Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-01-07

uecelVe Ill tne same way, ana IL 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 a
slight, characteristic effort, as though
his attention We're being withdrawn
unwillingly from some other object.
"Yes?" 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?'
II was going to the Welleslea dairy"
returned Donaldson, with a faint smile.
Suppose we try Bertram's?" 1 sug-
gested, naming the best of the down
town restaurants at that time Gas
you are my guest, 1 must guarantee
the cooking, and am not familiar
with the Welleslea.'
II congratulate you, SIR" he replied.
Familiarity breeds both contempt and
dyspepsia; Bertram's, by all means"
His manner did not please me, though
1t was courteous enough. 1t evidenced
that peculiar selishness which Is bred
of dependency, that general disre-
gard which springs from personal dis
satisfaction. Before we reached Ber-
trans l had said to myself, "This man
has been much overpraised."
We spoke of the aspect of business,
and what he said seemed common
place. Yet his words were like his
looks-slfpping 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, I was dis.
appointed and felt disposed to abandon
my intention of Offering Donaldson an
excellent position. 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 n 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 DIR. 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 vet en-
co,lntered. Therefore when the time
seemed ripe for it said to him:
Are you not the Mr.. Donaldson who
had 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"
Ear from it." l replied. eve 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.
Iassured him that the usual auonym
tty would be preserved.
"The Society For Psychical Research
got after me once" said he. II sue
ceeded in lodging it. You will uneer-
stand that this is subject one doesn't
like to speak about"
II don't know" remarked Hackett,
"Since we took up this thing, we've
been followed by procession, and it's
getting longer every minute"
"a procession Of what?" asked Don.
aldson, with laugh.
That's the point" assented my part
ner.
Donaldson looked across the table.
There was a chair opposite him in
which nobody was sitting.
SIS this your only motive for seeking
this interview" he asked. And both
Hackett and glanced involuntarily
at the vacant place, as if expecting an
answer from that quarter. After a
pause which had somewhat startling
effect / admitted, with hesitation, that
we had had matter of business II
mind.
las for the other thing" said Don
lldson, "if you take me for a psychic
marvel, you will be disappointed. II
one single instance
Hackett checked him by gesture.
That's the whole of it," he said
zone single instance which practca
man can get fair hold of ought to set
tie 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
Wa oo pOooSooluS AaOAS lAua SllS u
supersensitiveness; for we are all clair
voyants more or less, If the power real
ly exists in any human creature. Ant
the problem is to prove once and for al
that the soul Of an ordinary morta
man Of this day and generation ma!
transcend his body, may use its owl
powers Independently of this coyerin.
Of fesh.''
Donaldson became noticeably excit
ed. His demeanor suggested that O
one who is struggling to repel vagu'
accusation. His face took on pecul
lar expression, and his voice, though
not louder than before, became NOR,
Intense and vibrant.
"Do you take me for clairvoyant? 2
he demanded.
i II believe you to be one of the yer,
!, few men in the world who can abso
lutely prove that you possess such +,
power" said l. "You saw half wa.