Good dissemblers, both of you, and Elliott settled himself in an easy chair, but you dont fool your old friend. Talk about thought-transferenceit doesnt take much of that commodity to read that you two were interrupted by my entrance in the middle of a real, honest-to-goodness, cats-and-dogs quarrel.
All right, have it your own way, and Embury laughed shortly; but it wasnt the middle of it, it was about over.
All but the making up! Shall I fade away for fifteen minutes?
No, protested Eunice. It was only one of the little tiffs that happen in the best families! Now, listen, Mason
My dear lady, I live but on the chance of being permitted to listen to youonly in the hope that I may listen early and often
Oh, hush! What a silly you are!
Silly, is it? Remember I was your childhood playmate. Would you have kept me on your string all these years if I were silly? And heres another of my childhood friends! How do you do, most gracious lady?
With courtly deference Elliott rose to greet Aunt Abby, who came into the living-room from Eunices bedroom.
Her black silk rustled and her old point lace fell yellowly round her slender old hands, for on Sunday afternoon Miss Ames dressed the part.
How are you, Mason, she said, but with a preoccupied air. What time is Mr. Hanlon coming, Eunice?
Soon now, I think, and Eunice spoke with entire composure, her angry excitement all subdued. It was characteristic of her that after a fit of temper, she was more than usually soft and gentle. More considerate of others and even, more roguishly merry.
You know, Mason, that what we are to be told to-day is a most inviolable secretthat is, it is a secret until tomorrow.
Never put off till to-morrow what you can tell to-night, returned Elliott, but he listened attentively while Eunice and Aunt Abby described the performance of the young man Hanlon.
Of course, Elliott observed, a little disappointedly, if he says he hoaxed the crowd, of course he did; but in that case Ive no interest in the thing. Id like it better if he were honest.
Oh, hes honest enough, corrected Embury; he owns right up that it was a trick. Why, good heavens, man! if it hadnt been, he couldnt have done it at all. Im rather keen to know just how he managed, though, for the yarn of Eunice and Aunt Abby is a bit mystifying.
Dont depend too much on the tale of interested spectators. Theyre the worst possible witnesses! They see only what they wish to see.
Only what Hanlon wished us to see, corrected Eunice, gaily. And then Hanlon, himself, and Alvord Hendricks arrived together.
Met on the doorstep, said Hendricks as he came in. Mr. Hanlon is a little stage-struck, so its lucky I happened along.
Willy Hanlon, as he was called in the papers, came shyly forward and Eunice, with her ready tact, proceeded to put him at once at his ease.
You came just at the right minute to help me out, she said, smiling at him. They are saying women are no good at describing a scene! They say that we cant be relied on for accuracy. So, now youre here and you can tell what really happened.
Yes, maam, and Hanlon swallowed, a little embarrassedly; thats what I came for, maam. But first, are you all straight goods? Will you all promise not to tell what I tell you before tomorrow morning?
They all promised on their honor, and, satisfied, Hanlon began his tale.
You see, its a game that cant be played too often or too close together, he said; I mean, if I put it over around here, I cant risk it again nearer than some several states away. And even then its likely to get caught on to.
Have you put it over often? asked Hendricks, interestedly.
Yes, sirwell, say, about a dozen times altogether. Now Im going to chuck it, for its too risky. And so, Ive sold the story of how I do it to the newspaper syndicate for more than Id make out of it in a dozen performances. You can read it all in to-morrows papers, but Mrs. Embury, she asked me to tell it here and I said yescausecausewell, cause I wanted to!
The boyish outburst was so unmistakably one of admiration, of immediate capitulation to Eunices charm, that she blushed adorably, and the others laughed outright.
One more scalp, Euny, said Elliott; oh, you cant help it, I know.
Go on, Mr. Hanlon, said Eunice, and he went on.
You see, to make you understand it rightly, I must go back a ways. Ive done all sorts of magic stunts and Im kinda fond of athletics. Ive given exhibitions along both those lines in athletic clubs and in ladies parlors, too. Well, I had a natural talent for making my ears movelots of fellows do that, I know; but I got pretty spry at it.
