THE GREAT SUGGESTION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14007, 11 March 1920, Page 7

THE GREAT SUGGESTION.

A SHORT STORY

(Hv Robert Shannon.) twmrdo" the Ureat was not a man sdrop I'" 11 " 6 "' a " "P 0 " a P a,r '•V 1 *?-. That he ehaneed to be a wit- '* fand auditor of wt' of these i»U----""1 llpuint'"! '"•" t ' s . that b!, « h - t the ,I.' ofhuman aff.-cti.ms was m no ""the result of :«ny desire on his ?a f'nan lomewhere between ten and .o'clock on on** of those warm "' ,: ""r'nights when the moon and the 3Un " 1 " „.l'*the irnidious fragrance of sli ""* *" \r,rd»n* combine to lure the l!«"* rin --'-; f , f /..p.Ti t -* on to rambling - a,on « the twist, ""S P" th * ■ "V"'*., ■ i tiiiiht for the bright dreams ■ ~,,'h The moon cave u rippling ■" r : ' i\iU*r r.o th.- silent Mississippi r ih<,:ll llippcd ?•<>' tflC lltt!l ' ° W tOW '" [ a*, 1 . 1 * feouliidoitx. which bun« on the ' of it rf th-- Miss""" side of the river. | fife" he sat on a bench in the 1 ' fr ° m <hi'i" w "' itn *'' m m '^ e '' ourt " Bernardo gazed in placid '""n.nnn across the- mile of water at md tangled vegetation -that 'k ,s the l"-v Illinois side-. SonnfriiiS 63 , vvn tn ,. river two side-wheelers w '"i r-i.-h other, and the dotihle blasts p ■ !.it;i Hon from their whistles " r T'i ' iii th*- distance, like moans -*"" 11. "hosts of river paikets tons; (r "? 1 i for-otten in the mud and silt «,ink ana "'.- ir « iwri'ii''- ll " l ''' r '"' ,nvn name of ..ri,'Tick ham Mowers, the profesff,il'f' r ,.„ei.f of the rrjvstic art of >''"' m n le-crd-main. and sleight of W'" '„*' it. Cape Konhik""' f r -i r<"'- ■"* vac-:>tioti from the ,lll " :t -, ,.l-'h .if a hard stMMin on the *f u '[, h-- ov»n show, ft had been a |W me routine of small towns., nrotirs and small satisfaction, sawfit p f ~",,,-eded was » short spell '„,,.,.»' "met. and "he'had been 0 - %">r 't'nr th'- past two weeks, in the *"""* .mill' 'o-'Vti. where he passed , " il, ,fv' i.« 'ir How. its-, of Chicago—,u l ""v„,',n -'.i'. in" a.t the Upton floi-e MV* ?Z «■ Wir .merest of his health. If '■"£.., '|,.,d l«: it be known that ■* °j rn.tlii'l- r 'i" down from over. I * l "'L„^ ( - the salubrious advantages ■*£»•' Kouhi'biis. he had come v.-ry-■*kiv' ti- he- a marked man. and the ■tSiuiiti viewed him with kindly and ■ffrom'tfo-'" Vptm House his r.p■r . vl . tin- 1 . :dthough he dtd show i„n,.v 'n -It'tpitssitews in th.- f.::-e ■Slip n,_-ht. He seldom went to ■jfLt'on- niidnisht. preferring to Vj t |„. Im'irs until that time m KnvJ'^d' th'.'' splet.'lor of the rritieal and .-solemn mumait B*!'fi''"''!vhoU- attention wa.s tinC at- ■ ■ the P«ir nntil they *U>ppM ■S litr,r I hat shadow.,E his beneh. ■%n.i w "f.yoitr talkin/. Joe." "it's all oft."' ■*rn:.Xhad 'heard, throitsb no fa-ilt ■ f|„, civil that mneh ot the e..nv-r-Kmn. mi it «-.ti.Mt to htro the part i ilflincv tt? keep sulertt. ■. I ijurki-. tall and straight, and as ■(J. n, * Vikinu:. droppol hts. Fm.i.J ■Libi'iimi of the slender. da.rk i'-r ■*L*. * Uy to V ■ibni..rt.'i S ui.irk at the ends were n. ■ ■«t.,<inii:lit; l'n.^ in that shoe-store up a timia trvin' to land a j:md ■'«,,', f'nniH take rare of yon >tolif ""i' l ' ■* , ri t '"' l! » f >"- " rt wa.-> lon.--and I dtd ?ee her a. ■btiinif. but I was on the level with *• time. I don't know -.vhy mi- tlia-t po,st-eard." Willi tlv.it. resembled a-sob r-ame. "h Iwt -•'"" earned it arotimf m iii'! .Iropped if. where I ■Uli find if." »'»i didn't." she affirmed "Tim wnulttn't h«ve had r.:e wrrld. "Fttirrv bark to Yours.' with love and Oft. I'll never forp't '"ftt'ffcve her. and I never lif^t:-sted. "She i»i.-t hapk tlie cashier itt the .store. itiH kiss herf" the f|itestion. You and i-iipiwd. "We was merely Pidn't I take my two to come down here and 'waif uf yn-irt* im to I Humidit a.nft dreantt-tl and '■ .ifioiit viai for vrars?" ..limit tier head positivelv. Ton ain't steady, and rt s t ithmilii find it out now than afivr me sivin' four hundred fifty dollars;" he exelaimefl remimin- ain't nuthin'." <=he .'aid - a Bn» in n man that cottttts." rnu'rp insr. a little jealori*. ifiitmisT. if< fust a. bitted. thnc"« nil." [ft ix r ,- n .„ hen 1 - In rnv mir for me. .T,*<. Take it ; .aek W." ,|v m? n. tun.- ,-f frrita.fu>n and iiiskjc,. ;,,,,] mni.cirmprehetisioti '"" menu Miaf. - h.ime ■^. miivni ,vx-,,, : ,„d H-rnard'. d.'ci inf., id,.- 4.ad..w. llnnr fim.-rr h.. s ,r. pond-ri.i- c»:< I rapsiT-e the frail fmiinre as it ./lides alote: * tempnni ry ninsterv over the '""'"' * K *' lV '"~ wi't'h' e'.notions ill-l thr,v,t,.n..d ti»' hn'mtt him'.' t{ "' i'i>nin;--rii,.l- fori'e U an »ft'Wurv'cslim: liatterin" its wav brii'in. n '' i,r "■""" tIH " n * ,vt . n>,,nl " KlKitM- 1 1" 1 "' 1 ' ■- : " mt - with ;1 '»""•'" e '*"ii ,<n ' r ron iP»»ition. he ^ r distinguished visitor. iHbttn h f end h>" had arrtwirrd in ■HTI:2 ll, 'H h PS id«. him and hands with their warm w' 1 B lompnt : '6 the -orner J l '" 1 BBfand. the m,fVfi Pl^.->n!l r »t htm P*nifnr.j n, iajnrkt, • , .'?** expressman. iH"»mdirhr fe!eU w »* nhr «^ ■ Cfte corner, came ottt

