Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-04-22
CHAPTER w

He was never known, however, at such
times to give any clue to his family or
connections. All the stories were con
hHed to his vagabond days. He never
allowed any person to interrupt his mar
rativeS by remarks; any such must be
reserved until they were concluded.
"Of all the vagabond specs ever
launched into, none ever brought me in
so much cash as the mesmerism dodge"
be began.
| started at those words, and from
that moment became au eager and at
tentive listener.
When | first started in it, l thought
1t was all humbug. got hold Of a sharp,
clever girl, who pretended to mesmeri2e
the accomplices | carried about with me,
Well, one fine morning this girl bolted
off with one of the accomplices, and
was left in the lurch, with my bills out.
announcing a performance for the LrXt
night. l walked gloomiy about the
town. Turning down a back street,
went into a public house. There vas
Only one other person in the room besides
myself-a scottish locking fellow. who
bore upon him the unmistakabe marks
Of a follower OF st. Crispin He was in
clined to be talkative At first | was
too moody to bestow upon MIN any reply.
But he was not to be snubbed; and at
last, the low cunning, and coarse, hui
morous shrewdness of his remarks, be-
gan TO amuse me. He invited me home
to dinner with him. accepted his in
yitatiOn.
He lived in a squalid court, a hid
eous looking place, and the home he led
me into was in keeping with its sur
roundings. | began to wish myself out
Of the adventures; with all my love Of
yagabondism, this was n little beyond
me. Crouchng over a handful of fire
was girl about thirteen or fourteen
years of age. with fiery red hair and a
pale sullen face, every bone of her thin,
angular body showing through the rag
ged, scanty clothing that barely covered
hre. She rose from her seat with a
scowling look of disdain, wl>ich changed
to one of establishment at the sight of
| a wel-dressed stranger. She fixed her
eyes upon me with an inquiring stare
| There was something in those eyes that
strangely affected me,
Her father ordered her about with
threats, and would have used blows,
believe had l not been there. The cir
regarded him much in the manner Of {
Gagged tigress, who would like to faster
upon her keeper, but dare not. | KEEP
watching her as she moved about, an
suddenly a strange idea struck me. Coul
| get this girl to play the clairvoyant tn
next night? | at once put it to he
father. Selling upon the dilemma il
which | was placed, and which | hat
somewhat incautiously laid bare to him
he tried to drive an extortionate bargain
| While we were speaking, the girl stop
ped her work, and leaning over the bach
of chair facing US, listened eagerly t
my proposition.
'Do you think you can do it?' | said
turning to her.
81 can do anything that you show m,
and teach me-" she answered confidently
THE night came, and when she was
clean, her hair dressed and she was
clothed in the black velvet dress that
carried about with me, she had fO1
more sybilline appearance than her pred
eCessor. | had drilled her we'll into her
task, Mt which | found her wonderfully
apt; and, although | anticipated a few
! blunders, | had every hope of success.
although she had never faced an au-
dience before, and we had large one
that night, she was as fearless and self
possessed as though she had been used
to it for years.
! "One Of the principal points Of the
performance was to select man from
the crowd, bring him on to the platform,
! put him into mesmeric sleep, and then
cause him to answer any questions that
the cairvoyant might choose to put to
him; added to which, he was made to
promise to do certain things when he
awoke. Hitherto we had used an ac-
complete for the purpose. Whether she
was confused by the sight of so many
faces, or deceived by a resemblance, |
do not know: but what was my dismay
to see her select an entire stranger for
the experiment! In sheer desperation, |
tried to cover the blunder by saying that
the party selected was not fit sub
iect. from a certain similarity in the
color of the hair and eyes to those Of
the girl. The audience grew suspicious,
and insisted that there should be no
change.
with the perspiration starting from
every pore, | waited for what | firmly
believed would be an ignominious expos
ure. Conceive my establishment, then
when, after being submitted to the mes
meric influence of her eyes for three
minutes, | saw him grow rigid. his eyes
fixed, and his whole body drawn irrcsist
IDLY towards her. just as | had so often
seen feigned by my assistants. Not only
that, but he answered every question put
to him, some OF a very awkward nature
with the air OF a man irresistibly com
PEELED against his will. She then de-
sired that as soon as she should take the
influence off him. he should go to the
chandelier in the middle OF the room.
and burn his hat. And he did do it; and
had TO buy him a new one; but what
did care for that? l had discovered
! fortune!
At last, was half-inclined to believe
that she had planted some friend OF her