The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-04-08
CHAPTER XIV.

~ telling stories of his own adventures.
uo was never known, however, at such
trnas TO give any clue to his family. or
Connections. All the stories We're con-
sned to his vagabond days. He never
allowed any person to interrupt his mar
rotives bv remarks; any such must be
reserved until they were concluded.
"Of all the vagabond specs ! ever
launched into none ever brought me In
40 much cash as the mesn1erism dodge"
he began. --,..-..--.r y s-s-.. rs4.sr.
started at those words. and from
that moment became an eager and at
tentive listener. ~ ~. -,.. ga s~,a$- q
when | first started in it, l thought
II was all humbug. got hold of sharp,
clever girl who pretended 10 mesmerize
the accomplces | 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 performance for the la.xt
night | walked gloomily about the
town, Turning down q back street, !
went into a public house. There vas
OILY one other person in the room besides
myself--a scottish looking fellow, who
bore upon him the unmistakable marks
~ of follower Of st. Crispin. He was in
clined to be laxative. AT first | was
too moody to bestow upon iimsany reply.
Rut he was not to be snubbed; and, at
last, the low cunning, and coarse. hu-
Inorous shrewdness Of his remarks, be-
gan to amuse me. He invited me home
10 dinner with him. I accepted his I'M
vitatiOn.
"He lived In a squalid court, a hid
eous looking place, and the home he led
me into was in keeping with it's sur
roundngs. l began to wish myself out
of tile adventure; with all my love OF
vagabondism, this was a little beyond
me- Crouching over handful of fire
was a girl about thirteen or fourteen
years of age, with fiery red hair and q
pale sullen face, every bone Of her thin,
angular body showing through the rag
ged, scanty clothing that barely covered
hire. She rose from her seat with a
scowling look of disdain, which changed
to one of establishment at the sight of
a weIl-dressed stranger. She fixed her
j 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, l
believe. had not been there. The girl
regarded him much in the manner of q
Gagged tigresS, who would like to fasten
upon her keeper, but dare not | kept
watching her as she moved about, and
suddenly strange idea struck me. Could
get this girl to play the clairvoyant the
next night? l at once put it to her
father. Selling upon the dilemma in
which l was placed, and which / had
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 back
Of chair facing US, listened eagerly to
my proposition.
do you think you can do itT' said,
turning to her.
Il can do anything that you show me
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 I
carried about with me, she had a for
more sybilline appearance than her pred
ecessor. l had drilled her we'll into her
task, at which found her wonderfully
apt; and although anticipated a few
plumbers, / had every hope of success.
Although she had never faced an au-
'dlence before, and we had a large one
that night, she was as fearless and self
possessed as though she had been used
to it for years. ~.a ssssss. agr.ea. s,.- e..
One of the principal points Of the
performance was to select a man from
the crowd bring him on to the platform,
put INN intoFa mesmeric sleep, and then
cause him to answer any questions that
tne clalrvoyant might choose to put to
MIN; 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
races or deceived by resemblance, /
10 not know; but what was my dismay
10 see her select an entire stranger for
the experiment! In sheer desperation. l
tried to cover the blunder by saying that
the party selected was not a ft sub
'ect from a certain similarity in the
C"'or of the hair and eyes to those of
the girl. The audience grew suspicious,
ana insisted that there should be no
change
With the perspiration starting from
every pore, l waited for what | firmly
oelleVed would be all ignominious EXPOS
ute' conceive my establishment, then,
"hen, after being submitted to the mes
merle influence of her eyes for three
minutes, saw him grow rigid, his eyes
mmIed, and his whole body drawn irresist-
loly towards her, just as had so often
seen feigned by my assistants. Not only
uat: but he answered every question nut
20 MN, some of a very awkward nature,
WIN the air of a man irresistibly com
PEELED against his will. She then de
sired that as soon as she should take the
.nnuence off him. he should go to the
Chandelier in the middle OF the room,
ana burn his hat. And he did do 1t: and
! mad to buy him a new one: but what
uiu l care for that2 had discovered
fortune
Al. AT last, I was half-inclined to believe
onat she had planted some friend OF her
S"4 70 humhug me, and raise the terms;
uat was soon convinced that such gus-
t r.elohs We're groundless: and, indeed,
.oO, The first, the whole thing was too
real to be doubted.
-,nyeryWhere our success was enormous
foWued houses M ,nnSa haonor,,,lL, &c