The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-05-12


cause ne was the only person to whom
young Krnll had spoken on the fateful
occaslon,--Valentine had him shad-
owed. Almost Immediately the great
detectives prescience bore fruit.
The krull family lived in one of a
biock OF tenements in East Twenty
eighth street near the river Further
down the block a sign in a parlor win
dow of the first fiat announced that
professor Abel Pennant, Clairvoyant
and Palmist," dwelt within. To Valen-
tines surprise the trail of Tony the
Greek led to the professors door on
the Wednesday night following the mo.
mentous Monday.
Inquiry among the neighbors elic-
tied the fact that Professor Pennant,-
a slight. dapper, rather feminine little
fellow,-had quite local reputation
Besides being skilled as seer" and
a reader of hands, he also posed as a
medical healer" and had been known
as a public exhibitor of hypnotic phe-
nomena. A rather handsome girl, said
by some 10 be Pennant's daughter, but
believed by many more to ne really
his wife, was also more or less in evil
dence, and helped the professor now
and again. Further, Tony the Greek
was frequent visitor.
This was Thread Number One.
Thread No. Two was this: Valentine
made an early call upon the Krull fam
lily, being DESTROYS of seeing Fritz and
his parents in their home life. Appar-
emily they were all that they seemed
to be,--decent, God-fearing, Industrious
folk, the father skilled matchmaker
or repairer employed by prominent
firm in Union Square.
But one important fact was learned
at this call, resulting from closer ques-
tioning Of young Fritz as to what he
did and where he went during his
spare time evenings. Then it trans
pired that he was intimate with Pro.
fessor Abel Pennant and his pretty
daughter" down the street, whom the
boy spoke of quite Familiarity as Con-
ME. On being asked what went on
during his visits at the Pennant fiat,
Fritz laughed rather shamefacedly,
sQuirmed, and showed the first sign of
embarrassment. Finally he confessed
that 1.-The prof. did lots of funny
things-tricks with cards, gazing into
a big crystal globe, and sometimes
gave him shocks from an electric or
galvanic battery.
When Comics name was mention
ed more particularly, Fritz blushed
painfully, but all he could be got to
admit was that she was awful good
fun"
The facts last narrated gave yalen-
tine an idea. Keeping himself care
fully in the background, he sent a
trusty subordinate to call on Prof
Abel Pennant with the pretense of ar
ranging for some public hypnotic ex-
hibitions in nearby towns. The bait
caught some bigger fish than the in
spector had hoped for.
Not only was Pennant quite willing
to go into the thing-for a considera-
tion-but he let out the fact that he
had capital "subject"-a young fell
low, innocent as a girl, who was one
Of the best he, the professor, had ever
met. Promising to see him later, Val
entine's man reported progress; the
chief Immediately jumped to the con-
clusion that the Subject" was none
other than Fritz Krull But even so,
where was the connection between
Prof. Pennant and the theft of the ten
thousand.dollar bill? Was it Tony the
Greek? Was 1t possible that The
suspicion suddenly born in the detec-
tive's mind was SO startling as to de-
mand serious and careful considera.
ton.
In all his talks with young Fritz the
inspector had been unable to secure
an admission on the lads part that
Pennant had ever put him to Sleep"
That might have arisen from crafty
concealment on the boys part, or it
might have proceeded from ignorance
or forgetfulness. Valentine was in
clined to credit 1t to the latter. But
the point had been reached where
even his wide knowledge was at fault.
So he took unto himself certain wise
one, an expert in the most advanced
hypnotic science Of the day, to whom
he propounded certain queries. The
answers received determined the next
step, and an appointment was made
with Lr. Guy Ramie for the next even.
ing.
Telling Fritz that he wanted him to
call on a certain gentleman who might
be able to trace the missing banknote,
the two presented themselves at the
doctors rooms. A quick scrutiny Of
the lad by the latter ELECTED an en-
couraging and affirmative nod in Val
entine's direction, as much as to say:
Hell do, l guess!"
After some brief conversation, in
which young Krull was made to repeat
his story of that eventfut Saturday, his
mind thus being brought to bear on
the subject, DR.. Ramie drew his chair
In front of Fritz and made the usual
passes" with his hands. To Valen-
tines surprise and the doctors evident
delight the boy fell almost at once and
of his own volition into an attitude Of
repose. 1t was as If the preliminary
process was to him familiar one. In
three minutes Fritz Krull was In a
hypnotic trance, eyes wide open. but
utterly oblivious of his sur roundings.
e.. L. II