Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1917 — Bentons WAGER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Bentons WAGER

By JOHN ELKINS

(Copyright, 1917, by W. G. Bruce Fenton was walking briskly away from the barber’s when a man blocked his way. “ “Isn’t this Bruce Fenton?” he asked. “Why, Jack Forbush!” exclaimed the other with hand extended. “Where did you hail fromY’ “Come and dine with me, and I’ll tell you.” “Thanks. I can’t I’ve a special engagement.” "■ ■ “Oh come now,” urged Forbush. “I haven’t seen you in seven years. You’ve got to eat somewhere, and we’ll hustle.” Fenton went somewhat under protest, but the delight of again seeing his old friend was too great a temptation to set aside. He was ushered into an apartment handsomely furnished in the oriental style. A subtle odor of exquisite perfume was everywhere. “Well you must have been knocking around in the far East!” observed Fenton. “I have.”

Fenton looking about the room, discovered a slender thread of blue smoke rising from a cabinet in a corner. “Where did you find that insense burner? It’s wonderful?” _______ Forbush smiled a bit mysteriously. “I promised not to tell.” he said. Fenton looked questioningly at the other man. “Have you become a Parsee, a Rosicrucian, or a Brahmin?” he queried. “Perhaps a little of all three,” was the rather ambiguous answer. The dinner was extremely good, and well served by, an irreproachable waiter. After the second course Fenton nervously looked at his watch.—_ “I must be out of here in fifteen mlnutes,” he said. “What! You don’t mean to slight my dinner that way!” ‘Tm sorry—but I told you I had a pressing engagement.” “Pretty woman?” ventured Forbush atrlfiesardouieally, ' “The loveliest in the world!”

“F thought so. To most men there are only two important engagements, business and women.' That careful manicuring seemed to point toward a lady. But am I not to. have a peep at her?” “Perhaps so, some day.” “After she is securely yours?” “Exactly. After that." Fenton beamed. It was his turn to becomp mysterious. His -friend re* garded him curiously. Fenton meeting his eye became serious. “Somehow, you don’t seem to be the same man I used to know,” he said. “Perhaps I’m not,” laughed Forbush. “You know after seven years we may not have one’ atom of our old selves. I hope I haven't.” “Your eyes have changed,” said the other man slowly and curiously. Then he looked at his watch. “Only ten minutes more.” And he vigorously attacked his salad. “I’ll bet you stay half an hour,” laughed his host. “I’ll bet I don’t.” “How much?” “Fifty doilars.” “Lord! you are hard hit, old chap.”

" “Pm hfr ynnr 11 'binoluMl li'ptt. ton. “I can. use it just now.” Forbush hastily wrote a check which the other covered with bills, “What did you mean pbout my eyes looking strange?” asked Forbush. “I wish you’d look carefully, and tell me.” Fenton looked searchingly into his host’s eyes. They seemed to hold his gaze in some unaccountable way. He did not speak, but sat still as though fascinated. Presently his eyes closed, and he sank back in the Chair. Forbush regarded the sleeping man with an amused smile. He took 1 out his watch, laid it on the pile of bank notes, and carefully noted the time. “I guess she’ll forgive him if he’s fifteen minutes late,” he said to himself. He picked up an evening paper and scanned the contents. After a time he again consulted his watch, and gave a slight start. “Oh, well, only eight minutes overtime for good measure,” he thought, and going to the sleeping man, he began making passes over his face, at the same Jfiifiecalling him by name. But his subject did not respond as he had expected. He tried all the means of which he knew to bring the man out of his hypnotic sleep. The more nervous and terrified he became the less effect he knew he was having on the unconscious man. He dreaded calling in help for fear of the consequences to himself. After working over Fenton for nearly an hour, the young man opened his eyes, staring -about in bewilderment. * “Hurry, Bruce, hurry!” cried Forbrush, almost dragging him from the chair. “What Is the matter? Have IJbeen asleep?" He clutched his watch, looked at the time, his face went ashy white, and he Staggered back, catching at the table. “Devil! you drugged me!” He sprang at the other man, clutching at his throat. Forbush held him off while he spoke. "No, no, Bruce, I mesmerized you, Just to win the het I meant to wake you ftp on time, and—l couldn’t"

