Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1907)
3 THE SUyPAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 20, 1907. ; ' LJ The Mexican Seer J This I the first of series of . t stories to run each week In The Sun- I day Oreconlan. Ther are Intensely I Interesting, very original in theme I and certain to bold the reader' at- , I tention. While they an elooely eon- , nerted. each story la eomplete In . ItMlf. ...............'.. , MY NAME is Seymour Wilbraham Wentworth. I am a brother-in-law and secretary to Sir Charles Vandrift, the South . African millionaire and famous financier. Many years ago, when Charlie Vandrift was a small law yer In Cape Town, I had the (qualified) good fortune to marry his sister. Much later when the Vandrift estate and farm, near Klmborley. developed by degrees Into the Cloetedorp Golcondas, Limited, my brother-in-law offered me the not unremunerative post of secretary; In which capacity I have ever since been his Constant and attached companion. tie Is not a man whom any common sharper can take In, is Charles Vandrift. Middle height, square build, firm mouth, keen eyes the very picture of a sharp and successful business genius. I have known only one rogue Impose upon Sir Charles, and that one rogue, as the Com missary of Police at Nloe remarked, would doubtless have imposed upon a yndlcate of Vidocq, Robert Houdln and Cegllostro. We had run across to the Ttlvlera for a few weeks in the season. Our object elng strictly rest and recreation from the arduoue duties of financial combina tion, we did not think It necessary to take our wives out with us. Indeed Lady Vandrift Is absolutely "wedded to the Joys of London, and does not appreciate the rural delights of the Mediterranean lit toral. But Sir Charles and I. though Immersed in affairs when at home, oth thoroughly enjoy the . eomplete change from the city to the charming vegetation and pellucid air on the ter race at Monte Carlo. We are so fond of eenery. That delicious view over the' rocks at Monaco, with the Maritime Alps In the rear, and the blue sea In front, not to. mention the Imposing Casino In the foreground, appeals to me as one of the tnost beautiful prospects In all Eu rope. Blr Charles has a sentimental at tachment for the place. He finds It re stores and freshens him, after the tur moil of London, to win a few hundreds at roulette In the course of an afternoon among the palms-and cactuses and pure breezes of Monte Carlo. The country, ay I, for a jaded Intellect! However, we never, on any account, actually atop In the principality Itself. 3lr Charles thinks Monte Carlo Is not a sound ad dress for a financier's letters. He pre fers a comfortable hotel en the Prome nade des Anglais at Nice, where he re covers health and renovates his nervous system by taking dally excursions along the coast to the Casino. This particular season we were snug ly ensconced at the "Hotel des Anglais." We had capital quarters on the first floor salon, study and bedrooms and found on the spot a most agreeable cos mopolitan society. All Nice. Just then, was ringing with talk about a curious lmposter, known to his followers as the Oreat Mexican Seer, and supposed to be gifted with second sight, as well as with endless other supernatural powers. Now, it is a peculiarity of my able brother-in-law's that, when he meets with a quack, he burns to expose him: he is so keen a man of business himself that It gives htm, so to speak, a disinterested pleasure to unmask and detect Imposture in others. Many ladies at the hotel, some of whom had met and conversed with the Mexican Seer, were constantly tell ing us strange stories of his doings. He had disclosed to one the present where abouts of a runaway husband: he had pointed out to another the numbers that would win at roulette next evening; he had shown a third the Image on a screen of the man she had for years adored without his knowledge. Of course. Sir Charles didn't believe a word of It; but his curiosity was aroused: he wished to sea and Judge for himself of the won derful thought reader. "What would be his terms, do yon think, for a private seance?" he asked of Madame Plcardet, the lady to whom the Seer had successfully predicted the win ning numbers. "He does not work for money." Mad ame Plcardet answered, "but for the Sir Charles turned to me quietly. "Look here, Seymour." he whispered, "Go round to this fellow's place im mediately after dinner and offer him 5 pounds to give a private seance at once in my rooms, without mentioning who I am to him; keep the name quiet. Bring him back