Cordially, % P.
Up. S.-This goes by special messenger
Wickham thought he could and he lost no
time in saying SO to the city editor. And that
was how it came to pass that next morning
the Star had an exclusive story Of MI
Spragge-now MI. Spragge, VINO nao osten-
sibly arrived in the city the day before and
registered at the Grand Circular, had really
spent two days quietly at an obscure board
ing-house learning all be could about things
not obviously his business; how he had played
much the same game in at least two other
big cities, all to make sure that the Boer re-
lief committees were not shipping contra
bands to the seat of war.
It was a great thing for Wickham's jour-
nalistic prospects. that story, but 1t hurt
Spragge's career.