The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-10-20

whole day. At last L discovered his Sc
cret. He would go a few miles away
from the town where we were exhibit
ing, and do little open-air preaching
to the rustics. Things were becoming
very unsatisfactory; even the girl SEEM
ed getting weary of her work, and was
beginning to think that it would be bet
ter to turn the whole affair up and start
something else, than to put up with the
airs of people whom / had picked out
of the gutter, when my thought was an
ticipated sooner than / counted upon.
I'VE were exhibiting at Spalding one
night to a very bad house, and just as
Judith was in the middle of her perform
ance-a young fellow was upon the pat
form, answering questions in the mes
meric sleep-two or three swells strolled
into the front seats. They were highly
amused at the manner in which the fell
low seemed compelled to answer all kinds
of absurd questions; evidently regarding
the whole thing. however. as SELL AS
soon as the yokel was dismissed, one
Of the party, in spite of the renon-
strances of his companions, rose from his
scat, and bounding upon the platform,
expressed a wish to be mesmerized. The
event caused a great connection in the
room, as he and his companions were
known to be gentlemen of position. At
the first glance Judith could perceive
that he was one of those strongwilled
beings over whom she could exercise no
influence. She declined. He insisted,
and declared the whole thing was a
swindle. The people began to hiss, not
him, but us.
Il cannot mesmerize you, but can
your friend there said Judith. point
ing to the dark-eyed, weak-looking young
man who had accompanied him.
HE objected: but his companion cried
out, But you shall, Jack. No, hang it!
fair play for Zenobis! We have called
her an impostor, and we will give her
chance
He jumped down off the platform,
and whispered to Jack as he called
him. but not in so low a tone but what
| could catch the words, Go up-don't
be a fool; she can no more mesmerize
you than she can me. 1t is only put
off, thinking the challenge won't be ac
cepted.'
Very reluctantly the young man
mounted the platform and took the chair
indicated by Zenobia, very much to the
delight of his friends, who clapped their
hands. shouted 'Bravov and laughed up
roariously.
Judith, who always had the temper
os fend, was boiling with passion at
the ridicule cast upon her; but her rage
was manifested by no word or sign, only
by her livid face, and by those awful
eyes, that looked for all the world like
some brilliant metallic surface, upon
which a strong light was shining She
cast one disdainful glance round the
room, which had the effect of partly sub
DUNG the uproar, and set herself to her
| task
I'm two minutes he was as rigid as a
corpse and as helpless as a child The
expression of her eyes was something
fearful; the whole audience, including
even his companions. were hushed TITO
silence: even 1 shuddered as looked at
her. She used her power me1eilessly.
asking him questions Of the most sacred
nature, to all of which he replied undis-
guisedly The moment her eyes were
off him, the young fellow fell down in
strong commissions.
There was an awful CONSERVATION in
the room. People rushed upon the plat
form to tender their assistance. Judith
stood aloof, leaning upon the piano,
gloating Indignantly over her work
Well, as soon as he recovered. they put
him into cab and sent him home. one of
his companions accompanying. But the
challenger. who had caused the commo-
ton, remained behind until all the peo-
pie were dispersed, and then walked
home to our hotel with us. He not only
confessed that no blame could be attach
ed to the young lady for What had oc-
Cured, but very handsomely apologiHed
| for his rudeness in doubling her power.
"He came into our private room and
supped with us. He was remarkably
curious about mesmerism. and asked us
an infnity of questions concerning its
powers and effects 1t struck me that
he had some motive underpeath these in
| terrogations beyond mere idle curiosity,
for he seemed to ponder over our an
swers and revolve them in his mind
well, of course the sensation in the
/ town was something marvellous For
week we turned crowds away from the
| doors nightly. Strange to say, the young
man who had caused the sensation came
every night, ss1d persisted in desiring
to be again mesmerized, although he
still looked shaken and pale from the eff
fects of the first experiment. This, how
ever, l would not permit. Judith seemed
to have acquired some strange fasci-
nation over MIN; he followed her like
a shadow. But she would scarcely deign
| TO look upon him; she seemed always 20
| feel great contempt for those who were
amenable to the mesmeric influence. To
our other friend, her behavior was very
different. He came pretty often to the
hotel, and frequently found them in
private confab together. / could not un-
derstand what handsome swell like
that could find to admire in bony, red
haired Judith.
"WelI, the last night came. / had left
The hotel about o'clock in the after
noon to walk round the town with our
bill poster. When the time came to
open the doors, the checkers came to me
to say that Mr.. Stokes. who was money
taker, had not arrived. / knocked at
Judith's dressing room door. She was
not there In an instant it darted upon
my mind that / was sold-that they
had boltsdi
Il went off to the hotel. Ny suspi-
cions were verified. They had left, bag
and baggage. Immediately after had
| gone out. / went to the station, and
| found they had booked for PETERBOROUGH;
but there all traces ceased, and from
that time to this l have never heard Of
them. 1t will be warm for them IL ever
/ do, for they completely broke me up
I-afte, saving them from starvation,