Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-01-08
q 81 y
DONALD
DONALDSON, JR.
Being a True Record and Explanation
Of the Seuen Mysteries NOtU ASSo-
ctdtcd With His Name In The !
Public Mind, and Of an
Eighth, Which Is tho
Key Of the Seren
By HOWARD FIELDING
Copyright, 1902, by Charles w. Hooke (
CONTINUED from last Week.
CHAPTER III.

meeting Donald Donaldson. In
the meantime | had made a care
full investigation of his character and
ability. The result was surprising
Rarely have | heard man so highly
praised, yet this appreciation seemed
20 have done him no good. The most
influential member of the firm that en-
ployed him told me that Donaldson
was wonder in business way, and
set, SO far as l could learn, nothing
had been done for his advancement in
two years except that few dollars
had been added to his weekly wage
which was still disgracefully small.
At the age of twentyfour he had be-
come familiar with the dull pang Of
Encouragement. He knew that he was
serviceable in his place, and he had no
fear of the loss Of it; indeed he feared
much more the prospect of retaining 1t
to the end of his days. He lacked ag-
gressive selfshness and the rude, Obvi-
Gus signs of self esteem.
1t was my intention to call on him
ct u o'clock and suggest that we take
luncheon together, but | was somewhat
delayed, and when | entered the hail
of the great building Donaldson was
just stepping out of one of the eleva-
tors. l knew him instantly by de-
scription.
There was the usual hurrying throng.
Donaldson saw no one whom he knew.
and he gave no face q second glance,
but almost every one who had the op-
portunity looked twice at him. 1t
would be hard to say why, for his ap-
pearance was, on the whole, cOnven-
tional. He was upward of six feet in
height, yet had not the look Of a tall
man. His countenance was agreeable
when one had come to know him, and
his brown eyes were capable of much
variety of expression; but, as rule,
they seemed to be somewhat vacant.
Follow their glance, and it would lead
nowhere. Often the eyes of the blind
deceive in the same way, and 1t may
have been this appearance of focusing
his gaze upon a point where nothing
was visible to others that made Don
aldson's aspect notable.
When l spoke his name, he turned
his glance upon me slowly and with
slight, characteristic effort. as though
his attention were being withdrawn
unwillingly from some other object.
"Yesp said he.
you were going to luncheon, | sup
pose," said l. "Will you permit me to
offer you my card and to suggest that
we lunch together?'
81 was going to the Welleslea dairy"
returned Donaldson, with faint smile.
Suppose we try Bertram's" | sug-
gested, naming the best of the down
town restaurants at that time. "As
you are my guest, | must guarantee
the cooking, and l am not familiar
with the Welleslea."
81 congratulate you, sir he replied.
Familiarity breeds both contempt and
dyspepsia; Bertram's, by all means"
His manner did not please me, though
It was courteous enough. 1t evidenced
that peculiar selfshness which is bred
of dependency, that general disre-
gard which springs from personal dis
satisfaction. Before we reached Ber-
trans had said to myself, This man
has been much oyerpraised."
We spoke Of the aspect Of business,
and what he said seemed common
place. Yet his words were like his
iooks-slipping by, unobserved. Weeks
later / discovered with surprise that
Donaldson could look over the top of
my hat without stretching himself, and
at about the same time certain re-
marks which he had made in that first
interview required to my mind, and l
saw how the foresight in them might
have been turned to my advantage.
At the moment, however, | was
appointed and felt disposed to abandon
my intention Of offering Donaldson an
excellent position. l could see that
Hackett, who was waiting for us at
Bertram's. was not favorably impress
ed at first And altogether If Don
aldson had but known our minds he
would have had cause for great anX-
iety. for the proposal which we had
thought of making to him meant no
less than q career if he should prove
worthy.
All this was, in sense, apart from
our interest in the young man as a
psychic. AS to that matter we were
determined upon an investigation if it
could be made without too great an
intrusion. During the past week we
had CLEANED considerable information
about the story which Dr. Whiting OF
Boston had SO steadfastly concealed,
and it seemed to us to furnish by far
the best instance of SO called supernat-
ural manifestation that we had yet en-
countered. Therefore when the time
seemed ripe for ii | said to him:
Are you not the Mr.. Donaldson who
had a singular experience in regard to
his brother"
He frowned slightly, and his hand,
lying upon the tablecloth, opened and
shut nervously.
1T is disagreeable subject for more
reasons than one" said he "Yet as
sumo that you are not asking from idle
curiosity"
"Far from it." l replied. I'VE are
attempting very serious and careful
investigation OF this subject. 1t is
probable that we shall give the re-
mainder Of our lives to 1t, and we hope
to leave an important work behind
u.s."
81 should not care to have the thing
published" said Donaldson, with bit
ter smile.
assured him that the usual anonym
ity would be preserved.
''As for the other thing" said Don
aldson, 'ff you take me for a psychic
marvel, you will be disappointed In
one single instance
Hackett checked him by gesture.
That's the whole of It," he said;
zone single instance which n practical
nan can get fair hold Of ought to set
Gle the question"
There are many cases." / added,
(which are merely difficult to explain
genuine, perhaps, but too complicated
to repay study or to mark the individ-
ual as possessing more than "A slight
supersensitiyeness; for we are all clair