with you, ' too, and come straight upstairs with him, so that there may be ho collusion. We'll see Just how much the fellow can tell us." I went as directed. I found the Seer m. very remarkable and Interesting per son. He stood about Sir Charles' own height, but was slimmer and stralghter, with an aquiline nose, strangely pierc ing eyes, very large black pupils, and a finely chiseled, close-shaven face, like the bust of Antlnoua In our hall In Mayfalr. What gave him his most characteristic touch, however, was his odd head of hair, curly and wavy like Paderewskl's. stand ing out In a halo round his high white forehead and his delicate profile. I could see at a glance why he succeeded so well In Impressing women; he had the look of a poet, a singer, a prophet. "I have come round," I said, "to ask whether you will cbnsent to give a eeance at once in a friend's rooms; and my prin cipal wishes me to add that he Is pre pared to pay 5 pounds as the price of the entertainment." Senor Antonio Hen-era that was what he called himself bowed to me with im pressive Spanish politeness. His dusky olive cheeks were wrinkled with a smile of gentle contempt as he answered gravely: "I do not sell my gifts; I bestow them freely. If your friend your anonymous friend desires to toehold the cosmic won ders that are wrought through my hands I am glad to show them to him. For tunately, as often happens' when It Is necessary to convince and confound a sceptic (for that your friend Is a sceptic I feel Instinctively), I chance to have no engagement at all this evening." He ran his hand through his fine, long hair re flectively. "Tes, I go," he continued, as If addressing some unknown presence that hovered about the celling; "I go; come with me!" Then he put on his broad sombrero, with Its crimson ribbon, wrapped a cloak round his shoulders, lighted a cigarette, and strode forth by my side toward the Hotel des Anglais. He talked little by the way, and that little In curt sentences. He seemed burled In deep (bought; Indeed, when we reached the door and I turned In, he walked a ttep or two farther on, as If not noticing to what place I had brought him. Then he drew himself up short and gazed around him for a moment. "Ha, the Anglaisl" he said and I may mention In passing that his English, In spite of a slight southern accent, was Idiomatic and excellent. "It Is here, then; It is here!" He was addressing once more the unseen presence. I smiled to think that these childish devices were Intended to deceive Sir Charles Vandrift. Not quite the sort of man (as the City of London knows) to be taken In by hocus-pocus. And all this, I saw, was the cheapest and most com monplace conjuror's patter. . We went upstairs to our rooms-. Charles had gathered together a few friend to watch the performance. The Seer entered, wrapt in thought. He was In evening dress, but a red sash round his waist gave a touch of plcturesqueness and a dash of color. He paused for a moment in the middle of the salon, without letting his eyes rest on anybody or anything. Then he walked straight up to Charles and held out his dark hand. "Good evening," he said. "Tou are the host. My soul's sight tells me so." "Good shot," Sir Charles answered. "These fellows have to be quick? wltted, you know, Mrs. Mackenzie, or they'd never get on at It." The Seer gazed about him, and smiled blankly at a person or two whose faces he seemed to recognize from a previous existence. Then Charles began to ask him a few simple questions, not about himself, but about me, Just to test him. He answered most of them with surpris ing correctness. "His name? His name begins with an S, I think; you call him Seymour." He paused long between each clause, as it the facts were revealed to him slowly. "Seymour Wilbraham Karl of Strafford. No, not Earl of Strafford! Seymour Wilbraham Wentworth. There seems to be some connection In somebody's mind now present between Wentworth and Strafford. I am not English. I do not know what it means. But they are somehow the same name, Wentworth and Strafford." He gazed around, apparently for conflr matlen. A lady came to his rescue. Wentworth was the surname of the great Earl of Strafford," she murmured, gently, "and I was wondering, as you spoke whether Mr.