The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1910-07-29


That's precisely what want you
to do"
There's nothing on the planet that
interests me more deeply. must con-
fess, though that | have run up
against nothing but impostors."
"The most extraordinary claim made
by this person is the power to ex-
change personalities-to appear, for
instance, under two or more distant
forms within a very brief period-pos-
sihly in less than an hour" he said.
"Rot-deadly rot!" declared Sang
ster, contemporary. Mere buffoon-
cry. The petty device of the trick
ster."
Possibly" the other admitted, with
the air of a man unconvinced I've
not yet seen this exchange of person
alities effected | have been promised
an opportunity to witness it on Satur-
day evening"
Where is this precious piece of Jug
glery TO be worked"
NO particular place has been desig-
nated-yet."
here?"
Il know of nothing to confiict-un-
less il should be the odor of tobacco.
have heard the alleged miracle
worker express a decided distaste for
that"
"Then let it be done in one of the
parlors or in the library"
NXr,ui-+o, co;I 1ooiJolI,y
"Aster all it would be better to have
it here. It's quieter and more re-
mote"
las you prefer. The hangings and
furnishings can be removed If neces-
sary. Any apparatus required?"
None whatever"
want the lights turned low? l can
flood the place with electricity at the
first symptom of treachery."
In this manifestation there should
be as much illumination as possible.
It's entirely visual, you know"
Good! Saturday evening-at what
hour?"
About eight
Isn't that rather early for the SUI
pernatural to show itself?"
"This manifestation does not de-
mand the hour of midnight as one of
its conditions"
what are its conditions?"
! LAS l understand the matter there Is
only one-that we are to seat our
selves comfortably in a well-lighted
room and see what we shall see.'
"Yes-well see what We see,"
echoed Sangster.
At eight o'clock on the following
evening the two men were again in
the smoking room. Enveloped in a
constantly deepening cloud of his own
creation, John Williston emitted
smoke in puffs that suggested mini
allure volcano. He had not spoken a
word for ten minutes. Sangster had
been equally silent and as he sat in
a half reclining position in a big arm
chair, an unlighted cigar between his
lips, his countenance assumed a truly
saturnine expression.
IF your fakir doesn't like tobacco"
he observed finally, he won't be at
his best in this atmosphere. Don't you
think we'd do well to move into the
library?"
"Oh, no. let us stick to the original
arrangement" John said, hastily, rous-
ing himself and consulting his watch
Eight O'clock" he added, as II he
had been asked the hour
Your fakir may be all that fakir
should, but he isn't Johnny on the
spot" grumbled Sangster.
Somebody's coming" Williston
whispered.
The door was opened softly and
there floated into the mist a figure
so good to look upon that both men
abandoned themselves straightway to
the luxury of looking.
1t was the vision who spoke first
What perfectly, dreadful atmos-
phere!" it exclaimed, with a little
choke which was not at all unbecom-
ins.
"John is the Vesuvius who is re-
sponsible for it," said the Visions ia
Their. | haven't been smoking. Where
fore all this magnifcence? Are you
going out?"
"Oh, no. My new gown came home
and | just got into it and came up
here to exhibit myself
In its present setting II certainly
is the old man agreed CALAMITY.
WELL" she hesitated and began to
move slowly toward the door, 81 want
you to see me In it,"
She stepped forward quickly, threw
her arms about her fathers neck,
kissed him on the forehead over and
over again, sobbed audibly half doz-
en- times and fed preclpitately from
the room.
What the" began Sangster.
Tobacco. What brute | was not
10 have opened the Window" John
broke In, rather excitedly I'll see II
| can do anything for her"
When he had gone the old man
lighted his cigar and fixed himself
comfortably in his armchair. Now
for the next chapter in the exchange"
he chuckled, grimly.
He had not long to wait. Before he
had come to the end of his cigar the