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diff --git a/old/67753-0.txt b/old/67753-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index f19c238..0000000 --- a/old/67753-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9108 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Don Miguel Lehumada, by Sue Greenleaf - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Don Miguel Lehumada - discoverer of liquid from the sun's rays an occult romance of - Mexico and the United States - -Author: Sue Greenleaf - -Release Date: April 1, 2022 [eBook #67753] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading - Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from - images generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DON MIGUEL LEHUMADA *** - - - - - - DON MIGUEL LEHUMADA - DISCOVERER OF LIQUID FROM THE SUN’S RAYS - AN OCCULT ROMANCE OF MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES - - - BY - - SUE GREENLEAF - -[Illustration] - - NEW YORK - B. W. DODGE AND COMPANY - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY - B. W. DODGE AND COMPANY - - - - - WITH SORROW IN MY HEART - - AND - - MUCH PITY FOR THE WEAK - - WHO PUT STUMBLING BLOCKS IN MY PATH - - AND - - WISHED MY LIFE A PERPETUAL - - SLOUGH OF DESPOND, - - I RESPECTFULLY DEDICATE THIS VOLUME. - - THE AUTHOR. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. - - PAGE - The Arrival of Señor Don Miguel Lehumada from Kansas City—A Scene - in the Scientist’s Study, Chihuahua 9 - - - CHAPTER II. - - Marriet Motuble Tells Julio Murillo of His First Incarnation 18 - - - CHAPTER III. - - The Death of President Diaz, the Annexation of Mexico to the - United States—Helen Hinckley Becomes the Private Secretary of - Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir 27 - - - CHAPTER IV. - - The Plunger from Kansas Returns to Chihuahua and Takes “Memory - Fluid” and _Remembers_ 42 - - - CHAPTER V. - - Governor Miguel Lehumada Lectures Upon “Liquid from the Sun’s - Rays” 55 - - - CHAPTER VI. - - Mrs. Grange Disports Herself before the Distinguished Visitors, a - Scene Ensues, and President Mortingo Avows His Intentions of - Becoming a _Subject_ 70 - - - CHAPTER VII. - - Catalina Martinet Surprises the President by Telling Him She - _Remembered_ Him in a Life Gone by 85 - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - The Plunger from Kansas Confesses to the Crime He Committed 150 - Years Ago, in 1898 99 - - - CHAPTER IX. - - Marriet Motuble Reports Herself Dead and Tells of Revolutionists’ - Intentions 114 - - - CHAPTER X. - - A Day Full of Conundrums 131 - - - CHAPTER XI. - - Governor Lehumada and Others Visit the Motuble Tomb and Arrest the - Leaders of the Conspiracy—President Mortingo Returns to - Washington 146 - - - CHAPTER XII. - - Marriet Motuble Addresses the Conspirators, in the Guise of a - Man—Helen Hinckley Flies Through the Air, Overcoming the Law of - Gravitation, with Governor Lehumada, and Saves His Life 162 - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - The Peace of the Soul that Passeth all Understanding 177 - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - Helen Hinckley and Catalina Martinet Meet in the Alameda—Catalina - Desires to Pass Away and Live Again 193 - - - CHAPTER XV. - - Helen Hinckley and Catalina Martinet Help to Disperse the - Conspirators by Suspending Themselves in the Air 210 - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - Marriet Motuble, Disguised as a Physician, Visits Julio - Murillo—The Leaders of the Conspiracy Send a Written Confession - to Governor Lehumada—Then _Will_ their Souls Away While Taking - _Ebony Fluid_ 226 - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - The Governor and Party View the Ebonized Bodies of Marriet - Motuble, Francisco R. Cantu, and Albert Hernandez, and - Demonstrate the Use of Ebony Fluid Upon the Corpse of Reverend - J. T. Note 241 - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - The Trial of the Plunger from Kansas, and the Flight of Catalina’s - Soul 258 - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - Governor Lehumada Nominated President of the United States—His - Marriage to Helen Hinckley and the Passing Away of Mrs. Grange 275 - - - CHAPTER XX. - - The Celebration of the Seventh Anniversary of President Lehumada’s - Marriage, Music by the Spirit Band—Little Helen and “Miguey,” - the President’s Children, Tell of Their Reincarnation 292 - - - - - DON MIGUEL LEHUMADA - - Discoverer of Liquid from the Sun’s Rays. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - IN THE SCIENTIST’S STUDY. - - -The private study of Señor Guillermo Gonzales, in the State House of -Chihuahua, always had an air conducive to study. - -His fame as a scientist, as a man of great moral force, as a man who -lived his daily life in a highly spiritual manner, was broadcast in the -land. - -His most casual acquaintances unconsciously grew thoughtful, studious, -and better by knowing him. - -He was of purely Mexican origin, and his friends delighted in calling -him “Señor” Gonzales—as was the custom of the people when Chihuahua was -one of the States of “The Republic of Mexico,” a nation long since only -known as having existed by reading from the pages of history. - -The great love and respect constantly shown him by his daily associates -proved the exception to the rule that “A prophet is not without honor -save in his own country and amongst his own kin.” - -He was not honored as mankind was honored in the nineteenth century—for -his social, political or financial position—but for his moral, -intellectual, and spiritual development. - -Julio Murillo, a fellow student who acted in the capacity of office-man, -was a small but well-built typical Mexican, nearing the end of his fifth -incarnation. - -He spent no time regretting his past actions, nor fearing the future. - -Every moment he lived the best in him, and studied to make “the best” -better on the morrow. - - -On the morning our story opens he had finished his regular rounds of -tidying the reception-chamber, and was at work in a small alcove room -adjoining, on the properties extracted from the sun’s rays, by means of -a glass chemical instrument. At the focus the rays were liquidized, -separated, and blended into “Memory Fluid.” - -Although the analysis under way was exceedingly interesting to him, he -was not in the least disturbed, when a noise much resembling the faint -tingling of a small silver bell announced that he must leave his -pleasant occupation and receive some visitor. - -When he reached the reception-room he stood with his hand upon the knob -of the door, which he was about to open to admit a visitor, when a -beautiful smile overspread his countenance and he murmured: “It is his -Honor.” - -The door opened noiselessly and a man in every way worthy the name of -man stood before him. - -“Your Honor,” he said, extending his hand in greeting, which was eagerly -seized by the visitor, “pass, sir, and be seated; Señor Gonzales will -receive you in a very short time. There—the clock is striking the half -hour; in fifteen minutes he will be at your Honor’s service. The morning -paper, your Honor? Wonderful discoveries in Science, in Art, in Man.” - -The visitor thanked Julio Murillo as he took the paper, and seating -himself in one of the many comfortable chairs in the room, he said: - -“I have read the paper, sir; others than our kind are no doubt -astonished at its contents. There will be more convincing statements -made within thirty days. In fact, I believe our evidence will be so -strong, that everyone will believe the history of the case and the -matter will be forever settled soon. - -“I am sure _your_ investigations, Julio, will strengthen our case -materially. Now, sir, I beg of you to continue your absorbing study, and -I will remain here in meditation until Señor Gonzales grants me an -interview. One cannot give _too_ much time to thought, so do me the -favor not to detain yourself longer.” - -Julio Murillo shook hands with the distinguished visitor, and with much -the same smile he had on entering the room, he left to resume his -scientific investigations. - -The large, handsome, princely looking visitor walked the richly covered -floor thoroughly wrapped in pleasant and highly scientific meditations. - -He was not long kept waiting for his host’s welcome. - -He stooped to pick up a nosegay which dropped from his coat, and when he -raised his head, Guillermo Gonzales stood before him, by the side of his -writing-table, with outstretched hands. - -The partition separating the two rooms had disappeared as if by magic, -and they stood alone in one grand room. - -A giant was not at hand, nor neither were the powers of a magician -employed to make the partition disappear so quickly. It was constructed -on the same plan as sliding-doors, but it moved with more rapidity and -much less noise. - -The two distinguished men greeted each other with the embrace and -handshake characteristic of their ancient Mexican ancestors. - -In the privacy of his study Guillermo Gonzales always addressed the -friend of his youth,—and his friend during the other lives which they -had lived generations ago in the Republic of Mexico, ay, in the same -city where they now lived—the capital of Chihuahua—in the most familiar -schoolboy fashion. - -“Miguey, my boy, this is indeed a most pleasant surprise. You returned -when?” - -The friend of the scientist was none other than the renowned man of -letters and the Governor of Chihuahua, Señor Don Miguel Lehumada. - -“Last night, only, my friend. I have much to tell you,—much to tell -you.” - -The scientist drew a large, comfortable chair on either side of the -table on which he had been conducting his most recent experiments, and -motioning his friend to the seat, they sat down facing each other. - -“I, too, have things of importance to relate. Your Honor, proceed; my -whole attention is yours.” - -The Governor leaned his handsome head on the back of his chair with a -grace befitting the man he was, and said: - -“What I have to tell will not startle you, nor did it surprise me when I -learned it. - -“A volcanic eruption could not have created more of a sensation over the -entire United States, or in all Europe, than is now taking place on -account of the knowledge they have of our scientific discoveries. -However, to come to the point, I positively located, during my recent -visit to the North, ‘The Plunger from Kansas.’” - -Guillermo Gonzales arose from his chair and clasped his friend in his -arms. - -“Miguey, dear, dear Miguey, victory is ours! Pardon my enthusiasm! While -I know we are working the right clue, I am overjoyed that you should -have the pleasure of locating ‘The Plunger!’” - -The scientist did not resume his seat; but instead walked somewhat -nervously and in deep thought back and forth before his honored guest. - -The Governor continued: “I met him on the streets of Kansas City. It was -a mutual recognition. He even stopped, and said in a confused manner: - -“‘Pardon me, sir, but are you not Governor of Chihuahua? You do not know -me?’ - -“‘Yes,’ I replied, without a moment’s reflection: ‘You are the “Plunger -from Kansas.”’ - -“He turned very white and shook like an aspen leaf. - -“‘It is retribution,’ he exclaimed, ‘and it came after death. O God, is -there no peace for me in this life or any future life? Am I to be an -outcast and a wanderer as I was in my second physical state, because of -the small offence I committed? There is no justice in torturing a man -through several existences, because he took a few hundred thousand -dollars from his fellowman, and did some other similar tricks, which -were termed business shrewdness in those days. Governor, I will now say -good-bye. Retribution seems to be following me; do not aid its progress, -I pray you!’ - -“In a moment he was gone. With the assistance of two detectives, we -searched for him the greater part of three days and nights. No clue -whatever could we find of him. - -“Were I not convinced of the truth of our scientific investigations, I -would be annoyed by his sudden disappearance; but it is of no use to be -disturbed, for we know it is only a question of time until he will -revisit the city to which he fled, it being the capital of a State of a -foreign nation then, to escape the wrath of his creditors.” - -The scientist continued his walk back and forth, listening intently to -every word his friend spoke, now and then smiling his approval and -exclaiming: “True, Miguey; true.” - -“For those in touch with the past and to whom the Hidden is revealed, -there is no mystery connected with the appearance and sudden -disappearance of the Plunger,” concluded the Governor. - -Seating himself facing his visitor, the scientist said: - -“Various lengths of time are necessary to teach people of different -degrees of spiritual development that Nature demands her equilibrium -restored, no matter at whose seeming expense. - -“In your book, ‘Liquid from the Sun’s Rays,’ Restoration of Equilibrium -is fully explained. True, my dear Miguey, we must give people _time_ to -grow. The poor little minds warped for centuries by credal teachings, -abandon of morals, cannot be expected to grasp Truth at a glance. - -“We must feed them ‘Memory Fluid.’ All knowledge of the Hidden must come -through Self, and our discovery so wonderfully described in your work, -now of international repute, is the only known means to that greatly -desired end. - -“Come, Miguey, tell me of your reception in the northern states. No such -a wave of discovery has swept across the world since the time of -Galileo, as that produced by our researches made known to the public by -your works.” - -“My reception,” began the distinguished author, and leader of his -people, “was an ovation from my exit from this city until my return. - -“In my lecture at K——, I hinted at the clue we were at work on to right -the wrongs committed by ‘The Plunger from Kansas.’ Enthusiasm ran high, -and at the end of my lecture I was carried from the assembly room in a -white velvet chair, beautifully decorated with flowers and lace, -supported on the shoulders of the mayor and three other prominent -citizens. - -“They wish to organize a society, under our supervision, to experiment -with our ‘Memory Fluid.’ The masses are, I believe, intolerant with our -discoveries, yet they read my work and the newspapers comments -concerning it, no doubt out of curiosity alone.” - -“It makes no difference,” added Guillermo Gonzales, “_why_ they read it -or by what means their attention is drawn to Truth; the result is the -same,—investigations follow at no distant time. - -“A desire to learn must be awakened in the mind of every creature before -he is in a condition to develop. - -“Come, look through this window. See those three men writing at that -long table?” - -“I certainly do,” replied the Governor; “what new clue is this that you -are at work upon? Ah, some of those persons I certainly have seen -before. Can it be that they took part in the Plunger’s drama, one -hundred and fifty years ago?” - -“It is quite true, your Honor. Julio recognized them on the street a few -days after your departure for the States.”—(A term Mexicans occasionally -use.) - -“They are men of some learning, and at Julio’s invitation called here to -take observation of our investigations. He gave them a few drops of -‘Memory Fluid’ every time they called, for one week, which was every -day. At the end of the week, the tall man at the right of the other two, -Mr. Niksab, called Julio aside and told him in the most confidential air -that he had undergone a most wonderful experience. - -“Scarcely able to control his joy at the information about to be -imparted to him, Julio asked him to write his experience and give it to -him for future reference. Niksab did so, and on the file in Julio’s -study hangs the written statement of his first experience after taking -‘Memory Fluid.’ - -“Since that morning the other two have made a similar confession to -Julio. Now they come here every morning and write their remembrances of -the doings of ‘The Plunger from Kansas,’ which is put on our file of -evidence to be used at the final reckoning. - -“Niksab is the man who found a hiding place for the Plunger on the -occasion of his flight from justice, to Chihuahua in the year 1898.” - -“I remember the time well,” said the Governor. “I was then, as now, -Governor of the State. How anxious we were then for advancement. How -proud we were of our city. How eagerly our peons grasped the advantages -given them then for education. - -“Look at their descendants and some of our _then_ most common menials, -who are fortunate to be doing their third and fourth existence since -that time; how they have developed! - -“Who are they now? Our most noted judges, lawyers, teachers, men of -science and letters. - -“Come, Guillermo, I wish to pay a quiet visit to the den of our -coworker, Julio. Join me; otherwise we will be delayed in bringing about -the desired results from investigations which will take place here and -elsewhere in the morning.” - -Arm in arm the two great and noble men—working for the same cause, the -spiritual elevation of man—left the studio of the Scientist Gonzales, -and entered the lesser apartment of their coworker, Julio Murillo. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - HIS FIRST INCARNATION. - - -Early the next morning Julio Murillo was unlocking the side door which -led into his quiet study adjoining the reception-room of the great -scientist, Guillermo Gonzales, when he was surprised to hear some one, -evidently a stranger, call him by his given name. He pushed the door he -had been unlocking open, and as he stepped inside, faced the person who -addressed him. - -A tall, fair-haired, rather masculine looking woman stood before him -with extended hand. - -“Good morning, Señor Julio; good morning. It is with much pleasure I -find you so well and so famous. My card, señor.” - -“Pass, señorita, pass. You do me great honor. Be seated. In what way can -I be of service to you?” - -He scanned the card closely, as he wheeled a comfortable armchair in -front of a large window which he opened, and repeated: “Be seated.” - -The fair visitor stood in front of the open window some minutes before -taking the proffered chair, gazing with great admiration at the rare and -costly flowers and foliage, growing in the _patio_. - -She seemed to be in no hurry to tell the object of her visit, if she had -an object, neither did she seem to be a stranger to the scene around -her. - -Julio Murillo stood a little at her back, his eyes riveted upon her -card. - -“Marriet Motuble! Marriet Motuble,” he mentally exclaimed. “The name -means nothing to me; it does not even give me food for reflection. But -the magnificent señorita fills me with unpleasant memories of the past. -Can it be that she was in anyway associated in times gone by -with—with——” - -His mental comments were suddenly brought to an end by Miss Motuble -seating herself, at the same moment drawing a chair close to the one she -occupied, and saying: “Sit here by me, friend Julio. I want to study -your face while I talk to you. I am impressed that we will not long be -alone, and as there are many things I have to say that must be known to -no one but yourself, I will delay no longer telling them.” - -Julio felt the truth of her statements, and bent his head toward her, as -he seated himself by her side, that he might not lose a word she spoke. - -“You are the son of Señora Suzzan Carriles, of Colima. Your father was a -priest, while the husband of your mother was Señor Carlos Carriles, a -man of quiet manners, but strong feeling and ardent sentiment when -convinced or aroused. - -“Your strong resemblance to the priest, your father, was so noticeable -when you reached the age of six years, that your mother’s guilt needed -no accuser, and in a fit of religious enthusiasm she made a confession -of her guilt to her husband. - -“Señor Carriles’ sympathies in your behalf were greatly aroused. He -sought the priest, a man of much wealth and prominence in the State, and -told him of his knowledge of the great sin he and your mother had -committed. - -“Under the threat of publicly making known his sins to the clergy and -State, he agreed to take you under his guidance and to rear you in a -manner befitting his own son. - -“This promise he religiously kept for five years. Up to that age you -were in ignorance of your birth. The priest became very ill and fearing -death near by, made a full confession to you. - -“He afterward recovered, and seriously regretted having made you his -confidant. - -“Instead of treating you as a beloved son, his love had during his short -illness turned to hate and he compelled you to act in the capacity of -the most common menial. You rebelled at the change affairs had taken, -but by so doing you only made your existence the more intolerable. - -“A lady tourist came to your city one day, and visited the monastery -where you lived, it being one of the many places of interest in the -city. - -“She overheard a conversation between yourself and the priest, wherein -he threatened to murder you if you made known his treatment of you and -the relation he bore to you. - -“This same lady met you on the street some days later, and took you at -once to the palace of the kind and high-minded Governor. - -“To him she told what she knew concerning you, and besought the noble -leader of the people to allow you to speak, which he did. - -“In a very quiet way he had the priest arraigned before the Church and -State, with the result of the priest’s condemnation and sentence of -life. - -“He was found dead the next day after he was acquainted with the court’s -decision. - -“Half of his large fortune was given to you by the Church and State, -acknowledging you, thereby, his legal heir. Is there anything I have -left out of this recital which you recall, Julio?” - -Julio straightened himself in the chair, the first move he had made -since Marriet Motuble began her recitation, and said: - -“The gist of the subject you have told perfectly. A few minor things -happened which I will later recount. How natural you seem to me now. How -astonishingly clear you have related that incident which happened one -hundred and fifty years ago, and which caused me to go abroad to study; -with the result that I departed from the faith of my father. - -“You caused much trouble then, but I have to thank you for getting me -out of the dreadful mire of ignorance into which I was born and where -the priest held me. - -“I will repeat your own words at that time. You said: ‘I will make -things warm for the person who commits crimes, and takes advantage of -the inexperienced, young or aged.’ Crimes are various, however. Your -success in that life was not without laurels; in _this_, I hope your -mission is different and on a higher plane. You did much harm. You are -now here to aid us in securing proof which will eventually bring the -‘Plunger from Kansas’ to meet justice—_for spite_. He went out of the -other life like a flash—whether by his own hand or by the hand of some -wrathy creditor, man never knew. - -“The many homes made desolate by his dishonest schemes must eventually -be compensated for their losses. _Time_ is the great adjuster of all -wrongs; and the Plunger’s time is not far distant.” - -“Your statements are true, my friend Julio, in every detail. You have -partially only guessed my mission to Chihuahua, however. Yes, I did -harm. I am searching for one I loved in that life, who suffered much -from the abuse of certain countrymen of her own, then residing in -Chihuahua. Aye, from myself.” - -“In truth,” said Julio, “I am certain you will locate her in this city -before long.” - -“The great circle in which Time moves shows our planet nearing its -perihelion, and for the next ninety days the great scientist, Guillermo -Gonzales, and his able assistant, to whom I am now speaking, will be -able to demonstrate to the world the effect of your great discovery, -‘The Liquid from the Sun’s Rays,’ or perhaps better known as ‘Memory -Fluid,’” said Miss Motuble. - -“Aye,” assented Julio. “No such means has ever been in the hands of man, -by which he can effectually bring the perpetrators of crimes to -justice.” - -“And it matters not,” continued Miss Motuble, “of how long standing the -crime is.” - -“Not in the least; not in the least,” continued her host. “In fact, we -are thinking of trying to run down every person who participated in that -ancient and inhuman crime of silencing the musical voice of Lot’s wife.” - -“If that is done,” laughed Miss Motuble, “the truth of the story will be -proven; but to spend one’s time trying to prove such an absurd story is -a sin. Besides I admit that the story is of too long standing, for you -and me to interest ourselves in it. I am here for the sole purpose of -making existence warm for the many I knew in other lives, who failed to -get justice meted out to them then. Indirectly only am I connected with -the punishment of the ‘Plunger from Kansas.’ Yet revenge prompts the -motive.” - -Further conversation between them was interrupted by the entrance of -first, a little girl with beautiful flowers to sell, followed by Mr. -Niksab, and two other men, one an elderly, bald-headed, dissipated -looking man, who carried his hand on the side of his cheek. His face was -spotted and his mouth stood open. - -His surprise was very noticeable when he saw Miss Motuble. His lips -quivered and tears began to flow from his eyes, like water from a -fountain. - -Julio Murillo shook hands with the three men, asked them to be seated, -and then turned his attention to the little girl, who stood modestly by -the door waiting to tell the object of her call. - -“How many posies must I buy from my little flower girl this morning?” -said Julio. - -“One,” replied the child, “if it so pleases your honor, for it will -please thy mother, Señora Suzzan Carriles, for you to do so.” - -“Bless the dear one,” cried Marriet Motuble, “we will buy every posy she -has. Come, gentlemen, now is the opportunity to show your gratitude to -science through this child, who is the living proof of our friend’s -investigations. Come, gentlemen, who will bid on this child’s posies? -One dollar for each flower. One dollar once, one dollar twice——” - -“Three dollars for each flower,” cried a voice from Guillermo Gonzales’ -reception-room. - -Julio Murillo greeted the bidder as he stepped into the little study, -with great joy. He was accompanied by the scientist, Guillermo Gonzales, -who was no stranger to the three men, they wasted no time to show their -good will and great respect for him. - -The flower-girl curtesied to the two distinguished men. She was -something more than a simple child to them. She was the living proof of -their scientific investigations. - -The fair auctioneer continued crying: “Three dollars for each posy once; -three dollars for each posy twice; three dollars for each posy——” - -“Four dollars I bid!” cried the blear-eyed, spotted faced, bald-headed, -dissipated looking man. “Four dollars, I say. _Four_ dollars, I say.” - -The pretty child made a curtesy to the fair auctioneer, and cried: “No, -no, señorita, take not the money of so bad a man.” - -Prostrating herself before the great benefactor of his people, she -continued: - -“Your Honor, shield me from so bad a man! I would go hungry and sleep -_en la calle_ sooner than live well, from the _dinero_ of so bad a man. -_Tengo hambre, tengo hambre!_ But let me die for want of food; let me -die. I cannot look in the face of so vile a man.” The child turned her -face, so full of fright and abhorrence, toward the man she loathed, and -as she cried in a voice full of agony: “Go, great demon, go!” she -fainted away. - -The great good man to whom she so piteously appealed, lifted her -tenderly in his arms and laid her on the couch in Julio Murillo’s little -study. - -The fair auctioneer followed and devoted her time immediately to -restoring the child, aided by Julio Murillo. - -The Governor returned to the reception-room and placing himself in front -of the repulsive stranger, said: - -“Give an account of the strange actions of the little girl toward you. -If you have done that fair child, who is modesty and purity itself, an -injury, it must be repaired at once, and on your bended knees at that. -Explain matters, sir!” - -“I do not know the child,” began the man. - -“That is not the case,” quickly responded Guillermo Gonzales and Mr. -Niksab in one voice. - -“I beg of your Honor, and you, my friends, to believe me. I, J. Ecarg, -have never injured a child in my life. I never saw the girl until this -moment. I beg of your Honor to have faith in my statements. I know -nothing of this child whatever.” - -“Remember,” said Mr. Niksab, as he handed him a glass of liquid, which -he put to his lips and quickly drained. “_Remember_,” he again repeated, -as he took the empty glass and placed it on the stand. “It is Memory we -are cultivating. Memory, John; _Memory_.” - -“With your Honor’s consent we will take this subject into the -reflection-room,” said the great scientist. “He is one with whom we have -been experimenting.” - -Mr. Niksab and the scientist supported Mr. Ecarg on either side. - -“‘Memory Fluid’ is beginning to do its work, and remorse of conscience -makes him limp,” said Mr. Niksab. - -“This is a great world—a wonderful age of scientific discovery. Pass, -gentlemen, into the reflection-room. Pass at once. I am rejoiced to know -that we have another clue which may in some way lead to valuable -information concerning the one subject which is consuming the greater -part of our present investigations,” concluded the Governor. - -Mr. Ecarg very much resembled a man who, after years of dissipation was -now entering upon one of his big monthly or weekly drunks. - -As the trio was passing from the Governor’s presence, the scientist -said: - -“Does memory not recall this man, your Honor? I am sure of him. A -glorious victory is close at hand.” - -In a thoughtful mood the Governor followed them to the door, through -which they disappeared from view, but he made no response to the -scientist’s question. