The Indianapolis journal., 1903-09-06

overheard two members of our party
discussing a remarkably curious seance at
which one OF them had been present few
nights previously. The details he gave
struck me as being so curious that
pressed for further information, and as the
conversation became Of a more general
character, being participated In by those
around. the story of the seance at last
leaked out In fairly full detail.
It appeared that a certain number OF
Arabs had been engaged to appear at the
exhibition. AS far as 1 can recollect they
gave some sort of an entertainment in an
annex and I believe after the exhibition
had closed they remained in Paris for some
time. performing on their own account.
II was a private visit paid to these Arabs
which my friend described, and certainly
his account of what he saw. told with all
the vigor and pic.uresqueness with which
a Frenchman so well knows how to adorn
his language. was extremely fascinating.
The result was that four five of US asked
our friend If he could possibly arrange for
another seance to be given at which We
were to be present. 1t appears the negotia-
tions were conducted through an individual
who reminded one very much of that very
CclcDfdlcQ III
that he was not merely kind of monde
script as TO country, but remarkably
handsome man, possessed, / should say OF
little or no conscience, speaking ever so
many languages. and also having for time
acted as a courier. This man it appeared
had conducted the negotiations which cul-
minated in the arrival of the Arabs in
Paris. The facility with which he spoke
even Arabic made him invaluable to the
parties who were responsible for the ap-
pearance of the troupe. 1t was therefore
decided that this individuals services
should again be brought into requisition,
and as the affair was practically question
OF pocket, our friend agreed that the mat
ter might easily be arranged
A few days later my friend, whom shall
call Jules, appeared at dinner radiant. He
had brought off his grand coup. He had
seen the courier. had made a bargain with
him, and that night was waiting for the
appointment In order that we should wit
ness this private performance Of the won
derful Arabs. A little later on in the even
ing the interpreter himself stole into the
cafe, and after having partaken Of small
rejection OF the liquid kind, declared that
he had arranged the performance. He was
extremely voluble in the laudation Of his
Arabs. but was equally insistent upon the
fact that the whole affair was to be
ready money transaction. Perhaps his
previous experience OF the Quarter Latin
had made him a careful man. Be that as
II may, the affair was concluded, and an
appointment made for forty-eight hours
later.
The interpreter bound us to secrecy re-
garding not merely the performance itself,
but the locality in which It was to take
place. The reason for exacting this prom
ise from Us was perhaps perfectly natural
one, which he duly advanced. It was that
the effect CT these performances, which
were not to be given In public, would be
very much detracted from If they were
talked about. AS cute business man he
probobiy knew perfectly well that the air
OF mystery which was certain to envelope
these seances would in all probability tend
20 their greater exploitation. at which he
was really aiming. I had a shrewd sus-
picion that the pledge Of secrecy under
which he laid us was really after all
very clever business move. He probably
knew that Il would be impossible for an
event OF this kind to be passed without
",
our pledges being given. the appointment
was duly made.
Punctually at the hour named, our friend
met us In the cafe. We then passed on foot
through a labyrinth OF streets leading us
TO quarter Of Paris some distance off.
Whether by reason Of some definite intent
or not am unable to say, but 1t appeared
to me that we could have reached our des-
tination very much more quickly than we
did under the auspices Of our guide, coun-
selor and friend. Hating at last before
q gloomy looking tenement few words
were exchanged with the concierge and the
small party OF US passed inwards, keeping
to the ground floor OF the porter's lodge at
which point our guide told Us to wait his
return The house was OF the ordinary
Partisan Tyre, but on the ground floor at
which we stood, and which at one extremi-
~ opened into a courtyard, there appeared
TO be another building. A glimpse Of this
we got as our guide disappeared through a
doorway at the end OF a passage, revealing
IN the dim light the building feebly lit up
In a short space Of time he returned and
said that all was ready. asking US to fol-
low him. We did so In single fle The pas
sage. as suspected, led out into an open
courtyard. Two sides Of this were bounded
by the walls OF adjacent buildings The
third side was that by which we had en-
tered IL. The fourth side, that opposite US.
led TO kind OF pavilion. IL may so term
st. this being the building which described
as having the appearance of being dimly
lighted. Standing in front of this building
the guide clapped his hands three times. On
the signal being given large door was
unbarred and we passed through this en-
trance into a building which might be
described In one sense as a glorified shed.
From the passage In this building where
we stood there opened directly in front a
room OF very considerable dimensions On
the right and left other apartments ap-
parently existed.
A surprise awaited us on our entrance.
because the whole apartment was decorated
very much after the fashion OF an Eastern
room. Around the room were divans. The
walls were covered with curtains evidently
OF costly description: various kinds OF
srms, swords aud guns OF foreign make,
decorated the walls and an Arab dressed in
his native costume, locked the door beyond
Us. motioned US TO seats on the divan fac
ing the door, and then proceeded to draw
the curtains on the side OF the room on
which we had entered thus apparently
excluding all trace OF the light we had
seen on approaching the building Ex-