- Wentworth might possibly be descended from hlnv." "He Is," the Seer replld Instantly, with a flash of those dark eyes. And I thought this curious: for though my father always maintained the reality of the relationship, there was one link wanting to complete the pedigree. He ceuld not make sure L.at the Hon. Thomas Wilbraham Wentworth was the father of Jonathan Wentworth, the Bris tol horse dealer, from whom we are de scended. "Where was I born?" Sir Charles In terrupted, coming suddenly to Ms own case. The Seer clapped his two hands to his forehead and held it between them, as if to prevent It from bursting. "Africa," he said slowly, ss the facts narrowed down, so to speak. "South Africa; Cape SEJIVG BPI50DE5 IN THE" I1F& OPA MAvSTEI ROGUE? of Good Hope; Jansenvllle; De Witt street. 1840." "By Jove, he's' correct!" Sir Charles muttered. "He seems really to do it. Still, he may have found me out. He may have known where he was coming. "I never gave a hint," I answered, "till he reached the door. He didn't even know to what hotel I was piloting him." . The Seer stroked his chin softly. His eye appeared to me to have a furtive gleam in It. "Would you like me to tell you the number of a bank note inclosed In an envelope?" he asked casually. "Go out of the room," Sir Charles said, "while I pass it round the company." . Senor Herrera disappeared. Sir Charles passed it around cautlonsly, holding It all the time In his own hand, but letting bis guests see the number. Then he placed It in an 'envelope and gummed It down firmly. The Seer returned. His keen eye swept the company with a comprehensive glance. He shook his shaggy mane. Then he took the envelope In his hands and gazed at it fixedly. "AF, 73549," he answered, in a slow tone. "A Bank of England note for 50 exchanged at the Casino for gold won yesterday at Monte Carlo." "I see how he did that," Sir Charles said, triumphantly. "He must have changed it there himself; and then I changed It back again. In point of fact, I remember seeing a fellow with long hair loafing about. Still, It's capital con juring." V ''Hs can sea through matter." one of the ladles Interposed. It was Mme. Plc ardet. "He can see through a box." She drew a little gold vinaigrette, such as our grandmothers used, from her dress pocket. "What Is in this?" she inquired, holding It up to him. Senor Herrera gazed through it. "Three gold coins," he replied, knitting his brows with the effect of seeing Into the box; "one, an American $6: one, a French 10-franc piece; one, 20 marks, German, of the old Emperor Wlllam." She opened the box and passed It round. Sir Charles smiled a quiet smile. "Confederacy!" he muttered, half to himself. "Confederacy!" The Seer turned to him with a sullen air. "Tou want a better sign?" ha said, in a very Impressive voice. "A sign that will convince you! Very well; you have1 a letter In your left waistcoat pocket a crumpled-up letter. Do you wish me to read it out loud? I will, if you desire it." It may seem to those who know Sir Charles Incredible, but I am bound to admit my brother-ln-law colored. What that letter contained I cannot say; he only answered, very testily and evasive ly. "No. thank you I won't trouble you. The exhibition you have already given us of your skill in this kind more than amply suffices." And his Angers strayed nervously to bis waistcoat pocket, as if I "TYOtXD YOU LIKE MB TO TEX I. YOU THE NUMBER OP THIS BANK NOTE THIS ENVELOPE? , he was half afraid, even then, Senor Herrera would read it. I fancied, too, he glanced somewhat anxiously toward Mme. Plcardet. The Seer bowed courteously. "Tour will, senor,- Is law," he said. "I make it a principle, though I can sen through ail things. Invariably -to respect the secre cies and sanctities. It it were not so I might dissolve - society. For which of us is there who can bear the whole truth being told about hlmT" He gazed around the room. An unpleasant thrill super vened. Most of . us felt this uncanny Spanish American knew really too much. And some of us were engaged In finan cial operations. "For example." the Seer continued blandly, "I happened a few weeks ago to travel flown here from Paris by train with a very intelligent man. a company promoter. He had in his bag some doc uments some confidential documents" he glanced at Sir Charles. "Tou know the kind of. thing, my dear sir; report from experts from mining engineers. Tou may have seen some such, marked strictly private?". "They form an element In high finance." Blr Charles admitted coldly. "Pre-clsely," the Seer murmured, his accent for a moment less Spanish than before. "And as they were marked strictly private, L. respect, . of course, the seal of confidence, That's ail I wish to say. I hold it a duty, being Intrusted with such powers, not to use them in a manner which may annoy or incommode my fellow creatures." "Tour feeling - does you honor." Sir