The Argosy — page 361: what you’re looking at

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

340 A Spiriiualistic Photog rap er. hotel, and proceeded to the house, or rather the rooms (he was only making Bath a halting place) of the Professor. The Colonel sent up his card and we were immediately ushered into a semi-darkened room containing only a few chairs, a camera, and the artist himself. He advanced to meet us as we entered the room, bowed, and then looked inquiringly at me. “Captain Farquharson, a friend of mine,” began the Colonel. ‘“ Also a believer ?” ‘Partially so,” I here put in hastily. ‘At least, I have doubts which I am waiting for you to dispel.” He bowed again, and then motioning the Colonel into a chair placed in front of the camera, continued gravely : “Whether your doubts will be aroused or dispelled is more than 1 can say—so much depends upon yourselves in a matter like this ; for Just as my camera is dependent upon the assistance of the sun, so am I only an instrument in your hands. However, if you give me, and the subject upon which I am engaged, your undivided attention for the space of a few minutes, the end cannot help but be a successful one.” He spoke earnestly and with the quiet force of a man who believes perfectly in the truth of the words he utters. ‘‘ Now, gentlemen,” he continued, “‘ I want you to concentrate your whole powers of thought upon the person you wish depicted. I need scarcely tell you that it must be upon one who has already joined the land of spirits. I am, as I said once before, only an instrument in your hands, and upon your powers of will rests entirely the failure or success of the whole undertaking. Are you ready?” “I am ready.” Something in the tone of the Colonel’s voice made me look up and regard him attentively. Yes, there was no doubt about his being ready. He was leaning forward a little in his chair, his right hand supporting his forehead, the eyes slightly downcast, while every muscle in his body seemed rigid and immovable. A wonderful will-power this man possessed ; and yet with it all, he was tender and merciful as a woman. No wonder that he had gained the entire trust and confidence of the men under his command, while amongst women he was simply idolised; and yet he had never married. Once or twice, with the rashness of youth, I had felt tempted to chaff him upon the subject, but something, I cannot quite explain what, had held me back; and so the question of his celibacy was still unasked. The sharp click of the cap being placed upon the camera, and 2 heavy, long-drawn sigh from the Colonel, brought me back again to the present. He had risen from his chair, and stood now, drawn up to his full height, in the middle of the room. His face was still set, although the muscles were slowly relaxing, but the eyes had a strange far-away look in them that was almost painful to see. He shivered slightly, and seemed quite oblivious of my presence as he turned and walked slowly towards the chair which I had just vacated. Gomicbooks (e(o) Eee ee =),