of -the Smoke House with a stogy betwetat his teeth and stopped to flick plavfully nt the legs of the youngsters with hts disreputable buggy-wlnpp. Winn the children had souealmgly pl;iri-d Bernardo Iwtween themselves and the menacing whip, the expressman spoke to the snowman with hearty nirabihty, marked by just the proper shade of deference. "Your health gcttin' better right along, Mr Mowers?" he asked. "\pu re lcokm' mighty husky for a sick man these days.'' There wits a kind of senatorial dignitv in the reply. '"'Getting much better every day. Clements'. I'll be wanting you to haul tnv baggage down to the station before long. Perhaps JPJI leave tonight. 7 ' • . tie pas.-ed alone into the next block and was hailed by a call from the ground-floor office of Thomas H. » ilfrev. real estate and farm-loans. '"•Just- a minute. Mr Bowers."' tnsojiat and amiable Wilfrey said, coining bareheaded out on to the sidewal.%. "I wanted to speak to you about the dinner of the Mercantile Club next Widnesdnv night at the Oddfellows Hall. Like to have you come up and io:n us. Thought maybe you'd enjoy it. We always have a darn good teed und some good speeches, too.'' It was a whole-hearted invitation i Ikmnrdo acknowledged it for itworth, saving he would be delighted. unless called awav. to attend. At lh■.• terrier he h.iltcd and gazed with ai> : up and down the n-ngth -il street. It was a delightful place, he told himself, a back eddy, pcrhap-. but with enough of the pulsating current of life running through it tokero aw;vv stagnation. A girl 'pasted across the way. slender and dark. A young man stepped from the corner drug-store and raised hb straw hat. If she saw him she failed to recognise him. and Uernardo s .jiti' k eye detected, he fancied, an upward tilt of her chin. It came back to him suddenly—inc scene in the courthouse square. He was human enough to let 1 ;•- p.mg it:.loth of then;—a pity for them. tu:»t they Vad not enough wisdom to know thev v.rre tampering with their uw;» iiit;:res. stupidlv and stubbornly, endangering the and enduring" happiness the might build together. There came an impulse :<•-• follow after them, to stop them and cell them in plain words, but of totir.-o it w.i- oniv a momentary urge. Ihe hvnr.oti.-t realised too weii- the futility o:*sut-h an attempt. Its only effe« '. worth! he to wideJi the"gap between them.