Charles answered, with some acerbity. Then he whispered in my ear: "Con founded clever scoundrel, Sey; rather wish we hadn't brought him here." ' Senor Herrera seemed intuitively to di vine his wish, for he Interposed, in' a lighter and gayer tone. "I will now show- you a. -different and more - interesting embodiment of occult power, for which we shall need a some what subdued arrangement of surround ing lights. Would you mind, senor host for I . have purposely abstained from reading your name on the brain of any one present would you mind my turning down this lamp just a little? . . . Sol That will do. Now, this one, and this one. Exactly; that's right." He poured a few grains, of powder out of a packet Into a saucer. "Next a match. If you please. Thank you." It burned with a green light. He drew from his pocket a card and produced a little ink bottle. "Have you a pen?" he asked. I Instantly brought one. He handed it to Sir Charles. "Oblige me," he said, "by writing your name there." And he Indicated a place in the center of the card, which had an embossed edge, with a small middle square of a different color. Sir Charles had a natural disinclina tion to signing his name without know ing why. "What do you want with It?" he asked. (A millionaire's signature has so- many roses.) "I want you to put the card In an en velope," the Seer replied, "and then to burn It. ' After that I shall show you your own name written in letters of blood on my arm In your own handwrit ing." Sir Charles took the pen. If the signa ture was to be burned as soon as finished he didn't mind giving it. He wrote his name in his usual firm, clear style the writing of a man who knows his worth, and is not afraid of drawing a check for five thousand. "Look at It long," the Seer said, from the other side of the room. He had not watched him write it. .Sir Charles stared at It fixedly. The Seer was really beginning to produce an Impression. "Now put it In that envelope," the Seer exclaimed. Sir Charles, like a lamb, placed It as directed. , The Beer strode forward. "Give me the envelope," , he said. He took It In his hand, walked over .toward the fireplace, and solemnly burned It. "See It crum bles Into ashes," he cried. Then he came back to the middle of the room, close to the green light, rolled up his sleeve, and held his arm before Sir Charles. There, in blood red letter, my brother-in-law read the name, "Charles Vandrift," In hln own handwriting. "I see how that's done," Sir Charles murmured, drawing back. "It's a clever delusion, but still I see through it. It's like - that ' ghost book. Tour ink was deep 'green; your light was green; you made mo look at It long; and then I saw the same thing written on the skin of your arm In complementary colors." "Tou think so?" the Seer replied, with a curious curl of the lip. "I am sure of It," Sir Charles an swered. Quick as lightning the Seer again rolled up his sleeve. "That's your name," he cried,. In a very clear voice, "but not your whole name. What do you say, then, to my right? Is this one also a comple mentary color?" He 'held his other arm out. There In sea green letters I read the name, "Charles O'Sulllvan Vandrift." It Is my brother-in-law's full baptismal designation; but he has dropped the O'Sulllvan for many years past, and, to say the truth, doesn't like it.- He Is a little bit ashamed of his mother's family. Charles glanced at It hurriedly. "Quite right." he said, "quite right!" But his voice was hollow. I could guess he didn't care to eontlnuethe seance. He could see through the man, of course; but It was clear the fellow knew too much about us to be entirely pleasant. "Turn up the lights." I said, and a ser vant turned them. "Shall I say coffee and benedictlne?" I whispered to Vandrift "By all means," be answered. "Any thing to keep this fellow from further Impertinences! And, I say, don't you think you'd better suggest at the same time that the men ehould smoke? Even these ladles are not above a cigarette some of them." There was a sigh of relief. The lights burned brightly. The Seer for the mo ment retired from business, so to speak. He accepted a partaga with a very good grace, sipped his coffee In a corner, and chatted to the lady who had suggested Strafford with marked politeness. He was a polished gentleman. Next morning. In the hall of the hotel, I saw Mme. Plcardet again, in a neat tailor made traveling dress, evidently bound for the railway station. "What, off, Mme. Plcardet?" I cried. She smiled and .held out her prettily gloved hand. "Tes. I'm off." she an swered