Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-04-14

standing stiff and motionless with out
stretched arms and holding the cam
era. If could only take a snapshot
now. I thought, and quick as the
thought saw my hands move. and
family heard the camera snap.
Looking up I saw the first assist
ant clinging to the rope above me
fear written on his face. And we'll
might he be afraid, for letting go Of
the rope, the fakir sprang over my
head, and, catching the young man by
the hair. drew his sword. and with one
blow severed the head and threw II
down. The body still clinging to the
rope. he tore 1t away and threw 1t af-.
ter.
THE next instant felt his hand In
my hair, and tried to shrek, but could
utter no sound even when I felt the
keen sword crash through my spine
and knew that he was holding my
head out at arms length. He gazed at
It for a moment; then with a fiend-
ish chuckle, pulling one of my hands
from the rope, he made me hold my
head by the hair as he had done.
With look Of hellish Joy he then pro-
ceeded to cut Off my legs, one at q
time, and let them fall to the ground,
pausing to enjoy his work. Then he
severed my body in the middle, and,
last of all. my arms at the shoulders,
letting the pieces fall one at time,
until only one arm clung to the rope.
This he also pulled loose, and sent 1t to
join the rest Of me on the ground. AS
I lay there. my head with one hand
still grasping 1t by the hair, and the
rest Of me scattered around between
the crushed boy, and the head and
body of the other assistant, I remem-
Der wishing had snapshot Of the
scene.
1.-The chief fakir having descended
from the rope, he went to his para
phernalia, and taking large sack
placed the lifeless boy into 1t, tied the
end, and after he had made a few in
carnations over 1t the sack began to
move and jump around in a very live
ly manner. Soon the incantations
ceased, the sack was united, and out
stepped the boy as good as ever. ready
to help gather his treacherous friend
into the bag when like service was
performed for him. Last Of all, the
two assistants gathered me up, one
holding open the sack, and the other
throwing in different parts. The sack
was tied, few words muttered, and
found myself standing in the crowd
with the camera still in my hands.
1.-The tall assistant again took UP
collection, while the boy coiled the
rope. AS I staggered out Of the crowd
heard voice behind me say:
"T say, AIRY, where did e bet the
other blooming h'assistant e carved?'
well, got to my hotel somehow,
and when after month in the hos
pital with brain fever tried to devel-
op some of the films I got only one
good negative. think that will con-
vince you there are magicians In In
dia, and will win my bet of feed
at Del's."
Il was betting there were no magi-
clans in India. IL you remember" i
protested. mot that there were no.
hypnotists.'
you forget" said Jack, that you
can't hypnotic a camera. Here is the
photo"
II picked It up with curiosity, but
gazed at It with horror. 1t was very
good photograph, and among other de-
tails showed the body of boy lying
between the head and body Of a man,
with severed arms and legs scattered
here and there. A severed hand was
clutching by the hair head; turning
the face up in full view, and although
distorted with pain and terror, knew
It was the face of Jack Barrett. While
was still gazing at the ghastly thing
a ring called Jack to the door, where
after a few words with some one, he
called to me:
Don't 90 away. I'll be right back"
II laid the photograph face down on
the table, and walked to the window,
but as Jack did not come back turned
to look at some sketches lying on the
floor by the open trunk. They were
mostly landscapes, and some OF them
were good. Jack Is no mean artist.
Having looked them all over, and no
sign Of Jack, saw what seemed to be
another bundle partly covered by some
clothes in the trunk, and took them
out. Sketches they were, but not
landscapes, as I had supposed. The
first was a blur Of arms and legs and
heads. The second was much the
same and hastily looking at the last
found a complete sketch Of the horri-
BILE picture now lying face down on the
table. puzzled over the riddle mo-
ment, then the solution came clear as
mud. Jack had drawn the picture,
then photographed it. Hearing steps
in the hall I hastily replaced the
sketches, and was busily looking out
of the window when Jack same In.
Jack" l said, you dine with me at
Dels tonight"
Then you are convinced that there
are fakirs in India" he asked.
Yes" | replied, II am convinced
there are fakirs in India-and else
where" added under my breath.-Los
Angeles Times.
Wbsn Old Ane ls Curse,