\ hand wii- pland on lit-; arm. ami he tiini-d and beheld b.-.de bim the , ( r v far,. i»f tit lie Mr* Omar linger. «-h:•», "de-pit.- h-r (Vi years. Iter white h-;r. and her .-dd-sUle 111:;.-!: turoan with it-, ribboned string-, had .-t.M much »f the jm i.t v.nith in lurspur',img eves. ••Mr It-.-.v.r ." sh,- said, in llu- :;•:■- d ; al manner nt the small _ to-.m. ""t v.ane to ask you a favor."

Hi- il.lt came off and If butted. " Auvhiiig yon tike." he offered ga'laiitfv." with a vague recollection that he had .-.en Mr, Rogers one Simd:;y inorning ..t the Methodist 'Kp:-cnp-l 'S>utft> Church. ■"l've been av. fully worried." Ihe tittle woman explained rather iiorvnu:i\. ''lt.'.- about the entertainment e.i the r hnn h lawn to-morrow night ior the benefit of our pa-tor. We arrangerl for the ice-cream and cake all righi, t; nt or programme is find o wobbly. Four ot the young ladies are going" to sing -'Hen Bolt" and S.v ( »!. Genevieve." Th-ii Willie Harrison- - he's oiih six years oh! is going to recite a pie-e. and that about lets us

A gladsome tight e.irne into the eve of the showman, f.vt it never be s,i; I that Bernardo tie- threat decline! th; -not-tight, either on or ot! the stage. ' --.Madam." he said_ grandly. "'let ;.;nr worries cca-o. You've cnm» to the right place for help. You niigh' rn.-t ;-..- well pa— the word round town •'that votive bo-.1-ed a show tils.- this toivu never. - nv before." Fo- a moment .Mr- Hog'.-.- was pll^Trfed. "( iv.r. thinking that. ;..;i> nrgitl make U- a litrfe spo-: h vim know ynu've gut a go.ai fiow ot' language. <tr nuivlic von mi'.:hi. mite : .,irne of | KilcvV poems ft r the .-hildrcii ! Bernardo, however, km v. liitle of ' the joetrv that men s-t down. But ■ he fid know a great deal about the ar: of iart.iig en audicm- giping. and the old and iri-tinr-rive d-hgln of the a.-tor at thr- prospect of applause !.«gan to flame. "Don't uorry about my part of the programme, madam." he urged. "You ::s\e,i rne :t I ran entertain 'em. I can. I mil proba'-Iy put up a beit:r orii -man show than anybody in the white Missi.-.iippi Vr.tlex*. 1 .irdoti me it" I seem to t.ilk about iiiY-eli. ! ill wheu it : ome> to the my-t-c art m sleight of hand or ieg-rdem.iin- well, my dear madam, von're talking to a real prestidigitator. ('.an I entcrt:-:»i 'i rn r Well, madam —" He p.iti.-i-ft mode-tty. Mr. lingers. Mine.<h:t surprised at her own gne.i fortune and at. Bernardo's hUgeag.-. hi!t ted he;- eyes.