archly. "Florence, or Rome, or somewhere. I've drained Nice dry like a sucked orange. Got all the fun I can out of It. Now I'm away again to my beloved Italy." But it struck me as odd that If Italy was her game, she went by the omnibus which takes down to the train de luxe for Paris. However, a man of the world accepts what a lady tells him, no matter bow Improbable, and I confess for ten days or so I thought no more about her, or the Seer either. At the end of that time our fortnightly passbook came In from the bank in Lon don. It Is part of my duty, as the mil lionaire's secretary, to make up this book once a fortnight, and to compare the can celed checks with Sir Charles' counter foils. On this particular occasion I hap pened to observe what I can only describe as a very grave discrepancy in fact, a discrepancy of 6000. On the wrong side, too. Sir Charles was debited with 5000 more than the total amount that was shown on the counter-foils. I examined the book with care. The source of the error was obvious. It lay In a check to self or bearer, for JO00. signed by Sir Charles, sand evidently paid across the counter In London, as it bore on its face no stamp or indication of any other office. I called in my brother-ln-lawt from the salon to the study. "Look here, Charles," I said, "there's a check in the book which you haven't entered." And I handed it to him without comment, for I thought-that It might have been drawn to settle some little loss on the turf or at cards, or to make up some other affair he didn't desire to mention to me. These things will happen. He looked at It and stared hard. Then he pursed up his mouth and gave a long, low "Whew!" At last he turned it over and remarked, "I say, Sey, my boy, we've Just been done Jolly well brown, haven't we?" I glanced at the check. "How do you mean?" I Inquired. "Why. the Seer," he replied, still star ing at It ruefully.' "I don't mind the five thou., but to think the fellow should have gammoned the pair of us like that Ignomlnous. I call it!" - "How do you know It's the Seer?" I asked. "Look at 'the green Ink," he answered. "Besides, I recollect the very shape of the last flourish. I flourished a bit like that in the excitement of the moment, which I don't always do with my regu lar signature." - "He's done us," I answered, recogniz ing It. "But how the dickens did he man age to transfer it to the check? This looks like your own handwriting, Charles not a clever forgery." "It is," he said. "I admit it I can't deny It. Only fancy his 'bamboozling me when I was most on my guard! I wasn't to be taken in by any of his silly occult tricks and catchwords, but It never oc curred to me he was going to victimize me financially in this way. I expected attempts at a loan or extortion, but to collar my signature to a blank check atrocious!" "How did he manage it?" I asked. "I haven't the faintest conception. I only know those are the words I wrote. I could swear to them anywhere." 'Then you can't protest the check?" "Unfortunately, no. It's my own true signature." We went that afternoon without de lay to see the chief commissary of police at the office. He was a gen tlemanly Frenchman, much less for mal and red-tapy than usual, and he spoke excellent English with an Amer ican accent, having acted. In fact, as a detective In New Tork for about ten years In his early manhood. "I guess," he said slowly, after hear ing our story, "you've been victim ized right here by Colonel Clay, gen tlemen." "Who is Colonel Clay?" Charles asked. "That Is Juet what I want to know," the commissary answered in his cur ious Amerlcan-French-Engllsh. "He Is a colonel because he occasionally gives himself a commission; he Is called Colonel Clay because he appears to possess an lndlarubber face and he, can mold It like oiay in the hands of! the potter. Real name unknown. Nj. tlonallty equally French and English. Address usually Europe. Profession, former maker of wax figures to the Musee Grevln. Age what he chooses. Employs his knowledge to mold his own nose and cheeks, with wax addi tions, to the character he desires to personate. Aquiline, this trme, you say. Hein! Anything like these pho tographs?" He rummaged In his desk and handed us two. i "Not in the least,' Sir Charles ns- j neck, everything; here is quite un like him." "Then that's the Colonel!" the com missary answered, with decision, rubbing his hands In glee. "Look here." and he took out a pencil and rapidly sketched the outline of one of the two faces that of a bland-looking young man with no expression worth mentioning. "There's the