Rustic Reggie's Record

The banker spent every leisure hour studying hypnotism, and practicing it. When the banker's daughter wanted to marry the penniless young man she loved the father decided it was time to get some practical benefit from his studies. With many weird and complicated motions father backed the poor boy to the library window. The young man then jumped out of the window. He landed on top of Rusty Reginald, a tramp, who was eating the last of a purloined pie. The sweetheart scrambled to his feet and was off. When father came to the window he saw the tramp and said to his daughter that his wonderful mental powers have changed the young man's clothes. Daughter looked. A bright idea came. She knew Pa would want to exhibit his handiwork at the Hypnotists' Club; and while he was there she had other plans. She induced Pa to take his prize materialization to show the other hyps. When he had gone, she found her sweetheart, packed her bag, and left a little note for father. At the club father was amazed at his own powers. He didn't know that most of his orders were obeyed because of the policeman that bobbed up every few minutes where Reggie could see him. Father planned a last big climax for his amazed fellow club members. "I will show you the supreme test of the true hypnotist," he announced, "Having transformed this man from a well-dressed person to a ragged tramp, I will now make him disappear absolutely." Father made the preliminary motions. Then came a tap on the window. The club members all turned and so did the banker. Two cops were looking in on the scene and pointing at Reggie. They jumped from the window. But Reggie had seen enough. He dove under a convenient couch. The banker and his fellow members turned. The subject disappeared and the audience was astounded. Then the cops came and spoiled it. From under the couch they drew the struggling Reggie. The banker tried to protest, but he and his explanation were waved aside. The banker tried to get sympathy from the other members. But they turned away from him coldly. Sadly he wended his way homeward. And there came shock number two. On the library table was the note his daughter had written. "Dear father," it said, "My darling John is afraid that the hypnotism has gone to your head and he has eloped with me to protect me." And the shock kept father away from the bank for a week.