"Y«-». my dear madam." Bernardo went en. "I like your charming itttl-.-city. You've nil heen mighty nil■»• to rr:>- during my stav h'ort'. and I'll hi (uifif.y r>» . vcit the oWtt: atiou. W In-1 time fin you ring ii|>— I mean, when doe.- tFu' anair If'jju'r" She told him he had hettc-r In- nit hv.nd at . tyht o'clock. ••But ( hid no iifea you vt re mi aectwiptisFlcd." ■.(!•" murmured d'.Z'div .V kindly .-mite tins on. tin- lace of r,in;nvt»li;ittk. There was a warm feeling in the hreast tor the eager little inmi.ui. Why. he'd put »n the wii.de a-.-t for iter.' In his three trunks at tlrfii.r. I fi.. had paraphernalia enough to keep "em amused fur an hour and a halt it !,.>.v>s/irv. '"I «!.::i"i krn,w how we can crrr repay you. Mr Bowers " ■"Madam, yimr htimhle servant needs no repayment when he iaimrs in a ui.rihv carir.v. Ort the ( liunli lawn at e;<_-l>>. lic-t assured. I'll he there" H" liwvfl nicntn. ami his new inipr»;aric. moved away, murmuring her thank.-;. Why not r What do a man's gifts and talntits avail him if they do not hriri'i some slight joy to those admit fumr Of the many paths ho had trod. .Bernards had found that none held srul; satisfaction for him as the straight anrl simple one. He had enjoyed n'-rasional excursions upon it. yet fie could never quite bring himself to follow it to the end. There were tiroes when the hectic lurir of other :;nd more devious ways had the stronger pull. Hi,- roir.d roir.-i'lered rapidly t !'.■-• num her atiil variety of tricks and illusions he might perform at the fet»\ The coin trices.-, of course, would he suitaide; the plucking of the silver dollar from the emptyaairr r its disappearance, and it.-* ftnai extraction from the ear of a, >matt fn>y from the audience. Since it was a chrirelt affair, lie judged it would bo net! to eliminate the usual manipulation of playing-cards. Working at close range of his audience, he would stick to the simpler things--coins, handkerchiefs. rings, the creation of paper flowers from nowhere. » He could not do anything atong the mind-reading line, for he had no partner, anrl there was little time to coach a confederate. As hj,. strolled slowly hack toward the hotel. Mrs Rogers progressed rather more rapidly in the opposite directfsn. and later retraced her steps until she had covered the length of Main street, and had spread the news that Mr Bowers, the gentleman from" Chicago, was to f«» the star of the lawn social '

IV. The balance of the day passed rather pUsantly for Bernardo, What with delving into his trunks for apparatus, and making the needful preparations for art evening of magic. For two others it passed with lontv some dragging. Jessie Kinney, despite art invitation from Bert Arm rod, the debonair drng rlerk. to attend the movies, found her peace of mind shattered and the hours monotonous. Joe Burke lived through his Uuest day. His mother's tabic failed to tempt his appetite, and when the dusk of the evening fell he found it impossible to stay at home. It mar be believed that "the thought that he might find eternal solace in the bosom of the great Mississippi occurred to him. but it is rtrtain that he rejected the* idea. It is more probable to suppose that in his distress, he conceived the plan of making a brav e show of indifference,

for he was seen on the streets as the movie patrons began, drifting toward tho Odeon. - "- A careful observer would hav e noticed that his shoo* were highly polished: that the necktie he wore was of a brilliant hue. and that his straw hat was perched recklessly on the back of his' head. Dropping into the Beehive Ice-Cream- Parlor, he carelessly ordered a frosted banana sundae, price twentyfive cents plus the war tax, and consumed it with the manner of a man drowning his sorrow in drink. It so happened that Jessie and Bert Armrod stopped In at the same establishment on the way to the movies,

seated themselves at an adjoining table, and ordered ice-cream soda. Joe beckoned to Sim Gibbs, the fountain boy. -

''Bring me another frosted banana sundae, and splash a few cherries and some whipped cream on it," he commanded in princely style. Sim hesitated.. "Then things don't come en a frosted banana," he protested.

Joe eyed him with a- scowl so terrible the youth quailed visibly. "You hear my order—low. you fill it. When I want a thing I g«t it, understand. What do I care about cost?" His vociferous attitude induced rapid service. A hasty glance assured him that it was possible for Jessie to observe him in a mirror as he ate, and so tense were his feelings that he despatched the "frozen delicacy, before the object fof his affection had finished even half of her ice-cream soda. '"Fill it up again!" He gave the order moodily, as though his thoughts were miles away. Sim. Gibbs. for the first time in his career, served three frosted bananas in suc-

cession to a single patron. Jessie, aghast at the..terrible result of the epia.rref, urged Bert to hurry sir.d. finish his drink. She wanted to

leave, and she did, but as she • .pas-rcdl out the door it was with the wild vcice of Joe Burke ringing in her cars' as he ordered yet another portion of the frigid confection. She knew in her heart of hearts that it was unrequited love that was driving her former sweetheart, to dissipation. : -

A friendly hand fell on the shoulder of the unhappy swain. Bernardo bad risen from a back table and was departing. "Young man," he said in solemn tones, "wine is a mockery, but there ar.e even more dangerous vices. Listen to the advice of one who has had experience—don't let yourself be dragged down to the grave of an ice-cream drunkard."

He left the place with -the air of a prophet. Even Joe. nicked as he now was wif h forim-nt of mind and stomach, was impressed. Patrons at other table.- gax.e'd in respect at the'man who had littered slich weighty words. For :> moment Bernardo had taken the ••potlight. It was his way.

