The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-20

What would be his terms, do you
think, for a private seance?" he asked
of Nine. Picardet, the lady to whom
the seer had successfully predicted the
winning numbers.
He does not work FOR money"
Nine Picardet answered, but for the
good of humanity. I'm sure he would
gladly come and exhibit for nothing his
miraculous faculties"
"Nonsense!" Sir Charles answered.
The man must live. I'd pay him five
guineas. though to see him alone.
What hotel is he stopping at?"
THE Cosmopolitan, l think the
/, lady answered. "Oh, no; l remember
now, the Westminster"
Sir Charles turned to me quietly.
Look here, Seymour" he whispered.
go. round to this fellows place imme-
diately after dinner and offer him five
pounds to give private seance at once
| in my rooms, without mentioning who
I am to him; keep the name quiet.
Bring him back with you, too, and
come straight upstairs with him, so
that there may be no collision. Well
see just how much the fellow can tell
us"
l went as directed. l found the seer
a very remarkable and interesting per-
son. He stood about Sir Charles own
height, but was simmer and straighter,
with an aquiline nose, strangely pierre
ing eyes, very large black pupils and a
finely chiseled, close shaven face, Ike
the bust of Antinous in our hall in
Mayfair What gave him his most
characteristic touch, however, was his
odd head of hair, curly and wavy like
Paderewski's. standing out in a halo
round his high white forehead and his
delicate profile ] could see at a glance
why he succeeded so we'll in impress
sing women; he had the look of a poet,
a singer, a prophet
81 have come round" | said, ito ask
whether you will consent to give a
seance at once in a friends rooms; and
my principal wishes me to add that he
is prepared to pay five pounds as the
price of the entertainment"
Senior Antonio Herrera-that was
what he called himself-boWed 20 me
with impressive Spanish politeness. His
dusky olive cheeks were wrinkled with
a smile of gentle contempt as he an
swered gravely:
Il do not sell my gifts: I bestow
them freely. If your friend-yOur
anonymous friend-desires to behold
the cOsmic wonders that are wrought
through my hands l am glad to show
them TO him. Fortunately, as often
happens when it is necessary to con-
vince and confound a sceptic (for that
your friend is sceDtic / feel instinc-
tively), l chance to have no engage
ments at all this evening" He ran his
hand through his fine, long hair refiec-
lively. Yes, I'll CO." he continued,
as if addressing some unknown pres
ence that lowered about the ceiling:
II go: come with me-" Then he put
on his broad sombrero, with it's Grim
son ribbon, wrapped a cloak round his
shoulders, lighted a cigarette and
strobe forth by my side toward the,
Hotel des Anglais
He talked little by the way, and that
little in curt sentences. He seemed
buried I'm deep thought; indeed, when
we reached the door and l turned in,
he walked step or two farther on,
as If not noticing to what place | had
brought him. Then he drew himself
up short and gazed around him for
moment. "Ha, the AnglaisI" he said
and / may mention i'm passing that his
English, in spite of slight southern
accent, was idiomatic and excellent.
1T is here. then; ii is herei" He was
addressing once more the unseen pres
ence.
l smiled to think that these childish
devices were intended to deceive Sir
Charles Vandrift. Not quite the sort
Of man (as the city of London knows)
TO be. taken in by hocus-pocus. And all
this, | saw. was the cheapest and most
commonplace coDjuror's chatter