The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-12-27
THE CALDWELL TRIBUNE'S
WEEKLY SHORT STORY

were convicted, and l received pro-
fnse ofhcial apologies that my honor
able property had been disturbed"
The arrival of one of the crew with
a sheaf of Shanghi newspapers gave
us something else to think about: but
II any OF expected to discover an ex-
tens've display of news from home
ne was son doomed to Disappointment.
Something like three inches of space
was devoted to news paragraphs from
the United States, and Hicks was in
dignant about it. Three tornadoes.
an earthquake, powder mill explo-
sion, and two rail road wrecks with a
large loss of life. There's a fine news
resume for thu man FIVE thousand
miles west of Bucyrus! If the same
sort of stuff is circulated in the native
press out here, Congress needn't wor-
ry about Asiastic invasion. Even a
slant eyed heather might reasonably
shy at an aggregation of earthquake,
fire. food, and collision. Hello! Here
is an old friend of mine engaged in
separating a confding public from its
Mexican dollars!"
He handed me his paper, indicating
the announcement of a series of en-
tertainments at Shanghi hall by a
"Mysterio. Price of the Occult"
looked at him inquiringly.
There's one of the cleverest fell
lows on the footstool. His real name
is Billy Bassett, and he was born close
to five miles from Bucyrus. He ran
away from home thirty years ago, was
picked up by Heller, who was then
astounding New York with his second
sight and white magic, afterward was
with the elder Hermann, later with
Alexander Hermann, and then start
ed out for himself with line of magic
that stunned the old timers. If we
catch him in Shanghi, you'll meet one
of the most interesting characters in
the world, and see some things you
will not believe even after you have
seen them"
Hicks talked so much about his
professional friend that he had the rest
| of US wrought up to boiling curiosity
by the time we had anchored of W.T.
Sung and were ready to transfer to a
take us up to the Paris of the
cured quarters for the night at the
/ ASIOIs I1ASkS WGut Jul W AuNCStAkSSC'
"Sold out for tonight" he lamented
on his return; "but I've located the
Mysterio, and he's to join US after the
show. He's on his way back to the
States, after having come out by the
way of Europe and Australia. This
is his second night here, and he's just
standing them up in the aisles. He
says his mind-reading and thought
transference stunts have simply para
lyzed this Shanghai crowd"
A man seated at All adjoining table
swung around until he faced Hicks
pardon me, are you speaking of that
chap at the St. James Hall?" He spoke
with a slight English accent, was 3
we'll set man of middle age, wore Z
finely tailored suit of soft pongee, ant
Il looked like gentleman. But hi
smoothly shaved bronzed face wa!
disfigured by livid scar extending
from the outer corner of the right ey'
straight down his cheek, giving hin
curiously sinister expression. There
was a bold challenge in his eyes tina
suggested authority. He might hav'
been an officer on furlough.
Hicks looked him over rather care
fully for a second or two before ans
wering. Then he smiled. Il wa
speaking of Mysterio-'the Prince Q
: the Occult he calls himself. WhyF
n "Nothing, except that / saw hin
last. night, and, while he was cleve
enough with his fooling on stag
where he has every advantage, hi
mind reading is frightful fake. Eithe
he uses a gang of confedertes, or hi
subjects deceive themselves. ! hear
! of his experiments when at Melbourn
but these things are SO magnihed an
Il distorted in the telling that one can
get at the truth. Why dosen't he dro
I ali that rot about the occult and site
4 to his conjuring, at which he's reaii
clever?"
; As he seemed to expect some sort
! reply. Hicks, who appeared some
what nettled at the strangers ton
and manner. grew suddeningly seriou
at auppose he had his own reason
for dabbling in the occult, and, as
: happened to have seen him at . pr
vate affair to be supernatural or SUI
: ernormal.' as he chooses to term II,
arm inclined to think there Is real
E some Foundation for his claim"
kOtt GRCl8lIuSu SuS SssSs.9..
!, manner, If not offensive, was decided
!. aggressive.
= Hicks grew interested. 1T may I
3 possible that your views would unde
= 10 change II you were to see one
+ these private demonstrations. 1t yt
= are to be here tonight and care
!. drop around to the palm-room aoo
!. eleven. there may be chance 10 gi'
, him real test
I Thanks, I may look In"
II II nope he does drop In" observe
I'll Hicks as the stranger rose and sire
= led out toward the Office. Il belle
= Biiley will be glad to have try
!, that fellow. have seen him curl q
= hair Of some skeptical scientific shar
4 and II the Australian gentleman v
: honor Us tonight we may. have som
! thing out OF the ordinary"
4 Half a dozen of our little crowd
= the Korea sought the coolest corn
: l-nf the OalmrOom, ana un0er =