The Raymer enterprise., 1918-01-17
FENTON'S
WAGER
xAum
BY JOHN ELKINS

Dlockeu MS way.
isn't this Bruce FentonT' he asked
s'Why. Jack Forhushr' exclaime,
the other with hand extended. Where
did you hail from?"
"Come and dine with me, and Ill tel
you"
Thanks, can't. I've a special en-
gagement."
"Oh come now," urged Forbush. %
haven't seen you in seven years
You've got to cut somewhere. and wei
hustle"
Fenton went somewhat under pro
test, but the delight of again seeing
his old friend was too great a tempta
ton to set aside. He was usherec
into an apartment handsomely fur
nished In the oriental style. A subtle
odor of exquisite perfume was every
where.
swell you must have been knocking
around In the far East" observed
Fenton.
Il have"
Fenton looking about the room, dis.
covered slender thread of blue smoke
rising from cabinet In u corner.
"Where did you find that insense
burner? It's wonderfulT'
Forbush smiled bit mysteriously.
" promised not to tell" he said.
I Fenton looked questioningly ut the
ther man. "Have you become u
Parsee, a Rosicrucian, or Brahmin."
he queried.
"Perhaps little Of all three" was
fhe rather ambiguous answer.
. The dinner was extremely good, all.
@ell served by an irreproachable
Eaiter. After the second course Fen.
ION nervously looked at his watch.
II must be out of here In fifteen min.
ltes," he said.
"What! You don't meah to anghi
my dinner that way!"
! I'm sorry-but told you I had
pressing engagement"
"Pretty womanl' ventured Forbusf
trlfle sardonlcally.
"The l0yeliest In the world!"
II thought so. To most men there
are only two important engagements
business and women. That careful
manicuring seemed to point toward a
lady. But am l not to have peeE
ut herr"
"Perhaps 30. some day."
after she is securely yours?"
Exactly. After that"
Fenton beamed. 1t was his turn to
become mysterious. His friend re
garded him curiously. Fenton meeting
his eye became serious.
Somehow, you don't seem to be the
same man ! used to know" he said.
Perhaps Tn not" laughed Forbush
"You know after seven years we may
not have one atom Of our old selves.
| hope ! haven't
"Your eyes have changed" said the
other man slowly and curiously. Then
he looked at his watch. "only ten
minutes more" And he vigorously at.
tackled his salad.
"I'll bet you stay half an hour"
laughed his host.
''l'll bet | don't"
''IIow much?'
"Fifty dollars"
Lord you are hard hit, old chap
PUT up your money" laughed Fen.
ton. Il can use 1t just now
Forbush hastily wrote check
which the other covered with bills.
"What did you mean about my eyes
looking stranger" asked Forbush. Il
wish you'd look carefully, and tell me.n
FentOn looked searchingly into his
hosts eyes. They seemed to hold his
gaze In some unaccountable way. He
did not speak, bnt sat still as though
fascinated. Presently his eyes closed,
and he sank back in the chair. For.
bush regarded the sleeping man with
an amused smile. He took out his
watch, laid 1t on the pile of bank
notes, and carefully noted the time.
II guess she'll forgive him IL he's
fifteen minutes late" he said to hinl
self.
He picked up an evening paper and
scanned the contents. After Il time
he again consulted his watch, and gave
a slight start. "Oh, well, only eight
minutes overtime for good measure
he thought, and going to the sleeping
man, he began making passes over his
face, at the same time calling him by
name. But his subject did not respond
as ne had expected. He tried all the
means Of which he knew to bring the
man out of his hypnotic sleep. The
more nervous and terrified he became
the less effect he knew he was having
on the unconscious man. He dreaded
calling In help for fear of the conse-
quences to himself. After working
over Fenton for nearly an hour, the
young man opened his eyes, staring
about In bewilderment.
Hurry, Bruce, hurry!' cried For
brush, almost dragging him from the
chair.
"What Is the matter? Have | been
asleepT He clutched his watch, looked
at the time, his face went ashy white,
and he staggered back, catching at the
table. "Devll! you drugged mel' He