Ai the early part of the social the following night he was again the lending fi"iire. throwing the minister into a total eclipse. With Mrs Rogers guiding him about from group to croup, he overcame all diffidence in his hss worldly friends. eharmin<r them with Lis poise and good nature. For Mrs Rogers it was a triumph. Japanese lanterns hung from tlio trees made a festive atmosphere Here and there at th" edges of the lawn t here were pine t-ibles and cb-iir- wb'ro ie'-eream and cake might be had. served by rosy-cheeked young women in dainty aprons There was a booth also where rot I lemonade was dispensed, and there was much clinking of sm-'ll silver. Tt. was one of those nights of nights, ■■-.-it-h the entire youth and beauty, age ;--id chivalry of Cane Roubidoux present

As- it nearcd nine. Deacon Ferguson, retund and red of face, mounted Hin rough platform that had been erected

and annouiiccd that Willie Harrison would recite the well-known poem. "I'll Xcvi r T"se Tobacco." Willie, tre-moietou-Iv collared and starchoel. succeeded in reaching the occupant* of the first feiir roiv? of scats with the information Hint little Robert Reed would in ver" use lobaeco. for it was a filthy weed—the word weed riming with the name Recti.

There wn.s much applause, and after i-e.Hsidcr.-ihie orcssure from his delightedi mo: her. Willie remounted and began : "Hark. hark, the dogs do bark: the h ggars are criming to town."

f"iifi-rtui:ai<-Iv he forgot the remaining lines, and since no amount r.f prompting seemed likely fo jog his faulty memory, his mother beckonce! to him and he descended, again amid groat applause.

The oiinrtet of voe.ng men followed, and their rendition of old-time songs pouroel out with ringing sweetness on the night air. Thrir fresh voung voices, clear and strong, mow-el" Bernardo, and he felt his hejirt swelling in appreciation of the oht :.i-tS --imple and- wholesome things of 1 fe. Winn they sang "Annie Laurie." l;o caught sight of Jessie Kinney in thr •econd row. and he thought he siw the flash of a tear on her lash. His eyes moved about, searching for Joe. Fo saw him sitting apart, with a f.icn like a tragic mask.

The niiartet finished, ami "Deacon Ferguson drew near Bernardo for a ivhis-pen-d consultation before making his thirtj iiitroductorj - speech. "Now what is it you're going fo do?" he asked confidentially. "Legerdemain." Bernarelo told him. "You know, trick stuff." "Legerdemain." repeated the deacon. "Ah. ves."

''l can give you some facts about, myself and —" a "Entirely unnecessary." the chur?hniaii replied. He bad the honor and pleasure of introducing a straifger in Cafe "Roubidnnx. a gentleman who in a short iinte Ii:ul won the esteem and afF«f-tion of all who had met him. The :rentloniaii had kindly consented to add his efforts to the programme.

The .'poakcr found it not disagreeable to talk in public. For veal's he. hail elieri-hed a secret thought that h--i..,i ? tlie gifts cf a great orator. lWnardo eivc him a talking point. "N't id I till you." lie askrd. "that this •leiitleinan is one who is gifted" with the talents of the fabled seventh sen of a seventh daughter? This, srentUmnit has carried tlur art of magic farther into the realms of whimsy and fancy than any one who has preceded him.

"All ages have produced their great magicians. It has remained for this age and this country to produce the master wizard, the seer of seers: Perhaps you havi'. in your fancy, longed to witness the performance of the wonder-workers of the F.ast, the fakirs of India, or the black magic of the high priests of Kgypt. ft is possible that there has been a poignant regret that one had not been privileged to live in the age of r. Merlin; that one was born too late to see the deft and artful illusions of Cagliostro in the streets of .mediaeval Rome —that one tame into life too late to stand wideeyed before •Salamho or Kohcrt Houdin. the original. Friends and fellow citizens, .-jtill your vain yea rings." Deacon Ferguson cheeked his speech and. glanced toward Bernardo, who was watehimi him appreciatively. "To-night -I have the extreme pleasure of informing yon that we have with us an honored guest whose position is side by side—nay. above—that of any ever occupied by the magician, irrespective of period or history. "We have, I repeat, a man who makes the iiupnusihle possible, who transcend.- the- established laws of nature, who works *-onders. beyond the power of human intelligence to divine. A man who plunges into the mysterious realm of the elusive fourth dimension, who defie.' all known laws of science, who will produce for your entertainment illusions that have puzzled, r.nd defeated the best scientific brains of five continent.- In another age, in the days of Sidcm witchcraft, he would have been burned at the stake. l>ut in oitr imlightenod times, wc stand humbly and admiringly before this genius "wlio proudly takes his rank with tht great torch-hearers of all time.