Colonel In his simple disguise. Very good. Now watch me. Figure to your self that he adds here a tiny patch of wax to his nose an aqulHne bridge Just so. Well, you n.ve him right there. And the chin ah, one touch. Now, for hair, a wig. For complexion nothing easier. That's the profile of your rascal. Isn't It?" "Exactly," we both murmured. By two curves of the pencil and a shock of false hair the face was transmuted. "He had' very large eyes, with very big 1 pupils, though," I objected, looking close; j "and the man In the photograph here has them small and boiled-fishy." j "That's so," the commissary answered. "A drop of belladonna expands and pro-' duces the Seer. Five grains of opium' contract, and give a dead-alive, stu pidly. Innocent appearance. Well, you leave this affair to me, gentlemen. I'll' see the fun out. I don't say I'll catch, him for you; nobody ever yet has caught Colonel Clay; but I'll explain how he did the trick, and that ought to be consola tion enough to a man of your means for a trifle of five thousand!" "Tou are not the conventional French office-holder, M. le Commlssaire," I ven tured to Interpose. , "Tet bet!" the commissary replied, and drew himself up like a captain of infan try. "Messieurs," he continued, in French, with the utmost diglnty, "I shall devote the resources of this office to tracing out the crime and, if possible, to effectuating the arrest of the culpable." We telegraphed to London, of course, and we wrote to the bank, with a full description of the suspected person; but I need hardly add that nothing came of It Three days later the commissary called at our hotel, "Well, gentlemen," he said, "I am glad to say I have discovered everything!" "What? Arrested the Beer?" Bit Charles cried. The commissary drew back, almost hor rified at the suggestion. "Arrested Colonel Clay?" he exclaimed. "Mats, monsieur we are only human! Arrested him? No, not quite; but tracked out how he did it. That is already much to unravel Colonel Clay, gentlemen!" "Well, what do you make of it?" Sir Charles asked, crestfallen. The commissary sat down and gloated over his discovery. It was clear a well planned crime amused him vastly. "In the first place, monsieur," he said, "disabuse your mind of the Idea that when the mon sieur your secretary went out to fetch Senor Herrera that night, Senor Herrera didn't know to whose rooms he was com ing. Quite otherwise, in point of fact. I do not doubt myself that Senor Her rera, or Colonel Clay (call him which you like), came to Nice this Winter for no other purpose than just to rob you." "But I sent for him," my brothef-ln-law Interposed. "Tes, he meant you to send for him. He forced a card, so to speak. If he couldn't do that, I guess he would be a pretty poor conjurer. He had a lady of his own his wife, let us say, or his sister stopping here at this hotel; a certain Mme. Plcardet. Through her he Induced several ladles of your circle to attend bis seances. She and they spoke to you about him and aroused -your curiosity. Tou may bet your bottom dollar that, when he came to this room, he came ready primed and prepared with endless facts about both of you." "What fools we have been, Seyl" my brother-in-law exclaimed. "I see It all. now. That designing woman sent around before dinner to say I wanted to meet him; and, by the time you got there, he was ready for bamboozling me." "That's so," the commissary answered. "He had your name ready printed on both his arms, and he had made other preparations of still greater Importance.'" "Tou mean the check. Well, how did he get it?" The commissary opened the door. "Come in," he said. And a young man entered whom we recognized at Once as the chief clerk in the foreign de partment of the Credit Marselllals, the principal bank all along the Riviera. "State what you know of this check." the commissary said, showing it ta him, for we had handed It over to the police as a piece of evidence. "About four weeks since" the clerk began. "Say 10 days before your seance," the commissary Interposed. "A gentleman with very long hair and an aquiline nose, dark, Strang and handsome, called In at my de partment, and , asked if I could tell him the name of Sir Charles Van drift's London banker. He said he had a sum to pay in to your credit, and asked if we would forward it for him. I told him It was Irregular for us to receive the money, as you had no ac count with us, but that your London bankers were Darby, Drummond & Rothenberg, Limited." "Quite right," Sir Charles mur mured. ' -'"Two days later s. lady, Mme. . 1 (Concluded on Fag 5