What for? asked Embury.
Nothing particular, sir, only one thing led to another. One day I read in an English magazine about somebody pulling off this trickthis blindfold chase, and I said to myself I blieved I could do it first rate and maybe make easy money. I dont deny Im out after the coin. Ive got to get my living, and if Id rather do it by gulling the public, why, its no more than many a better man does.
Right you are, said Elliott.
So, s I say, I read this piece that told just how to do it, and I set to work. You may think its funny, but the first step was working my forehead muscles.
Whatever for? cried Aunt Abby, who was listening, perhaps most intently of all.
Ill tell you, in a jiffy, maam, and Hanlon smiled respectfully at the eager old face.
You see, if youll take notice, the muscles of your forehead, just above your eyebrows, work whenever you shut or open your eyes. Yes, try it, maam, as Aunt Abby wrinkled her forehead spasmodically. Shut your eyes, maam. Now, cover them closely with the palm of your left hand. Press it closeso. Now, with your hand there, open your eyes slowly, and feel your forehead muscles go up. They have to, you cant help it. Now, thats the keynote of the whole thing.
Clear as Erebus! remarked Hendricks. I dont get you, Steve.
Nor I, and Eunice sat with her hand against her eyes, drawing her lovely brows into contortions.
Well, never mind trying; Ill just tell you about it. Hanlon laughed good-naturedly at the frantic attempts of all of them to open their eyes in accordance with his directions.
Anyhow, you gentleman know, for I know you all belong to a big athletic club, that if you exercise any set of muscles regularly and for a long time, they will develop and expand and become greatly increased in size and strength.
Sure, said Hendricks. I once developed my biceps
Yes, thats what I mean. Well, sir, I worked at my forehead muscles some hours a day for months and I kept at it until I had those muscles not only developed and in fine working condition but absolutely under my control. Look!
They gazed, fascinated, while the strange visitor moved the skin of his forehead up and down and sideways, and in strange circular movements. He seemed distinctly proud of his accomplishment and paused for approbation.
Marvelous, Holmes, marvelous! exclaimed Hendricks, who had discovered that Hanlon did not resent jocularity, butwhat for?
Cant you guess? and the young man smiled mysteriously. Try.
Give it up, and Hendricks shook his head. I think its more wonderful to get thought-transference by wiggling your forehead than any other way I ever heard of, but I cant guess how it helps.
Give it up, and Hendricks shook his head. I think its more wonderful to get thought-transference by wiggling your forehead than any other way I ever heard of, but I cant guess how it helps.
Cant any of you? and Hanlon looked around the circle.
Wait a minute, said Aunt Abby, who was thinking hard. Let me try. Is it because when the thought waves jump from the guide to you they strike your forehead first
And it acts as a wireless receiving station? No, maam, that isnt it. And, too, maam, I owned up, you know, that the whole thing was a fake, a trick. You see, there was no thought-transference,not anynone at all.
Then what do you accomplish with your forehead muscles? asked Eunice, unable to restrain her impatience.
Chapter V
The Explanation
Just this, Mrs. Embury, the impossibility of my being blindfolded. As a matter of fact, it is practically impossible to blindfold anybody, anyway.
Why, what do you mean? interrupted Hendricks. Why is it?
Because the natural formation of most peoples noses allows them to see straight down beneath an ordinary bandage. I doubt if one child out of a hundred who plays Blind Mans Buff is really unable to see at all.
Thats so, said Embury, when I played it, as a kid, I could always see straight downthough not, of course, laterally.
And noses are different, went on Hanlon. Some prominent beaks could never be blindfolded, but some small, flat noses might be. However, this refers to ordinary blindfolding with an ordinary handkerchief. When it comes to putting fat cotton pads in ones eye sockets, before the thick bandage is added, it necessitates previous preparation. So, my powers of contracting and expanding my forehead muscles allow me to push the pads out of the way, and enable me to see straight down the sides of my nose from under the bandage. Of course, I can see only the ground, and that but in a circumscribed area around my feet, but its enough.