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT DIAZ. - - -The two great scientists, Señor Don Miguel Lehumada and Señor Guillermo -Gonzales, had been more successful in their treatment with “Liquid from -the Sun’s Rays”—or “Memory Fluid,” as their wonderful discovery had -become to be known—than their most sanguine hope for its success could -have been in the start. - -Their belief in the first place was that they had secured a fluid from -the Sun, which would under proper conditions destroy every species of -bacteria in man; that while the death of disease was taking place, each -of the mental faculties and the spiritual nature of man as well, would -begin taking on its normal condition, and when the body became freed -from all depleting causes, these faculties would be in a condition to -rise to a high degree of development. Further, they believed that the -fluid they had discovered would have a particular effect upon the -memory; not only in restoring it to its normal condition, but in causing -it to bring to mind every incident in one’s life. - -But strange to say, their wonderful fluid went further in its effect -upon memory, than the present life of the person upon whom the -experiments were being carried. It penetrated the sarcophagus of every -previous existence and resurrected every thought and experience. It -mirrored all the physical, social and spiritual environments, of each -life of the person as plainly to him as if they were occurrences of -yesterday instead of the remembrances of events in one’s other lives; -which he had lived perhaps ages and ages ago. - -It was not until many experiments had been performed successfully, and -the remembrances of each subject faithfully recorded, that they let the -public know of their wonderful achievements. - -Then it received its first knowledge of the scientific investigations -and the results, of the two scholarly men of Chihuahua through the -medium of the work—“Liquid from the Sun’s Rays” by the distinguished -Governor of the State. - -The eyes of the entire world were centered upon them at this time, -watching intently for their great test case to be concluded. A case -which they claimed would furnish the world sufficient proof to convince -it, that their great discovery, “Memory Fluid,” accomplished all they -claimed for it and very much more. - -On his return from “the States,” the Governor had said, that in -twenty-four-hours’ time they would have sufficient proof collected to -enable them to give the results of their test case to the public. And in -truth, they did have; but complications had arisen which would result in -them being able to give stronger proof of the effect of “Memory Fluid” -upon mind and matter. - -But these very complications would require time for arrangement, and the -public must wait. The eager, avaricious public, tale-bearing public, -panted with suspense, caused by the delay. - -The two great men were in no hurry; they had reached their present plane -of advancement by a succession of lives carefully planned during one -hundred and fifty years. - -Fifty years seems a long time for the single life of one man, and it is. -But when a person with a mind so full of desire for knowledge is cut off -at the end of fifty years, the time seems short. He is cut off at an age -in which he is in a condition to begin to take on higher and better -knowledge. It is the desire for a continuance, on a higher plane, in a -physical life that causes one to return to earth and take up the new -life where the old left off. - -The press spoke of the two scientists as marvels of the day. It claimed -that history did not record any great discovery to have been made by men -so young as the discoverers of “Memory Fluid,” hence they were spoken -of—not without satire, however—as being inspired—and their discovery—if -it contained a grain of truth—as a miracle. - -Ten years previous these two great men, living in the same city, meeting -only occasionally and then as strangers, had for many years secretly -recognized each other as a compatriot, a fellow-student; a friend in -other lives, two other lives long since passed away. Yet for the want of -more confidence in self; for the courage to confront his fellowman and -avow his knowledge of a superior soul development, and physical -advancement, each held aloof. - -The occasion for mutual acknowledgment arrived. It was a supreme moment. -They fell on each other’s necks and wept for pure joy. From that moment -they spent hours each day reviewing events of their past; studying to -develop the present, to bring about by scientific discoveries, a means -which would show to the world that the sins committed in this body must -be appeased on earth; if not in the life in which the sins were -committed, then in another life. Perhaps the guilty one would pass -through several lives unmolested; but the day of reckoning, however, -certainly would come, retribution would surely overtake every evil doer. - -The result of their investigations was the famous “Memory Fluid,” which -accomplished for them more than they hoped. - -It was with much amusement often, that the two wise men discussed the -subject of their youth, at which the public marveled. How well they knew -they were _not young_ in experience, or years. It was laughable to read -the statements of the credulous editors, credulous from a materialistic -point of view; but wholly incredulous when it came to questions of -spiritualistic discussion. - -The age in which they now lived was more in sympathy with materialistic -ideas than in any of their previous existences. They were not surprised, -for it seemed prophetic that evil, that materialistic views, should -reach the pinnacle of fame before a revolution would occur which would -demolish their false ideas. And they had hoped that the revolution was -near at hand—and they prayed that it might be brought about by their -wonderful discovery. Victory was sure to follow. And what a glorious -victory it would be! A victory of life over death; of health over -disease; of spirit over flesh; of the righting of all wrong; of the -assurance of everlasting life. - -Events which pointed very plainly to materialistic and spiritualistic -controversy were taking place on every hand, yet the masses adhered to -materialistic views or to the dogmatic teachings of the churches. - -A hundred and thirty-eight years had passed since the American Continent -was convulsed by an internal revolution. This revolution took place -immediately upon the death of President Diaz, of the Republic of Mexico. - -It was a short and terrible conflict. At the earnest solicitation of all -State officials; of the entire army; of a large majority of the -professional fraternity; of prominent people of wealth and business, the -United States interfered in behalf of the law-abiding citizens of the -Republic; and quelled the internal revolt. - -The mere presence of the army of the United States upon Mexican soil, -the fact of the army of so great a nation occupying their soil, not by -force, but by the earnest pleadings of many of the best citizens of -Mexico, those who wished to see the republican form of government, -established by General Diaz, continued, was enough within itself to keep -the small parties of revolutionists in each state quelled. - -Only a small number of fights occurred, and in each but very few lives -were lost. - -During the year the American army occupied Mexico, and many of her best -war ships were anchored off the Mexican coast for further protection, -the Mexican people convinced themselves thoroughly of their -impossibility to maintain a republican form of government when there -were so many small factions fighting for the rulership of the nation; -and there was not a man in the army or in any other vocation of life, -who had the confidence of the educated sufficiently to unite them, or -the power to hold the peons and rabble in submission. - -Toward the close of the year the state of their unsettled condition was -awful to behold. Something must be done, and that quickly; or a fearful -struggle, a long war would take place. - -It was finally decided to ask, to petition the American government to -annex the Mexican Republic to the United States of America, without any -delay, provided three-fourths of the States of Mexico and a majority of -voters in the Federal District desired it. - -The day set on which votes for and against annexation should be cast was -the same day of the month on which occurred the birth of General -Porfirio Diaz—the greatest leader they had ever known; the maintainer of -peace and progress in their land—the fifteenth of September. - -The scenes enacted on the day of voting made another black page in the -history of the Mexican people. - -The combined effort of the Mexican army in favor of annexation and the -army of occupation saved the country from a most fearful homicide. - -The rabble set to work by the priesthood, who seemed to think the day -especially set apart for them to gain prominence by helping to defeat -the annexation question, caused the trouble. Their people plundered, -murdered, set fire to the homes and business houses of prominent people -whom they knew were in favor of annexation. - -It certainly required months for the vast army of rabble to be organized -and drilled, to be able to accomplish so much evil before their -nefarious deeds became known, before they started out upon their grand -parade of open revolt. Notwithstanding there was an organization of this -kind in the capital of every state in the Republic, a very large -majority of the States went for annexation. - -A petition for immediate annexation was presented to the Government of -the United States by a large and representative body of Mexican -citizens, which pleaded for an extra session of Congress to convene, -which occurred with results satisfactory to each nation. And Mexico -became a part of the United States of America without further delay. -More than one hundred years had passed since the memorable event, and -Mexico had grown to be possibly the most important part of the United -States. - -There had been a long reign of peace and prosperity, and the fact that -this part of the United States had been, long ago, a hot-bed for -internal revolution, was only known to the present generation by reading -from the pages of history an account of her brave people struggling for -independence—struggling for enlightenment; for the maintenance of a -republican form of government. - -The two great scientists and their most able coworker were of purely -Mexican origin; in no existence previous to this one had there ever been -any mixing of blood. - -Governor Lehumada took no especial pride in the fact that there was no -Anglo-Saxon or other than his native Latin blood in his veins. - -Neither did the other two great scientists—Guillermo Gonzales or Julio -Murillo. They had no prejudices; they were too intelligent and learned. -They advocated intermarriage of the races. They believed that it was -necessary for a high degree of intelligence to be preserved. - -However, their own existence—the very high degree of their -intellectuality and spiritual development was an exception to the rule -they advocated. - -There are people who without apparent cause carry prejudices in families -for hundreds of years, and while their real feeling may not have any -publicity, is only due to the fact that no occasion presented itself for -them to declare their opinions. - -There are a few of this class of people living in the capital of -Chihuahua, who pride themselves on the fact that they have never crossed -the Rio Grande; that they do not speak the English language; that they -have no associates amongst the Anglo-Saxon American people. These -persons are not without influence, often being people of wealth and -position; and they now believed their time had come to make known their -views concerning the race question. - -Many of the large newspapers were full of the absurd ideas of these -people. They claimed that the wonderful discoveries of their two -townsmen were due to the fact that through their veins coursed no -foreign blood. They claimed they could see through the shadows events -which foretold the complete extinction of the Anglo-Saxon race on -American soil and the re-establishment of the Mexican Republic. -Sensational papers published their articles, and wise people laughed at -them over their morning meal. - -When questioned about the opinions of their countrymen, the Governor and -Señor Guillermo Gonzales impressed their interviewers with the fact that -they were perfectly intolerant of such restricted ideas. That it was -very embarrassing to them, being of purely Mexican descent, and striving -to bring about a means for the improvement of man, to be held up for a -target at which the known world would hurl its anathemas. - -They now knew no nativity save the United States of America; they knew -no Master but God. - -They held in esteem only such people who were striving to improve their -physical and spiritual state. They held no one in contempt because he -was poor, ignorant, dissipated; full of disease and depravity. They knew -the time was close at hand when a desire would be born within the soul -of each for a knowledge of Truth; that the scales of disease which -obscured the light from their soul would decay, and victory would cry -out. These very people who secretly hated their foster-mother were the -stumbling-blocks to every enterprise, headed by a person of Anglo-Saxon -origin, particularly if the advocator be of American parentage and was -born in the United States north of the Rio Grande. - -They aided and abetted the clergy. They fought strenuously against any -modern improvements in the Catholic Church. Their ancestors were so bold -once, that they held a meeting of indignation, when some of their -brethren of more modern ideas were determined that the poor of the -church, as well as the rich, should have comfortable seats; they -contended that it was a relic of slavery and heathenism for people to -prostrate themselves on a dirty floor to worship. - -The voluptuous, avaricious priests hated to see the innovation. They -knew it meant a waning of their power. Yet when questioned by the -advanced members of their flock, they could not refuse their consent. - -The opposing party were petted and pampered by the priest, who consoled -them by saying—and truthfully—that upon them the salvation of the church -rested. It was a terrible, terrible day when the long, barren church, -save for the candelabras, the paintings of the saints and images of -Marie and Jesus, and its wonderful altar of purple and gold, was -furnished with comfortable seats for the poor; the very poor, who with -their _centavos_, _centavos_ (which they obtained mostly by begging and -plundering), helped to build the magnificent cathedrals, and entirely -supported a vast army of parasitic creatures called priests, in idleness -and voluptuousness. - -The few in Chihuahua who were so unfortunate as to have for their -ancestors a class of people wedded to catholicism as practiced in Mexico -in 1899, and adhered to it, needed the sympathy of every enlightened -person seeking for spiritual knowledge. - -Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir was the most prominent member of the few -who resented the present _régime_ of things, simply because his -forefathers did a hundred and thirty-eight years ago. He was a man of -great wealth. He insisted on the “Don” before his name and invariably -signed his mother’s name, Falomir, to his own, as was the custom then. - -His family ate _tortillas_ and _frijoles_ three times a day; drank -_pulque_, _aqua miel_, _mescal_, and _aguar’diente_—the latter two when -they wished their troubles drowned; both of which are powerful -intoxicants. - -The male members of the family wore _sombreros_, short ornamental coats, -sashes of many colors; and skin-tight trousers of light colors. The -women and girls of the family wore black _rebozos_, and lace _mantillas_ -over their heads; the _criada_ cooked on the _brasero_, and never failed -to serve _ensaladas_ and _tomales_ on holidays and feast days as was the -custom from time immemorial up to the date the Republic became a part of -the United States. This family was spoken of by their townsmen as -oddities and were rather liked for their old-fashioned ideas; they were -hospitable to the extreme with their own countrymen, and generous to a -fault to the poor of Mexican lineage who adhered to the religion of -their fathers. They were unobtrusive in social affairs and political -affairs, but interfered in everything commercial where it was possible. - -Their interference was always in a quiet way, however, and attracted the -attention of no one but those directly interested. They inherited the -cunning and silence of their ancestors and acquired more unconsciously, -by long contact with races which held them in submission. It required no -effort to conceal their real feeling toward the country of which they -were now a part, which took them under its protecting wing at the -earnest solicitation of their best people at a time when the growing -Republic was bereft of its main support; the great and noble leader, -Diaz, who caused every avenue of progress to be opened up for his -people. A man who loved the Mexican people, for whom he had fought and -labored, next to his God. The American people claimed him as one of -their heroes, and even the present generation honor his memory with as -much fervor as if he had been one of them, as if the Republic he -established and maintained had been a part of the States. - -Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir’s ancestors belonged to the faction -which strove to make the Church stronger; to the faction opposed to -Diazism, to progress. He seemed to take an uncanny pride in nourishing -the frightful skeleton he had inherited. - -Little did he think that the very fact that he made bold to step out and -hold an indignation meeting, like his ancestors, against the “powers -that be,” that the cherished skeleton would be brought forth and aired -with a result of disaster to his present life, that is, disaster in a -certain way. As much as Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir hated, or -pretended to hate, the Americans and their language, he had now in his -employ a poor, but highly educated young American woman, Helen Hinckley. -She spoke his language and understood it as perfectly as if it were her -native tongue. - -She had no prejudices against the race from which her employer claimed -to have sprung. She rather admired the quaint, old-fashioned customs to -which he and his family adhered. - -She was evidently of strictly American origin. She had no relative, no -home, and no money but what she earned. She described herself as a lost -spirit roving over the world in search of friends and a permanent -abiding-place. That was the only answer she gave herself or anyone else, -when questioned why she was alone and in Chihuahua or any other place. -She had been in Chihuahua only one night, when she read in the great -daily, _The Chihuahuan_, the next morning, the advertisement of her -present employer, which stated that he wanted an educated American who -understood the Spanish as well as his own tongue, who was quiet and -unobtrusive, to act as secretary. He preferred a person with no family -ties; and one who would consent to live in his family for a year. -Whatever salary such a person required for his services would be -forthcoming at the end of each month. - -When Helen Hinckley walked into the old-fashioned adobe house standing -in the center of a large garden, around which was the old-time high -adobe wall, and stood in the magnificent _patio_ gazing at the rare -flowers, beautiful birds and sparkling fountain, she felt as if she were -not a stranger to these very scenes. She was startled and yet made very -happy, neither of which feelings could she account for. - -When shown into the long reception-room she showed her surprise, to see -it full of applicants eager to get the position for which she had come -to apply. - -She was about to retire, for she was sorry for these earnest -breadwinners, whose only happiness seemed to be in material existence. -Besides, she felt intuitively that if she applied, all of those present, -who needed the position worse than herself, would go away with a heavy -heart, still she lingered in the _patio_. - -To the left of the room where the many applicants breathlessly waited to -know their fate, was the small but well-appointed office of Don -Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir, where, one at a time, he examined the -applicants. - -When he saw Helen, he stepped to the open door and said: “Oblige me, -señorita, by passing into my private office.” He immediately dismissed -the other applicants with the quiet and polite information that he had -secured one whose recommendations were all he required. He further told -them that he hoped they would soon secure employment, as no doubt they -were all competent, and (with a ring of satire in his voice), being -Americanos, were deserving. No great change had come over Don Francisco -R. Cantu y Falomir, yet judging by the great enthusiasm and cordiality -with which he greeted Helen Hinckley, on his return to his private -office, it seemed to indicate quite differently. - -“Pardon me, señorita,” he said in greeting, “but I took the liberty to -say to the other applicants that I had employed a competent person as my -secretary, meaning you. I hope you will do me the honor to serve me in -this capacity. In fact, you are the person whom I have had in mind. Your -duties will be light; in fact, for some time to come, all the day will -be yours. I have only one request to make, and that is, while in my -house, you will have no social intercourse with my wife and children; -that you will stay closely in your own room or in some quiet spot in the -garden which my family do not frequent. When I want your services I will -send the _mozo_ for you. A _mozo_, saddle horse, and carriage are at -your disposal. You are from this moment to be at no expense. Every -comfort of home life we will supply you free, and your salary I will pay -now. How much do you require? Will you stay?” - -Helen Hinckley replied without any hesitation: “Sir, you are courteous -and generous to the extreme. I thank you. I will enter into your -employment at once. I want for my services, five hundred dollars a -month.” - -Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir stepped to his desk and handed her the -first month’s salary in shining gold; directed a dreamy-eyed _criada_ to -show the señorita to her room, and sent _un mozo de cordel_ to the hotel -for all of her belongings. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - THE PLUNGER FROM KANSAS. - - -Events of great importance were crowding themselves thick and fast upon -the attention of more people in the capital of Chihuahua than the leader -of his people, the Governor, and his able coworker, Guillermo Gonzales, -and Julio Murillo, his assistant. - -Governor Lehumada had long been practicing to make his personal desires -subordinate to a very high standard of right. He had fixed his sole -purpose of thought upon a desire to bring about a means for the recovery -of memory. - -He had received many impressions through the gift he had of placing the -spiritual world first in his thoughts and his actions. - -Evil he believed to be the result of a microbic condition of matter. The -happy results obtained by the rise of the “Memory Fluid,” were turning -the tide of thought into a more spiritual channel, the fact of which was -in itself sufficient compensation for the years of labor the great men -had had in bringing about their scientific discovery of “Memory Fluid.” - -The name of Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir had within the last ten -days become a household word. At first most every one looked upon his -ideas, as portrayed by the press, as a big joke; but now the clergy had -made bold (for they believed their staunch supporter had a big -following,) to attack “Memory Fluid” as an enemy of life, as a messenger -of evil. Yet they hailed it as their mascot, for they claimed to believe -that, though a great evil within itself, through it would come a -revolution which would result in the re-establishment of the Church and -the Mexican Republic, which would be controlled by the former. - -The very audacity of such statements made the public stop to pant; and a -few stopped a little longer to _think_. - -Governor Lehumada was reviewing the ideas advanced by Don Francisco R. -Cantu y Falomir, and hoped to be given the light which would enable him -to see the outcome. So intent was he with “_his feast with his soul_,” -as he termed his moments of abstraction, that he did not notice that Mr. -Niksab had returned to the reception-room. “Your Honor,” spoken in a -rather loud voice, caused the Governor to start and look around. - -“Pardon me,” he said, “I did not hear you, so intent was I reflecting -upon all that we have just witnessed.” - -Mr. Niksab bowed, and continued: “The scientist requests me to say to -you that the subject now under treatment is undergoing some wonderful -changes, and your Honor will do him a great favor by witnessing the -workings of ‘Memory Fluid.’” - -“With much pleasure. We will enter at once. It is the eternal spirit -that is calling out to him. He hears, thank God, he hears.” - -Guillermo Gonzales waved the Governor and Mr. Niksab to seats near the -table upon which J. Ecarg lay. His body was undergoing great pain; -convulsion after convulsion shook his frame. His face was ghastly and -his features contorted. - -Mr. Niksab’s whole nervous system was wrought up to the highest pitch, -out of sympathy for his friend. Not able to sit by calmly and witness -the fearful convulsions, he arose: - -“Great God!” he exclaimed. “It is death!” - -“It is death,” quietly assented the scientist, Guillermo Gonzales, which -statement was approved by a nod from the heads of the Governor and Julio -Murillo. - -Mr. Niksab knelt by the side of his friend, and cried aloud: “Great God, -spare him a while longer, that he may have time to repent.” - -“Arise, my friend,” said the Governor—“This is not the passing away of -your friend. It is only the death of diseases which have been holding -him down to darkness more than two hundred years.” - -“Give yourself no uneasiness,” added Guillermo Gonzales—“your friend is -only reaching the point where he can live.” - -“Hark!” said Julio Murillo. “Victory is close at hand. Memory will -assert itself soon.” - -The prophecy of the Mexican was soon to be fulfilled. J. Ecarg drew -himself up and said without the least hesitation: “I remember the -circumstances perfectly. I kept a hostelry of some repute in this city -then. That was in the fall of the year 1898. Being the largest city -within only a short distance of the Rio Grande, the beautiful and -progressive Mexican city had become known, and not without much regret -from the law-abiding Mexicans, as a rendezvous for many Americans who -were refugees from justice. As a rule I was not in favor of shielding my -countrymen; but my heart went out to a young man who was in such -distress, such great mental torture. He called upon me late the very -night of his arrival in Chihuahua, and on bended knee begged me to -shield him from the fury of the law. He had no remorse of conscience for -the wrongs he had committed. His only fear was the juzado. He most -likely would have committed the same offences upon Mexican soil the day -of his arrival, if there had been the slightest opportunity, and if he -had not felt sure that he would have to face the four bare walls of a -prison for the remainder of his life. There was a man in the city—an -American, of good birth and education, a prospector and railroad man—who -was my friend in every sense of the word. He spoke the Mexican tongue -without a flaw. I appealed to him to find a place of refuge on some -_hacienda_, for our distressed countryman. My friend said: - -“‘Your will is mine. But tell me, John, what is the name of this refugee -from justice?’ - -“‘He is known,’ I replied, ‘as “The Plunger from Kansas.”’” - -A cry rang out through the room, as if some animal of high mettle had -been wounded. - -Every one jumped to his feet and the look of pain and surprise was quite -visible on each face. - -From whence had the unearthly cry come? was the unspoken question on the -white lips of all save Mr. Niksab. They soon understood. - -“He is my friend. John, do you not remember? It was I, Niksab, who took -‘The Plunger from Kansas’ in a coach, on a dark, rainy night, to a cabin -in the mountains on the _hacienda_ of Don Alberto Ulloa. I supplied him -with the necessities of life, and there he remained for many weeks in -fear and trembling. You know me, now, John, don’t you?” - -John did not reply; he had lapsed into a cataleptic state, and his -anxious listeners were doomed to wait for further evidence, which would -help to conclude their test case. - -Mr. Niksab walked the floor and wrung his hands: “He is dead now, I am -sure,” he cried; but the great author of “Memory Fluid” put his hand -upon his shoulder in a brotherly fashion, and in a quiet, reassuring -voice said: - -“Again you are mistaken. It is only a further death of the millions of -microbes which breed disease in his body.” - -“Ah, I forget,” said Mr. Niksab. - -“You are not freed from the awful gnawings of the creatures yourself; -but it is not to _forget_ that you are here. It is, on the other hand, -_to remember_,” replied the Governor. - -Marriet Motuble had entered the room unobserved by all, and now -astonished them by saying: “You’re right, Governor; you’re right. It is -memory we must cultivate while under your roof. It’s a good thing for -John that he has sunk into his present state of semiconsciousness, or I -am afraid I would be compelled to make him acknowledge his great sins by -means of physical force, which is a shorter route to punishment than -your ‘Memory Fluid.’ I think a good thumping would do John good; or a -bullet through his head might be better.” - -These coarse remarks were not joined in by anyone, but she was in nowise -abashed. They pitied her for her coarse, vulgar mind. They knew her time -was not far distant, however. The scientists busied themselves quietly -with their chemical instruments, now and then glancing up (out of -courtesy) at some remark she made, to which, however, they made no -response. - -Mr. Niksab sat in a corner of the same room, his head between his hands -in deep thought, lost, it seemed, to everything around him. The -fair-haired, aggressive señorita walked, or rather stalked back and -forth in the room, her thumbs in a pocket on either side of her short -coat. - -“I remember, too, that blear-eyed reprobate, the _subject_ yonder—that -was the name by which the medical students called such people in years -gone by. They called them that in the year of 1898–’99, did they not, -friend Niksab?” - -Mr. Niksab started from his reverie, looked at the señorita with a -strange look in his eyes, and said: “I believe so,” and at once lapsed -into another silence. - -“You are correct,” said the Governor. “You have been, I believe, a -Subject here also. I am not mistaken, am I? For our ‘Memory Fluid’ we -can claim another victory, then.” - -Marriet Motuble stood in her favorite position, a smile of amusement on -her face, listening to the Governor. She openly respected and secretly -admired him. All the impulses of her loving heart, which were many, went -out to the great man. Hers was a terrible love, and woe to the man who -aroused her love and failed to reciprocate it. She did not take her eyes -from his handsome face,—her eyes which spoke volumes of love, and shone -with the light of a furious passion. - -In this frame of mind she approached him closely, and said: “Your Honor -is mistaken. I have never been a ‘subject’ in your illustrious -institution.” - -“But,” interrupted the Governor, “you remember.” - -“Yes, ’tis true; and more, perhaps, than many would care to hear,” she -replied. - -“Can you explain how this great memory came to be a part of you? Aye, it -is possible you do remember many things which evil-doers in the great -life of the past, did those who are here again for a purpose by Divine -arrangement who would prefer not to have their past brought to light. -But the just management of all things eternal cannot be changed. -Physical man must be the adjuster of all evil, through the awakening of -his soul. It matters not how strongly they fight against it, it is the -inevitable. And it is a struggle often.” - -“You are dead right there, Governor,” replied Marriet Motuble. “Our -friend John over there is undergoing a great struggle now,” and she -laughed a fiendish laugh, as she continued promenading back and forth in -the room. “Poor devil; if he were in his right mind now, he no doubt, -would prefer to die and go straight to that place the orthodox ministers -said existed, many years ago, to terrify their flocks into -submission—possibly, if he thought he would be allowed to stay there -forever, rather than be a ‘Subject’ and undergo what is now taking -place.” - -In an earnest and serious tone Guillermo Gonzales said: “Your argument, -dear señorita, is false. A seeking for the Eternal—after the things not -comprehended by the senses—cannot be brought about by compulsion; no -physical force can make the change. It is the desire for a knowledge of -the Eternal; for a communion with spirits, which causes the change; the -death of disease; the return of memory, the final life.” - -Marriet Motuble, on hearing this, was again convulsed with laughter; but -finally controlling herself, said: “That is all very fine, and sounds -well, and might apply very well to most every one, but to _John_—ha! -ha!—to John—never! The only way to cure him, to be sure of him, is to -put him into a yawning abyss of that Ebony Fluid you extract from the -‘Sun’s Rays,’ and which, I believe, you claim, if it can be produced in -sufficient quantities, would be able to destroy not only all things -physical, but those very things which are thought now by everybody, -except possibly your honored selves, to be Eternal.” - -The three wise men dropped the instruments they were casually examining, -on the hard, polished floor, where they were broken into a thousand -pieces. Her statement confounded them. With questioning looks they gazed -into each other’s faces, and then at the implacable señorita. They knew -that besides themselves no one on earth had been told of the “Ebony -Fluid.” In fact, they had discussed the probable use to which it could -be put in hushed tones, in the sanctity of their most private study. - -Julio Murillo was the first to gain control of himself, and addressing -the señorita, said: “If we were living in the year of 1898—at that time -when Hermannism was in vogue, when the ignorant, the credulous often -employed these delvers in mechanical spirits, and paid them large sums -to look into the future and disclose their fate—I say, if we were back -in that infant age of spiritualistic progress—I would at once avow that -you had been to see one of those prophets.” - -Marriet Motuble replied: “You forget, friend Julio, that I, as well as -yourself, existed years ago. Then you were not so distinguished as now. -We lived in the very year about which you have just spoken. Women were -then said to be mysterious beings, as well as the beings who could -fathom all secrets. The Great One to whom you pay silent tribute, has -seen fit through all these years to perpetuate the gentler (?) sex, and -with much the same disposition she then had. But really, gentlemen, it -is unbecoming in me to be telling three renowned scientists, discoverers -of ‘Memory Fluid,’ about what existed at a previous age, or how I came -into possession of a knowledge of your ‘Ebony Fluid.’ Besides, I am -lingering longer than my time admits. Pour some more ‘Memory Fluid’ down -John, so he will call to mind his own offspring lying in a -semi-conscious state in the adjoining room.” - -“What is the meaning of your words, Miss Motuble? Let me entreat you to -linger a few moments longer and explain. You can aid us materially in -making this affair clear.” - -Miss Motuble’s eyes shone with love, and with outstretched hands she -started toward the object of her affection, and in a low voice, yet -plainly audible to all present, said: “Dearie!” - -Her whole nature changed outwardly in an instant. She whirled her large -frame around as easily as if it worked on pivots, and walking to the -door, said: “There are other days, gentlemen, other days. Patience is a -necessary requisite to success. You will pardon me if I leave now. -Julio, thy mother’s seducer, thy father, is heading the present movement -against the State.” - -“Impossible!” they exclaimed in one breath. “Retribution overtook him in -his first existence. Impossible!” - -Again she gave way to a fit of laughter, and said: “Impossible, hey? -nothing is impossible. Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir has evidently -not been recognized by you. Ha! ha! Well, this is an age of discovery!” -Stepping up to Mr. Niksab (who still sat on a low chair, his face buried -in his hands, seemingly unconscious to everything taking place around -him), she slapped him soundly on the shoulder, a custom with men of bad -breeding, in the nineteenth century, who were very friendly with each -other and demonstrated their friendliness by this coarse greeting. He -sprang to his feet and looked in a bewildered way all around him. “Ha! -ha! ha! ha! Friend Niksab, you can have your hand in the righting of a -few other wrongs, if you say so.” - -“I am aiding the great scientists,” he interrupted, “by helping to find -living proofs of the wrongs committed by the ‘Plunger from Kansas.’” - -“The poor Plunger is getting it on every side; getting thumped by this -scientific hail,” she replied. - -“In what way, Miss Motuble,” quietly asked the Governor, “can Mr. Niksab -be of further assistance to our scientific investigations?” - -She made him no immediate reply, but laughingly said in a familiar tone: -“Nicky, the fellow who murdered your brother, rifled your safe, stole -all those _cántaras_ of _pulque_, and _mescal_, and skins of _tequila_, -when you ‘kept bar’ at the Palacio, is here now, less a notch or so as -things go in social affairs at present. You remember him, don’t you, -Nicky?” - -“There seems to be coming over me a dim remembrance of the person you -speak of and the circumstance you relate; but I am not clear.” - -“Governor, give him more ‘Memory Fluid,’ and he will nail the villain in -twenty-four hours.” - -“What position does he now occupy?” asked Guillermo Gonzales. “I am -anxious to know, as you say he is a notch higher in the social scale -than in his other life.” - -“He is president of the Maguey Paper Factory, and is as dishonest now, -in a polite way, as he was in that memorable year, in an uproarious -fashion. He is not contented with the immense profit he derives from the -sale of the superior paper he manufactures, but he takes the dry maguey -leaves, boils them for days—until they are in a pulp—strains it; -ferments the liquid and sells it for a kind of rum, which he claims will -cure insanity, and I, for one, believe him. I have personally known a -dozen or more credulous people—those who are always taking something to -aid digestion or strengthen the mind—I say, I believe in this -drink—because they lived only a few days after taking it ‘according to -directions.’ The poor demented creatures are now ‘cured’ for one -existence at least. It is called ‘Perpetuity Miel.’” - -“Ah, let me think,” said the Governor; “let me think. I—have received -some samples of this rum, with a request to partake of it sparingly, and -recommend it to the public.” (He opened a small glass cabinet and took -out a large bottle). “Yes, here it is: ‘Perpetuity Miel.’ A strange -name, composed of a Latin and Anglo-Saxon word, meaning a sweet, endless -duration.” - -“Do you, Miguey, recall the name of the president of the ‘Maguey Paper -Company’?” - -“I do not; I do not. Strange, I do not know, he being so prominent a man -in the various commercial fields,” replied the Governor. - -Julio Murillo said: “His name in a previous existence was Henry Lexort.” - -Mr. Niksab cried, as he clutched his fists and fought at some unseen -foes in the air, “The same, the same; he was killed at the Jockey Club -for cheating in roulette. He had returned to the city, in disguise, -after successfully evading the _rurales_—for many months. The great -desire again to see the scene of his crime led him back to Chihuahua, -with the result I have just mentioned.” - -“That is a strange truth,” said the Governor, “that criminals more often -than otherwise return to the scene of their crimes. More than one has -walked to his doom by such rash actions.” - -“That is why I have such perfect confidence that the ‘Plunger from -Kansas,’ although living his third life since the date of his life in -which he committed his famous cattle robbery, will return to the scene -of his operations and to the city to which he fled to escape the -clutches of the law. But to return to the president of the Maguey Paper -Factory. It is quite unusual that the name of so prominent a man in our -midst is unknown to five people of intelligence and education.” - -“I will ascertain at once,” said Julio. “I will speak over the fluid and -have his secretary to give me his full name and address. We may need it -for future reference.” - -“Do not give yourself so much useless work, friend Julio. I know the -man’s genealogy as well as his present name. I make it my business to -find out the pedigree of all such animals, such scorpions, and to air -their old skeletons, in the hope of helping them to take on a new life; -to hide their dry, marrowless bones with new flesh and blood.” - -The “Subject” on the table moved; then sat upright; rubbed his eyes; -looked beseechingly towards the door and cried out: “Marriet, Marriet, -have you forgotten that I loved you in that time long ago?” - -The four other occupants of the room turned to face the woman he was -thus beseeching, and behold, she was gone. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - LIQUID FROM THE SUN’S RAYS. - - -Early the next morning the beautiful and progressive capital of -Chihuahua was in a state of more than usual bustle. - -Some time previous to this day a large body of her representative -citizens, amongst whom were more than a thousand progressive women, had -called upon the Governor _en masse_, and secured his consent to lecture -upon, “Liquid from the Sun’s Rays.” - -Chihuahua is a magnificently built city of over more than one-half a -million inhabitants. It is a large mining center, railroad center, and -educational center. Recently its fame had spread abroad. The eyes of the -entire civilized world are riveted upon it. It is the home and -abiding-place of the greatest scientists the world had ever known. - -Scientific men and women from all over the world came every day to see -the city; the country which produced such marvels of scientific wonder -and spiritualistic progress. The object in gathering such a large body -together to call upon and entreat the Governor to deliver an address -upon his and his coworkers’ great scientific discovery, was their -knowledge of his great timidity; of how he personally disliked to appear -before the public and recount the wonders accomplished by their “Memory -Fluid.” - -Through his book, “Liquid from the Sun’s Rays,” they had gained their -first and only knowledge of their brilliant townsmen’s discovery. -Committees of from ten to one hundred had at various times since reading -the Governor’s wonderful book, besought him to deliver a public address -upon the subject, for their benefit. Invariably he put them off in a -polite way, saying: “At some future time.” Hoping, of course, that they -would weary at his many refusals, and cease to ask for a personal -explanation; that they would be satisfied with reading his work. - -Such was not the case. Persistence on the part of his fellow-citizens -won. - -Now the early morning was alive with the persons constituting the -various committees who were appointed to make the large theatre an Eden -of loveliness; a place befitting the great man who was to address them -that night, and the distinguished guests. The President of the United -States, accompanied by his entire family; ministers from foreign -countries who felt themselves especially favored by their own country in -being granted a leave of absence from their post of duty, and to the -committee of Chihuahuans for the invitation, arrived that morning on a -special train, which was a veritable drawing-room on wheels. This party -was at once quartered at the “Mexican Annex,” a magnificent hostelry, -containing more than one thousand rooms. “It occupies two blocks of -ground; it faces East on the Alameda; it is five stories high, and built -from the ground to the roof, of a greyish-white marble,” said a -prominent member of the reception committee. “The magnificent pillars in -the rotunda and those on the outside, which support the five stories of -open-air promenades around the hotel, are solid onyx, carved in the most -wonderful designs. This famous hostelry is the private property of the -Governor, and is known throughout the States. It is lighted and heated -by a means known only to himself and his two scientific coworkers. In -each room there are several small instruments, curiously designed, back -of pictures which represent, respectively, the face of the sun, -glaciers, and small furnaces. They are of much interest to every person -who visits the magnificent hostelry, yet no one can conceive for what -purpose the curious little pictures are fastened so securely in the -walls and ceiling. By certain mechanical action, a liquid extracted from -the rays of the sun unites with other liquids obtained from the same -source, which is concealed behind each picture, respectively. Then, if -light is desired, a miniature lever is moved which causes the liquid -concealed back of the picture of the face of the sun to unite with -another fluid with the result that a soft, mellow light spreads over the -house, which gradually increases in power until a light of the -brightness required is obtained. On the same principle, if heat is -required, another lever is moved which unites a fluid with another -situated back of the small furnace, and gradually the air rises, balmy -and fragrant like the air on a summer day in a garden of fragrant -flowers after a light shower. The small pictures of glaciers represent -the source from which cold is generated,” concluded the gallant -Chihuahuan. More detailed information as to the lighting, heating and -cooling of the hostelry, were unknown to the reception committee who -were showing the distinguished visitors the many places of interest in -their famous city. - -While they expressed their great delight with the entire city, they -unanimously voted the “Mexican Annex” to be the most magnificent and -beautiful hotel building they had ever seen at home or abroad, and the -most magnificent building they had yet beheld in Chihuahua. - -It was well that the last clause was added, for the committee held in -reserve a greater surprise for them. Those who had never heard of their -auditorium, their great State theatre called “The Goddess,” could -scarcely have imagined in their advanced day even, such a place to have -existed; a place of such great dimensions; of such grandeur; of such -beauty. - -Chihuahua is honored by being the home of thousands of beautiful women, -who are likewise known for their virtue and great intellects. These -women indulge in the amusements,—the popular amusements of the day,—but -never dissipate. - -Many of them help to support large institutions of learning by -practicing various professions for that purpose, and they do not think -they are doing _charity_ either. They contend that they owe their -efforts to the further enlightenment of the age, that _their own soul_ -may grow stronger. There are, on the other hand, thousands of women in -the city, beautiful women who have many of the lighter accomplishments, -who indulge in the most hilarious forms of dissipation. Many of them -likewise move in the most distinguished, intellectual circles. Yet these -very circles are kept down; their progress retarded from the very fact -of the presence of these women; women who have never felt the Divine -power. - -The entertainments given by these women teem with brilliant repartee and -sparkling wit. Wit made sparkling, by the use of high-class wines. - -The advent of so many distinguished people to the capital of their state -was a welcome opportunity for them. All the morning they had paraded -themselves back and forth through the route taken by the reception -committee to best show off the city to their guests. - -Most of them were becomingly attired in fashionable gowns for morning -outdoor wear. They sped along noiselessly over the smooth streets in -their chariot-like carriages, that swayed back and forth in a most -delicious fashion. - -Their vehicles were put into motion by means of the simple effort of -pressing the thumb against a small button set in the center of the -dash-board; and they were turned in any direction by means of a small -lever, which required the slightest effort imaginable to handle. - -These women succeeded in attracting the attention of the President and -his party,—just what they were out for, and were often close enough to -hear the bursts of admiration which unconsciously fell from the lips of -some of the gentlemen of the party who were very susceptible to the -charms of feminine beauty. - -They returned to their homes in ecstasy, to refresh their beauty by an -afternoon siesta and bath; ready to array themselves in their most -gorgeous attire, in the hope of meeting the distinguished visitors at -the banquet to be held immediately after the close of the Governor’s -lecture; to make further conquests, to gather fresh laurels. - -No one in the city was as little concerned over the event about to -transpire as the Governor. Getting his own consent to appear before his -people in the guise of a scientist, of a wonderful discoverer, was the -struggle. It being over he looked upon the prospective lecture seemingly -with no more concern than if he were about to make a Fourth of July -speech. Yet such was not quite the case. He was greatly concerned about -the result of his evening speech. Events had come in quick succession, -since his arrival home; important ones, that dwelt directly upon the -great chain of evidence he and his coworkers were intent upon bringing -to a close, and he was now on the alert. He knew not at what moment to -expect the climax. Strict orders were given the attendants at his home, -that he was not to be molested at any hour during the day. That the day -must be his own for thought. - -The day before, he had caused the child Catalina Martinet, the child who -swooned in the study of the scientist, to be removed to his own home, -where she was placed in charge of his housekeeper. He kept up the most -magnificent private home in the city. Many were the mothers who sighed -as they drove by, for some power to entrap him for their daughters. They -thought it a sin for so beautiful a home to remain without a mistress. -The Governor was not disturbed by any of the sighs or enticing looks. He -pursued his scientific investigations and at the same time he felt that -through them there would come to him a love that would make his life, -his soul, his spirit, a paradise on earth. - -Catalina Martinet seemed to have no remembrance of the strange -occurrence of yesterday. When she awoke from the peaceful sleep into -which Guillermo Gonzales and Julio Murillo had succeeded in getting her, -she was bright and gay. Instead of the careworn child of yesterday out -seeking her living, she looked and acted like the happy child of wealthy -and indulgent parents. She clung to the Governor, embraced him fondly, -and called him “Papa.” All day long he had been communing with self and -silently watching the child, whose every movement was a source of great -wonder and delight to him. - -Dressed in a becoming gown of very fine texture, she alone accompanied -the great man to the theatre. - -The large auditorium of the theatre was full, every seat occupied, and -most all available standing room was filled with the small, but strong -spring seats that came up from the floor by a touch, when required to -help seat the great crowds that thronged to the auditorium whenever the -Governor was billed to address his people. - -Applause after applause went up from the large audience when the person -for whom they waited in breathless silence appeared upon the stage. - -Exclamations of surprise and admiration were heard on every side when -the people saw the pretty child. She sat facing them with the -complacency of a queen, throughout the entire lecture. - -In the large private boxes sat the President of the United States and -the representatives from foreign countries which came with him. - -It was an event of great annoyance to the Governor to find, in one of -the most conspicuous seats of the private box where the President and -family sat, Marriet Motuble. - -On his way to the theatre he had called for a few moments at the Mexican -Annex, to pay his respects to the Chief Executive and the distinguished -representatives of foreign countries present. - -Now he only bowed to them, and wondered how the aggressive señorita made -the acquaintance with the party; by whose invitation she had a seat in -the box. - -He felt his mind wandering and it was with much effort he was able to -concentrate his thoughts upon the subject of his lecture. His discourse -led up in a modest way to “Memory Fluid,” by mentioning the many -discoveries they had made before they began to experiment to find a -fluid, directly from the source of light which would perpetuate Memory -through all time. That while working with the instrument which condensed -the moisture from the sun’s rays to a liquid, they discovered it had a -very strange effect upon whichever one of the three workers who always -conducted the experiments, when the fluid had reached a certain stage. A -generous sample of the fluid at that peculiar stage was put away for -future experiments. In the meantime they perfected their “Heat and -Light” fluid and put it into practical use. - -At this point in the history of their discoveries, Guillermo Gonzales -stepped upon the stage. He was received with a storm of applause. He -returned the greeting with a smile and low bow. The Governor continued: -“My able coworker will show you one of the uses to which we have put -this fluid in our own city.” - -Then while Guillermo Gonzales turned the light off and on, and made the -room very hot, then cool, the Governor pointed to the large picture of -the face of the sun in the center of the ceiling and told them that it -was the source of the artificial light which they saw in the room, and -the heat they felt. - -“Back of the face,” he explained, “is a small glass bulb which holds two -ounces of liquid, which, to make very clear to you, I will call the -Principal liquid. This fluid is used in the production of heat, light -and cold. Extending from the bulb are ten thousand small glass tubes, -through some of which this liquid flows to the center of each miniature -picture of the face of the sun on the ceiling and wall, through others -to the center of the miniature furnaces placed in the four walls of the -room two feet from the floor, and still through others to the small -glaciers which so beautifully adorn the walls twenty-four inches from -the ceiling. In the center of each small representation of the face of -the sun is a hollow glass button filled with another form of liquid -obtained from the sun’s rays, which we call ‘Light Fluid.’ When light is -required in a certain part or in the entire part in any room or hall in -this building, a small lever is moved by pressing a button, conveniently -situated for that purpose, which brings in contact the principal liquid -and the ‘Light’ liquid, with the result you now see; the soft, mellow -light spreading over the room, increasing in intensity until the amount -of light required is had. - -“Heat is likewise produced by causing the principal fluid to unite with -a liquid confined in the miniature furnace, which we term ‘Heat Fluid.’” - -Guillermo Gonzales touched a button, and the room gradually became very -warm; so warm, in fact, that the audience was uncomfortable; murmurs of -complaints were heard on every side. All the dainty fans carried by the -ladies for effect only, were immediately put into use. - -The Governor fanned himself vigorously and wiped perspiration from his -brow. - -“The efficiency of ‘Heat Fluid’ is well demonstrated, my friend,” said -the Governor, addressing the scientist. “Make us cool; this heat is -overpowering.” - -The intense heat gradually gave way to the cool breeze, which the -Governor explained, “was caused by the uniting of the principal fluid -with the fluid called ‘Cold Fluid,’ concealed within the small -glaciers.” - -Every one in the room turned his face toward the ceiling to see the -representation of glaciers, and was greatly surprised to feel the cold -air falling on his face as the heat ascended. - -Cheer after cheer went up from the much pleased assembly. Their delight -knew no bounds. It was the first knowledge they had of the means by -which this magnificent auditorium was lighted, heated and made cool. - -“The strange influence the liquid had at the certain stage before -mentioned,” continued the Governor, “upon us working to bring about -desired results with it in other conditions, gave rise to serious study -of self while under its influence, and further experiments in making the -same fluid stronger. On inhaling some of the stronger fluid we lapsed -into a cataleptic state, and on our return to consciousness each -astonished the other by relating wonderful and strange experiences. And -strange to say, each of us had received the same remembrances of strange -experiences which happened right in this city one hundred and fifty -years ago. When we knew from our own personal knowledge that the liquid -was perfectly harmless and capable of bringing about such wonderful -results, we were determined to experiment upon others, and, if possible, -find out if others had lived at the same time. And if the fluid caused -those upon whom it was tested to recall one certain incident which we -remembered to have occurred in the year 1898. in this city. This new -fluid or liquid we call ‘Memory Fluid,’ and upon others it likewise -worked marvels. They too recalled at once the same incident which we had -recorded in our register. And now our great test case is about to be -closed. The ‘Plunger from Kansas’ has positively been located. All the -evidence of many persons now living who knew him in this town one -hundred and fifty years ago, is about collected. He remembers himself. -Retribution is overtaking him. See! this is his picture. Through a -similar process to the one used in making this auditorium light, another -has been used in producing from memory’s picture-gallery of the past, -the picture you see of ‘The Plunger from Kansas,’ now before you.” - -For an instant a hushed silence fell upon the large audience. Then as if -by unanimous vote they at once cried out in the most tumultuous cheers. - -The cries of: “Down with him, I remember him; he robbed my father in -another life.” “Punish him.” “Catch him.” “Hang him.” “Put him in -prison.” “Make him repent.” “See that his just due is meted out to him.” -“Yes, for he escaped in the other life,” rang out. - -One of the orthodox ministers—Rev. J. T. Note—there are still a few who -hang on to their creeds with the same tenacity that Don Francisco R. -Cantu y Falomir and his few followers do to the ancient customs and -religion of their long-lost and beloved Republic of Mexico; arose and -cried: “The wrath of God be upon such unholy teachings. Oh, God, spare -our great nation, about to be plunged into an abyss of darkness and -despair.” - -When Father Hernandez, the best known priest in the city, cried: “Jesus -and Mary protect us from evil,” Marriet Motuble arose from her -conspicuous position in the box she occupied with the President, and -cried: “Carry that scorpion, the Rev. J. T. Note, out. I know him of -old. He tried to convert the ‘Plunger’ to his faith, to get some of his -ill-gotten gains, no doubt. He was a missionary then, practicing his -arts of conversion in Chihuahua. It is upon him the wrath of the gods -should fall. And that priest, Father Hernandez,” she continued, as her -body swayed back and forth, convulsed with laughter. “That priest, that -priest, he was a voluptuous lout. Oh, the hangers-on he had. Clangity -clang, clang, clang, every fifteen minutes went the bells in the towers -of his ancient church, to call the peons to prayer—to get their -_centavos_. Oh, you viper, you scorpion, get out of here!” - -“Hush!”—came out the clear, distinct voice of the Governor. - -Marriet Motuble sank quietly into her seat, at the sound of his voice. - -Julio Murillo stepped on the stage, and in a quiet, reassuring voice -said: “Eternal Truth, the Sublime Law of Right, will be asserted. The -voice of my mother, Señora Suzzan Carriles, of Colima, cries out for a -resurrection. Through her desire for a new life, for a knowledge of -truth, yonder priest, whom I pity from the bottom of my soul, will see -the folly of his ways, and will desire also to live the life of -spiritual purity.” - -A pitiful cry, “Oh, Joseph, oh, Mary, spare me, spare me!” rang out, as -the priest fell forward. - -He was carried out amidst the cries: “Impostor,” “Give him ‘Memory -Fluid,’” on one side, and “Our kind priest is persecuted,” on another. -“Spare him, ye blessed Virgin Mary!” - -“Jesus y Maria, Jesus y Maria!” cried Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir. -“This is the beginning of the war about to be waged. The sanctified -Catholic Church will win. These blasphemous scientific impostors will -meet their just reward. I knew it would come through the means of the -fake ‘Memory Fluid.’ It is necessary for a vast amount of evil to be -thrust upon man at one moment before he is brought to his senses; before -a much needed revolution takes place.” - -The keynote to his thoughts was struck when he said the word -“revolution,” as it acted like wild-fire upon the wrought-up assembly. - -Progressive women and men arose, and their cries of: “Down with the -revolutionists! Down with the progeny who opposed the noble Diaz!” - -“Drag the scorpion out and cut his wind off,” cried Marriet Motuble. - -The President of the United States arose, and with hands outstretched -toward the Governor, sent forth a silent appeal. This was the first -exhibition of fear noticed during the entire commotion. - -The Governor understood the mute appeal of the head of the nation, -arose, and with a proud toss of his handsome head, spoke in a clear, -high voice: “Captain, let the soldiers enter, and take the disturbers of -peace away!” - -No one up to this time had noticed that the doorways and vestibules -leading into the auditorium were thronged with the city police force and -the state militia. The wise Governor had, through the assistance of his -able coworkers, Guillermo Gonzales and Julio Murillo, arranged thus for -the protection of those present at the first outbreak of the evening. - -The Captain whom he addressed had been in the audience, within close -distance of the Governor, for some time, and only waited for the sign -from him to quell the disturbers. - -At the same moment the auditorium was filled with officers of law, the -boxes occupied by the President and family and other visitors were -completely surrounded with soldiers armed to the teeth. - -Friends of the priest, Father Hernandez, had carried him out the moment -he fell in a faint; others, in sympathy with Don Francisco R. Cantu y -Falomir, ushered him out quickly, so the police restored quiet by their -presence. - -Some nervous sensationalist was so bold as to cry out: “God save the -President! This occasion is for the purpose of getting him here to -murder him. It is the old story repeated. Abraham Lincoln was shot by a -traitor while in a theatre two hundred and fifty years ago. We must -protect our President with our lives.” - -The person who gave vent to this cry was at once put under arrest, and -taken by force out of the theatre. - -Quiet was once more restored and by a few words from the Governor, the -people were assured of protection and that the banquet would take place. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - MRS. GRANGE AND THE PRESIDENT. - - -It was the powerful influence of the minds of the Governor and his able -coworkers upon the people which produced quiet. - -Even the aggressive Señorita Marriet Motuble leaned back in her chair -with a dreamy faraway look on her face. - -The Governor had spoken longer than he intended, and on looking at the -timepiece, which occupied a conspicuous place in the room, he was -greatly surprised to find the hour of midnight. - -The President of the United States dismissed the assembly with a few -complimentary and brilliant remarks, but strictly avoided making any -allusion to the affair just ended, or rather, I would better say, which -had just been quieted; for the scene had not ended, it was only the -beginning of a fearful struggle, which would not end in a day, a week, a -month, a year. - -The committee having the arrangements for the banquet in hand, passed -into the hall, some leading the way escorting the guests who came in -first with invitations, others with those who came in last. - -Everybody felt greatly impressed with some impending trouble, yet each -endeavored to hide his anxiety behind a smile. - -The subjects upon whom the scientists had been experimenting and from -whom such great results had been obtained, were special objects of -interest at the banquet. J. Ecarg looked greatly embarrassed; most of -the evening, however, at times he seemed to lapse into a semi-conscious -state. He only appeared to be at ease and contented when talking to -Marriet Motuble. - -Several times during the evening he was heard to laugh out merrily at -some jest made by her. - -Mr. Niksab was often the center of a large crowd, whom he entertained -with stories of the effect of “Memory Fluid” upon himself and others. - -Occasionally he stole a glance from his eager listeners in the direction -of Marriet Motuble and his friend John Ecarg. He felt a deep interest in -him, and in a measure responsible for the result of his present -condition, of his awakening. - -There were so many people present that it was impossible for each to -meet the other during the evening. All the most prominent citizens were -presented to the President and other invited guests from abroad. The -Governor tried to have a few pleasant words with all visitors and -newcomers to the city. - -Toasts were proposed in which response was made in the most brilliant -and appropriate manner. - -The toast, “Our Beautiful Women,” was proposed by a gallant visitor, and -the Governor was called upon to reply. - -With his usual gallantry he responded. Crowds of beautiful women, many -of whom belonged to the fast set before mentioned, drew near. - -One in particular made herself conspicuous by getting very near the -President and clapping her hands at everything the Governor said—words -complimentary to women. - -She was the wife of a Scotchman who, having failed as an opera singer, -was obliged to try his hand in other lines,—railroading and commercial -fields. Having secured, at a small salary, a place in a railroad office, -with the high title of “Assistant Freight Agent,” he was forced to -depend upon his form, his pretty face and his voice, (which by way of -apology, he always explained, he hoped to recover), as well as his -wife’s winning ways, and her ability to “_act_” in amateur dramatic -performances, for their social position. - -Mrs. Grange made the most of her winning ways. She flirted, and smiled, -and danced and drank wine with every man of position and wealth, who -paid her the slightest attention, and hinted only at such favors. - -In the little game she played she very often came out winner; that is, -winner in a way. She received for herself and husband an invitation for -the next swell function, and often the present of a new gown for the -occasion from her latest conquest, who also assured her that he would -use his personal influence with the president of the railroad where her -husband was employed, to have him retained in his position. Quite -frequently these admirers of hers hinted that through their influence -there was likely to be a raise in his salary. The raise, however, never -came, yet the promise of it did them good; it was something to which -they could look forward. - -It was probably the hope of securing such a promise, by the aid of some -of the famous men present, that Mrs. Grange disported herself so -bewitchingly before them. - -To herself her charms as reflected from her mirror, seemed irresistible, -and it was a source of constant wonder to her why any man failed to -become her victim. - -In her case the formality of an introduction was never necessary. Yet -she realized the prestige a formal introduction gave her, and by -intriguing with those who did not know her arts, she very often was -presented to people of influence by their own friends. She affected a -retiring manner, and made her blushes to order. - -Those to whom she was first introduced thought her a combination of -beauty, modesty and purity, and her entertaining powers superior to -anyone whom they had seen. Her great bashfulness enhanced her ability to -entertain, they thought. The President of the United States certainly -seemed to think so, from the way his face shone with pleasure as he -gazed into her half upturned face, full of blushes that came and went as -she talked. - -The Governor had just concluded his response to the toast, “Beautiful -Women,” which was eliciting a storm of applause. Guests were collected -in twos and threes, discussing the brilliancy of his remarks. - -Some of the gentlemen were discussing which one of the many beautiful -women present would be thought the most beautiful, by the greatest -number of persons at the banquet, if a vote were taken. - -The President wished the woman into whose face he gazed with evident -admiration might be chosen as the queen of beauty, and in a voice only -meant for her ears told her so. - -But Marriet Motuble stood close by and had been an eye-witness to the -little, quiet game of flirtation, which they did not dream had attracted -the attention of anyone. - -She also heard the pretty compliments paid Mrs. Grange by the President, -and at the time most inopportune for them, she stepped closer to them, -and in a tone which carried much satire, said: “A pretty compliment -indeed, Mrs. Grange; but pardon me, please, it was not meant for my -ears.” - -The President was evidently annoyed, although he tried hard to hide his -real feeling, and said: “We, too, Miss Motuble, were discussing the -Governor’s able speech. He paid beautiful tributes of appreciation to -the many charming women present.” - -“Your Honor, that is quite true; he is a great Chesterfield. He knows -how to be gracious to the ladies, _homely_ ones as well as beautiful, -timid ones,” said Mrs. Grange, as she turned her face full of earnest -pleading up to his. - -The President did not reply in words, but the look he gave her, as he -bent his head until it nearly touched hers, was proof enough to Marriet -Motuble that he was afraid to trust his voice. His chest heaved with -tender emotions inspired by Mrs. Grange, and one word would betray his -real feeling. - -On neither of those two did the stirring events just passed, seem to -have left any impression. - -Marriet Motuble well knew the mental calibre of the woman, and was not -in the least astonished to find Mrs. Grange in the affected state she -always assumed when with men. - -“But the President! the President!” exclaimed Marriet Motuble, mentally. -“I cannot understand how the leader of our great nation can carry on a -sentimental conversation with a brainless beauty (?) when the great city -of Chihuahua is in such a state of excitement. There is no telling where -the events just transpired will end. I for one am sorry this terrible -calm is taking place. It seems to me a time of preparation for a greater -shock. He is a great actor if he is mentally disturbed and can so -completely disguise his true feelings. I will test him.”