The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-30

Galbraith he might be any age from So
to 60. But what's he doing in your
house?"
"He is acting as my fathers secretary.
1t seems to me that he will soon be mas
ter instead of servant. I can't under
stand it,
Harry seemed uncomfortable and nerv-
Gus. l waited, not knowing exactly what
to say. He seated himself on a corner OF
the table, swung his leg, and looked
steadily into the fire.
do you believe In magnetism?" he
asked at length.
Magnetism, my dear fellow? Electric
force? Well. believe in that; but what
He made gesture Of impatience.
II mean animal magnetism, as people
used to call it. I mean sort of mesmeric
power which one person may have over
another"
"Oh, hypnotism!
mot exactly. It's % good talking,
see. only puzzle you and worry myself.
But the next time you see Galbraith look
at his eyes,"
did not forget the injunction thus
laid upon me. But some days elapsed
before I had any opportunity Of observing
Galbraiths eyes 1t came, however, on
} the occasion Of one of Sir Felix's lectures
in the theater. He brought his secretary
with him, rather to my surprise; and
he allowed Galbraith to help him in vari-
Gus demonstrations and experiments for
which he usually employed one Of the reg
ular dressers, or some student for whom
he wished to display a preference.
Galbraith was evidently tyro. He
must have studied surgery in his youth, I
thought for he was peculiarly deft and
skilful In the assistance which he rend-
cred to Sir Felix, and showed no nerv-
BUSINESS in what would have been to a
novice a very awkward and even dis
| After ton
, with Harry paid more attention to him
: than had ever done before, altho had
! seen him several times while he was In
: hospital, and I came to the conclusion
that there was something peculiarly re-
: pulsive in his apparently commonplace
= appearance.
He was a tall, lean man, STOPPING at
. the shoulders. He presented a sreat con-
trast in figure to Sir Felix, who, altho
= of spare habit was erect, broad Shout
Z dered and of somewhat leonine aspect
! Beside him Galbraith looked weak and in
= significant His features were plain and
g irregular, his brow was half covered with
r long, lank locks Of hair, which fell, also,
to his collar, and gave him curiously
= unkempt appearance; he kept his eyes
n lowered, generally, so that for some time
|. could not obtain clear view of them
: When at last he raised them and fixed
:. them suddenly upon my own face, as il
. he had felt that desired to draw UP his
- gaze, I felt abashed, as If I had com
mitted rudeness or an act Of presump-
ttion. But I exerted myself to throw of
this foolish feeling and continued to look
a steadily into the eyes that now seemed tt
n blaze upon me, to pierce me thru ant
n thru, as tho their owner wished them tt
l. penetrate to the utmost recesses OF my
1. soul.
" They we're eyes Of a strange mixture O
81 aolo l>,yt t,lr
= altho, in some lights one saw brown
d and blue, and even flashes Of red
E, should think they would ordinarily hav
d been called hazel. But their peculiarit!
lay, first, in an unusual brilliance and 1
u strange keenness of glance; secondly, il
the way in which the pupils sometime
~ narrowed to a slit, like those Of a cat
l. blackneSS seemed to diSplace and abSor
the colors OF the iris. I had O very od
sensation while those eyes were gazin
IN at nae. I felt as tho my inner self wer
i being drawn forth from me, as If my sou
were trying to escape in order to rang
itself under this mans dominion; an
y with all my power I resisted the infiuenc
= T. which felt to be evil, and would not 70
=. one moment yield to it's terrible fascina
ton.
N Probe blv it was only a fancy; but for
" moment or two the influence seemed S
H. strong that l was almost afraid Of faint
ed ing Finally. however, it weakened an
then ceased altogether-in fact it SCENE
tn to be broken off, as tho the chain Of at
s. traction had become feeble. I passed m
to hand across my eyes, and when locke
or up I noticed a great change In Gal
braith's expression his face was pale an
"a, sullen, as If he had been checked or re
re buked in some way, and his eyes wer
,,oe narrow and dull. I felt no return of tn
le.;; strange sensation which I had expert
:. enced; but I was possessed of a sudde
~ unreasoning dislike towards the man
o od dislike not unmixed with contempt, nc
a. altogether devoid of fear.
~ Harry Vincent came to- my lodging
Nv next day with the air Of a man who ha
ne no very pleasant tale to tell.
a II say, old man, what have you dor
mt to Galbraith to make him have such
I'm down on you? I never heard such floc
Of abuse as he lavished on you last night
in "What made him speak Of me?"
49, We'll, was unluclSy enough to brtr
your name accidentally into the converse
a. tion Edith colored up and the govern
looked black; but our friend, Galbrait
suddenly found the string of his eloquel
ba tongue loosened, and grabbed you vel
of omously for about ten minutes. The
ad Edith got up and went out of the roo1
and I tried to interpose a few statemen
,rv Of my own, but it was go. The go
WV ernor told me to shut UP, and said tn
red ne had always dlsllked you eXcesslvel
of and that you were a designing and da
lite serous man.
MT Since when?" I asked rather bitterl
"Oh, Sir Felix's utterances were inspire
ac- They did not come out Of his own inn
mr. consciousness, you may be sure Of thu
iclr It's Galbraith that does it ALL"
do you mean that Sir Felix speaks a
ma acts under hypnotic suggestion" I sa
ing WIN some concern.
ned But Harry shrugged his shoulders. 'Hc
am to know? You take me so seriousl
aid But Galbraith IS formidable enemy
to sometimes think he Is directing some
me- his broadsides against me-"
hat Against you-and against your sister
mot in the way, exactly. No,
.a1- has a special liking for Edith I do
on come under the same category, you SCI
~ I started up angrily. FIarry's insinu
no. ton was almost more than could be-
Yer He smiled at my haste, and held up ]
hand.
rrv cts too late" he said. significant
"A 1--WE can't fight him because we do
use the same weapons. You might as W
nv know the truth. He means to mai
nds Edith. and to get kicked out Of I
inc house,
at you must be Joking Harry! Ma,
and Edith--Fdith!'
was Eyes, Edith. Poor girl. she is awfu
hut miserable But don't think she'll be a
en- to fight against him and Sir Felix t
did For the governor is on his side, Geoffr
You can't make any Roadway against
zed. two"
"Can not?"
hat IT would not advise you to try. ]