Evening star., 1924-04-20
THE CASE OF THE REMARKABLE F1USBk

our drawing rooms and our publishers
| and our lecture audiences"
What about him?" said 1.
| Either" said Alpin, "his is the
extraordinarily wise man, or 1t is the
| cunning of a charlatan. / have read
! him. Sometimes I fancy catch
, glimpses of thought SO profound and
comforting as to be beyond the grasp
of the ordinary intellect. At other
| times 1 am certain it is nothing but
pseudo-esoteric rot, meaningless with
| intent
street to the Sandys home, mount
ed the porch and rang the bell Mr..
Sandys appeared and stood in the door,
staring at us in his mild, vague, unin-
terested way.
when do you go?" Alpin said
abruptly.
Cor? said Sandys with an air of
not comprehending.
| Move on" said Alpin, "to the next
stopping place. This one, Of course,
has become impossible"
Mrs Sandys appeared, her eyes
flashing, her checks flushed to ex-
traordinary prettiness by sudden
danger. Don't annoy him. Don't
| question him. I won't have it. Isn't
| it enough"
quite enough" said Alpin. Il do
not wish to annoy. My purpose in
coming was to ask for your promise
| not to - disappear for ferty-eight
| hours. You can do so with safety, 1
think. 1 am almost willing to guar
antee it."
| "Forty-eight hours" said Sandys
| Internationally. why should l move
on in forty-eight hours?"
Mrs. Sandys," said Alpin, you have
been making inquiries about me. DO
| they warrant you in begging your
husband to place some confidence in
me?"
John. Please"
He did not look at her: scarcely did
he look at us. He merely seemed to
stand there like some immovable
piece of household ware, not endowed
with consciousness.
"Mr. Sandys," said Alpin, are you
Canadian"
NO"
Alpin nodded Nor EngIishI
mean former resident OF the
| island?"
No"
"I have always wanted" said Alpin,
ito make the voyage to Australia"
Sandys waggled his head uneasily.
1T must be along trip. I-person-
ally / don't like long trips"
Did you notice in the paper of this
morning." said Alpin. that Marylin
Graine, one of the seasons most pho
tographed debutantes. has disappeared %
peared."
NO" said Sandys.
who is the richest man in the
world?" asked Alpin.
Why" replied Sandys after a
pause. II suppose Mr.. Rockefeller"
Wrong. 1t is the Maharaja Of
Sawnpore. Good evening. 1 have
your promise. Do not leave this
house for forty-eight hours. Admit
no one but yourself. Take in no par
cells except from my hands. Prefer
ably keep to the second floor and
away from all windows. Good eve
ming"
"Wellw said in evaporation, when
we reached my own porch again,
that was a peculiar conversation"
Most illuminating" said Alpin. II
was sure I must be, correct The
manifestations are Identical" He
leaned forward and touched my knee.
! Come. / have secured an invitation
to call upon the great Hindu poet
the Beggar of Benares."
But 1 have no interest in poets"
"AIl the same, 1 imagine this one
will interest you. He seems to have
a great message and to be a striking
personality"
Very well, If it will please you"
| said I, with the air of one making a
sacrifice.
Have YOU" said he, "such a thing
as firearn?"
ITO visit a poet?'
He smiled. do you remember the
multiplication table?" he asked.
Naturally"
Bear in mind" said he. '1f I
touch your arm, fix your mind upon
| it. Recite 1t to yourself as IL your
life depended upon it. Which it may.
| Concentrate upon it to the exclusion
al Va Nil fN1