From Farm to Fortune, or, Only a Farmer's Daughter — page 29: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

\ _ him, just to fool the rest of us. 26 “Ts that he?’ bling whisper. Marion shook her head as she scrutinized the face and figure. “Professor Dabroski, the greatest living hypnotist, will demonstrate his power before you this evening,” began the man, with a pompous gesture, “and to do this it will be necessary for him to secure a few ‘subjects,’ which will be picked out indiscriminately throughout the audience.” Marion turned and looked at her compan- 1on inquiringly, and Mr. Ray hastened to explain the fraud contained in this state- inent. “Hie has confederates scattered all about through the house,” he told her briefly, “bit they’ll make believe that they don’t know Then he'll take them on the stage and make them cut capers. Of course, some of them are genu- inely mesmerized and some are not, but they all get paid for their part in the perform- ance.” | asked Mr. Ray, in a trem- “His power is genuine, I am sure,” said Marion softly.- “It was surely a black art that deceived poor Dollie.” Mr. Ray looked at her tenderly, and even pressed her hand in sympathy. To him she was the personification of all that was pure Wand MODIE:. - / Suddenly Marion started forward and bit her lip viciously, while she clenched his hand with a grip of iron. : A man had come upon the stage attired in full evening dress. He wore eye-glasses and was a blonde, but Marion knew in- stinetively that it was Mr. Lawson. “Hush! Don’t make a sound—not yet!” warned Mr. Ray, under his breath. Marion nodded her head, her eyes were riveted on the “professor.” Almost like one in a trance, she watched ° what followed; the selection of ‘‘subjects” from the curious audience. As the professor approached her chair, Marion drew back cautiously. While she would have given-her all to see him closer, she was afraid herself of being detected. “You are a shrewd one’ whispered her escort: “he did not even see you. Most MY QUEEN. women would have stared at him and at- tracted his attention.’ The brave girl smiled sadly as she enna : a little nearer. “There is too much at stake,” she a shortly. “I must be more than cautious if I would save my poor sister.” ES. ; One after another of the “subjects” were ll “put to sleep” or led into semi-hypnotic con- — ditions by the professor's magic. They — danced, sang, recited, in fact, did anything whatsoever that he wished. Not one seemed © able to move a muscle unless he willed it. . The brave country girl’s heart grew heavy i as she witnessed his power. Her brain — seemed to reel under the full consciousness of Dollie’s danger. Suddenly she felt a light touch on her arm from some one in the rear. She turned and saw a quiet-looking man leanmg: care- tape * oil ll 2 eth bea lessly toward her. { “The detective from headquarters,” whiss ; pered Mr. Ray, in her ear. , ; Marion smiled and nodded, and the man moved a little nearer. «a “You are sure it’s the chap?” he said, very softly. “Certain,” was the girl’s low answer, “that is Mr. Lawson.” The man moved away and was lost in the crowd, and just then Professor Dabroski ad- vanced to the front of the stage and made an announcement. | “Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, in that voice which Marion knew so well, “I have given you*an exhibition Of my power this evening which must prove conclusively to every one that I am what the bill boards_ call me, ‘The World’s Greatest Hypnotist.” But before this exhibition is ended, I have- one more proof to give you. I shall now produce a ‘subject’ whom you have not seen ——a woman who will demonstrate the full ex=_ tent of my skill, for she is absolutely un- able to breathe unless I will it.” There was a roar of applause as the pro- fessor finished, which was stilled as soon as he raised his hand for silence. | “This is what is usually termed a cata tic’ condition,” he said, “but you will see that I control it perfectly, which is more tha: can be* done by any, Dhysicy n il ee airr (E| 0)(0)@)