Fenton dashed to the telephone! His hand trembled so he could scarcely hold the receiver. Finally he got his number. “It’s Bruce Fenton. Yes-v yes. Tell her I’ll be there in half an hour.” And he hung up the receiver. '“My God!” he groaned. “What will she think of me? Do you know what you have done? It is nine O’clock. I “wasdO have‘'been lOrrira atTwnr-past eight.” The face of the other man went almost hs white-as his. “Oh, forgive me, old man! I didn't know.”' — r ♦‘You must come with me now,” said Bruce, and the two men rushed out, taxi and were soon on the way" r td Fenton’s hoteL_ The clerk at flie'deskT frightened and anxious, met Fenton with a string of telephone calls and messages. The excitement at the home of the bride had penetrated the place, and curious groups stared at the *two men. Fenton made the hastiest toilet of his life; but, in spite of it all, he found after he was in the he would be nearer an hoUt than thirty minutes late. “It’s all of three miles to the house,” he groaned. “My God, what can I say?” “You will have to tell the truth,” said Forbush, visibly wincing. “Thev won’t believe me.” “"TSHShsh pg forced to acknowledge that probably they wouldn't. As they neared the house he begged to be allowed to remain outside and wait, as he was not in evening dress, but the distracted bridegroom would take no denial. Forbush effaced himself in a corner of the hall as his friend, rushing pellmell past the curious guests, sought the presence of the bride-elect. She was white, tearless and unforgiving. “Go in there and explain to the guests. I shall be behind these portieres listening. If Top e n them you may come and get me. If I do not, there will be no ceremony.” ZZ “But Ethel—” “I advise you to do as she says,” broke in her father sternly. “It has

been all we could do to keep her from an entire collapse. She must have her way.” The chatter among the guests instantly hushed as Penton appeared in the drawing room. He told his experience exactly as it had happened. It seemed to Fenton after he had finished as though the silence would crush him. He looked, toward the portieres. They remained tightly closed. Just then a noise from an - autoniobile enabled some of the men near the door to indtiige in comment. The noise- ceasedso suddenly that the word “jag” came out unpleasantly distinct. “That’s a lie!” rang out a voice loud enough to be heard by all, and Forbush strode into the room and faced the astonished assembly. “Jack Forbusll!” cried two or three voices at once. He waved back the outstretched hands. “Wait!” he demanded. “I ought to be kicked instead of being spoken to. I am the one responsible for all this. But I want you to know I never dreamed it was his wedding night.” Bruce looked toward the portieres. They were tightly closed. He turned appealingly to Forbush, and his friend understood, f """Whoever said that word, ‘jag’ ought to apologize!” cried Forbush. “Mr. Fenton never touched either wine or cocktail. When I chaffed him about his total abstinence he—well, I think I must tell you what he said —if he will allow me —” He looked at Fenton, who nodded his acquiescence. ‘Jack,’ he said, ‘I used to take too much. One year ago I promised to leave it alone. If I hadn’t kept my promise, ! wouldn't be fit to face the woman I love. That’s the one thing she would not forgive. It’s all due to her that I’m the decent fellow I am today.’

“I can tell you I was pretty much ashamed at having urged him. But when I could not awaken him, I was sofrightened and anxious that I forced a few drops of brandy into his mouth. I wouldn’t think it necessary to tell all this but for that remark. It means too much to go unexplained.” “Jack ! you Pascal!" broke in one of the men. “I can believe you did it, since you played that sleep .trick on me!’’ “Butlwant it understood,” he answered seriously, “this is the last time I play with hypnotism.” Bruce, watching with despairing eyes the closed portieres, saw them, open. A woman in white, raiment waitjfd Xer him. I- • %

Sat Still as Though Fascinated.