•'H yon nsk me to give you tlio clue to the mn*t simple of Ills feats 1 am forced to shake my head and tell you that it is not within the power of my mind to fathom even the art of his smallest gesture. Nay. in this age of miracles, of the aircraft and the .submarine, which we can all understand in theory, we must acknowledge that we stand dumbfounded before the wizard. Stooping shortly only of the miracles of Holy "VVrit, he will now heuin a series of feats unequalled in the history of the black art surpassing the wonders of the 'Arabian Nights' and

touching the jiether edge of .human understanding.'•> > «-■--'' "Mr.—BOW-jERS!"

The applause 'was torrential, and as Bernardo ascended to the stage he was bewildered himselr at. the vivid introduction^ "And he invented all that out- of the one word legerdemain," he said to himself. "What if I'really had told him aoinething to work on? This gu\'s the world's greatest press-agent, and if 1 had him working for me I'd have the whole world .believing it. Some spieler!" He faced his audience with professional assurance, drawing a handkerchief from the upper pocket of his coat and carelessly rubbing it between his palms. "Now,"' he commenced, "if . any gentleman in the audience will lend | me :> twenty-dollar gold piece J'll promise to see : that it follows' the silk handkerchief. He spread his hands apart—the. cloth had vanished. There was a gasp of surprise. His first trick had been sudden.and unexpected. For half an hour trick followed trick-in rapid sequence,'to the 'accompaniment of a merry.How of quip and jest. Bernardo had promised to entertain, and he was putting on almost everything he knew. The, suit he wore wasapparently" quite conventional, but in reality it was a labyrinth of secret porke't% springs, rubber cords, and concealed openings. Ho reached into the-air and plucked paper flowers from .-. nowhere. He thrust a fountain pen in one ear and pulled it out of the other. Miraculously he produced three billiard balls between his outstretched fingers, caused them to disappear, reappear, and finally vanish down his /throat..

Reaching delicately into his mouth he extracted yard after yard of manycolored ribbon. In full view of the

audience 'lie passed . a half-dollar through his hand, from the back to the palm. Borrowing a hat from a man in the audience, he lilted a squirming white rabbit from it. A small boy from the front row was. induced to sneeze a -shower of dimes. and< quarters into the hat. Then, to prove that the money was genuine, Bernardo turned it over to Mrs Kogers to add to the receipts of the festival. "And now, ladies and gentlemen," he said,' "1 believe I-can interest you still further. You have seen that the hand is quicker than the eye." His audience, carried away with amazement and surprise at his cleverness, listened to him with strained eagerness. They were hungry for inore, they expected more, and were carter to follow his every word.

"But more wonderful still, are the emotional disturbances and reactions that manifest themselves to those oi us who have psychic feeling." Bernardo wan not smiling now. "Would you see more? - ' he asked, bending forward theatrically.

So' ('illicitly had his change of attitude swayed the audience that in the chorus of "yeses" that went up there w;in a note of nervousness, of suspense. Kvery eye was fixed on him as though a miracle were expected. "Great cosmic forces are all about us to-night." He tossed his hair hack with a shake n! his head. His gaze was levelled oh over the heads of the crowd and out into space. Apparently he spoke from deep inspiration, in ' fact, it was nothing of the kind. He. had glanced at 'Joe - liurke a moment or two and had resolved impulsively to make a last til row, a spectacular effort to firing some consolation to the suffering lover. An audience properly worked up to a state of - tension will swallow, almost anything, and Bernardo gave way tc tl'.e temptation to risk a big play. ••This brain of mine, as sensitive, and as finely tuned as a wireless insciunient, feels the tremors of great forces," he .wont on extemporaneously. '•Communication has been established with other brains here present by means of those delicate'waves of ether which no man understands. "1 sense a great battle of emotions going on in our midst. The destiny of two human lives i». being decided to-night! It is in the liir! The great emotion oT human love, the'vital spark oi time and eternity. 'as invisible as'] ilie Infinite, yet .more powerful that the tides of the seas, surges about !!.;. For these two people the great happiness or the great cataclysm approaches. Hack in the brain of the showThau this thought was running: "I've, got 'cm going—-I've got 'em going. NowY the time tf> put it over." Realising-the value of suspense, he stood .silently, with his eyes closed. Then, with a slight start, he seemed to awake.

