The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-01-08

or the great building Donaldson wa.
just stepping out of one of the cleva
tors. 1 knew him instantly by de
scription.
There was the usual hurrying throng
Donaldson saw no one whom he knew
and he gave no face a second glance
but almost every one who had the op
portunity looked twice ut him. II
would be hard to say why. for his ap
pearance was, on the whole. conven
tfonal. He was upward of six feet In
height, yet had not the look of a tai
man. His countenance was Agreeable
when one had cop TO knows him, and
his brown eyes were capable OF much
variety of expressions; but, as q rule
they seemed to be somewhat vacant
Follow tneir glance. and 1t Would lesS
uecesStE in 2faftep PIT p, the essys essy and It NAV
have been this appearance of focusing
MS gaze upon point where nothing
was visible to others that made Dom
aldson's aspect notable.
When | spoke his name, he turned
MS glance upon me slowly and with n
slight, characteristic effort, as though
MS attention were being withdrawn
unwillingly from some other object
| "YesF" said he.
tou were going to luncheon, sup
pose, said l. "Will you permit me to
oHer you my card and to suggest that
we lunch together%
was going to the Welleslea dairv."
| returned Donaldson, with faint smile
Suppose we try Bertram's?" I sup.
gested. naming the best of the down.
MT or
you are my guest, must guarantee
lne cooking. and am not familiar
with the Welleslea."
II lcOngratlltafs-rou, SIT, he reDlied-
rumiIiarity breeds both coptenprand
dyspepsia; Bertram's, by all means"
His manner did not plea sc me, though
1t was courteous enough. 1t evidenced
that peculiar selfshness which ia bred
Of dependency. that general disre-
gard which springs from personal dis.
satisfaction. Before we reached Ber-
tram's had said to myself, ''This man
has been much overpraised."
We spoke Of the aspect of business,
ana what he said seemed common.
place. Yet his words were like his
looks-slipping by. unobserved. Weeks
later l discovered with surprise that
Donaldson could look over the -, I
mH ho',~uitu ne mad made In rnar irsnt
interview recurred to my mind. and
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. I 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 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 1t
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 1T 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 1t said to him:
Are you not the Mr.. Donaldson who |
had singular experience in regard to |
his brotherr'
He frowned slightly, and his hand,
lying upon the tablecloth, opened and |
shut nervously.
eff ia n disa cyraoo hla 49, more |
roosons = than @ -e. e.aSid said he. "Yet as.
sumo that you are not asking from idle !
curiosity"
Far from It," I replied. 1--WE are |
attempting Il very serious and careful
investigation of this subject. 1t is
probable that we shall give the re-
mainder Of our lives to it, and we hope
to leave an important work behind
u.s."
II should not care to have the thing
published" said Donaldson, with bit
ter smile.
assured him that the usual anonym..
ity would be preserved.
"The Society For Psychical Research
got after me once" said he. IL sue
ceeded In lodging It. You will under
stand that this is a subject one doesn't
like to speak about"
~ don't know" remarked Hackett
"Slncs we took up this thing. we've
been followed by procession, and it's
getting longer every MINI ute." g.
"a procession of what" asked Don
aldson. with a laugh.
That's the point" assented my part.
| ner.
Donaldson looked across the table.
| There was q chair opposite him In
L