—“Say, -President,” she cried, as she whirled her huge frame in front of the -two, and interrupted the low conversation, “Governor Lehumada is a fine -actor, is he not?” - -“In what way, pray, Miss Motuble?” - -“In the disguise of his real feelings.” - -“He is a heroic actor,” said Mrs. Grange. - -“He is, indeed,” curtly replied Miss Motuble, addressing herself to Mrs. -Grange; then in a complete change of voice, said, speaking to the -President, with her back half turned to Mrs. Grange, “I mean, your -Honor, that the noble man yonder is in a high fever of excitement caused -by the disturbance in the auditorium—for he realizes that it was just -the beginning of a long conflict, the end of which cannot be seen by -mortal eyes. Yet the noble man is able to conceal his feeling out of his -great love for his people, and his desire to have the banquet end -successfully.” - -“You know your people here better than I, Miss Motuble, this being your -home; and pray, do you anticipate any further trouble?” - -“I know the city but little better than yourself, your Honor, except -possibly in the way of remembrance.” - -Mrs. Grange, arousing herself from her passive state, said in a voice -loud and cutting: “A _subject_ of that fluid also!” - -Ignoring her altogether, Marriet Motuble continued: - -“With your Honor’s permission, I do remember many persons present as -having lived in lives gone by. Some here to-night lived in this city one -hundred and fifty years ago.” - -“May I ask whom?” - -“Most truly.” - -“Not I, I hope,” again ventured Mrs. Grange. - -“The child,” continued Marriet Motuble, “lived then.” - -“What child?” inquired the President. - -“Ah, ’tis true, you do not know. What a pity! The beautiful little girl -who sat by the Governor during his lecture. Catalina Martinet. Dear -child!” - -“Can it be possible!” exclaimed the President. - -“Quite true, your Honor. She _remembers_. She died at the age of -eighteen of a broken heart.” - -“How sad,” remarked Mrs. Grange, persisting in trying to join in the -conversation. - -“Was her death the result of a disappointed love?” asked the President. - -“On the other hand,” replied Miss Motuble, “quite the contrary. Her -heart, poor child, was broken when she learned of the cloud under which -she was born—that she was an outcast—a waif. She died in my arms.” - -“Impossible,” exclaimed Mrs. Grange. - -“Not at all,” quietly replied the President. “One is as likely as the -other, while neither is _impossible_.” - -Marriet Motuble continued as though there had been no interruption: “She -died in my arms. I buried her at my own expense in a tomb befitting a -queen. And truly she was a queen. The deed to the ground I built her -tomb on I have in my safe amongst my legal documents. Every word is -legible. I could not bear to think that her precious body, possibly -before the flesh had decomposed, would be thrown out of the grave to -make way for a new corpse, as was the cruel custom in Mexico then. Her -tomb is in a state of perfect preservation yet. I hope soon to finish -this cycle and have made arrangements to have the destructible part of -me, or that part of me recognized by those not initiated, laid away -there.” - -“How interesting. Quite uncanny, though!” ventured Mrs. Grange, as she -peered around her as though expecting to see a ghost. She evidently saw -something; for her face turned very white and she trembled with fright -as she sank into a chair. - -The President saw but paid no attention to her. He was interested in -Marriet Motuble. The story she was telling was a revelation to him. - -She, too, saw that something unusual had happened to Mrs. Grange, but -paid no attention to her, and continued: “I know the child’s -genealogies, of both her past and present existence. She, like myself, -is here for a purpose. There are many who have congregated here for the -same purpose. While the prime cause for the great meeting here was the -same, many great results will be obtained other than the one hoped for -in the beginning.” - -“Can it be that you are here also to aid the scientists in getting proof -to bring the ‘Plunger from Kansas’ to justice?” asked the President, -with much surprise, and showing great interest. - -“Indirectly only. I am here for the direct purpose of finding one whom I -loved in that same time—a young, beautiful woman, whose poverty was the -result of the doings of the ‘Plunger from Kansas,’ and who suffered much -loss financially and great abuse from the slanderous tongues of jealous -Americans living in Chihuahua.” - -“Are you certain that the lady of whom you speak is living now?” asked -the President. - -“It must be true. I feel her presence, yet I have not been able to find -her. She will come. She will come. A young woman, beautiful and -talented. Must I wait much longer? I——” - -Her last remark was cut short by some one calling, in a low, sweet tone: -“Señorita Motuble. Ah, here you are. I have been looking for you for two -hours. I am Catalina Martinet. It was my tomb you had built long, long -ago. You _remember_ now, don’t you?” - -She caught the beautiful child in her arms, kissed her in her passionate -way, and cried: “Yes, dearie, I know you. You are happy now, are you -not?” - -“Oh, yes!” exclaimed the child. “Since I know that justice comes to all, -I am happy. And you?” - -“Dearie, I too am happy in a way. But do not worry about me. Let us talk -about other things. Catalina, this gentleman, Mr. Mortingo, is President -of the United States.” - -“Your Honor, it is with much pleasure I meet you again,” Catalina -smilingly replied. “I remember you quite well. I met you when you were -here before.” - -“Impossible!” exclaimed the President. “Dear child, I was never in this -city before. This is my first visit.” - -“Too bad, he does not remember,” addressing Miss Motuble. Then to the -President she said: “In your _other_ life. I will call the Governor to -give you some ‘Memory Fluid’;” and with a wave of her hand, before they -could realize what she was going to do, she was gone. - -The President’s conversation with Miss Motuble had not been carried on -without many interruptions. While he realized that he was the most -prominent person present, and that he owed part of his time to all, yet -so intensely interested was he in the aggressive Miss Motuble, that he -was determined at any cost to hear her story through. - -The remark of Catalina Martinet was heard by many near by, some of whom -were intimate friends of the President. They now stepped forward and -began to banter him about taking “Memory Fluid.” - -The President took their jests in good part, at the same time avowing -his intention of experimenting with the wonderful fluid. - -While those around the President listened with much merriment to him, as -he related the little incident with the child, Marriet Motuble turned -her attention to the beautiful, retiring Mrs. Grange, who, so far as the -President was concerned, had ceased to exist. - -“This,” she exclaimed, as she held up Mrs. Grange’s lifeless head, “is -an example of coming memory.” - -The President looked at her for a moment in mute astonishment. - -“Oh, your Honor, it is true.” - -“But the fluid, Miss Motuble. Who gave her ‘Memory Fluid’?” asked the -Spanish Consul, who had been an eager listener only for the present -time. - -“I, your most humble servant. I did.” - -“But when and how?” asked the President’s daughter, who just came up. - -“Possibly I would better not say,” Miss Motuble answered. - -“Oh, do; oh, do!” came from all sides. - -“Yes, let us hear, Miss Motuble, how you came to be such an expert in -handling our fluid,” quietly asked the Governor, who came up leading -Catalina Martinet. - -Marriet Motuble dropped the lifeless head of Mrs. Grange on the back of -the chair where she sat, and in a pleading voice said: “Dear Governor, I -must first have your promise that you will forgive me for making tests -of your fluid without the consent of yourself or the great scientist, -Guillermo Gonzales. Don’t tell me, I pray, that I have taken too much -liberty with your great discovery.” - -“On the other hand, Miss Motuble, I am personally delighted that you are -thus experimenting, and I feel confident my able coworkers too, will be -grateful to you for taking so much interest in our ‘Memory Fluid.’” - -“Bravo! Say, gentlemen and ladies, that is the kind of stuff to make -governors out of, and scientists, too. Well, so long as the culprit is -not to be punished, I will confess. While ‘Memory Fluid’ has no odor, a -simple inhalation of it will cause a cataleptic state, such as the state -in which we now find the beautiful (?) Mrs. Grange. When she comes out -of this state, in which she has been about five minutes, she will begin -to _remember_. And if I am not mistaken, she will begin to regret the -life of deceit she has been leading.” - -Catalina cried: “Señorita Motuble, she will remember and yet will be -punished for her ill treatment of me in that unhappy life of mine, long, -long ago.” - -Everyone stood around in breathless surprise. - -Marriet Motuble kissed the child Catalina, standing by her side and -holding in tight clasp the Governor’s hand, and said: “Dearie, she will -remember, and I hope that her first regret will be of her ill treatment -of you. See! she moves.” - -The crowd stood back in breathless expectation. - -Secretly the Governor and the other two scientists rejoiced at what was -now taking place. It was the realization of a long-looked-for -opportunity. A public exhibition of the effect of “Memory Fluid” and the -proof of its harmlessness. - -“She moves again,” came in subdued tones from some one standing by. Much -the same effect seemed to be produced upon those witnessing the scene, -as would take place if Mrs. Grange had been dead and they were waiting -to see her return to life. - -“She moves again,” said the Spanish consul, stepping closer. “The fluid -has caused no change in her complexion, and her circulation is very -little wrong,” he concluded, as he let her wrist drop, but gazed with -evident admiration into her face. - -He tarried a little too long. She opened her eyes, and finding a strange -face so close to hers, exclaimed at the same moment as she threw out her -hands and pushed him away: - -“The impudence of you, you ill-bred scamp!” - -“But, madam,” said the President, “it was his anxiety for your return to -consciousness that caused the consul to be peering into your face.” - -“Your explanation is satisfactory, President. But are you not mistaken -about me having been unconscious?” - -“In a certain sense, madam, you were,” replied the Governor. - -“But, you _remember_, do you not, Mrs. Grange,—Aunty Inez?” asked the -child. - -Mrs. Grange sprang to her feet. “Have I been living a dream all of my -past life, or am I now dreaming?” - -“Neither, dear madam,” replied the great scientist, Guillermo Gonzales; -“neither, madam. You are simply confused with the remembrances of two -lives.” - -In an abstracted manner she took the hands of Catalina Martinet in her -own, and gazing intently into her face for a moment, said: “It is the -same child. The other life is plain to me now. Am I to be punished? I -did ill-treat her then; I did. But spare me, spare me!” She pleadingly -called out to some invisible person. Turning her face away from the -child, she looked straight into the laughing face of Marriet Motuble, -who said: - -“I thought it would come, Sister Grange. In fact, I knew it would come.” - -“Such torture,” she cried, turning from first one to the other, “such -torture; save me, save me!” - -“We cannot do that, dear madam; we have no such power. You need have no -fear. It is the awakening of your soul, and only good can be the final -result,” said the Governor. - -“Your words only harrass me. There are so many here to chide me for my -unjust treatment of the child there, in that other life.” Spying a new -face close by, she fairly screamed: “What, you here?” - -Everybody turned to see who it was that caused the half crazy -woman—crazy with guilt—to cry out so, when a queenly young woman stepped -forward and said: - -“I certainly am sorry my presence has created such an uproar. Ladies and -gentlemen, I now apologize.” - -“Have you ever met the woman?” asked the President. - -“Not in this life, your Honor.” - -“She remembers me, though,” said Mrs. Grange, “and I her.” - -“If that be true,” said the Governor, “present me, dear madam. I have -not the honor of her acquaintance.” - -As Mrs. Grange sank into a chair she put her hands over her eyes, as if -to hide from view of every one, and said: “Your Honor, the lady was -Helen Hinckley, in that time long past,” then sank into her former state -of unconsciousness. - -Helen Hinckley, with a pleasing smile, advanced with outstretched hands -to the Governor, and in her charming voice, said: “By which name I have -the pleasure to present myself to your Honor now.” - -The Governor took her two beautiful hands into his own, and as he looked -into her open countenance, and beautiful eyes, he realized that at last -he had met his fate. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - THE PRESIDENT SURPRISED. - - -It was the intention of the Presidential party to spend one day and -night in Chihuahua, and to leave the following morning before eleven -o’clock for Saltillo, where they would spend a few days visiting her -large and famous educational institutions, of which the United States is -justly proud. - -But instead of carrying out the plan for the tour, he sent a message, -saying his visit would be delayed, to the president of the most renowned -of the ten schools, which had made the beautiful city of Saltillo, away -up in the Sierra Madre mountains, five thousand feet above the sea -level, the envy of all pedagogues all over the East and North. The hub -of learning was no longer said to be in the old, puritanical town of -Boston, as was credited to it a hundred and fifty years ago. - -A strange shifting of scenes had taken place, not only in the fall of -Boston from its educational pedestal, but in the shifting of the axis of -the earth, changing the positions of the poles, and creating in -different parts of the world a different climate from what had been in -years gone by, as well as different animal, vegetable life and mineral -deposits. - -The great school, “For Hidden Thought,” of which Francisco de Urdiñola -was president, was the institution of greatest note in Saltillo, and the -only one of its kind in America. It was to the president of this -University that the President of the United States sent a message, -saying that the date of his arrival in Saltillo would be delayed. - -President Mortingo had a short conversation with Governor Lehumada at -the close of the banquet the previous evening, in which the President -declared his intentions of becoming a “subject” the following day, to -see if he could fathom the mysteries of the evening. - -He made an appointment also to meet the child, Catalina Martinet, at the -Governor’s home, at nine o’clock, after which meeting he would go to the -studio of the scientist, Guillermo Gonzales. - -As the President sped through the beautiful streets of Chihuahua, from -the Mexican Annex, to the palatial home of Governor Lehumada, his -thoughts travelled with surprising rapidity from one occurrence to -another of the last evening. - -He had never taken life seriously, and notwithstanding the fact that he -had thought last night that the “Memory Fluid” possessed an uncanny -element, he laughed to himself now, and declared the whole scene was an -uproarious comedietta, in which he was about to present himself before -the public as the buffoon. He chuckled at the thought of the prominence -from a new point of view it would bring him, by submitting himself as a -subject for the great scientists to further experiment upon. He had -always been ambitious to shine before the public. He was chosen -President of the United States, not because he was a great politician, -or a man who had distinguished himself in the service of his country; -quite the contrary. He came by chance, as it were, into the presidential -chair. He had great wealth and good nature combined, and he allowed -himself to be _used_ by his friends. It was a great plum he had secured -by being good-natured, and his face constantly glowed with evident -satisfaction. - -The two great political parties had ceased to agree amongst themselves, -and on the eve of the great national election a black horse had been run -into the ring and won the race. - -Each party was glad the other had not won the race, and each felt -assured that the _black horse_ would not prove a serious stumbling-block -to the many projects each party hoped to accomplish by the election of a -man from its own party. - -Far beyond the most sanguine expectations of the people, he had proved a -benefactor. His good-nature, coupled with his desire to do no one a -wrong personally, and produce all the good possible to the nation, was a -balm to the hurt minds of the two defeated parties. - -All of these things Mr. Mortingo knew very well, and reflected over them -now with much satisfaction. It was the pleasant things of life he was -seeking, and he had his full share. He accepted all favors shown him, -even those from persons whom he knew to be enemies, and whose object in -showing him courtesies was for the sole purpose of gaining some -political favor or social prestige. He smiled as he stepped from the -carriage, and thought of the sensation the step he was about to take -would make upon the people. - -Governor Lehumada received him in his wonderful drawing-room, with the -respect due his position, and at once presented the child, Catalina -Martinet. She curtesied prettily and gave her tiny hand to the -President. He kissed her bright face and asked her to sit on the chair -placed by the one he was to occupy, and to excuse him one moment. Then -he drew his arm through the arm of the Governor, and as they walked a -few steps away, said: “Your Honor, does the child know I have come to -see her?” - -“She does not, sir; at least she does not know by being told. I have, -however, a feeling that she divined you were coming, and that you would -talk to her upon the subject of a past existence,” replied the Governor. - -“I am sorry she suspects the object of my visit. I am afraid the mere -fact of it will make me incredulous of her statements,” said the -President. “However,” he continued, “what led you into the belief you -have just stated?” - -The Governor walked a few steps further away with his friend, and in a -lower tone said: “The child has taken a great fancy to me, and -notwithstanding the fact that I tried to persuade her not to call me -‘papa,’ she persists in so doing. She is a child a man in any position -in life would be proud to claim as his own, yet being a bachelor I feel -a certain timidity in being addressed as ‘papa.’ Now to answer your -question, what led me to suspect that she knew you would call this -morning and the object of your call as well? While I was taking my -breakfast she ran into the room, and after throwing her arms around my -neck and kissing me fondly, she exclaimed: ‘Dear papa, dear papa, the -great man will be here presently; I will run to the house I used to have -for a home, and get the philopena he gave me in the other life. I -promised to keep it always, and I want to show him I still have it. Then -he will remember.’ - -“‘Is the President coming to see _you_, Catalina?’ I asked. - -“‘Dear papa, you _know_ he is; may I go for the philopena now?’ - -“‘No, child,’ I replied, ‘not now; but if our President comes and wishes -to see the philopena, you may go for it.’” - -“Oh, thank you; thank you. Do let the sweet child go at once,” said the -President. - -“Do you want me?” cried Catalina, starting from her seat toward them, as -they turned around to call her. - -“We certainly do,” replied the Governor, as he caught the happy child in -his arms. “We certainly do, do we not, President?” - -The President looked at the two for a moment in mute astonishment, then -replied: “We do want you, dear, but how strange!” - -“I wear the philopena, President; you remember it, don’t you?” - -The Governor looked at her questioningly, to which she replied: - -“I slipped away, papa, just for a moment, to get it. I knew the -President would want to see it;” with that she handed him a curious coin -suspended from a small silver chain. - -“What is it?” asked both men, as they examined it curiously. - -Catalina looked serious as she replied: “He does not remember. It is -speiss, a five-cent piece, you gave me for winning the second game of -checkers I played after you taught me how. You said you would never see -it again, for I would give it to the priest some day when I went to -confess; playing checkers for a philopena.” - -“This is an old coin,” said the President; “it is dated 1898.” - -“And the day we played the game is cut on it also,” said Catalina. - -“A date is on it—December the seventh. But who put it there?” asked the -President. - -“Why, you cut the letters on it, your Honor,” Catalina replied, “with a -little pearl-handled knife. I have it also. You used many big words to -me then, but I remember them all very well. Do you remember what you -said the priest might do with the knife, if I were not a good girl?” - -“You forget, child, the President does not remember; but tell us about -the knife,” said the Governor. - -“Do; I am all curiosity,” said the President. - -“It is a big word you used,” said Catalina, “and if you do not remember, -I will have to tell you what it means. You said if I were not a good -girl, the priest would perform phlebotomy upon me.” - -“We do not know—explain, child,” said Governor Lehumada. - -“He meant, the priest would open a blood-vessel, and all of my blood -would run out,” laughed the child. - -“But were you so bad that I had to be constantly reminding you of the -fact?” asked President Mortingo. - -“I was not bad then,” said the child; “it was only after I knew of the -disgrace of my birth that I got to be disagreeable and bad. It is now -time for you to take ‘Memory Fluid’ from Señor Guillermo Gonzales. I -will tell you about other things when you remember. I am now going to -meet Helen Hinckley in the Alameda.” She shook hands with the President; -kissed the Governor fondly, and with the air of a queen swept from the -room. - -“How strange,” said the President; “a child and a queen in one;” while -Governor Lehumada, with a smile on his face, murmured: “Helen Hinckley, -my long-lost love, found at last, at last. Would that I, too, could -hasten to her.” - -The President heard the Governor’s confession of love, but gave no sign -that his secret had been betrayed. “With your permission, Governor, I -will go at once to the studio of Señor Guillermo Gonzales. I wish to -become a subject immediately, the child has enthused me very much; in -fact, I never believed it possible for any one to arouse my curiosity to -such an extent.” - -At that moment Señor Guillermo Gonzales was shown into the drawing-room, -and as he greeted the President, said: “To keep the matter of you -becoming a subject very quiet, I came at a suggestion just received from -the Governor, to administer the ‘Fluid’ here.” - -“How considerate,” said President Mortingo. “I really felt a little -delicacy in going to your laboratory. Let the experiments begin now, I -pray you. I really am getting nervous over it. I hope I will not be -affected, on my return to a conscious condition, as was poor Mrs. Grange -last night.” - -“Have no fears, President; it is not likely you committed any evil deeds -in a life gone by for which you will now suffer remorse. Your presence -in this life is no doubt due to the fact that you desired -knowledge—desired to reach the highest plane, without any waste of -years.” - -“That is most likely,” said the Governor. “Friend Gonzales is quite -right. To avoid any further delay, please follow me into my private -study. As soon as the ‘Fluid’ is administered, I will leave you with -Señors Gonzales and Murillo, until the period we desire is reached. Then -I will return. A matter of great importance has come up recently, within -the last hours, which I wish to attend to personally.” - -“You are quite excusable, Governor, quite excusable,” replied the -good-natured President. He thought he knew what the “important business” -was that had recently come up, to which the Governor wished to give his -personal attention. - -His vein of humor produced a hearty laugh from the three men besides -himself in the room when he received the small glass containing “Memory -Fluid” in his hand, and holding it aloft, said: “I drink, oh, thou Great -Revealer, to the health of all my present enemies and friends, to all -friends and enemies I had in those lives I am supposed to have lived -ages and ages ago! Oh, thou Muse, bring me Memory, that I may know -myself now as I was then! Was I then a mule driver, or a bootblack in -America; a _mozo_ in Mexico, or an Emperor of Germany?” - -He sipped the tasteless liquid and lapsed into silence. - -Guillermo Gonzales nodded to Governor Lehumada significantly, and the -Governor at once made his exit. - -He hurried to his dressing-room and began to make some changes in his -toilet. Satisfied with himself from the reflection he saw in the mirror, -he rang for the coach, and while waiting for it to be announced, -exclaimed: “The greatest moment in my life has come! Dearest Helen, thou -wilt be mine! You must! You shall! I have lived sadly through one -existence searching for you, and several times during this life I have -been on the very verge of despair because I could not find you—and I -would have despaired, were it not that even in a past life I knew a -power would be given to me to discover an element from Nature which -would be instrumental in bringing you to my arms. The insincerity of -humanity has, since the beginning of time, caused more heartaches and -trouble than any other one thing. To the great Creator I certainly give -thanks for the germ of sincerity he sowed in my breast, and the proper -nutrition he placed there to make it grow. There, Juan says my coach is -ready; I must hasten to meet my love.” - -With a sweeping glance at his mirror, he hastened out of the room and -down the long stairs. On nearing the drawing-room door, Juan said: “Your -Honor, a señorita awaits you in the drawing-room.” - -The Governor took the large white card from the silver tray his man held -out to him, and with a look of dismay upon his face, read aloud: “Miss -Marriet Motuble.” “A very great disappointment, dear, dear Helen. When -will I ever have another opportunity to see you? It is unjust for me to -feel this way. I will enter at once, and not keep the señorita waiting. -Juan, tell Miss Motuble I will be in at once.” - -While Juan entered the drawing-room Governor Lehumada removed his gloves -and hat, and was glad to have the opportunity to collect himself, and -when Juan reappeared, he asked: “Do you see any signs of displeasure on -my face?” - -“No, your Honor; your face is as serene as the morning sky.” - -“Thanks, Juan. It is another victory. Take my hat and gloves, and tell -the coachman to go to the Alameda. The child, Catalina Martinet, is -there; should she desire to use the conveyance, take her wherever she -wishes to go. Tell him to say to her that I had started for her, and at -the last moment was disappointed at being unable to go,” whispered -Governor Lehumada, into the ears of his trusty man. Was all the long -message sent to the child meant only to be delivered for her ears? - -“Certainly not,” mentally remarked Juan. “I kind of have a suspicion -that there is something more than ‘Memory Fluid’ bothering the Governor -for several days; but then I am only Juan, and not a great Governor, -author and scientist. I will experiment one day, if I can, and help to -solve the great problem of life. I wonder if it is probable that the -Governor has fallen in love with some beautiful young woman? I will find -out, if it can be done. I will from this moment camp on his tracks, and -when I have a chance I will _slip_ some ‘Memory Fluid,’ for I has a -notion in my old head that I lived before. I has a notion that Mr. -Niksab and J. Ecarg, were known to me somewhere, long, long ago.” He -smiled to himself as he went out to give the Governor’s orders. - -On his return to the house he stationed himself conveniently near the -drawing-room door, so close that every word uttered by the aggressive -señorita was heard by him. - -When Governor Lehumada entered the drawing-room, he felt very much like -a schoolboy who had been punished for not wanting to enter the parlor -and be pleasant to callers. He was ashamed of himself, and tried to make -amends for his actions by being more gracious than was necessary. - -Miss Motuble mistook his gallantry and great hospitality for -demonstrations of love, and after greeting the object of her affections, -she sank into a chair close by, much overcome with emotions. She -believed she had won a conquest. She was unable for some minutes to -speak. Her face became red and white by turns, her breast heaved with -great convulsions, while her hand trembled so violently that she had no -power over the fan she was trying to move. - -The Governor saw the condition she was in, and from the bottom of his -heart he pitied her. The object of _his_ heart’s desire affected him -much the same way when he saw her. “But I need no sympathy,” he argued -to himself, “for my love is reciprocated; my Helen is mine, and I am -hers. It is the law of the inevitable. It could not be otherwise. Miss -Motuble,” he continued, “is there any way in which I can serve you this -morning? Can it be you are not well?” - -The tone in which he addressed her, more than what he said, was the -tonic Miss Motuble needed. She failed to hide her irritation, and -sitting erect in a moment, her face, crimson with rage, said: “How can -you serve me this morning? I need no assistance whatever, sir. I am -neither in need of money or advice; on the other hand, I came to proffer -certain valuable information I have recently obtained. I ferreted it -out. I admit it cost me considerable time and expense, but I learned of -the scorpion’s movements, as well as his entire pedigree. I have it all -here—the written statements of many who knew him. He was not an opera -singer in the life long past; he was a vocalist in a missionary choir, -and he wafted his dulcet tones high and loud every Sunday for the -edification of the congregation which, by the way, was very small. I -know them all, the scorpions. Then to think I came here to tell you of -my remembrances and the many written statements I have from others to -aid you in your great experiments, and am approached by you as the -aggressor, the one to whom a favor needs to be shown. No, Governor -Lehumada; no, sir, I will not tolerate any such impudence even from you. -I will not further state the object of my call. I now have the pleasure -to bid you good morning.” She arose to her feet, and with one turn of -her huge frame had swept past the Governor. - -She had spoken so fast and so fiercely, after she came out of the -half-crazed condition into which her great love and passion had thrown -her, that the good Governor knew not what to do or what to say to quiet -her. As she passed into the hall he called to her: “Miss Motuble, I pray -you, my good young lady, to stay, if only for one moment. You do not -understand me. I certainly am clumsy in my expressions. Dear miss, -pardon me; if you have inferred a discourtesy by any remark I have made, -pray, forgive me. You are a source of great wonder and delight to me, -and carry a fund of valuable information.” He approached her, as she -stood near Juan panting like a tiger at bay, and gently laying his hand -upon her arm, said: “I am forgiven, am I not? I certainly never -intentionally offend anyone, particularly a woman.” - -She turned her face, full of shame and regret, to him, and with tears in -her eyes, said: “Dearie, I am so lonely; you do care for me, don’t you? -It is not true, as I suspected, that your whole love is centered in -Helen Hinckley. Is it, dearie?” - -With that she threw her massive arms around his neck with such great -force, that his body swayed to and fro like a babe in the paws of a -lion. - -With her head on his shoulder, she sobbed: “Dear, dear Miguey, my -dearie, forgive me for mistrusting you. I was frenzied with what I -thought unrequited love. Great Revealer of Light, I thank you for making -me see my mistake.” When her petition was ended she loosened her arms -from around his neck. Governor Lehumada sank helplessly against the -wall, and Juan sprang forward and exclaimed: - -“Your Honor, the señorita has choked you.” He supported the Governor, -and addressing Marriet Motuble, said: “You are accountable, miss, for -the helpless condition of my master. You seem to remember too much.” - -All the time he had spoken to her, his back was turned. Now, facing the -place where she had stood, he said: “I take charge of the house, now -that my master is unconscious, so, you git!” But to his great dismay she -was gone. - -He rang for help, and soon the Governor was lying comfortably in his own -bed. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - A CONFESSED CRIME. - - -Governor Lehumada did not faint, nor was he in the least injured by the -passionate embrace of Miss Motuble. He was speechless from surprise -only, and he allowed his men to assist him to his room, realizing that a -few moments of quiet for reflection was what he needed. - -He assured Juan that all was well, and that he wished to be alone for a -few minutes. Juan shook his head as though he had many misgivings, and -quietly left the room. He walked slowly down the hall in deep -meditation. He wished that he were off duty, so he could follow the -strange señorita. He went into the yard and gazed wistfully up and down -the street, in the hope of seeing her. Heaving a sigh, he turned to -enter the house again, and murmured to himself: “It must be the evil in -the fluid that is causing the trouble.” - -Some one startled him from his reverie, by saying: “You are his Honor’s -man Juan, are you not?” - -“I certainly am,” he replied. - -“I was told to give you this letter, and request of you to give it to -his Honor at one o’clock this afternoon sharp.” With that he handed Juan -an official-looking envelope, and hurried away. - -Juan turned the large letter over and over, and read the address on the -back, several times: “To His Honor, Governor of Chihuahua.” “Humph! -Well, for once in my life, I wish I was ‘His Honor.’ I would make quick -work of seeing on the inside of this letter. Association with these -scientists has caused me to be a man of much thought. I, too, have great -ideas. I know a thing or two. Ha! ha! It does not take a scientist; a -Governor or a President, to know that ‘His Honor’ is in love, or that -there is pending (he straightened himself up and smiled at the big -sentence he was framing) a fearful calamity, and the greatest violence -of it will fall upon this town.” - -At that moment the child Catalina ran up to him, and said: “Oh, Juan, -let me go to him at once. He is in great trouble; the town has gone -wrong. Juan, guard his Honor night and day. Do not let anyone enter the -house without his knowledge. Watch for Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir. -You know him, do you not?” - -“The great Don,—ha! ha! I do know him, señorita.” - -“And the priest, Father Hernandez?” - -“Him, too, _niña_. I tell my sins to him every week,” said Juan. - -“Oh, Juan, how can you?” - -“Because, _niña_, I am still a Catholic. It is not popular to be, I -know; but so long as ‘His Honor’ knows I am, and still keeps me in his -service, I will be true to the religion of my fathers.” - -“His Honor is too wise and too great a man to interfere in anyone’s -religious beliefs,” said Catalina. - -“Yet he is a man, and loves,” quietly remarked Juan, with a twinkle in -his eye. - -“He does love. His is a great love; it extends over all humanity. Had -you lived before, Juan, and _remembered_ it, you would understand,” -replied the child, with deep pathos in her voice. - -Juan laughed heartily, and said: “Pardon me, _niña_, but what can a -_child_ know of another life? If ‘Memory Fluid’ makes _señoras viejas_ -out of _niñas_, it is not good. What would homes be without the innocent -coo and laughter of babies?” - -“I am happier now than before I remembered, Juan. It is because you do -not understand what it is to _remember_, that makes you say such -things.” - -“Maybe so; maybe so, _niña_, but Juan is glad he does not _remember_.” - -“My dear _hombre viejo_, you must _remember_ what I told you about Don -Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir and the priest,” cried Catalina, as she ran -into the house. - -“Good-bye, Juan; watch out for the minister, J. T. Note—the Rev. J. T. -Note, as he calls himself, and his followers. He is also a foe to -progress. Guard him, Juan; guard him well. No harm must come to his -Honor.” - -Juan’s reply was upon his lips, but the charming child was gone before -he could voice it. He looked curiously at the big envelope in his hand, -and while reading the address again and again, disappeared into the -house. - -No sooner had Juan and the Governor’s other man left him alone, than he -arose from the bed upon which he was reclining and walked back and forth -rapidly in an abstracted manner. He was a man who prided himself upon -his personal appearance, and now as he stopped before the long -plate-mirror and surveyed himself he said: “Dearest Helen, is there -anything in my manner of dress, my gait, or tone of voice that -displeases? If so, I will rectify it to suit you. I cannot see myself as -you see me; oh, my love, that I could! Oh, for the power to see into the -future as I now can look into the past. Ye wise and everlasting Force, -grant me the boon of greater knowledge. All I get will be used for the -uplifting of humanity. I feel the presence of a great force in our -midst, which will bring about a change; a change so wonderful that were -I to prophesy, no one would believe me. Each would declare that the day -of miracles is past. Poor, deluded creatures, there will nothing happen -which will be of a miraculous nature. Simply the natural results of the -present condition of affairs will take place. The mere fact that -President Mortingo submitted himself as a subject, to further -demonstrate the use of ‘Memory Fluid,’ will hasten the change. We must -be prepared to meet it. We must be able to preserve peace at home and -abroad. I must not defer ’till morning to tell my fears to the heads of -departments.” He stepped to an ivory tube by the side of his great -mirror, and said, speaking through it: “Convey to the head of each -department the following: - -“‘Prepare for trouble. Try to avert it. Help me generate a great soul -wave, that we may quell the disturbers of peace and enemies of progress -without force or bloodshed. If trouble comes, it will be by the brewing -of Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir, Father Hernandez, Rev. J. T. Note, -and the husband of Mrs. Grange, who is assistant Freight Agent of the -Chihuahua Air Motor Railroad Company, at this city. If he joins the -peace disturbers it will be in an underhand way. He has not the courage -of the other gentlemen just mentioned. The prime movers in any trouble -that may arise will be the three first mentioned. Others will join them. -Many well-known and prominent citizens, who writhe in envy at the -success of our administration, because the one in which they figured was -a failure from more points of view than one, will be glad of the -opportunity to join the rebels and to assist in a cause against us. Not -because they believe in the leaders, Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir -and faction—not by any means—it is because they are our enemies and wish -to make us trouble, to create discord, to overthrow our rule. No blood -must be shed. We do not care to repeat the old story. The theories we -advocate and practice must not be thrust upon humanity at the point of -the bayonet. In ages gone by, the Christian religion was carried into -all lands, the sword in one hand, and the cross they wished to implant, -in the other. There must be an awakening of the spirit of God within man -first. It never comes by force. Love is the upbuilding of the race. It -grows within the breast of man after its awakening, and spreads its -perfume all around, like a beautiful, fragrant rose in a well-attended -garden. Remember, force must only be employed to protect the lives and -property of our citizens, should an uprising occur. That is all the -instructions I care to give. Adios, gentlemen.’” - -At the moment he ceased talking, Catalina Martinet entered the room, -unannounced. “Dear papa,” she said, “I thought I never would find you.” - -“But you succeeded. Come, tell me how you enjoyed yourself in the -Alameda,” replied the Governor, placing a chair by his side for the -strange child. He felt a delicacy in asking about Helen Hinckley, yet he -secretly hoped she would speak only of the object of his heart’s desire. - -“Oh, your Honor, it is about what I heard at the Alameda I came to see. -First, does J. Ecarg repent? Is he doing any good now?” said Catalina. - -“I have secured an excellent position for him. He works early and late, -and has not been known to frequent any low places of resort since he -first took ‘Memory Fluid.’ He has certainly repented of the great wrong -he did you in your previous existence, as well as your mother. A -criminal at the bar of justice could not feel any greater remorse of -conscience than he now does from the mere fact that he in nowise gave -aid to your support or to your mother’s. He now wishes to help you.” - -“I cannot have help from him; my soul is yet sore. Dear papa, Helen -Hinckley, the most beautiful and the truest of women, is to adopt me.” - -“Bless her,” cried the Governor. “That is a happy thought.” - -“She says that Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir and followers are -excited very much this morning. Hundreds and hundreds of people have -been there to-day to see him. She was asked, late last night, after the -banquet closed, to spend the day away from the house, but to return not -later than eight o’clock to-night. Before she left, those people began -to come. She believes their object is to formulate plans to overthrow -the state rule. She fears your life will be in danger. She asked me to -say to you to use every precaution to avoid evil,” concluded Catalina. -She seemed to possess the very soul of Helen Hinckley. - -The Governor looked into the face of the beautiful child, and as he -wiped a mist away, that seemed to gather in his eyes, said: “This is the -return of love. I am contented. She loves me now, I am certain. All is -well; all is well. It could not be otherwise in the end. Truth is -everlasting; it endureth forever and forever. In the end it triumphs. -The waiting for the end often seems an eternity. Without the one I love, -every day is as an eternity. The end is near at hand. Yet before it -comes, a fearful struggle will take place. Thou great One, from whom all -light comes, bear witness to my integrity of purpose.” - -The Governor spoke aloud and gesticulated much, yet he was unconscious, -seemingly, of the fact, or that he had company. A slight knock at the -door stopped his soliloquy, and glancing around the room in a confused -manner, he discovered the child sound asleep upon the chair on which she -sat. “Poor little darling; after all, you are a healthy, natural child. -Exhausted from last night’s dissipation, nature demands her rights, and -is now getting them. If my Helen has adopted you, dear, you are mine, -too, I will be your papa after all.” He kissed her fondly on each full, -red cheek, and quietly opened the door. - -It was Juan who was seeking admittance. He stepped quickly into the -room, after looking up and down the hall nervously, and closed the door. - -“Your actions, Juan, are strange. Explain,” said the Governor. - -Juan stood shaking and speechless, and glaring with wide-open eyes at -Catalina. - -“What is it, man, what is it? Why do you stand gaping like a man from -whom all reason had fled? Come, good man, be natural. I cannot lose my -old friend. Come, come, sit down; I must do something for you,” -entreated the Governor, getting very nervous. The only sign of life Juan -had shown since he entered the room, now appeared. He raised his long, -gaunt hand, and pointed with his index finger to Catalina. - -“Ah!” exclaimed the Governor. “You are surprised to find the sweet child -here. She is no cause for your being so frightened. Come, Juan, explain -yourself,” he entreated, taking his old servant’s arm. - -“Your Honor,” he whispered, “she is not a child—she is a woman, and a -ghost-woman at that.” - -“Nonsense; nonsense, man. Now I am afraid of your reason. She is very -much of a child. See how soundly she sleeps, and the glow of health upon -her cheeks,” the Governor replied lightly, notwithstanding the fact that -he felt slightly annoyed by the strange actions of his man, as well as -his remarks concerning the child. - -“She may be a child, your Honor, but she prophesies. And I am afraid of -people of her size, who make prophecies that come true.” - -“Explain yourself, Juan, explain yourself; do not talk in riddles. What -did the child prophesy?” - -“It was this way, your Honor. You remember I carried her in my arms from -the carriage into the house, when you and her came home from the banquet -last night?” - -“I certainly do,” assented Governor Lehumada; “also how surprised you -were to find her wide-awake, instead of sound asleep.” - -“I was, your Honor; but was more surprised when she whispered in my ear, -and said: ‘Juan, I saw the “Plunger from Kansas” to-night.’” - -“‘Who is he?’ I asked. - -“‘Have you not heard of him, Juan?’ - -“‘No,’ I said. ‘Does he plunge in a Kansas river?’ - -“‘Oh, how stupid. No, he does not _plunge_ at all now. He made a big -_plunge_ about one hundred and fifty years ago—but not in a river—oh, -no, not in a river. You are a funny man, Juan; but then, you do not -_remember_.’ - -“‘Yes, I do remember much; but not anything about this man who -_plunged_, and not into a river, one hundred and fifty years ago. Say, -chile, you is dreaming, honey. Come, Juanita will put the precious -_niña_ in bed.’ I led her to the housekeeper’s room, and as we went, she -said: - -“‘You are funny, Juan. I am awake, not dreaming. You will see the -“Plunger from Kansas” to-morrow.’” - -“‘How will I know him when I see him?’ I asked. - -“‘Oh, he will come to this house to see Governor Lehumada in the -morning, and when he gets here he will say: “You are Juan, the -Governor’s man? Is his Honor in?” and when you say he is, the ‘Plunger’ -will reply: “I came to see him, but I will not call this day. Please -hand him this, with my compliments,” and he will hand you a package.’ - -“Well, he did come, and he did say just what the child prophesied, and -he did give me this package, your Honor. Take it, please. I am afraid of -it. The devil is let loose, as certain as fate. And I think this fluid -you tell about in your great book, is the cause of so much trouble.” - -The Governor had an interested and amused smile on his face as he opened -the package handed him by his man. - -“You are no doubt quite right about the book I wrote, and the public -demonstrations and proofs we have given of the results of our great -fluid upon matter and mind, being the cause of so much trouble. On that -score, Juan, you are right. But there have been no evil results, and -there will be none. But what is this? Look, Juan, look; who is this the -picture of? Don’t be mistaken, man; don’t. Be sure you speak correctly. -Have you seen the face before?” - -“My sight is not good, your Honor. It’s failing,” replied the frightened -man, getting further away from his master, out of pure fear. “My sight -is nigh gone, your Honor.” - -“Can it be? Can it be the face of the one I loved? Of the one I now -love?” - -“It is Helen Hinckley’s picture, papa, taken in that life long gone by,” -cried Catalina, grasping the Governor’s hand. - -“Child, how do you know? You have not seen it.” - -“Oh, I do know, I knew last night he was going to bring it. I heard him -say so at your lecture last night. He _remembers_, you know. He is -trying to palliate the wrongs he did in that day long gone by. He is -afraid that retribution will overtake him, that he will be reduced to -poverty.” - -“Did I not tell you, your Honor, that she was no child. That she is a -ghost a-talking like a grown woman philosopher,” ventured Juan, edging -nearer the Governor, while he glared at Catalina as if she were a spook. - -“Be sensible, Juan. Be sensible. I do admit, however, that the child is -a wonder even to me; that she has a power of speech that would be the -envy of many a collegian. But she is a child of flesh and blood, -nevertheless, and a wonderful creation, too,” concluded the Governor. - -Catalina put an end to further remarks by him, by saying: “What is it, -dear papa, written on the back of the picture?” - -The Governor turned the photograph around, and said: “To be sure, child, -there is something written on it. It is very dim. One moment—I will use -some of our restorative liquid, and then read it.” - -In the center of his bedroom stood a beautifully carved rosewood table, -on which was a magnificently beautiful piece of sculpture. It -represented a little girl, about eight years old, distributing the olive -leaves from a branch which seemed to be always full. The Governor placed -his hand fondly upon the head of the statue, and at the same moment held -the back of the photograph over the mouth of the marble representation -of the child. A vapor spread over the pasteboard, yellow and stained by -time, and in three seconds, every word written thereon stood out in bold -relief. - -He read aloud: “My baby girl, Helen Hinckley, July 3d, 1898. Boston, -Massachusetts. Age, eight.” - -“The same, the same,” replied the Governor, his voice full of emotion. -“But it does not tell me enough! How am I to know that this was brought -here by the ‘Plunger from Kansas.’” - -“On the paper in your hand,” said Catalina, “is a message from the -‘Plunger.’” - -“She is no child, I say,” cried Juan, his knees fairly shaking with -fright. “With your Honor’s permission, I will go out of the room. That -child is too much for me.” When he opened the door to leave, Governor -Lehumada called: - -“Juan, I will not repeat what I have said to you, twice before within -the last few minutes. The child is of flesh and blood as ourselves. -There is nothing uncanny about her; so I command you to remain in this -room until I dismiss you.” - -Catalina looked up pathetically into the face of the Governor, and said: -“Don’t scold him, papa; he does not remember.” - -The Governor pressed her hand, and kissed her rosy cheek time and again. -“You are right, sweet child. I should not be harsh with Juan. He does -not remember,” he kindly replied. - -“How much is written, papa dear?” - -“To be sure, child; I have not read what is written on the paper. This -is a strange handwriting also. It reads: - -“‘The photograph was given to me by the father of the child, Honorable -E. Willard Hinckley, in his own home in Kansas City, August, 1898. That -very day I got more than one-half million dollars from him, and gave him -as security a mortgage on fifty thousand cattle I never owned. In less -than sixty days he was a bankrupt; in ninety days he was dead; his wife -and child were penniless and homeless. Despite the long number of years -which have passed, that photograph has been preserved in a way nothing -short of a miracle. Five times have I put it on the burning coals; three -times in black, muddy water. Out of each it came unsullied. Out of a -superstitious fear I resolved to keep it, to preserve and guard it with -the same care as one would an ancient heirloom of untold value. It has -ever been a thorn in my side. In that life one hundred and fifty years -ago—the time I made my memorable plunge in cattle, the thought that I -could not get rid of the picture of little Helen, drove me wild with -rage. It was in a fit of frenzy, brought on by not being able to destroy -the picture, that made me take my life. I was then in South America. My -wife had perished in an epidemic shortly before, and no one knew just -what destiny befell me, “The Plunger from Kansas,” and no one but those -whom I had wronged, cared. Before committing the deed that sent me out -of the body to try to find relief, I sent a large package to a relative -in Kansas. Amongst the things it contained was the picture. Thus it was -preserved in the great iron safe in which various documents and family -curios were put for safety. On my return to earth after an absence of -half of a century this photograph fell to my part of the family -keepsakes. And while in that life I never knew its history, it always -filled me with fear and trembling when I saw it. At the age of -thirty-five I passed again out of the physical body—and lay in a state -of unconsciousness for fifty-six years. I was awakened by a voice which -seemed to say: “Helen is here. Have you no desire to rectify the wrongs -you did her in that life long since passed away?” I did not understand, -yet I prayed to be allowed to live, that I might be better and wiser. -And I was born again. Fortune favored me from my birth. I was born to -wealth, and the faculty I have of acquiring it is a wonder to many. I am -now twenty-eight years old, the same age I was when I performed the feat -in cattle-plunging. I bring you this photograph with the strange feeling -that to you it belongs, and when it is securely in your hands, the -dreadful nightmare the sight of it gives me, will leave me. This town -has a fascination for me, of which I cannot get rid. I feel nervous, as -I did one hundred and fifty years ago, when I was here a refugee, -whenever I see an armed officer of the law, or a strange face that gives -me more than a passing glance. Retribution, you say, is going to -overtake me. If the law can get me, handle me; but to use a slang phrase -of the nineteenth century, I will close by saying: “Catch me if you can; -but I think I am too _swift_ for you in this life, as well as I was -then.” - -“‘I am, your obedient servant, - - “‘THE PLUNGER FROM KANSAS.’” - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - MARRIET REPORTS HERSELF DEAD. - - -The Governor heaved a sigh when he had finished, as if a burden had -suddenly dropped from his shoulders. - -“How long since he gave this to you, Juan?” - -“About fifteen minutes before I entered this room, your Honor.” - -“Did it take you fifteen minutes to get up the stairs?” - -“I am an old man, your Honor, but am yet spry. When the Plunger left, I -was called to your private study, where Señor Guillermo Gonzales wished -to speak to me. If your Honor cares, I will tell you everything he said. -First, he sent a message to you, which I have not had an opportunity -until this moment to deliver. He told me to say to you, that though the -President has returned to consciousness he desires to be left alone that -he may write a full account of his past, provided he _remembers_.” - -“Very well, Juan,” replied the Governor. “I will not interrupt his -Excellency. And as for you telling me _all_ the scientist said to you, -there is no necessity for you telling anything, except the message you -have just delivered.” - -“Since the ‘Plunger’ came, I feel it my duty to tell you that Señor -Gonzales cautioned me to guard you closely; to allow no one to pass into -the house without you knowing the person and giving your consent. That -trouble is brewing in the city, and your life would be threatened,” said -Juan. - -“It is certainly kind of him and others to be so interested in my -welfare. I am least concerned about my own safety. I have a strange -presentiment that I will not be harmed. It is the safety of the people, -the great multitude around us, Juan, about whom I am concerned. Rest -assured, good man, I will protect my people, no matter what the cost.” - -“But, dear papa, the people would not be able to protect themselves, if -you were gone. Dear papa, do not court danger,” cried Catalina. - -“That child! She makes me afraid, your Honor. I wish she were more like -my own little granddaughter,” said Juan, stepping closer to the marble -statue and further from the child. - -“Poor man,” said Catalina, “he does not _remember_. He is afraid of me, -is he not, papa? How strange that anyone is afraid of a little girl.” - -“It is strange, dear; but Juan is an old man and has never taken ‘Memory -Fluid,’” replied the Governor. “Juan, I will remain in my room with -Catalina. Serve us a luncheon here promptly at twelve-thirty, one hour -hence. I have a presentiment that I will be seriously occupied about one -o’clock. Tell the _chef_ to prepare a luncheon for two persons, in a -manner befitting his Excellency, and send it promptly at half-past -twelve to my private studio.” - -“Yes, your Honor,” he replied, with a low curtesy, as he left the room, -while he mentally exclaimed: “If I am not a fool, he will be _seriously -occupied at_ one o’clock. The big letter I have is to be delivered to -him at that time. I wish it were _one_ now; I want to get rid of it. It -seems to be burning a hole into my body. I thought I would ’speriment -with ‘Memory Fluid’ this morning. But now I will do nothing rash. I will -let the past rest, so far as I am concerned, until I see the result of -the present unsettled state of affairs. In the meantime I will take the -matter of being a subject under grave consideration. If I was just ten -years younger, strangers would take me for a great scientist. At sixty -it is difficult for a man to take on new ideas.” Juan had not been -commenting aloud, consequently was very much surprised by hearing the -familiar tones of Julio Murillo saying: “Don’t bother about your age, -Juan. You will live again, if you desire; then you may be a very learned -man.” - -Juan did not reply, and the great scientist’s assistant went on. - -With his head low upon his breast, frightened and trembling, Juan -hastened to the kitchen. - -Governor Lehumada and Catalina were reclining in large, comfortable -chairs in the room where Juan had left them. The Governor in deep -meditation, the child thumping upon the arm of the chair with a small -stick, and singing softly, the words, “Be it ever so humble, there is no -place like home;” and the exquisite tone in which they were sung caught -the ear of the Governor and unknown to the child, he watched her -intently until her song ceased. - -“Those words, Catalina, sound strangely familiar to me. Is it a new -song, or an old one revived?” he asked. - -“It is an old song, your Honor,” replied the child, as she curtesied -prettily to him, in the same manner she did the day she came to the -State House to sell her flowers. It was only a few days ago, yet it -seemed to the Governor that a year or more had passed. In fact, the -child had grown to be so great a part of his life that it seemed -incredulous that she had ever lived elsewhere. - -“Where did you learn it, dear?” asked the Governor. - -The child was startled at first, and looked frightened; then, throwing -out her arms, she rushed to the Governor, crying: “For a moment I was -the Catalina of long ago. I was unhappy. I had ceased to remember myself -as I now am. I thought I was the poor Catalina of disgrace and despair -whom the President taught to sing that song so long ago. He sang it to -me the night he left for ‘the States,’ in the other life that I knew -him.” - -“Was he kind to you, dear?” asked the Governor. - -“Indeed he was, papa; kinder than any man had been. Sometimes he vexed -me greatly. I did not understand him, and he was a constant tease.” - -“He was an American tourist in Mexico then, was he not?” asked the -Governor. - -“He was an American, I am quite sure; but I do not think he was in -Mexico for pleasure,” replied Catalina. - -“Possibly not,” commented the Governor; “at that time many Americans -were coming to Mexico to prospect. He no doubt was a mining man.” - -“I do not think so,” confidently replied Catalina. - -“No? What idea have you then, child?” - -“He had much money to spend, and every time he came, and he came often, -he gave me money; sometimes food and clothes. My mother washed for -several people who stayed at the big white hotel facing the principal -plaza. He knew this, and whenever he came he questioned me about these -people—he wanted to know what I saw in their rooms. I always went with -my mother to help her carry _la ropa limpia_ home. I had a sharp eye and -usually saw everything in view in the room,” she replied. - -“I cannot understand,” replied the Governor, “why he questioned you -about what these people had in their rooms. He must have been consumed -with idle curiosity.” - -“He asked me,” continued Catalina, “if I could bring him the ‘_phiz_’ of -a certain man, who with his wife stayed at the hotel.” - -“The _phiz_? What did he mean, child?” - -“_I_ did not know then, and told him so, and he said: ‘Well, I will tell -you what I mean by a phiz.’ He took a pencil and note book from his -pocket, made a few strokes on the paper and handed me a picture of -myself. ‘Oh, no.’ I said, on seeing what he meant, ‘I cannot make -pictures.’ He left the house, saying he would be back in one-half of an -hour. He came as he promised, and brought a little black box, which he -said was a _camera_. He showed me how to use it, and I consented to take -it with me the next time we went to carry _la ropa_ to the hotel, and -take a picture of the man and woman, also one of the room. I did so, and -here it is. Also my phiz.” She handed the pictures to the Governor, and -while looking at them intently, he said: - -“Can it be possible, child, that this is the picture of the great -counterfeiter who operated in Mexico for so many years, and whom I -delivered into the hands of the United States authorities? It is, it is. -I _remember_ him well. And this, dear child, is your ‘phiz,’ is it? It -is not unlike you now. But you were older then than at present, were you -not?” - -“I was older. I am eight now, and I was eleven when that was made.” - -“Mr. Mortingo, the President of the great United States of America,” -laughed Governor Lehumada, “was a secret service man in the year 1898. I -remember him well. He was a jolly, generous chap, and on coming to -Chihuahua I remember the remark he made when he first called upon me. He -said: - -“‘Uncle Sam has sent me down here to catch some birds who are in your -city. They are molding and shoving the queer.’” - -“Yes,” said Catalina, “that is what he kept telling me—that they were -‘shoving the queer’”—to which the Governor replied: - -“I understood very little English at that time, but the official -interpreter put it into the best Spanish he could and I at once saw the -point. The Americans were much given to the use of slang then, much of -which had a singular fitness. I committed the phrase to memory and never -forgot it. Let me see the other picture; the interior of the room.” - -The child handed him the picture, and pointing to a certain place in it, -said: “There is the lump of silver they were chopping up as we went in. -In the kettle over the fire is lead.” - -“Ha! ha! ha! ha!” laughed the Governor. “That is very interesting to -know. I wonder what will be the feelings of the President, should he -remember?” - -“I have several packages of spaghetti he gave me to use on feast days. -He showed me how to cook it. We learned to like it so well, he declared -that my forefathers were Italians. And sure enough, my mother began to -hunt up old family history, and she discovered that her -great-grandmother was an Italian noblewoman,” said Catalina. - -“Child,” replied the Governor, “you have always been something more to -me than an ordinary child, a child of entirely plebeian birth. The mere -fact of your wounded pride on learning that you were born out of -wedlock, that broke your heart and caused your untimely demise, proved -the question of your blood to be other than plebeian.” - -“I do not cry any more now, over the past,” said Catalina, “for I -believe in the righting of all wrongs. It is worked out by Nature and -Nature’s help to man.” - -“Come, child, my little philosopher, kiss your papa; kiss me fondly. A -strange fear is crowding over me,” he said, holding out his arms to her. - -She did his bidding with much fervor, and whispering in his ear, said: -“Juan is coming with our luncheon. I will open the door.” - -The faithful old man entered and set before them a dainty meal, and -stood quietly back of the Governor’s chair while he ate heartily of the -food. The meal was quite contrary to the usual customs of the -household—that is, without any conversation and with much dispatch. - -The Governor arose when he had finished, looked at his watch, and said: -“It is now one o’clock. Juan, remove the dishes, and take the child to -the housekeeper.” - -“Yes, your Honor,” replied Juan. “Here is a letter I was told to give -you at one o’clock.” - -The Governor took the letter, and kissing the child fondly, said: “Go -with Juan, dear, and tell Juanita you need to sleep.” - -As they were leaving the room, she said: “I am sleepy and will take a -nap—but will show you the way to Marriet Motuble, when you go.” - -“A strange child,” mentally commented the Governor, as he tore the -envelope open. “As if I intended to call upon Miss Motuble, the massive -giantess; the aggressive señorita. No, no, Catalina, dear, sweet child, -you are a wonder in many ways, but this time you are mistaken. Dearest -Helen, would that I could visit you! What, what is this?” holding the -letter he pulled out of the envelope at arm’s length. “What is it?” - - -“I, Marriet Motuble, nearing the end of my third existence,” he read, -“wish you to bear in mind the following: that by the time you have -finished reading this note which I have ordered to be left with you at -one o’clock this very day, I will no more be a mortal. By my own hands -will the great chasm which separates the physical from the spiritual of -man be reached. Such an act has been recorded, since the beginning of -time, as a crime against the great Creator as well as against self. Be -it further known that I, Marriet Motuble, this moment confess to my many -faults, the greatest of all my sins to my mind being my pretensions to -having been a subject of ‘Memory Fluid,’ or of having remembered a -previous existence. I only made this pretense to ingratiate myself into -your favor, knowing your great belief in your wonderful ‘Memory Fluid,’ -to make you return my great love. My labors were in vain. I am, on the -other hand, repulsive to you—so I this day, at one o’clock, make an end -of this earthly existence.” - - -The Governor looked at his watch. “Ah!” he exclaimed, “it is one o’clock -this very moment. Can it be that she is now taking this step? What can I -do to prevent this mad act? I will send her a message—where does she -live?—I have not the faintest idea. I will have Juan inquire.” - -Juan appeared almost instantly after the Governor’s call. - -“Do you know where Miss Motuble lives? The lady, I mean, who called here -early this morning?” asked the Governor. - -“No, sir, I do not,” replied Juan, eying the Governor curiously. - -“Find out, immediately. If necessary, employ a detective. I must know if -there is any possible way of finding out.” - -“I will do my best, your Honor, my very best,” replied Juan, as he left -the room, shaking his head dubiously. The Governor followed him to the -door engrossed with his own thoughts. - -“Juan,” he called, “here one moment.” - -Juan returned and looked questioningly into his face. - -“Go to my private study at once, and say to Señors Guillermo Gonzales -and Julio Murillo to do me the favor to meet me here this moment, if -they have the leisure. With dispatch, Juan, with dispatch.” - -“Yes, your Honor,” replied Juan, as he hurried away. - -Such a request had never been made to the scientists before, and without -any delay they hurried to the Governor, curious to know the object of -the call. - -The door leading into the room was wide open, and as they entered, the -great author of “Liquid from the Sun’s Rays” stood in the middle of the -floor re-reading Marriet Motuble’s letter. He greeted them warmly, and -without any delay said: “I have received a very strange letter—no -stranger, however, than the person by whom it is written—the aggressive -señorita Marriet Motuble.” - -“Marriet Motuble!” exclaimed both men in a low voice. - -“Your surprise cannot possibly be greater than mine,” replied the -Governor. “Please reserve your surprise for what I will read you. In -fact, I am inclined to believe most anything, if what I have read of -this long letter be true. I am yet in ignorance of the nature of the -remainder of the letter. Be seated, friends, and I will start at the -beginning.” - -The three great men sat down in a circle, and when the Governor had -re-read the first part of the letter and various comments had been made, -the Governor began reading where he had previously left off: - - -“I repeat that I, Marriet Motuble, this day at one o’clock will make an -end of my present earthly existence. Farewell, farewell, my adored one, -farewell. Although my great love for you was not reciprocated in this -life, I will live again and again. In the next life I hope to have -sufficient power to compel love to grow in your heart, in your great -noble breast, for me—for me alone. - -“My life is not lived upon the highest plane, for I long for revenge; -for revenge upon the one you adore. Her name is upon your lips at this -moment, and you breathe a prayer for her protection. Beware! if I have -the power, her downfall will come shortly. She upon whom I wish for -revenge to fall, is Helen Hinckley. And I am the one who adores you. - - “MARRIET MOTUBLE.” - - -“That is not all,” said the Governor, “but before I read this, which is -entitled, ‘A Matter of Business,’ I will ask you what I would better do -in regard to the case. It seems so perfectly absurd that anyone would -kill himself for such a foolish reason. I cannot imagine one loving -another for whom he knew the other had no regard.” - -“Love,” replied the great scientist, “is a strange thing. It goes out -toward the object of its desire, prompted by no other motive, it would -seem, than to do the will of the person upon whom it is lavished. Miss -Motuble has my sympathies, most certainly, because she is in error. What -she terms love is a misnomer. However, we must investigate. If self -destruction has not taken place, we must use every means known to -science to prevent it.” - -Julio Murillo was walking back and forth, as was his custom, his hands -clasped tightly behind him, intent upon what was being said, and forming -his own conclusions. - -“Have you no suggestions to offer, friend Julio?” asked the Governor. - -“Yes, your Honor,” he replied, facing the two men; “I would suggest that -you do not let this matter annoy you in the least. Miss Motuble will -never take her own life!” - -“You speak so positively, I am encouraged. But what makes you think so, -friend Julio?” - -“The reasons he will give, Miguey, will be scientific ones, and you can -rely upon them,” said Guillermo Gonzales, as he embraced Julio and said: -“Tell us upon what grounds you base your statements.” - -“I am at this moment,” replied Julio, “_en rapport_ with the bewitching, -aggressive señorita. She is half reclining in a beautiful lounging-robe, -on a couch so rich that Cleopatra would have envied it in her days of -splendor. Now she lifts a goblet to her lips and cries: ‘The drink of -the gods! What a joke it is to play upon the credulity of the Governor. -What the result will be when they search for me and find me peacefully -taking my siesta, instead of being no more a mortal, no more of clay, I -cannot say. Ha! ha! If I cannot secure his love, I will create an -uproar. I will be prominent yet before I die. I will crush the life out -of all the scorpions around here. I will, I will!’ She now falls over -amongst her pillows embraced in the arms of sleep.” - -“If there is no doubt about what you tell me, I will certainly hold this -young woman accountable for her little confidence game. I have sent Juan -to find her address. Should he succeed in finding it you will accompany -me to see her,” said the Governor. - -“You must go in disguise, your Honor, as a physician; we three will go -disguised thus. It is not necessary to wait for the return of your man. -I know perfectly well the place where she now is,” said Julio. - -At that moment Juan entered the room, panting and frightened. “Your -Honor,” he cried, “I employed a detective; he has this moment returned -to say that Miss Motuble is dead by her own hands. Her body was laid, -less than an hour ago, in the old private family vault of the Motubles.” - -“Everyone knows the place. It was there the child Catalina Martinet was -buried,” cried the Governor. - -“The detective’s statements are false,” said Julio Murillo. “I mean he -has been misinformed. Someone may have been placed in the Motuble tomb, -under the name of Marriet Motuble, but the real person is alive and is -as strong to-day as anyone of us three.” - -“Juan,” asked the Governor, “are you sure no mistake has been made by -you in repeating this message?” - -“I am sure, your Honor, and I am sorry Señor Julio thinks she is not -dead,” said Juan. - -“How inhuman!” exclaimed Guillermo Gonzales. - -“Maybe so, your honor; but women who make men afraid should die.” - -“You have strange ideas of getting rid of annoyances,” said the -Governor, trying to hide a smile. “I will ring for you, Juan, when I -need you again.” - -Juan was getting intensely interested in the affair on hand, and was -secretly congratulating himself that he would hear everything; -consequently, was very much crestfallen when the Governor very politely -invited him to leave the room. - -“That part of Miss Motuble’s letter which relates to the deception she -practiced by pretending to have been a subject of ‘Memory Fluid,’ is -false also; there was no pretension about it. She actually came -disguised as a drunken man, and entreated me to give her ‘Memory Fluid.’ -Her figure was a splendid disguise, but her actions and voice betrayed -her sex to me. By no sign from me did she ever know that I had -penetrated her disguise. She certainly is a strange mixture of God’s -creation—a strange mixture,” concluded Julio. - -“I know of no case as interesting as hers, unless it is the case of ‘The -Plunger from Kansas,’” said the scientist, Guillermo Gonzales. - -“You are correct, my friend,” said the Governor. “As soon as I finish -reading Miss Motuble’s letter, or I would better say letters—this one is -entitled, ‘A Matter of Business’—we will disguise ourselves as doctors -and ferret out the mystery of the tomb, after we convince ourselves that -she is alive. She used a different tone in writing this: - - -“‘TO HIS EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR OF CHIHUAHUA: Be it known that on the day -which shall from henceforth be known as “Memory Fluid Day,” that I, -Marriet Motuble, being an attentive listener to the lecture, and a guest -at the banquet, where all I saw and heard consumed me with interest, and -where the following plot I overheard, which I now relate to put you on -your guard—that I may show to you my great appreciation of your -wonderful discoveries and the great love and esteem in which I hold the -lives of my fellowman. The words that first attracted my attention were -spoken by Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir, well known to yourself, to a -man who wears the garb of a priest, Father Hernandez by name. He said: -“The nefarious works of this man Lehumada, a man of purely Mexican -origin, whom we elected to fill the highest office in the hands of the -people of Chihuahua, has betrayed the confidence imposed upon him to -such an extent that it now behooves us to put our shoulders to the wheel -and stop the downward run he is hurrying us to perdition. The -time-honored institutions and customs of our once great and beloved -Mexico have fast disappeared. And now it is left to one of our own race; -one of our own dear Mexican blood, to pretend to discover a liquid which -will restore and perpetuate memory to be used to get evidence of crimes -that poor souls are said to have committed in lives gone by, that they -may now be brought to justice. There is no telling how far these -accursed doings will be carried. It will not stop at the trial of ‘The -Plunger from Kansas.’” The priest replied: “Your story I will spread far -and wide. I will raise an army from amongst the priests, and our -followers and our sympathizers. Money will buy a great following who at -present are seeking work, and have no scruples. To these people I will -paint the intentions of the present makers of ‘Memory Fluid,’ as black -as midnight. I will have our own priesthood falling by countless -thousands into a yawning abyss—filled with the blood of our own -downtrodden. Complete organization is absolutely necessary. That can be -done in this city within twenty-four hours. Through our secret code we -will advise our sympathizers over the entire continent of America of our -intention. They will be ready to come to our assistance at the moment of -our call. The first step we will take in this city to-morrow night, when -we hope to arrest and put to death the three instigators of this great -evil that seems to be spreading over the entire continent. This is the -beginning of a long and bloody war which will be waged between Free -Thought and the dogmatic teachings of the churches. Particularly do I -hope for the re-establishment of the ancient and time-honored -institution of our long-lost Mexico.” The two men arose, embraced each -other, and hurried away to spread their evil intentions amongst their -followers present. If this information proves a warning to you, I will -be greatly repaid for the slight service I have rendered you. May the -great Power above guide you safely through the conflict about to be -waged between Scientific Thought and those wedded to the creeds of the -churches—to the dogmatic teachings of every denomination and society on -the face of the earth. - -“‘Your aider and abettor in all your scientific investigations in this -life and those other lives we will live together in the future, yours, -through all time, - - “‘MARRIET MOTUBLE.’ - - -“A strange woman,” said Governor Lehumada, as he folded the letter and -placed it within the envelope. - -“There may be much truth in her statements. We have received many -warnings since nine o’clock this morning, about this same affair. I hope -we may be able to avert it,” said Guillermo Gonzales. - -“It cannot be done,” came the emphatic prophecy of Julio Murillo. “So I -beg of you to waste no time. Trouble is gathering thick and fast on -every side. Let us prepare our disguise at once and hasten to the tomb -and to Marriet Motuble.” - -The two men left the Governor to prepare a disguise, and Juan entered to -assist him. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - A DAY OF CONUNDRUMS. - - -In thirty minutes the Governor and his two scientific friends disguised -as physicians, stepped into a private cab propelled by air. - -Julio Murillo gave directions to the motorman to take them through the -streets slowly to the Mexican Annex. - -The cab was circular in form and around it extended a glass window which -magnified everything seen through it from the interior of the cab, while -from the street nothing in the interior of the cab could be seen. - -Governor Lehumada leaned back amongst the comfortable cushions, by the -side of Señor Guillermo Gonzales, and engaged him in conversation, the -coach gliding noiselessly through the street the while. - -Julio Murillo sat upon the high observation stool in the center of the -circular cab, where he saw, through the window near the top of the cab, -everything in the streets through which they passed. - -Occasionally he gave directions to the motorman, who was comfortably -seated in the center of the top of the cab, through the speaking tube, -to turn in this direction and that direction. Three-quarters of an hour -had passed since they left the Governor’s mansion, and still they were -winding in and out from one street to the other, and yet they seemed to -be no nearer than they were at first to the Mexican Annex. - -The two men talked unceasingly and were not in the least disturbed by -not reaching their destination. They had never known Julio to do an act -without being able to give a good reason for it, and now they did not -question his object in taking them through various streets, back and -forth, instead of directly to the hotel. - -The cab came to a stop in front of a large drug store. - -It being the physician’s cab belonging to the Governor’s mansion, and on -account of its peculiar construction, it attracted much attention -wherever it went. - -The motorman descended from his conspicuous seat and entered the drug -store to fulfill the orders of Julio Murillo. - -“Friends,” said Julio, when their cab had come to a standstill, “do me -the favor to watch closely out of the window. A curious little play is -going to take place in front of this store within a few minutes.” - -“With much pleasure, friend Julio,” replied the Governor, as the two men -arose to look out of the window. - -“The All-Wise has been kind to you, my compatriot, to give you the power -to read the thoughts and know of the actions of those around you,” said -Señor Guillermo Gonzales. - -“I am grateful, my friend, for all the progress I have made. Get in tune -with Nature and her mysteries you can read. The divinity of Her force, -Her influence, can be felt by all,” replied Julio seriously. - -“What a strange looking man is now entering the drug store—that big -swaggerer there to the right,” said the Governor. - -“Yes, to be sure,” said Señor Gonzales. “He makes me think of one of -those ancient Northmen sailors, or a big, raw-boned Irishman of more -recent days.” - -“What a strange gait he has,” remarked the Governor; “there is something -familiar about the fellow. I wonder if I have met him before.” - -“Yes, your Honor, you have met _her_ before,” said Julio. - -“Her?” exclaimed his companions in a breath. “Her?” - -“Yes, you both have met her. That person is no other than Señorita -Marriet Motuble, the lovesick maiden of less than two hours ago, who -claimed to have committed suicide because her great love for you was not -reciprocated. Watch her closely. I will put on the _sound condenser_; -then we can both see and hear what is going on,” said Julio. - -“Who is the man, with whom she is talking?” asked the Governor. - -“Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir, your Honor,” quietly answered Julio. - -“He also is in disguise, then. What can be the meaning of all of this, -Julio?” questioned the Governor. - -“Your questions can be answered more definitely when I turn the lever of -the sound condenser,” said Julio. “Every five minutes one of the tubes -is filled and ready, when the lever is turned, to repeat every word -spoken within ten feet from the center of its radius. The five minutes -is up. Watch the two while we listen, and we can more fully comprehend -the meaning of their conversation.” - -Julio turned the lever, and the three scientists heard the following -conversation, Marriet Motuble being the first to speak. - -“It is pathetic to know that one so young and so fair would take her own -life. She is the young woman, I believe, who is private secretary to the -well-known Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir, is she not?” asked Marriet -Motuble, as she puffed a cigar in regular man fashion. - -“If the person is Marriet Motuble,” said Governor Lehumada, with much -concern, “why does she ask such a question?” - -“It is a ruse,” replied Julio, “to find out something about the young -lady to whom she refers. She is exceedingly fond of Miss Hinckley, and -at the same time insanely jealous of her. What is it her companion is -replying?” concluded Julio. - -“No doubt Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir would be glad if such were -the case. He believes, I understand, that this young woman will be the -means of much domestic unhappiness and outside trouble, unless that by -means other than his own she can be induced to leave his employment. -This blue-blooded Mexican is a royal friend of mine, and I will take it -upon myself to offer one thousand dollars _in gold_ as my friend would -say. You know he has never yet acknowledged Mexico to be a part of the -States. Yes, I will pay one thousand dollars in gold to the person who -will induce Miss Hinckley to leave my friend’s employment.” - -“Indeed,” replied Marriet Motuble. “I wish I knew the charming lady. A -fellow could not easier make one thousand in gold, and perhaps get the -lady as well. Say, sir, it’s settled, I’ll get her away. Have this -cigar, and let’s go in and have a large glass of the old popular drink -of the ancient Mexicans to celebrate the blue blood, the royal Mexican -blood, of your friend Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir,” said the -aggressive señorita. - -“Improbable it seems to me that the person can be a woman,” said the -Governor. - -“Hard to believe, yet as true as fate,” replied Julio. - -“Thanks,” replied Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir, taking the proffered -cigar; “with your permission, we will drink to the royal blood of my -friend a little later.” - -“As you please,” replied Marriet Motuble. - -“First,” said her companion, “let me introduce myself. Jose M. -Martinez—my card, please. Of Mexican extraction also, you see.” - -“Ah, I see the connection—a sympathizer. Well, well, this is royal blood -too, and mighty glad I am to know you, Señor Martinez. Let me present -myself. Leo Leander—my card, please. I also pride myself upon my -lineage. I am a lineal descendant of the Northmen. But it is not family -genealogy we are here to discuss,” replied Leo Leander. - -“You are right, Señor Leander; yet it fills one’s bosom with pride to be -able to trace blood.” Getting very close to him, he continued: “I’m sure -your sympathies are with my friend in the uprising in which he is about -to be the instigator. Can I trust you? You seem to be such a royal -fellow.” - -“I do not quite comprehend you, my friend; but if you or your friend are -in trouble, command me. I am your most obedient servant,” said the -pretender, Leo Leander. - -“I am content,” said Mr. Martinez; “‘_muy contento_,’ as my ancestors -would have expressed it. Now, friend Leander, this is the point I wish -to make. Miss Hinckley must be gotten away from the house of my friend -before nightfall. She knows too much about his reverence for the ancient -customs of his long-lost Mexico. She must be gotten rid of—do you -comprehend?” - -“I grasp your meaning, I am quite sure. Leave her to me; I will put her -beyond the sight of mortal eye.” - -Mr. Martinez shook his hand warmly, and said: “There is one thing more, -then we will drink the health of my royal-blooded friend, who, I hope, -soon will be your friend also. The author of ‘Liquid from the Sun’s -Rays’—that accursed fluid which they claim restores memory—and his -would-be scientific associates, must be killed before morning. We are -determined to have a revolution. We are determined to rend this part of -the country, so long known as Mexico, from the rule of the United States -of America. We are assured now of a following of ten thousand from each -State that was at one time a part of Old Mexico, or the Republic of -Mexico. You know the history, do you not, of that long-suffering, brave -and downtrodden people? We wish to sever our relations from the people -who united us to them without our consent.” - -“We certainly do,” said a voluptuous man who had been standing close by, -an attentive listener. - -“Ah, old fellow, here you are,” exclaimed Mr. Martinez, in true -democratic style. “On time to the second. Let me present you to my -friend Señor Leo Leander, Don Enrique Arellano.” The two men shook hands -cordially, and Don Enrique Arellano embraced him after the fashion of -the nineteenth century Mexicans. - -The three men in the cab turned from the scene in front of them, and -gazed in astonishment at each other. - -“What deception they are playing,” said Julio. “The fellow introduced as -Don Enrique Arellano is none other than the priest, Father Hernandez. - -“Is it possible?” cried the Governor. - -“This is a strange affair,” said Señor Guillermo Gonzales; “a strange -affair.” - -“The priest is talking,” said Julio. “We must not lose a word he says.” - -The three men again turned their faces toward the street, and listened -intently to what was being said: - -“I caught my friend’s last remarks as I came up,” said the man -introduced as Don Enrique Arellano. “We must sever the existing -relations between the country known as the Republic of Mexico, long, -long years ago, and the United States of America. We are determined to -re-establish the Republic.” - -“And how are the latest reports?” asked Mr. Martinez. - -“I have been assured the support of every bishop in the states that once -were a part of long-lost Mexico.” - -“Our power—I mean the power of the Church, as wielded in the -nineteenth-century Mexico, is only known by reading history,” said Mr. -Martinez. - -“I see where you are correct, my friends. The relations must be severed. -The civil law must be revised. It is sad, sad, sad to see the poor, -downtrodden priests, poorly fed, poorly dressed—those, I mean, who have -to depend upon the church only for support. They struggle bravely on and -uncomplainingly, hoping and praying, no doubt, to regain the long-lost -power they had over the people during the life of Pope Leo XIII.” - -“Quite true;” replied Don Enrique Arellano, wiping a tear from his eye, -“quite true. Then the priests were clad in purple and fine linen; then -they received fifteen dollars for every marriage ceremony they -performed—now only one; then the many feast days brought them thousands -of _centavos_; now they are so few that the increase in the church -treasury is hardly perceptible. The people are too much enlightened in -the ways of the evil world, and not enough in the ways of the church, -or, I would better say, this Government does not teach them -submission—there is no head. Each goes his own way; each thinks for -himself; hence the priest has lost his power, and I say it must be -recovered,” vigorously concluded Mr. Arellano. - -“Let us drink to the health and wealth of the priests, and to the -recovery of your long-lost Mexico,” said Leo Leander, evidently hoping -to spring something new on them. - -The three actors passed into a bar near by, out of sight of the three -scientists in the cab. - -“So much has transpired since we stopped in front of this drug store, it -seems to me that it must be night,” said the Governor. - -“On the other hand,” replied Julio, “the time is only ten minutes later -than the moment we arrived here.” - -“Shall we proceed to the tomb of Marriet Motuble?” asked Señor Guillermo -Gonzales, with a smile. - -“When the two return,” said Julio, “we will get some more information; -then we will start.” - -“You say we will start. Will something prevent us from reaching the -place, Julio?” quietly asked the Governor. - -“We will reach the tomb, but not for several hours yet,” he replied; -“and now I must have the motorman return to his seat. We must be -prepared to follow wherever they go.” - -The exquisite notes of a bird close by, went out upon the air. People -passing stopped and looked for the bird in every direction. Failing to -see it they hurried on. At the first sound the motorman came out of the -store carrying a large package, which he handed to Julio, and without a -word climbed to his seat on the top of the cab. - -“That was your secret signal, was it not, Julio, which you told me you -had invented?” asked Señor Guillermo Gonzales. - -“It was, my friend, and it works to perfection. I will explain the -principle of it later. See! the trio are coming from the bar,” replied -Julio. - -Once more they were intent in their thoughts and looks upon the three -strange people in disguise. - -Leo Leander said, evidently continuing a sentence she had begun at the -bar: “Oh, yes, I know quite well the way to the Motuble tomb. After her -tragic death was noised about, I met a friend of hers to whom I -expressed a desire to see the old tomb and to know its strange history. -He told me the story of the Marriet Motuble who lived in a life gone by, -also the pathetic tale of the child, Catalina Martinet, for whom the -tomb was built. I expressed a desire to see it. He gave me this key, -which was presented to him by the deceased señorita, who begged him, if -it fell to her lot to pass away first, to visit the tomb often, and -grant the same privilege to his friends. Curious to see the tomb, I -hurried out to the city of the dead, and had just arrived, when two men -clothed in black, and carrying a large, heavy metallic coffin, entered -the tomb, deposited their burden and hastened away. No one was present -but myself, and they evidently took me for an officer of law. For they -had not gone very far when one of the miserable cowards came running -back; he handed me a paper and requested me to sign it. At first I -refused; but the poor devil insisted that I was the proper person to -sign it, and if I refused they would be imprisoned on their return -without my name. So intent were they, that I was worked up to the belief -that I was the person who should sign it, and I mustered up courage and -wrote the first name that came to me, other than my own.” - -“And what name was it?” asked Mr. Martinez. - -“Julio Murillo,” calmly replied Leo Leander. - -The three men in the cab threw up their hands in astonishment, and Mr. -Arellano cried: “Jesus and Marie! Jesus and Marie! You saved the poor -wretches from present trouble, but should this act of yours become -known, which will be sure to happen, your life will be in danger.” - -“I am fearless. You cannot frighten me, friends, with the law as -practiced in Chihuahua,” said Leo Leander. “If it is now your pleasure, -we will visit the tomb, gentlemen,” he concluded. - -“A brave fellow,” said Mr. Arellano, “a brave fellow. You will lead and -thousands will follow. Ah, friend Martinez, we are to be congratulated -on having this great leader on our side. Lead; we will follow to the -tomb. The work we desire to have accomplished to-night is in the hands -of the proper person.” - -“You will please accompany me to the Mexican Annex; there we will take a -cab-a physician’s cab, like that one there, if one can be secured. Come, -gentlemen, we must be off, or the bloodhounds will be on our scent,” -concluded Leo Leander, walking off at a brisk pace. - -At the same moment the Governor’s cab started on at a rapid rate after -them. - -“No scientific investigation ever puzzled me more than this present -affair,” said the Governor. - -“Nor me, friend Miguey. These disturbers of the law must be placed under -arrest before sunset,” said Señor Guillermo Gonzales. - -“True,” replied Julio; “they must be put under arrest, but not until we -see what happens at the tomb.” - -“Order ten policemen to come to the tomb at once. Say for them to come -in disguise and quietly,” said the Governor. - -“You do the proper thing at the proper time always, Miguey. We must get -their entire story, then capture them. This bloody war they are trying -to raise will be nipped in the bud,” concluded Señor Guillermo Gonzales. - -“Would it not be well for us to reach the tomb before them, examine it -thoroughly, and be on the eve of leaving at their arrival?” asked the -Governor, of Julio. - -“Our best policy, I believe, is to follow them at a slow pace, and be -alighting from the cab as they enter the tomb. The law is on our side, -and if we so desire, the arrest can be made inside the historic tomb,” -replied Julio Murillo. - -“We will not be connected outwardly with the arrest. On coming out of -the tomb the police must know that the time to make the arrest has -arrived,” replied the Governor. - -“Here is the Mexican Annex, gentlemen,” said Julio Murillo, looking out -of the window, “and our disguised friends are coming. They are more than -a block away yet. We will move a block to the side to avert suspicion, -from which point we can see them quite as well.” - -The cab moved slowly and noiselessly away and soon disappeared amongst a -hundred or more. - -The great hotel was filled to overflowing, and the big crowd of -fashionably-dressed people surged back and forth through the entrances. - -Julio’s trained eye scanned every face, and now and then he uttered low -exclamations of surprise. His two companions asked no questions, but -arose from their seat and remained standing by his side, that they too -might see what was going on around them. - -“Ah, there is J. Ecarg, and Niksab, and Mr. and Mrs. Grange, out on a -dress parade. I wonder if they are staying in the Mexican Annex now, or -are they just hanging around trying to impress strangers with their -importance,” said the Governor. - -“Partly yes, and partly no,” said Julio. “Mrs. Grange has convinced -herself by this time that she does not remember, and has met these men -by appointment, which of course her husband made with them, not to -arouse their suspicions. For had they known that it was Mrs. Grange who -wished to see them, to interview them on ‘Memory Fluid,’ they never -would have met.” - -“See how she tosses her head and smiles at Mr. Niksab. She has probably -heard of his good fortune and hopes to be presented with another costly -frock,” said Señor Guillermo Gonzales. “Strange how susceptible some men -are to such women’s charms.” - -“It is the town talk to-day how she enchanted the President. She does -not care for peoples’ tongues, however. She is, no doubt, out on this -dress parade in the hope of seeing the President again and to make a -further and more lasting impression on him,” said Julio. - -“Who is the short, stout man dressed in grey, coming out of the hotel -now?” asked the Governor. - -“I do not recognize him,” said the scientist, Gonzales. - -“No, not in his present guise!” exclaimed Julio, with a laugh that shook -his entire frame. “No, not in his present guise. If he were to take off -the large grey beard and grey wig, the difficulty of identification -would be removed.” - -“Whom would we recognize?” asked the Governor. - -“‘The Plunger from Kansas,’” quietly replied Julio. - -“A day so full of conundrums as this has been, I hope will not fall to -my lot again in this life. I am a large, strong man; the greater part of -me—the objective part—is human, and I am confident I cannot hold up -under another strain as severe as this one which began well on to -twenty-four hours ago. The arrest of this man must be made soon, and -this great farce being enacted by the terrible señorita and her two -associates we have just seen, must be put to an end,” said Governor -Lehumada. - -“‘The Plunger from Kansas,’” quietly remarked Julio, “will accompany the -trio to whom we have just been listening, to the tomb. Marriet Motuble -knows who her two companions are, also the disguise of the ‘Plunger.’ -There is no one’s history she will not ferret out, no matter how dark -and deep the veil is surrounding them. The step she is now taking is one -too far. She is taking herself and her companions into the very hands of -the law.” - -“Sure enough, friend Julio, here is the trio; the cab now coming up to -the main entrance is the one they have employed. It is likewise similar -to yours, Miguey,” said Señor Guillermo Gonzales. - -“If upon investigation, I find that that cab is an infringement upon the -patent of mine, the manufacturer will suffer to the extent of the law,” -replied the Governor, very much annoyed. The strain of the day and the -previous night was telling on him. - -“Something must happen to divert him or a physical collapse will -result,” mentally commented Julio, while aloud he said: “Your Honor, -‘The Plunger from Kansas’ is being invited by the aggressive señorita to -accompany them to the tomb.” - -“I see,” said the Governor. “They are now entering. Do not let the cab -get from our view, Julio. We must make a sure thing of it this time. We -must put a stop to this disgraceful farce.” - -“Trust me, your Honor. The police will be on hand when we arrive, but in -hiding. And when they hear the beautiful song of my mechanical bird, -they will rush forth and make the arrest.” - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - ARREST OF THE CONSPIRATORS. - - -The cab the four men in disguise were in took a circuitous route to the -necropolis. - -Julio directed the motorman to keep far enough away to avert suspicion, -but not to lose sight of it at any cost. The Governor’s cab was not in a -place easily to be seen by Marriet Motuble and her assistants in the -little farce-comedy they were playing, when they entered their cab, -which stood in front of the Mexican Annex, and while it only now and -then followed directly back of them, there was one hawk-eye within the -cab that saw they were being followed. - -Leo Leander was the occupant of the cab who saw they were being -followed, and knew intuitively that trouble would result unless some way -out of it could be invented quickly. - -“Gentlemen,” the aggressive señorita in disguise said, “gentlemen, I -took the liberty to add another to our party to visit the ancient tomb—a -gentleman by birth, a gentleman by education and social environments; a -student and writer on anthropology, and a devotee to archæology. -Friends, it is he you see, the Rev. Isaac Tombstone, Señor Enrique -Arellano, and Don Jose M. Martinez.” - -It was quite evident from the expression on the faces of the pretenders -introduced to Rev. Isaac Tombstone, that they would rather he were not -one of their party. - -Leo Leander saw this, and very quickly remarked: “Brother Tombstone is -better informed than any other man alive on prehistoric Mexico; on the -written and unwritten history of Mexico up to the nineteenth century; -and from that time on he has been an eye-witness to everything that has -taken place upon the soil known as Mexico in the nineteenth century, and -he fully sympathizes with the descendants of the Latin race who lost -their country, their time-honored customs and religious stronghold. -Gentlemen, the Reverend Tombstone is true to principle; rely upon him. -He will fight to the finish to help down the present _régime_.” - -The assertion that the Rev. Isaac Tombstone had lived through two -hundred years, and now sat before them a well preserved man, apparently -not over sixty years old, in full possession of all his senses, was the -only thing in the statements of Leo Leander which seemed incredulous to -the listeners. However, they congratulated the Reverend Tombstone on -being so hale and hearty at his great age and said they were delighted -that he had joined their party, and hoped in the near future that they -would become staunch friends. Leo Leander was delighted at the effect -his words had created, and smiled serenely to himself as he watched the -maneuvers of the Governor’s cab. - -He was leading them a lively chase. So lively, in fact, that the -motorman of the Governor’s cab often was undecided just which way to -turn. - -“We are discovered,” said Julio; “the aggressive señorita knows she is -being followed, and it will take more than the quick eye of a hawk to -keep her from eluding the law.” - -“Her cab certainly is not capable of swifter movement than ours,” said -the Governor. “I do not think it possible for them to escape us.” - -“We will not lose sight of the cab entirely,” said Julio, “yet it is -likely to lose one of its occupants on the way without our knowledge.” - -Señor Guillermo Gonzales did not make any comment, but gazed with much -interest upon the remarkable panorama before him. - -“We certainly are not going directly to the city of the dead,” said the -Governor. - -“In most every other way but the direct road to the necropolis, we are -going. The fact is, your Honor, the person in yonder cab disguised as -Leo Leander suspects us of following them, and is going to ascertain if -such be the fact by this method,” concluded Julio. - -In the meantime Leo Leander was formulating a plan for escape, while the -Rev. Isaac Tombstone discoursed upon various topics with the other two -occupants of the cab. He played his part well, to the great delight of -Leo Leander, who had no idea that the man had the learning he now -displayed. - -“Yes,” he said, in answer to a question propounded by Señor Enrique -Arellano, “I am certainly grateful to the Father Divine who saw fit to -let me live throughout two centuries and more, and retain complete use -of my senses, and yet am in feeling a gay, healthy young man as well.” - -“Upon what ground do you base your information concerning prehistoric -Mexico?” asked Señor Jose M. Martinez. - -“Upon the fact that all light since the beginning of time has come to -man from the East. Knowing such to be the case, early in the nineteenth -century, then a young man eager for knowledge, I journeyed to Calcutta, -and from thence to the remotest of the Himalayas, where I studied with -the most learned of the Hindoos. They taught me from charts, maps and -sign-writings, that centuries before, a people had gone from Persia and -settled along the west and southwest coast-line of Mexico. But this new -country was like the ‘Vale of Siddim, full of lime-pits,’ and the -leaders of this tribe fell to fighting amongst themselves, after having -founded large cities. Excavating amongst the ruins of their once great -and populous cities, I discovered they had made great progress in -science, art and literature. Those of the Persian tribe left, fled to -the mountains and valleys of the interior, where they show evidence of -having united with different races, by whom they were afterwards -extinguished. These facts, friends, are of profound interest -ethnologically,” concluded the learned doctor of divinity. - -“To be sure, to be sure,” repeated Don Enrique Arellano. “What a -wonderful fund of knowledge you have, Reverend Tombstone. Some day not -far distant I hope to have you at my house as a guest, when dear Mexico -is restored to us again and we are happy.” - -“And my guest as well, when that good time comes,” joined in Señor -Martinez; while Reverend Tombstone mentally added: “Then I will never be -your guests, gentlemen. Ah, but this is a great comedy some others -besides myself are helping to play. These two men are a puzzle to me, as -well as Leo Leander. I was afraid not to accompany him because he -pierced my disguise. He said: ‘You are “The Plunger from Kansas.” Walk -right up, young man, and take your medicine. I need your help in the -little farce I am playing, and woe is your name, if you betray me.’ -Well, I walked up, and here I am taking my medicine. Such seems to be -life in this the twenty-first century. I pulled through two other lives -without getting behind the bars, and they will have a lively chase if -they overtake and arrest me in this life, ‘Memory Fluid’ or no memory -fluid, notwithstanding the great advance there has been since my -previous life, in scientific investigations. Well, what is going to -happen now? The cab is stopping.” Then aloud he asked: “The cab stops; -is this the city of the dead?” - -“No, your Reverence,” said Leo Leander, “this is not the necropolis. -However, I will leave you here and join you in a few moments at the -Motuble tomb. Here is the key to the tomb, Señor Jose Martinez. It -admits you to the tomb with one turn. If I am not there on your arrival, -enter at once—do not wait for me—and gaze upon the placid features of -Marriet Motuble seen through the glass on her metallic coffin. Gaze upon -her and envy her brave act, but pity those of us left without her -benevolent heart and sweet influence. Gaze upon her, friend, and do not -wait for me. I may overtake you, however. Good-bye; good-bye for a short -time,” he concluded, as the cab came to a standstill and Leo Leander -stepped from the carriage. - -Almost instantly the cab with its three occupants bound for the city of -the dead moved rapidly on, and Leo Leander disappeared from sight. - -“How unfortunate for us that Mr. Leander felt duty bound to leave us at -a time so propitious for seeing the ancient tomb,” said Señor Martinez. - -“It is unfortunate for us,” calmly replied Rev. Isaac Tombstone; -“although the bad fortune does not fall upon us alone.” - -“How is that, friend?” asked Don Enrique Arellano. - -“He was in good company, I mean,” smiled the preacher; “in very learned -company, and with old friends; or I would better say, with those whom I -hope some day to be classed as old friends. Heigh-ho, here comes a -physician’s cab at breakneck speed,” concluded Rev. Isaac Tombstone. - -“Some one is very ill, no doubt,” said Señor Martinez. “I wonder who the -patient is, that causes the physician’s cab to travel so swiftly. There -are three of us, witnesses to the fast travelling through a crowded -thoroughfare. See the people falling over each other nearly, to get away -from the path of the cab.” - -“A fair example of the present rule of things,” said Don Enrique -Arellano. - -“But I believe, my friend,” said Rev. Isaac Tombstone, “that exceptions -to the law are made, in cases of physicians going on missions of mercy.” - -“How can anyone say that such is the case now?” asked Señor Martinez. - -“Not I, for one,” replied Don Arellano. - -“Nor I,” added the preacher. - -“One cab is certainly chasing the other now. We must prevent it; such -doings are not lawful. We must prevent it. We must prevent it,” cried -Señor Martinez, rising to his feet and calling loudly to the motorman. -If he heard the cries of “Stop, Stop,” he paid no attention. The cab -fairly flew through the streets, and before anyone was aware of the -fact, they had arrived at the cemetery gate just behind the cab the -motorman had been trying to overtake. - -Rev. Isaac Tombstone was not less surprised than his companions to see -the other cab stop at the Motuble tomb. - -The three men alighted first, however. Mr. Martinez unlocked the tomb -and they entered, leaving the door wide open. The tomb was in the form -of an octagon at the base, the diameter being twenty feet; from the -center of the base to the highest point of dome measured one hundred -feet. The interior was of highly polished marble, in which were set -large mirrors. The small coffin in which rested the body of Catalina -Martinet stood in the center of the tomb on two marble pillars. A -silence fell upon the three as they read in bright gold letters on the -casket, “Catalina Martinet, age sixteen. Died of a broken heart.” - -“By the gods, I will have revenge upon the man who caused her illegal -birth to be, and her untimely death to come. Marriet Motuble. Her Friend -through all eternity.” - -“She is dead, but lives,” solemnly said Reverend Tombstone. “She is -dead, but lives.” - -“Impossible,” angrily replied Don Arellano. “Impossible.” - -Without making any reply the Reverend Tombstone stepped to the large -casket recently placed in the tomb, and said, looking in the glass face -plate: “The classic features of Marriet Motuble! She whom I knew in a -life long since past lies before me.” - -“Don Arellano,” cried Señor Martinez, “we have been deceived. This man -is a believer in that accursed ‘Memory Fluid.’ The sooner we get away, -from this tomb, back to the city, the better for us.” - -They each glanced nervously at the waxen face before them, and without -further comment started hastily to leave the tomb. - -Rev. Isaac Tombstone made no sign that he heard them, but stood by the -head of the metallic coffin, his eyes riveted upon the face he there -saw. - -As his two companions left the tomb, three men dressed as doctors of -medicine entered, and stood with uncovered heads around the coffin. The -cab in which the Reverend Tombstone and party had arrived stood in front -of the door of the tomb. - -At the moment the two men were stepping into it three policemen stepped -forward, as the song of a bird rent the air, clapped iron bands around -their wrists, and said: “You are prisoners of law. Make no disturbance -or you will be roughly dealt with.” - -Señor Martinez threw his head back haughtily, and asked: “Does the -present _régime_ permit the arrest of quiet, law-abiding citizens?” - -“Certainly not, certainly not,” replied the officer. “It is not becoming -to your present disguise for you to ask such a question.” - -Attracted by the noise outside, Rev. Isaac Tombstone walked to the door -of the tomb to see the cause of the disturbance. - -Julio Murillo followed him and said, addressing the officer of the law: -“Bring the prisoners here, into the Motuble tomb.” - -His orders were instantly obeyed. It was an opportune moment for Rev. -Isaac Tombstone, so he thought. He stepped aside to allow the law and -its trespassers to pass into the tomb. And as he bowed in a very -dignified manner to them, mentally exclaimed: “Now is my time!” and ran -to the end of the tomb, jerking off his false wig and beard and his -spectacles as he went. He turned his coat inside out, either side made -to wear outside, lit a cigar, and before anyone was conscious he had -left his place by the door of the tomb, his disguise was completely -changed, and at a bound he was in the cab. - -At that moment the song of the bird was again heard, and the officers of -the law rushed out to make another arrest, but the cab was fairly flying -away from them, and they cried: “It is too late; the bird has flown. We -must have one more chance at the fellow.” - -“Were it not necessary to examine the contents of this metallic coffin,” -said Julio, “which is supposed to contain the remains of one Marriet -Motuble, we would pursue this man in the physician’s cab.” - -“One of my men,” said the captain of the force present, “can follow on -my air cycle, get assistance, and make the arrest in the city.” - -“That is a splendid idea,” said the Governor; “a splendid idea. This man -is too valuable to science to be allowed to escape. His capture and open -confession is the only thing necessary for us to have to convince the -entire world of the truth of our wonderful discovery, ‘Memory Fluid.’” - -“What do you, a common physician of the State, know of ‘Memory Fluid,’ -that fake discovery of the Governor’s and his scientific friends?” asked -Señor Martinez, in a highly sarcastic tone. - -To whom Señor Guillermo Gonzales replied: “We are not here to discuss -what his Honor knows about ‘Memory Fluid,’ but to fully examine the -corpse in this box. Stand close by, friends. I will make the first -incision.” - -Aghast with horror, the two prisoners and the remaining officers of law -stepped back. - -With an instrument that seemed to be made especially for the purpose, -Julio Murillo removed the glass plate from the coffin. - -As he passed his hand over the face of the object before him, he smiled -to himself and the two men shivered. - -“Now, my friend,” he said to Guillermo Gonzales, “now is your time.” - -Unflinchingly the scientist pressed the sharp edge of the large knife -against the waxen-like neck of the object before him with the result he -expected. Instead of dissecting a corpse, Julio cut into a wooden model -over which was a thin coating of wax. - -“See,” he said to the Governor, “see; the prophecy of Julio is true. The -aggressive señorita is surely not in the Motuble tomb.” - -“Nor for that matter,” said the Governor, “in any other tomb. I am fully -convinced, and the law must take its course immediately. A model of wax -only occupies the Motuble tomb.” - -Señor Guillermo Gonzales fastened the glass plate securely on; the -policemen led their prisoners out of the tomb; the Governor and Señor -Guillermo Gonzales followed, and Julio Murillo locked the tomb securely -and placed the key in his pocket. As an extra assurance that no one -could enter the tomb and carry away the proof of Marriet Motuble’s dual -action, the Governor ordered two extra policemen, who had arrived in the -cab ordered for the prisoners, to guard the tomb, and under no -circumstances to let anyone enter. - -Strange to say, Señor Jose M. Martinez and Don Enrique Arellano entered -the policeman’s cab without any protest whatever, and at a rapid rate -were taken to the central police court when their disguises were at once -removed, and their names were entered as follows: Jesus Marie Hernandez, -occupation a priest, alias Don Enrique Arellano; Francisco R. Cantu y -Falomir, occupation a gentleman, alias Jose M. Martinez. After the above -registration was completed, they were placed in separate cells and left -to their own reflections. - -The Governor and his two companions were quickly taken to his own -private home, where they soon learned that many callers had been there -during his absence, and several left, very angry, because he was not to -be seen. - -The President had sent to the Governor, a few minutes before they -arrived, a large envelope which contained many sheets of paper closely -written. - -The three men took supper together, and over their meal discussed their -experiences of the day, and at its close went straight to the Governor’s -private study to read the President’s statement. The Governor handed the -envelope to Julio, who opened it carefully and read as follows: - - -“FRIENDS AND COMRADES: A wonderful change has come over me within the -last eight hours. A change so delicious that no one but he who has -experienced the same feeling can begin to understand it. It is the -knowledge that comes to one of a previous existence. - -“To be plain, my friends, I _remember_, thanks to your wonderful ‘Memory -Fluid.’ - -“I was in this city one hundred and fifty years ago, in the employ of -the United States Secret Service. I arrested, by the assistance of a -little girl—Catalina Martinet—a counterfeiter who had evaded the law for -years, all the while living in the Republic of Mexico in the guise of a -mining man. - -“That arrest was a big feather in my cap. I was promoted and my salary -raised largely. - -“I wish to thank you, my friends, for the great service you have done me -by bringing to my notice this wonderful discovery—the _most_ wonderful -scientific discovery of this or any other age. I could write on and on -and on, telling you about what I remember, but it is of no use to burden -you with so much reading. - -“I will now return to my apartments at the Mexican Annex, at which place -I hope to see you privately before I leave the city, which will be at -twelve o’clock to-night. - - “Yours fraternally and faithfully, - “JOSEPH MORTINGO.” - - -“He leaves to-night, at twelve. Ah, he returns to the capital; his plans -are changed since morning. I will go immediately; you will accompany me, -friends, I hope,” said the Governor. - -“With much pleasure; we will make our toilet at once,” said Señor -Guillermo Gonzales, speaking for himself and Julio Murillo. - -“I will in the meantime,” said the Governor, “speak to him. I will say -we will be there in half an hour.” - -In a very short space of time the three scientists were on their way to -the Mexican Annex. The hour was ten P.M., yet people seemed to be -assembling there from all quarters of the city. - -Several times before reaching the hostelry the three scientists heard -angry cries as they passed through the streets. - -The Governor thought nothing of the matter until he was leaving his cab -to enter the hotel, when an angry crowd cried: “There is the traitor! -Kill him! Kill him!” - -Many blows were aimed at the Governor, but were warded off by the timely -arrival of the soldiers and police. - -“Come, Miguey, come. Enter by this private entrance. This mad crowd is -likely to make an end of all of us if we do not get out of sight,” said -Señor Guillermo Gonzales, as he hurried the Governor into the hotel. - -“The uprising has begun,” said Julio, “and earlier than I expected. You -gentlemen go at once to the President’s rooms. I will see what news can -be learned in the rotunda. It is my opinion that the President should be -sent to the station to-night under heavy military guard. He must get out -of Chihuahua in disguise, and to-night at that. If I am not mistaken, we -have an ugly affair on our hands. This is no place to talk. I will go in -search of the latest news.” He hurried away amongst the surging crowd, -while the Governor and Guillermo Gonzales were shown to the President’s -rooms. - -“This is a terrible state of affairs,” said the President, as he greeted -them on entering. - -“The instigators of the uprising,” quietly spoke the Governor, “are -behind the bars, and when their sympathizers learn the fact, it will put -an end to the unlawful doings of the rabble.” - -“My life has been threatened three times since my arrival at the hotel. -And see, gentlemen, the cipher despatches I have received from the -Capital.” - -Señor Guillermo Gonzales took the despatches from the hands of the -President, looked them over curiously, and said: “Has the news of this -affair reached Washington?” - -“It has more than reached the city. A fearfully large following has not -only been raised there, but in the metropolis and capital of every State -in the Union. Unless the militia and police force can quell the -disturbers in a few days, much trouble will follow,” said President -Mortingo. - -The Governor extinguished the light in the room, and stepping to a -window, said: “See the mob in the street! What is it they are crying?” - -Above the sounds of the mob, a voice cried: “That is his room; they are -all there. Shoot the pretenders down without a word!” - -At that moment Julio Murillo entered the room quietly, and going close -to the two near the window, said: “His Excellency must be taken from the -hotel immediately; there is no time for delay.” - -“But his life is in danger, if he be seen,” said the Governor. - -“To be sure,” calmly replied Julio; “but not any more than your own.” - -“They intend to harm every one who is a believer in ‘Memory Fluid,’” -said Señor Guillermo Gonzales. - -“There is no time to be lost, gentlemen,” said Julio. “I have disguises -here for his Excellency and your Honor. Friend Gonzales and myself will -be lost in the crowd.” - -The two men of national repute disguised themselves with the various -articles Julio brought with him, left the room unobserved by anyone but -the soldiers guarding the room, and were soon safely quartered with -those of the President’s party who had not left the city that morning in -a palace car ready to be hurried away to Washington. - -The Governor and his two scientific friends returned to his residence, -but could only get within one block of it in the cab, for the rabble and -soldiers. - -They left the cab and mingled with the crowd, and soon were safely in -the house by a private entrance. - -In a sense they were safe; but how long safety would last they could not -say. All night the Governor and his two scientific friends in company -with many high officials of State, discussed the present state of -affairs and laid plans for immediate action should further trouble come. - -The President had promised that United States troops would arrive at the -shortest notice possible and put an end to the uprising if the State -troops were insufficient. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - A LIFE SAVED. - - -There never had been such excitement in Chihuahua as that caused by the -arrests of Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir, and Father Hernandez. - -Not even the execution of Hidalgo, the good priest who sought to free -the people of Mexico from the terrible slavery in which the church held -them, created the same fervor. The mad rabble and the church fanatics -were too ignorant to realize the awfulness of their deed. They believed -what they had been told by the church, that whoever advocated freedom of -thought must die. And few were the tears shed when, in the year of 1810, -the life of the great and noble Father Hidalgo was taken in Chihuahua. -At least, it was the few who shed tears. - -Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir had been known as a quiet, law-abiding -citizen, very wealthy and eccentric. It was generally known that he -prided himself upon the fact of his blue Mexican blood, and persisted in -signing Falomir, his mother’s maiden name, to his own surname, as was -the custom in Mexico up to the close of the nineteenth century. Yet no -one ever dreamed that he nursed any ill-will against the law of the land -of his birth—against the United States of America. - -Everyone seemed to think that he had a right to his peculiarities, and -while Chihuahuans smiled when the name Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir -was spoken they were always ready to point out this wealthy, -aristocratic and eccentric citizen to visitors in Chihuahua and obtain -an introduction to him for them, if possible. - -It was not strange that the citizens of Chihuahua wondered that their -fellow-citizen, thought to be quiet and law-abiding, and the priest, -well known in the city for his many charitable deeds, were behind the -bars on a charge of treason. - -The calm of the early morning, produced by reading the full account of -the charges and the arrest of these two well-known citizens, in the -great _Chihuahuan_, was now giving way to noisy discussions of them, by -small and large crowds of citizens of all classes, assembled on the -street corners, and in public and private houses. At nine o’clock the -jail in which the two offenders of law were held was almost surrounded -by what looked to be the rabble of the entire country. - -The great and progressive city of Chihuahua had never had such a large -crowd of ungainly and suspicious looking creatures assemble since it -became a part of the great Republic of the United States of America. -From whence had they come and for what purpose? were the questions -propounded on every side by the uninitiated. - -At first no particular attention was paid to the miserable looking -beings hanging around the jail. But as their number increased so -rapidly, although they seldom spoke and made no disturbance, the number -of police usually on beat near the jail was doubled, and a company of -one hundred soldiers were stationed close by. - -The rabble questioned no one, and no one questioned the rabble. - -The police and soldiers kept their eyes riveted upon them, but as they -only _looked_ suspicious, and did nothing, they were allowed to remain -and no arrests were made. - -Such were the orders received from the Governor, and no officer cared to -disobey them. During the forenoon several priests and friends of Don -Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir came to the jail and begged for admittance. -Each person was refused and went away angry. Some of them openly vowed -vengeance. - -One priest ventured to return, and asked the guard why his friends were -confined in jail, and if an early hearing would be granted them. Unable -to get any satisfactory answers, he turned away, his white face showing -the terrible rage he was in. - -The Governor and his scientific coworkers had not been seen on the -street during the day, and as night approached and no official word -could be had as to the probable fate of the prisoners, the rabble around -and near the jail showed signs of great uneasiness, and in bodies of -threes and fours wandered away. As each party left it was quietly -followed by an officer, who thought himself in a condition impossible to -be surprised, no matter how unusual an occurrence which would happen -might be. - -However, his thoughts in that direction were wholly in error, as what -occurred will demonstrate. - -As the sun sank behind a tall peak of the Sierra Madre, and a still -darkness crept over the beautiful scene, and hid it from admiring eyes, -the strange crowd that had wandered off in small numbers from the jail -now collected themselves in a large, empty storage room in the -southwestern part of the city, a distance of about four miles from the -Mexican Annex, and the Governor’s residence. Before nine o’clock it was -filled to overflowing, and still ragged, dirty creatures full of disease -kept on coming from every direction. From the stillness of everyone the -meeting and its object evidently was meant to be kept a secret, at least -for a season. - -When it was seen that not another person could find standing room in the -large wareroom, the door was securely fastened; a dim light was turned -on, and a tall, raw-boned looking man stepped on top of a high drygoods -box, and said: - -“Friends and Countrymen: It is with a sad heart I stand upon this -platform and look out upon the many hundred faces before me, faces that -show the ravages of disease, the pangs of hunger, and the _no-hope_ -expression of those who have been downtrodden; neglected, mentally, -morally and spiritually, on account of peculiar environments. It is with -a sad heart I see you thus before me and join you in your silent prayer -for deliverance. For deliverance! Does not that word partake of -Divinity? Does it not seem to bring you closer to the great Giver of -Justice? Does there not seem to be a start toward the adjustment of all -evil? Cannot you who have despaired of hope, see the light of the -Divine, the expression that comes from a superior knowledge, upon my -face? I am your deliverer. By the help of all influence Divine, I will -see that justice is meted out to you. Away back in that life known only -to myself when I was a fat, freckled-faced, barefooted boy of ten, -building mud houses and paddling in the rippling streams, I saw strange -things and heard strange voices. One day while sitting on a large -moss-covered bowlder in the clear waters of a placid, cool and shallow -stream, I had a vision. I saw the words, ‘You must be the deliverer of -the oppressed and downtrodden in Chihuahua in this year, the year of our -Lord 2049,’ written in letters of fire, out over the water. I was -frightened, and started to run, when a voice said to me: ‘Stop; look and -fear not.’ I took my seat upon the highest point of the bowlder and -riveted my eyes upon the spot over the water where I had seen the -letters of fire. Very soon I saw a large, magnificently built city. I -saw it grow and grow until it became unparalleled, for grandeur, and for -the number of advanced-thought people. I saw the glory and power of one -rise, while others sank lower and lower into the very depths of poverty, -disease and ignorance. I saw a coterie of blue-blooded people, educated -and wealthy, arise like guardian angels in the night and go forth to -defend the oppressed; to take from his throne of power, the pretender; -one of their own royal blood who had betrayed the confidence imposed in -him, and now sought by the arts of a magician to make the people believe -that he had made wonderful progress in scientific discoveries. I saw the -two noble defenders of the downtrodden thrust into jail! I saw a small -army of believers in the two defenders of noble birth, start out -confidently to overthrow the government; to try to sever that part of -the United States of America once known as the Republic of Mexico, from -the Union to which it sent a petition less than one hundred and fifty -years ago, asking for annexation, which was in due time granted.” - -“Yes,” piped out the voice of an infirm old man, “we want our Mexico -back; we want our priests restored. Them was good old days, and we want -them back.” - -“We will make war against all these high notions of scientists, who, the -priests say, are leading the people to hades,” ventured another old man, -bent with age and infirmities. - -“The Church ain’t much power, but it still has many followers, and all -of us can fight for it,” continued the old man. - -The revolutionary sentiments expressed began to show effect upon the -crowd. They moved about uneasily, and low curses and threats were being -voiced on every side. - -The speaker again began to talk and the noise subsided somewhat. - -“Yes,” he said; “I saw ourselves plunged into an internal war. It was -carried on between all adherents to the dogmas of the orthodox on one -side, and advocators of free thought on the other side. And my vision -ended, with part of this nation fighting the other. The assembly no -doubt thinks that thoughts as expressed by some of your would-be learned -men are too free.” This remark elicited a great applause, and the -speaker, after mentally congratulating himself upon the impression he -had made, continued: “Everyone knows to whom I refer particularly.” A -hushed silence followed this remark. “I refer particularly to the -Governor of this great State, the man who claims to have discovered a -fluid directly from the sun’s rays, which will perpetuate memory -throughout all time. The main purpose for which this fluid is intended, -is to aid officers of law in securing evidence against all who have -committed crimes, and to bring such people to justice. Study upon this -feature of the case, friends. Imagine yourself being compelled to -believe in such stuff. That is what constitutes part of the doctrine of -Free Thought. You must be a scientist to advocate free thought as they -wish it. It tramples down all the idols which you have bowed to for -centuries. The faith of your fathers must be superseded by facts -obtained from scientific investigations. You must believe that memory -can be restored and preserved through ages; that the annihilation of -diseased matter can be accomplished by means of ‘Ebony Fluid.’ That all -miraculous deeds of the Christ of Bible fame can be done to-day, not -only by one, but by many; all of whom, however, must be initiated. Well, -friends, I have been talking thirty minutes. You have my sentiments; -think, think, think! Never act without studying over the past results of -just such action you are on the eve of taking. Remember the condition of -the times. You will fight against many odds. It will be ten against one. -But do not be discouraged; bear in mind that a handful of men and women -who desired to practice their religion according to the dictates of -their own conscience severed themselves from England, their mother -country, with much bloodshed; with much bloodshed, it is true, yet they -gained the object for which they fought—their freedom—and hence the -right to serve God as pleased their fancy. I will not suggest what step -for you to take, but if you will tell me your plan, I will lead you to -success.” - -This time the high notes of a voice which showed training in public -speaking, arose up from the great crowd, and startled everyone by -exclaiming: “I, the Rev. J. T. Note, do this moment declare that there -is but one way to adjust matters as they now stand;—to rectify the great -injustices done to the followers of the orthodox, to those who believe -in and follow the precepts of the inspired works of biblical writers. I -say there is but one way to recover our waning power and that is, to -fight for right.” - -Hurrah after hurrah went up. The crowd grew less and less under -self-control. - -The minister continued: “Do not delay; make the first strike to-night. -Listen,” he cried in hushed tones. “_Listen!_ I will assist yon noble -speaker to lead you to the front—to face the foe in battle.” - -At the conclusion of his speech, and before another word could be spoken -by anyone else present, the lights in the room went out and the mad -cries of the audience went up in protest. - -A strong breeze, which could only come through an open door or window, -swept through the room. - -It needed no voice to tell that trouble was at hand, but not the kind -they had been talking about trying to create. Quick orders were given by -some one in authority, in a low voice, and responded to by others in -curses. Everybody tried to get to the door and into the street. - -In less than ten minutes after the lights went out, the large room -seemed to be empty; but it was not quite empty—there was one person left -and he was the speaker of the evening. The night was intensely dark, and -the large crowd got as near together as possible, and planned for a -night of carnage. Until one o’clock they remained quiet, except for -planning. - -By some one the Rev. J. T. Note was missed; but no one felt alarmed, for -those who missed him thought he was somewhere amongst the crowd, helping -to carry out their proposed plan of attack. Now that the hour had -arrived that they had agreed upon to attempt to take the life of the -Governor and his two scientific friends, a company of three hundred men, -led by the old man with the piping voice, cautiously wended their way in -that direction. Others started in various directions to carry out their -nefarious ideas. - -The tall, raw-boned person remained, almost breathless, in his crouched -position on the floor back of a big empty box, until thoroughly -satisfied that no interloper, or friend, as for that, was in the room. -Cautiously walking to the back door, the position of which he must have -been well informed, he opened it noiselessly and quietly stepped out -into the dark night. For five minutes more he strode back and forth, his -thumbs securely thrust into the band of his trousers, in deep -meditation, now and then chuckling to himself. - -“Let me see,” he said aloud as he suddenly came to a stop, “let me see. -It is now fifteen minutes after one o’clock. Whew! What did Helen -Hinckley think when I failed to meet her at the appointed place and -time. The result of the meeting just closed was the most unexpected -event of my life. It is all day with these would-be revolutionists if -the city police and state militia are onto this meeting. It is all up -with you, Reverend Note, I am quite sure. Chihuahua’s police force took -charge of you, I’ll bet a copper. You are languishing in a small cell, -behind the iron bars, as a nineteenth century romance writer would say, -on a charge of treason. It will go hard with these three transgressors -of law. It is a strange affair, and I have done my best to help both -sides accomplish what they are out for. Ha! ha! It is a great world, and -Free Thought, based upon scientific reasoning, is sure to win. As sure -as fate. The poor deluded creatures here to-night have my sympathies, -and also had my assistance to-night. I did all within my power to make -the fire of revenge burn bright within their bosom. Some people may say -I am a hypocrite. Well, I am in a way; but when one can make others -happy by practising a little deception, the wrong cannot be lasting. And -what if it is, what if it is? The beautiful creature who has so -completely captivated the bachelor heart of the Governor, was -disappointed, no doubt, by not finding me at my apartment at the Annex, -at ten o’clock. But not so disappointed, I fancy, as when she reads in -to-morrow morning’s _Chihuahuan_, an account of the murder of the -Governor, whose love, I imagine, she reciprocates; and of Don Guillermo -Gonzales, and of Julio Murillo, the son of Señora Suzzan Carriles, of -Colima, as well. ‘Memory Fluid’ will go over the board, if that -wholesale slaughter is effected. Their great test case will be laid over -for another incarnation. ‘The Plunger from Kansas’ will have one more -chance for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, without living -in mortal fear of being dragged up before the bar of civil justice and -politely requested to make amends for a deed done in the body in at -least two existences past. Yes, poor fellow, he will have a little rest -and peace of mind; for there is no one who will concern himself about -presenting to the world proofs of the results obtained by the use of -their great discovery. Helen Hinckley will pine away, and the grave will -claim her for another victim before the summer is over. Their spirits -will voice a desire to enter again into a physical condition -immediately, and before twenty years of their new life has passed away, -those two hearts that this moment beat as one, soon to be so ruthlessly -severed, will be united forever and forever, and as they glide along and -form one of the many scenes in life’s grand panorama, they will cause, -by their subtle philosophy, the ‘Plunger from Kansas’ to adjust the -wrong they are now trying to right. Ha! ha! ha! Really I must move on, -and cease my early morning soliloquy. I really believe I am getting to -be a prophet. Certainly I have been talking aloud. In the nineteenth -century, when one fell into the habit of talking aloud to one’s self he -was said to be loco; but no such a fear need be entertained now, for -this is the age of scientific revelation. No one can accuse the other, -for every queer action is attributed to his knowledge of science. And -either everyone is a student of science—of course that science which -pertains to the soul of man, particularly—or everyone is loco or crazy. -Adios, all ye demons of darkness, soon to be superseded by the angels of -light, adios. I certainly hope the messages you bring will be such that -my sad heart will be avenged. Now, with feet as fleet as the wild goat -that once roamed the mountains over, I will reach the Mexican Annex, -quietly steal into my apartments, quickly conceal all of my disguise, -and to-morrow no one will be any the wiser for my night’s escapade. Ha! -ha! no doubt, that on in the day while the revolutionists are playing -havoc in the great, progressive city, I will be shedding tears, mingling -mine with those of the Plunger of Kansas over the biers of our lately -departed friends. Only friend Julio will I grieve for the loss of. Poor -Señora Suzzan Carriles, of Colima, had no idea when she and Father -Hernandez, now languishing in jail, committed the crime of adultery in a -former existence that their progeny would rise up nearly two centuries -afterwards and make them repent of their folly. Ha! ha! Ye vigils of -darkness, I am gone!” - -The person who had just concluded the lengthy soliloquy, passed away, -without further delay or comment, in the direction of the Mexican Annex. - -Near by stood unseen, Helen Hinckley, who had heard with bated breath -every word of the soliloquy. “The person,” she cried with smothered -voice, “cannot be other than the friend of my other life. The voice I -recognize as that of Marriet Motuble. Strange creature! She whom I -grieved for as dead, until her note reached me at nine o’clock to-night, -and gave satisfactory explanations, is here plotting against the great -and noble Governor and his able coworkers. Oh, thou annihilator of evil, -bear me witness to the