" ft is not for me to make the great suggestion tli:it will bring these mighty forces together. That must come from within the soul of those concerned." He was speaking rapidly. '•f!ut it is my ])l:iin duty, as I see it, to point the way, to aid just a little, to 'make the path smoother, and to clear the atmosphere for the high purpose of human existence. I will bring a dozen of you on the platform to assist, me, 'through the combined lorces of* your concentrated thoughts, working in harmony with my own."

Without hesitation, and with an unquestioned authority, his arm, working tike a pump-handle, pointed out six young men and six young women. "You and you and you and you!''

It w.is at random, for aught anyone knew. yet when those selected had S'tl.-d obediently on to the stage, Joe liurke was among them, and so was Jc-sie Kinney.

'•ln order tln.it there will' be no em-iiarra-.-siiiPiu of anyone, J wity ask the young men to blindfold themselves." So completely had they all been dominated by Bernardo that there was no protest. Six handkerchiefs were produced from six hip-pockets; and when the eyes were bandaged, Bernardo iiimseif gave each a linal in-

••pcclion. ••And now I must ask the young ladies lo consent also to- be blindfolded. There is no trick to this, so none need fear."

A pleasant thrill of satisfaction tingled within him as he recalled that ho had a half-dozen thin handkerchiefs of Japanese silk still concealed in his coat-sleeve.

A circling wave of his arm, a twist of his wrist, and a snap of his fingers produced the handkerchiefs, one at a time, out of tin: air. "Why buy 'em at the dry-goods store when you -can get 'em this \v;iv?" lie asked the audience pleasantly. When the young women were blindfolded securely, Bernardo again droppel his facetious manner and tied a handkerchief round his own eyes. ••In this little group the current of love rushes madly, wildly seeking its proper channel," he said impressively. "Human error, has interposed to thwart it, yet I. feel its force myself, sweeping through my nerves like a charge from a battery." ' With both arms outstretched hefaced the blinded dozen. v. "I feel it! It is as plain as the breeze from an electric fan!" He began walking up and down the line with his hands groping from shoulder to shoulder. In front of one youth he paused, started to move awav. and hesitated. ."No,". b.o said, "it is not here, although thcYe radiates a current of warm affection. But it is not love, it is not the all-powerful galvanic, force. Hear with me just a moment. I will find it." He moved along, liajted in front of Joe Burke, left him, and returned.. Suddenly, lie clamped both hands down 'on the shoulders of the trembling figure. . "I have, found it!" Bernardo cried. "Come!"

He - led Joe to the centre of the stage. "Now for the woman!" . Slowly turning about, he faced himself toward the" six girls. "From among "these young women ] catch the responsive thrill of a great and eternal love. Among them there is'the true mate of this man. ■Let.' m«> :.«""k!'" ■/•■'"

There was complete silence in - the audience and on the-platform .as Bernardo moved nlong in front of the jjrirls. Artfully he stopned before each of them in turn, seaming to weigh great vital forces. For a moment it apoeared as though Lhe was going to .select Jlarian Powell, blonde and buxom, but. he passed her, worked his

way to the end of the line, retraced his steps, took Jessie Kinney .gently by the hand, and led her to the front and . centre, where he placed her hand m Joe's. He removed the handkerchief from his o\vn eyes. "Down through the ages it was ever thus!" His best declamatory tones rose with a hurst of feeling. "Blinded as we all are—without eyes in darkness, there comes the compelling union of two hrfhls ris surely as the bar ot steel seeks the magnet. For this man there can only be one woman. She is small and dark, tender and true and loving. She will- be a faithful wife and a lifelong companion. "And for the woman, there is also but one tall and fair life partner. His character is revealed to me as in a vision. Biave, noble, capable ot the greatest tenderness as well as the highest achievement."' Bernardo lifted his eyes, and through tiie lacelike branches of a tree lie caught the glow of the mounting moon in the velvet sky. Off to the south and the west a blight star burned with lib old-age fire. A sott breeze iaden witrli midsummer warmth fanned over the la/wn. In. the hush that fell the rising cadence of the cricket caught his ear. The spell of a wondrous night and rive at the mysteries of the love of man for woman gripped the audinece in a moment of silence that was broken only 'iy the ner\ous cough of a woman in the back row of scats. A dozen faces turned toward her reprovingly, as though she had committed a sacrilege. A sudden feeling of humiliation hit Bernardo. He started to speak-and his throat was dry.

