The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-04-02
by EVAN MACPHERSON

want TO see you ABOUT r 1a1rly
good diplomatic stroke, considering
how hard 1t was for Wickham to
keep his mind from wandering to the
other hotel.
Mr.. spragge smiled oddly. "Oh,
don't know about guessed Suppose
we go up to my room."
AS they walked up one fight of car
peted stairs together he tried to guess
Spragge's age, and that puzzled him
He studied the red and brown cheeks
and neck, and they puzzled him, too
for he thought an occult person should
look much less like an eater of thick
beefsteaks.
rs this your first visit to America"
yes, but you didn't come here to
ask me that"
Although this remark did not neces-
sarily imply preternatural intuition
WiCkham began to feel a little creepy.
Il suppose you-you travel for pleas
ure."
BY this time they were entering the
Englishman's room, ON the second floor.
Yes" he said; 81 do-that and other
things" Then, closing the door behind
him, he added, And perhaps Spragge
Is not my only name"
Wickham gasped and turned to stare
at him. Are you a clairyoyantY
81 might be. or | might be a mahat-
ma or anything else that would inter
est your readers, and you might be a
reporter for the Express if you were
not in fact the representative of the
Morning Star. What can l do in par
ticular to oblige you at present?'
Wickham had forgotten all about
Miss Parker. "Well-er-do you really
possess these wonderful powers?"
(Which? Bllocation2 Levitation2
Perhaps"
Then, If you don't mind. perhaps
you might
The stocky man broke in with glee-
full laugh. throwing his head back in
the chair. "If you should see me, for
instance, float up to the ceiling, chair
and all, what good would that do?'
81 thought you occultists wanted to
convince the public"
"And you are one of the publc's pairs
Of eyes? But If did give you an ex-
hibition like that Spragge stopped
tantalizingly and looked at the report
er.
Wickham sat on the very edge of his
chair in GREATNESS expectation Of
something miraculous.
"If did anything of that kind, you'd
have two columns about it in the Morn
ing Star, wouldn't your"
81 should think So" said Wickham,
relaxing into more comfortable at
titude.
The Englishman laughed again.
"Well, perhaps your editor might let
1t get into print, but much more likely
he would say you We're drunk
There was a pause, Wickham turn
ing over in his mind the probabilities
of this Hypothetical case If reporter
was to be accused of seeing double
when he reported this kind of thing,
what was the use of sending him to
interview a magician? He began to
think he had better let the interview
go at that. Then he remembered Olive
Parker again and neryously pulled out
his watch.
At this the other man smiled and
shook his 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
as of one who saw a specter
That evening the city editor cross
examined Wickham. for the city editor
was confident there was good news
matter in this swami affair.
you say be admits that Spragge
isn't his real nameY
Eyes. In a sort of way"
well, what is his real nameY
"He didn't tell me that. He's a ma
gician all right. He knew l was look
ing at his name In the hotel register
when my back was turned to him"
HIN! Is that all2"
"He knew | was a Star man without
my telling him"
"Wickham, If you think it would
take a manatma 10 find that out
What elsef'
Wickham turned red and stammered.
1t was borne in upon him that the final
proof of Spragge's pretcrnatural pow
ers was much too delicately personal
to be mentioned to the e~y editor. As
for putting it into print. that was un-
thinkable.
The city editor sighed in weary dis
appointment looked all around the
COON and shifted.
Wickham went to his desk feeling
that all his rosy prospects Of journal
istic advancement were fading: but
when he reached his desk, behold,