Evening star., 1917-12-23

riveted on her as Karatofr placed her
in an easy chair before him. There
was an expectant silence as Karaton
moved the chair SO that she could con-
centrate her attention only on bright
silver globe at the ceiling. Karato1
moved before her. passing his hands
with peculiar motion before her eyes.
which Edith Gaines yielded to the
strange force which fascinated all.
Slowly Edith Gaines rose from the
chair. faced us with unseefng eyes, ex-
cept as Karatotf directed Karatofi
himself was study. 1t seemed az IL
he had focused every ounce Of his fac
ulties on the accomplishment Of the
task in hand. Slowly still the woman
moved, as II in a dream walk. over to-
ward the phonoSraph, reached into the
cabinet beneath 1t and drew forth a
book OF records.
Her fingers passed over page after
page. until finally she stopped. drew
forth the record. placed It on the ma
ord on the revolving disk. My first sur
prise was quickly changed to gratinca-
tion. She had picked out the music to
the Hypnotic Whirl." I bent forward:
AS she turned could see even. in the
dim light a heightened color In her
cheeks. as though the excitement OF
the catchy music had infected her. A
very creditably, too, an imitation of
Carita herself in the revue. What did
it mean?
Next to Kennedy. saw Gaines lean
wife. now at tho little group. Enrol
was no less engrossed than Marchant.
Quickly glanced at Carita, wondering
* she might be gratihed at the per-
fac. that
strangely akin to Jealousy. It was as
though some other woman had usurDed
her prerogatfve. She leaned over to
speak to Enrol. with the easy familiar
Marchant q moment. as II she had said
something about him. then back at
Edith Gaines.
had just about decided that the lit
tie drama in the audience was OF Tar
more importance and interest than even
the dance. when the music ceased.
karaton approached. took Mrs. Gaines
by the hand. led her back to the chair.
and at word she regained her normal
consciousness. As she rose, still in a
daze 1t seemed, 1t was quite evident
that she had no waking realization of
what had happened. for she walked
back and sat down beside her husband.
quite as though nothing had happened.
Karaton seemed to realize that he
had made a hit. Without giving any
one chance to question him, he reach
ed down quickly and picked UP another
of the papers, repeating the process
through which he had gone before.
''Mr. ErroI." he summoned. placing
the second folded paper on the table
with the first.
ErroI rose and went forward and
Karaton placed him in the chair as he
had Mrs. Gaines. There seemed to be
no hesitation. at least, on the part of
Karatofrs followers, to being hypno-
tixed. Whatever 1t was written on the
paper. the writer had evidently not
trusted to chance. as had, but had told
specifically what TO do.
At the mute bidding of Karatof Err
rol rose. We watched breathlessiy.
Deliberately he walked across the room
to the table. and. to the establishment
ger which was lying in the miscellane-
Gus pile on the table.
Quickly Enrol turned. few strides
and as he had advanced toward our little
pitch of excitement by the extraordi-
nary exhibition.
''Of course" remarked Karatoff. as at
Q. word Errol paused. still poising the
tisnl in the psychological laboratory a
patient has often struck at his enemy
with rubber dagger. going through
all the motions OF real passion. Now.''
dicate to Errol what II was that he was
to do. But gasp went up from some
as he took another step and it was evi-
dent that 1t was Marchant he had sin
poised the rubber dagger over his
''victim,' rs II gioating. 1t was dra-
matte. realistic. AS Errol paused Mar
chant smiled at the rest Of us-a sfckly
smile. I thought. a. though he would
have said that tho play was being car.
ried too far.
Then. swiftly, down came the dagger
on Marchant's left side. just over the
heart. the rubber point bending plant
ly as It descended.
A sharp cry escaped Marchant !
looked quickly. He had fallen forward,
face down, on the floor
Edith Gaines screamed as we rushed
to Marchant and turned him over. For
the moment. as Kennedy, Karaton and
Gaines bent over him and endeavored
to loosen his collar and 1Dis restora-