"After all," he said,- he meant it, "life is beautiful. Love, too, is beautii ful, and sometimes we feel as helpless as a little child when we stand in its great and mightv presence." He stopped again. "■'• . ■ The fingers that held Jessie Kinney's hand tightened, and Joe ; Burke slowly removed the handkerchief from his eyes. Very gently he uribandaged the eyes of. Mie girl. For a moment she stood, ivith her head bowecf. : "Little Roriey—." Jessie slowly lifted her head, and the %iV/.e that met her lover's was glorious and unafraid. With three hundred pairs of eyes watching them they were more alone, more together than they had ever been before in their lives.

"Little honey—" he said again as she went into his arms. Something seemed to snare ' with the audience, .and there was a wild, joyous symphony of reverberating cheers-—a commingling of many voices in an unrestrained benediction..

Deacon Ferguson climbed up beside ho r>ale Bernardo .

"Von did it, Mr Bowers!" be cried. "You did it—a miracle! It is nothing else. A miracle !" In after years Joe Burke freouently asserted he knew it was Jessie who had stood beside him. Her mother had al-~ .ways scented her daughter's clothes with old lavender. And as for Jessie—ujell, she knew it was Joe all the time. Her hand naturally felt so much at home in his. WHEN UNCLE SAM SEES GHOSTS. (By J.-W. T. Mason.) As the influenga swept from E'i-ope to America Inst year, so spiritualism is now following the path of epidemics across the Atlantic; It has not reached the United States as yet in virulent form, hut it has its lodgment. Stores are reporfincr a Wge snle of Ouija hoards, and the Roman Catholic Church has begun a campaign against spiritualism. The propaganda of the Catholic clergy has taken quite n new form. Instead of protesting openly against-spiri-tualism, Catholic organisations are printing skilfully-wcrded advertisements in the newspapers,-calling attention to the interest in the cult. Then follows recomemndatidn that two books he read by. those interested in spiritualism. The books themselves are the deadly weapons. ■ • Deadly, however, is an overstatement. Spiritualism isn't dead in America ; it is just beginning to live. To live: that is, meininsr to a rouse interest among the average citizens. For manv vea.rs. spiritualists have had national, and local organisations' in the United States. They have held meetings and conventions, and have their own creed. The creed describes seven heavens, and an ascent from one. to an--jMier as the spirits increase in' worth and goodness. ..Communications from spirits in any of the heavens are guarinteed by'• professional mediums, of course for payments. This spiritualist sect, with its religious beliefs, is not, bowover, the kind ofspiritualism in which the average Americans are showing an interest. The spiritualism imported from Europe if more utilitarian. Now the salvation «t the body is the attraction. Health and-.

prosperity on earth are demanded of the spirits. For instance, doctors arc reporting 'they are losing - patients because of spiritualist rivalry. Sufferers from serious illnesses are refusing to carry out their physicians' orders, nnd ' instead aro preferring massage treatment, .which at the moment seems, to be the favorite recommendation of the spirits. A New York spiritualistic medium says he has been brought into consulta-

tion many times by well-known men. He has mentioned several of them. One is America's most eminent inventor. Another is America's most prolific manufacturer. This medium, an aged Polish Jew, has the spirit of a rabbi for his control. He is snid to be unique in that he occasionally receives messages from his rabbi, control to refuse fees for his services. It is never known when the rabbi control will issue this command. Outwirdly perceived circumstances do not seem • to exercise any influence over the matter.

■ The spiritualistic •philosophy .of the Indian Yogi is becoming popular in New York's esoteric circles, as a rival to the spiritualism imported from Europe. It was a mistake for Kipling to say never shall east and west meet. They are meeting iiow. European spiritualism and Indian spiritualism are searching' Fcr'a- common ground in neutral New York. : Rivalry between them is rather the friendly rivalr.y.of discoverers each trying to reach a common goal. The Yogi spiritualists uphold the merits of crystal grazing. The European spiritualists" trust rather the Ouija board or direct medinmistic communications. Bet-ween them they hope to make revelations that will soon have New York gasping. AndNevv- York is perfectly willing to gasp if the- sensation can be provided. Irreconcilable scoffers arc rare. To scoff means iii> acknowledgement of prejudice. It also makes a new sensation impossible. New York, therefore, rather approves the attitude taken by Maurice Maeterlinck, who is -.spending a short time in America lecturing. When the reporters asked him what he thought-of spiritualism be pointed out that he wanted to study it more.

"For," said he, "at present I don't know what to think.":