doings of this strange woman. I will warn him for -whom I have looked through two lives. He shall be preserved, and when -his true state is confessed to me in words, I will unite my life to his, -and then what should have come to pass two hundred years ago will take -place now. There is no worry in my soul, for the righting of all wrongs -is certain to come to pass.” - -As swift as the wings of a bird could waft itself through space, she -glided through the still, cool air of the early morning, at a distance -of twelve inches from the ground, to the Governor’s home. By means of -her own great psychic power she conveyed to him even in his deep sleep -the knowledge of her coming, and where to admit her; at a door opening -out upon a balcony on the second floor, to the rear of his home. - -She was dressed in a close-fitting black dress and hat, so that in the -intense darkness of the night she was not observed. - -When the Governor first received the mental message stating her -intention of visiting him on important business, his body shook with a -great emotion, and his heart beat wildly with joy at the prospect of -seeing and talking with the object of his heart’s desire. - -But when he reached the door she expected to enter, and stood ready to -open it for her, he was again a man of reason, and an overwhelming love -for the spiritual woman had taken the place of his baser love. - -He held the door slightly open, and eagerly gazed into the darkness he -could not pierce. - -He felt a strange vibrating of the air, and then a presence which glided -over the balcony and into the room and sank into a heap at his feet. - -He caused the room to be instantly lighted, and stooping, raised the -prostrate figure at his feet. - -“A little water, if you please,” she said. “I could not compute the -height, so the flight was a little hard for me.” - -The Governor handed her a glass of cool water, and said: “I am sorry -your solicitude for my safety has cost you such a great physical -effort.” - -“No, no, no; do not mind. It would not have happened could I have seen -the house and computed the distance from the ground to this door. Do not -be in the least concerned about me, your Honor. The law is apparent, but -I had nothing on which I could base my calculations,” said Miss -Hinckley. - -“I do not understand,” said the great Governor and great discoverer of -“Memory Fluid,” “how you came in this door directly from the street -without any visible means of ascending to this height?” - -“Is it possible, your Honor, that you forget when you and I in that life -gone by, hoped we might be able to overcome the law of gravitation so -far as our own bodies were concerned, as well as to discover a means by -which we could perpetuate memory?” - -“I certainly recall our meditations along those lines, but I have made -no investigations along the line of the former,” replied the Governor. - -“But I have,” said his fair listener, “and while you were perfecting -your wonderful ‘Memory Fluid’—and other liquids obtained from the source -of all light, and which may prove to be equally as great scientific -revealers to man—I have been delving in the realms of the hidden and -praying for light. It came, and oh, glorious was the day when I felt -myself lifted up a few inches from the ground and gliding along as -easily as a bird on the wing!” - -“How astonishing, how wonderful! You must at once become a Fellow in our -Royal Academy for Scientific Investigations. Your discovery is the most -remarkable in the history of man. You will do me the honor, I hope, to -first explain the _modus operandi_. My soul yearns for knowledge of -Nature, of God,” cried the great man of science, his voice full of -emotion. - -“My hand, your Honor. Depend upon it, that the limited knowledge I have -shall be conveyed to you at the earliest moment possible. The man who is -so well in tune with the Great Light, the Source of All, will comprehend -the subject in a moment,” said Helen Hinckley. - -The Governor pressed her firm brown hand between his two, and lifting -his eyes to the invisible Ruler of the universe, said: “The blending of -two harmonious lives, oh, Thou Great and Everlasting Cause; this seems -to me to be the fulfillment of Thy desire.” - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - THE PEACE OF THE SOUL. - - -Helen Hinckley raised her beautiful face, shining with a light divine, -and said: “It is the fulfillment, your Honor. It is the peace of the -soul that ‘passeth all understanding.’” - -At that moment the Governor dropped her hands; extinguished the light in -the room, opened the door a little wider, and strained his ear to catch -the unusual sound that came in from the street below. - -Helen Hinckley knew at once the meaning of the sound, and said: “I must -not delay longer telling you the object of my call.” - -As these two people (whose souls had sought each other through two other -lives and failed utterly to find the other, from the simple fact that -their material environments were such that their very souls had no power -to break through the terrible prison house in which they seemed to be -encased, and fly to the arms of its counterpart) stood in the dark -doorway, Helen Hinckley told the Governor all that had happened between -herself and Marriet Motuble. - -It was the dearest moment of his life when he felt her warm breath upon -his cheek, while she whispered the story in his ear. - -“A strange creature, that Marriet Motuble; a very strange creature,” he -whispered in reply. - -“She is more daring now than in the other life. She is a woman to be -avoided. When one is so constituted that the association with a person -harms him, instead of doing him good, the best plan is to keep at a -respectable distance, and do the person all the good possible from that -distance. But hark! What is that?” she concluded, as she clutched the -Governor’s arm in her fright. - -They stepped out on the small balcony and both listened breathlessly. - -The Governor replied: “It was the report of a gun. Ah, there is another, -and another. Hark! the police are after them.” - -“The Executive Mansion is well guarded by the soldiers. _I_ do not -believe that they will be able to enter the house. The unguarded moment -is the dangerous time, your Honor,” said Helen Hinckley, as she stepped -into the room and gently led the Governor with her. - -“On the subject of guarding my house,” replied his Honor, “I gave strict -orders that no extras should guard me or be placed around my property. -It is my duty, as the official head of this great State, to protect the -lives and property of private citizens. The officers of the law will do -their duty if there be an uprising, which I can hardly believe will take -place. I am not a coward. I will not run and leave my people to face the -trouble alone.” - -“What you have said is quite true, and no one would expect any less from -your Honor,” replied Helen Hinckley; “but there is an old law concerning -self preservation. Your Honor recalls it, does he not? Yes? Well, then, -you may be compelled, in order to carry out the law, to keep out of -sight of these fanatics—these would-be revolutionists—until they are -taught to remember—until they see the power of the Light Divine.” - -“Hist! hist!” both the Governor and Helen Hinckley heard the warning -which came through a door that led into the room where they stood, from -an adjoining room. - -In another instant, the clear, piping voice of the old man who had -uttered such revolutionary sentiments at the meeting of these disturbers -of peace, called out in hushed tones: “Find him, boys; find him. He’s -not in his bed. I thrust daggers all over it. Then I climbed on it and -crushed my heels on every part of it; but he was not there. Our brave -leaders are behind the bars, boys, and we are handicapped. Now this -imposter and enemy of the church must die! Come, boys. Forward, march!” - -Helen Hinckley pulled the Governor’s ear close to her mouth, and said: -“Your Honor, to stay here means instant death. The physical power of two -people against one hundred or more is of no avail. Come; you must leave -this room with me through the outside door. You must this moment feel -the force of being able to overcome the law of gravitation. Slip your -hands under the strap across the back of this small propeller; step on -top of the railing on the balcony; trust me; do what I whisper into your -ear, and we will escape. You must come, if not for _your own_ sake, for -mine,” she concluded. - -“I will go, my life, for your sake,” said the Governor, his voice full -of emotion. - -At once Helen Hinckley led him onto the balcony. He stepped with her on -top of the railing. He put the cap of his long black dressing gown over -his head, and with no support except the arm of Helen Hinckley, which -she had quietly slipped through his, he walked out with his companion -into space. - -The leader of the revolutionary party and his many followers, who were -seeking his life, at that moment stepped into the room they had just -left. The cool breeze of the early morning rushed in through the open -door, feeling which, the old man at once exclaimed: “He has escaped; a -door is open, if I am not mistaken. A light will soon settle the -question.” - -No sooner was the idea given voice, than several of the men present -pressed the end of the miniature torches they carried in their pockets, -and instantly the room was ablaze with light. With these small torches -in hand they rushed to the open door, with the vain hope that they might -catch the runaway. - -“We are misled,” piped the old man. “No human being could have escaped -from this small balcony, without the use of ropes and ladders. And none -are here. We are misled! We are misled. Forward—march!” he cried, after -military fashion. “We will search every nook and corner of this great -mansion, until we find him. We will not be stopped. We are powerful, and -will slay every one in our path who objects to the course we are -taking.” - -The old man was frantic—frantic from the thought that they might fail in -taking the life of the Governor. - -He stalked into the hall followed by the other marauders, all of whom -seemed determined to demolish and otherwise ruin as much of the house -furnishings as possible. - -After completing the entire circuit of the rooms on that floor, they -started toward the wide staircase to descend to the floor below for -further search. - -At the head of the stairs they suddenly came to a standstill, and all -trembled with fright at what they saw. - -The brave old man who was only a moment ago so courageously leading his -warriors to battle beheld a child in white standing at the head of the -stairs, with arms outstretched, and he cried: “Jesus and Mary defend me! -This spirit is sent to warn us of death. Oh, oh.” He immediately fell -upon his knees and buried his face in his hands. His followers stood -still and watched the figure before them in breathless fear. - -“I am no spirit,” said the child, Catalina Martinet—for it was she who -stood before them—“but I have been one, and in that other life which -ended so strangely for me, I knew you, poor old man. How well I remember -seeing you in the yard of the cathedral and watching you and a boy pull -the rope which rang the bell in the high tower of the cathedral. At the -same time you helped to pull the rope, several boys in the tower beat -the big, old bell with sticks.” - -“Ah, Jesus and Mary, save me! This is a spirit, I am sure,” cried the -old man. - -“I repeat,” said Catalina, “I am not a spirit now, but I was once. Now I -live again, again! Old man, I recall how the very sight of you pulling -the old rope made me tremble with fear, if I had committed the slightest -deed contrary to the priest’s teachings and had not confessed. You -remember, do you not, old man?” - -The only reply vouchsafed was a shake of the head and a groan. - -“No?” she continued. “Then you _shall remember_, Señor Antonio Noriega, -the time you broke your leg when you were a very, very old man, and you -lay in the little dark adobe room back of the cathedral and died for -want of attention. Say, Señor Noriega, you need to remember. There needs -be an awakening of your soul; now is a good time for the beginning. -Arise, sir; leave this house this very moment and cease your evil -designs.” - -The old man stricken with horror, arose and in a trembling voice, said: -“It is the voice of a spirit. I am warned. Oh, that my eyes were open, -that I might see!” - -“Here, old man,” cried one of the fellows present, “don’t get scared and -leave us at this early stage of the game. Remember, we are out for -revenge.” - -“Come,” said the clear, sweet voice of the child Catalina. “You must -leave the Governor’s house this very moment. Arise! Forward-march! Take -this bottle, Señor Antonio Noriega, and when you step your foot on the -public street, drink its contents. Then _remember_; you will live again, -and you will see things not seen by the eye, and hear things not heard -by the ear.” - -The old man clutched the bottle tightly in his hand, and started down -the steps at a lively pace. - -Quietly and without a word the men followed. On reaching the door that -led into the vestibule, the entire party were surprised on being -commanded to surrender. - -Antonio Noriega gave up his arms at the first command; but such was not -the case with the others. For a few moments a hard fight was waged -between the officers of law and the revolutionary party. - -In the confusion and darkness, several offenders of law escaped from the -house, but were closely pursued by officers. The others were taken in -custody by the soldiers and policemen present, and conveyed to jail. - -At the moment the old man stepped from the Governor’s Mansion onto the -public street, Catalina Martinet cried: “Señor Antonio Noriega,” and he -raised the small bottle to his lips and drained it empty. “_Remember, -remember._” - -Different members of the revolutionary party cursed in an undertone, -“Memory Fluid,” all occult science, its devotees, and the administrators -of law in general. - -As the last man disappeared from view, Catalina Martinet cried: “I will -make them all live. I will get many vials, fill them with ‘Memory -Fluid,’ and when the sun makes the day very bright, I will take them in -a small basket, and go out amongst these people, who are alive, yet do -not live, and as I hand a vial to each man who looks vicious, I will -say: ‘Drink this and live.’ And when enough men drink the fluid, the war -which is going to be will be stopped. Come, Juan, take me upstairs. I am -sleepy and I want a bowl of milk.” - -Juan had stood close by during the affray, possibly too frightened to -move; and now that Catalina spoke to him, he moved forward and cried: -“Your Honor, the child is not human. I must leave your service.” - -Catalina clutched his arm tightly, and in a fit of childish glee, said: -“See, Juan; I am Catalina, a big, healthy child. I was a spirit once, -but now I am flesh and blood. Come on, Juan, take me upstairs; then get -me a bowl of milk. I am hungry. Come on, Juan; I am not a ghost. I am -poor Catalina. I am tired and hungry, Juan. Carry me.” She raised her -arms up to him. Without a word he lifted her in his arms, and hurried -with her to the little room adjoining the housekeeper’s; which was on -her arrival furnished with every article for childish comfort and -pleasure that could be found in Chihuahua. Strange to say, the house -which only a few moments ago was filled with violators of the law whose -intent was murder, was now so still, that a person stepping into the -home of the Governor, could hardly imagine that such a state of affairs -ever could have existed in such a quiet and magnificently appointed -home. Catalina fell asleep in Juan’s arms, and the slumber of the -healthy child whose breath fell gently on his cheek, was the one -demonstrated fact that she was a child of flesh and blood and very -human, notwithstanding she might be a novice in spiritual attainments. -He was convinced of the human part, however, and smiled to himself, as -he laid her on the bed, at the fright she had given him. Her head had no -sooner touched the bed than she opened her eyes, and said: “Juan, bring -me a bowl of warm milk, please. I am hungry—hungry—hungry.” - -Juan replied, at the same moment turning his head to hide a smile: -“_Muchacha mia_, Juan will bring you a bowl, _muy grande_, at that, _de -leche caliente_.” - -“Stay, Juan,” she cried, as he stepped into the hall. “You are not -afraid of me now, are you?” - -“No, no, child. You are a very, very lively little girl and no spirit. -Of that fact I am fully satisfied. I am going now for the milk. -Good-bye, sweet child. Juan is your friend.” - -“Juan is a strange old fellow,” said Catalina, as she cuddled down on -her little bed. “He was afraid of me because he thought me a spirit. I -wish my dear papa was here. I will go and find him as soon as it is very -light. If all these people could only _remember_, there never would be a -bloody war. I must find Miss Helen Hinckley and Miss Marriet Motuble. -She befriended me in the other life and built a very large, nice tomb -for me when I died. She was very, very good to me, but she is queer; -silly, I think now. I heard papa and Señor Guillermo Gonzales and Julio -Murillo say she pretended to die and be buried in the Motuble tomb, -where I was placed, and when they went there to see the body, they found -in the coffin—only a waxen figure. I wonder why she pretended to die and -didn’t. I wonder if she thought some one would cry—my papa, I -suspect—and she would only make believe she was dead, to see who cared -or would cry. Papa would cry, I know, if I were dead. I believe I will -die and see. I will wait, though, till Juan gets my warm milk; for I am -awful hungry. It is thinking about the ugly war and those wicked men who -were just here, that made me want my hot milk this early in the -morning.” At that moment Juan entered the room, bringing a howl of hot -milk and a plate of shredded graham bread, and placed it on a little -table by the side of her bed. - -She drank part of the milk, and laying her head back on the pillow, -said: “Juan, would you cry if I were to die now?” - -Juan was startled, and replied: “Now you are going to scare me again. -Because you _remember_, and say you lived here once before, it’s no sign -that if you die now and ever live again, that you will _remember_. You -would better hold on as long as you can, now that you are here. You are -a little girl, and young; you have no business talking about dying. God -did not make you to kill yourself. You drink the rest of the milk before -it gets cold, and go to sleep.” - -“Juan,” continued Catalina, “if you would be sorry, then how much more -sorry my papa and Miss Hinckley would be.” - -“I suppose your mamma would be very sorry too; and his Honor would be -most distracted if you died so young. He has taken the greatest fancy to -you of anyone since I came into his service; and that was when I was a -very young man. You don’t know what a good place you have, little girl, -and my advice is to stay close to it while you can,” concluded Juan, -with a bob of his head. - -“Listen, Juan,” continued the child. “I feel like I must die. I will die -at once. Come close to me. Sit in this chair, and you can see how I do -it.” - -Juan took a seat by her little bed, not because he wanted to, but from -the fact that he could not resist her influence. - -“I mean, Juan, his Honor, the Governor. He is my papa, you know, and -would be very sorry if I were to die. The man and woman into whose -family I was born are nothing to me now. I never cared much for them, -nor they for me; so no one there will cry. Why, Juan I took them a -bottle of ‘Memory Fluid,’ and tried to get them to take it, so they -could remember and we all could be happy. I could not be staying with -people who only care for this life. Persons who see the things _only_ -seen by the _eye_.” - -“Goodness!” exclaimed Juan, rising. “How can anyone see except _with_ -their eyes? Child, you are talking about things you know nothing of. -Drink your milk and go to sleep. I can’t stay here much longer -a-humoring you. I’ve got to attend to Señor Murillo,” concluded Juan, -rising. - -“Sit down, Juan, sit down,” quietly said Catalina; and Juan obeyed -meekly. - -“Great One, who lives here and everywhere, who knows all and causes all, -speak to me. Advise me. Will I be interfering with my soul, will light -be shut out from me; will I be in the way of anyone seeing things not -seen by the eyes, if I leave the matter we call a body, and go to you? -The people into whose family I was born are harming me, and I, a little -girl, am not strong enough in will or in knowledge of law to make them -follow me.” Turning to Juan she continued: “I have not been answered -yet, Juan, but I feel as if I must go; but I will come back, I will come -back, and his Honor, his Honor will be my papa. See, Juan, I am going.” - -“Oh, don’t go yet,” cried Juan; “there is the bell. I must answer it.” - -Catalina sat up in bed, and as Juan left the room, called: “Don’t be -gone a moment, Juan. I want to go away.” Then to herself she continued: -“It is not right for me to have been born into a family that do not know -me, that do not know the other world, and who do not remember. I cannot -be happy. I must live again. Great One above, shall I come?” She leaned -her head upon the little pillow encased in a dainty linen slip, and -remained perfectly silent. When Juan opened the door a few moments -later, and rushed into the room, she sat upright, and before he had time -to speak, said: “Juan, I am not going now. I can help his Honor. I can -help others. I can give many ‘Memory Fluid’; but before the cruel war -ends, I will leave and come again.” - -“I am almost out of breath, I hurried so fast to get back before you -could die. I got some terrible news. It came from the President, and as -his Honor was not here, Señor Julio Murillo opened the dispatch and -translated the ciphers. He believes there will be trouble all over the -States. He says he will telephone him personally in a few hours, and on -his arrival in Washington if the revolutionists are gaining in number -and giving more trouble, the army will be called out, and peace will -soon be restored. His Honor is not in the mansion, and everyone but -Señor Julio Murillo fears that some harm has befallen him.” - -“Oh, no; not everyone,” cried Catalina. “I am not afraid he is harmed. -He is with Helen Hinckley and safe. She loves him. Señor Julio knows -where they are, but I do not; but I can find them. Go on, Juan. I am -going to sleep; the warm milk is taking effect. I will sleep, but not -die for some time to come; not until I feel that I have done all -possible good. Then I will go and come back again, and then you will -know me; you will not be dead, but you will _remember_. Go on, Juan; I -am going to sleep. Tell his Honor, if you should see him before I do, -not to be alarmed, if he does not see me for a few days. I will be very -busy while the struggle lasts; at least, while it lasts in Chihuahua. -Many are needed to spread ‘Memory Fluid.’ It will have more effect in -spreading truth abroad and quelling the war at hand, than millions of -guns. I am needed to keep my eye upon several whom his Honor will pass -by, now that the lives of his people are in danger. I will be a -detective, Juan, and because I am a child no one will mind me being -around. There is ‘The Plunger from Kansas,’ Mrs. Grange, and Marriet -Motuble, who need the eye of the law upon them, but on account of the -trouble caused by Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir, Father Hernandez and -Rev. J. T. Note, they will be forgotten. It is my duty to see to them, -and I will perform my duty well. Go on, Juan; I am very sleepy.” - -The little fair head again fell back against the pillows, and in the few -moments Juan stood by silently watching, she fell into a sound slumber. - -“She is flesh and blood,” he soliloquized, standing quietly by her -bedside looking upon her plump, childish face. “Yes, she is flesh and -blood; but she has a great spirit in her. She is unlike other children. -I am afraid of her, yet I know she is only a child. She is a prophet. I -will take ‘Memory Fluid,’ then I can see things not seen by the eyes. -Ah, there is the bell again, again, again; something out of the usual is -happening.” Juan quietly and quickly left the room. In the hall he met -Julio Murillo, walking faster than he had ever known him to walk before. -On seeing Juan he cried: - -“I leave orders not to admit anyone to the house to-day. Under no -circumstances will this order be countermanded. I will leave by a -private entrance. No one will see me go nor return. Señor Guillermo -Gonzales alone will occupy the Governor’s private study until my return. -Under no circumstances intrude on him. He must not be worried about me, -nor by anyone asking questions; and it is your business to keep quiet, -and guard the house well, and his Honor’s interests in general, until I -return.” - -Juan replied: “Trust me, señor. I have never yet betrayed his Honor or -his interests. The hour is very early; you have not had your morning -meal. His Honor would not forgive me if a guest left his home, even if -the hour be four, without his customary meal. Recline here, señor, and -in a very few minutes I will return with a lunch just fitted to this -early hour.” - -“Your advice is good, Juan. I will accept your hospitality. But be -quick; every moment counts now. I have located the three men who were -last night confined in jail, on a charge of treason, and who escaped -less than an hour ago. While I had no trouble in locating them, there -will be much difficulty in getting them again behind the prison bars. -You are right, Juan; I will need my morning meal before attempting their -arrest. Bring me a bowl of hot milk, a plate of buttered toast, and two -soft-boiled eggs, and bring it quickly, Juan. The revolution is -inevitable, and we must face it like men and stop it; if possible, -without bloodshed. Yes, I will wait, Juan, just fifteen minutes.” - -As Juan passed from the presence of Señor Julio Murillo, he gave a -sharp, low whistle, his only means to express the great surprise he had -just received. - -“Well, this is a nice state of things. The Governor spirited away, the -prisoners escaped, Catalina on the eve of dying, ‘The Plunger from -Kansas’ gone again, a woman arising from the dead, and a war on hand, -all at the same time. Yes, a strange world. I don’t believe I will know -as much as I do now, if I do not stop thinking so much about all of -these strange things. I don’t believe I will take ‘Memory Fluid.’ I will -have no time then to do anything but remember everything that happened -when I lived before. I really wonder if I have lived before, or more -than once. How funny it would be to remember four or five different -lives. As soon as I get Señor Julio Murillo’s breakfast to him, and he -is well out of the house, I will experiment with ‘Memory Fluid.’ I will -be a subject. Oh, I wonder who I was when I lived before? Ha! ha! ha! -ha! Wouldn’t it be a great joke if I was in my first life a president? -Maybe I was George Washington, or the Mexican President, Santa Ana. Yes, -that is a great joke. I have my own curiosity up, and will drink a -gallon of that ‘Memory Fluid,’ if it will make me remember.” - -Juan strode on toward the kitchen hurriedly, to give the order for Señor -Julio Murillo’s breakfast, and then sat down on a stool and deeply -meditated, upon the subject of “Memory Fluid.” - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - MEETING IN THE ALAMEDA. - - -Señor Julio Murillo reclined on a comfortable couch in the large -reception-hall on the second floor of the Governor’s stately mansion, to -await the return of Juan. - -“I see,” he mentally commented, “the end of this revolution which has -just begun. If those who precipitated the mad act were told now what the -final would be, they would have no faith in what was told them being -true, and would leave nothing undone to carry out their present -intentions. There is no way of dealing with those who have no knowledge -outside of physical self, except by physical force. It is a lamentable -condition of affairs to those who cannot see the end. To me it is of no -concern whatever, except that I hate to see the suffering of humanity. -There is always a certain sympathy, which the initiated have with those -who do not know the Law. The spread of Free Thought during the last -century, caused by scientific investigations, particularly in the spirit -realm, has been wonderful. Such a very great decrease in crime has never -been known, or at least has never been recorded since the beginning of -time, as that shown during the last fifty years. The wane of the power -of the priest and the pastor, and the great diffusion of scientific -truths concerning the realm of the hidden is accountable for it. I will -not do my duty if I fail to relieve the sufferings of those who do not -_know_, of those who can only see the things seen by the eye. Here comes -Juan, poor fellow. I wish he could see the hidden. He is on the road and -will soon know, however. Is it he? Are my physical eyes failing me? It -cannot be; the figure is too large and does not move like a domestic; -still, Juan has much spirit. It is Señor Guillermo Gonzales. Ha! ha! -what a start he gave me.” - -He started to rise to greet the person coming toward him whom he thought -to be his scientific coworker, when he uttered a startled exclamation -and fell quietly back in the deep shadows, amongst the pillows on the -couch. - -“It approaches with the caution and tread of Macbeth. It is not a -spirit. It is of flesh and blood, and is here for no good purpose. To me -it will be amusing from this moment on, to watch the many nefarious -people who will try to end this physical existence of the good and great -Governor. If they knew what I know, they would certainly save themselves -the trouble. The light in the early morning is very uncertain, yet the -outlines of face and figure I cannot discern with the physical eye, is -plain through the eye of intuition. And I see the much-disguised figure -of Marriet Motuble, the invincible. I must not be discovered here, or -half the pleasure of knowing the object of her early call will be lost. -From a physical sense of view, to follow her over the house will be -interesting. Ah, where is she going now? She stops. She listens. I -wonder what she hears? Can it be that she hears my breathing, or feels -the vibrations of my thoughts? I hope not; for if either be the case, -this interesting scene will be denied me. She goes toward his Honor’s -private bedroom. The lay of the rooms are well defined in her mind. What -is it she carries in her right hand? Now she raises it. The door is -opening. She will not waste a shot, I am quite sure. When she finds the -Governor is not in his apartment, she will be disappointed, and hurry -out for fear of being discovered, but not by this door; the more private -one at the end of the suite will suit her purposes, I fancy, much -better. I will have Juan follow and catch her if possible. I will have -him fasten all the doors securely and bar the windows. She will lead him -a lively chase; but then he will be otherwise occupied than studying and -worrying over the absence of his Honor. Here he is now.” - -Juan placed the breakfast on a table near the couch, and said: “Fifteen -minutes is a long time to spend in preparing so simple a meal. I hope, I -hope I have not tired your patience.” - -“It makes no difference; in fact, I am glad I was detained. I have -another commission for you,” said Señor Julio Murillo. “You know the -large, aggressive señorita Marriet Motuble, do you not?” - -“I do, sir; I do. She frightened me badly once. I will tell you about -it,” said Juan. - -“At some other time, Juan,” replied Señor Julio Murillo. “We have no -time to lose. She is in the house at this moment, intent on no good -purpose. See that she does not get out of the house. Tell her you have -orders not to open the doors under twenty-four hours. Follow her, Juan. -She must not escape.” - -“But you, sir. I cannot leave you unserved,” pleaded Juan, expressing -the hope that he might not have to follow Marriet Motuble. - -“I need no more service, Juan. In ten minutes I will have completed my -breakfast and be gone. You have no time to lose; the house must be -securely fastened, for the señorita is as sly as a fox, and will escape -if double caution is not quickly secured. It is necessary to detain this -woman, from more points of view than one. I have nothing more to say, -Juan, except for you to go.” - -Juan’s head fell low, and without a word he walked slowly in the -direction Marriet Motuble had disappeared. - -Julio Murillo finished his meal quickly, descended the stairs -noiselessly, and in an instant had disappeared from the house. - -Juan encountered the aggressive señorita sooner than he had calculated. -Evidently the many rooms and openings on the floor had confused her, and -she had lost her bearings. And now as she was retracing her steps, no -doubt in the hope of finding the private stairway which led to a door -opening onto the back lawn, she faced Juan before either was aware of -the presence of the other. - -The invincible señorita was equal to the emergency, but Juan fell over -against a wall, trembling and frightened, and prayed that she would pass -him unobserved. - -Again he was doomed to disappointment, for instead of passing him -unobserved, or if observed, hurrying by him in the hope of escaping -without being detected, the very instant she saw him she walked bravely -up, and slapping him on the shoulder, said: - -“Hello, Juan. You seem to have been on guard all night, or else -something unusual has happened to get you up at this early hour. Come, -Juan, you are my friend; let me into your secret. I mean, of course, the -secret of the household.” - -“Well,” replied Juan, with some spirit, as he pushed her hand off his -shoulder and moved away from her, “you seem to know more about this -house than I do.” - -“Ha! ha! Juan,” laughed the señorita. “Ha! ha! there are tricks in all -trades, and by the time you have lived through five existences and -_remember_ everything in each life and take advantage of your learning, -you will know more about some things than some other people who do not -_remember_. Ha! ha! Juan, why don’t you drink some of your master’s -‘Memory Fluid’—a gallon or so, to start on? Ha! ha! That ‘Liquid from -the Sun’s Rays’ is wonderful! It could not be otherwise, as his Honor is -such a wonderful man. But come, Juan, tell me where he is. In which -room? And see, this is for your trouble.” She held up a twenty-dollar -gold coin, which shone brightly in the dim light of the early morning. -“A twenty-dollar gold coin cannot be picked up every moment, Juan. Do -you know a good thing when you see it?” - -“See me; do you, miss, see me? Well, I will stand here until I starve to -death, or am killed, before I would tell you anything about his Honor’s -affairs, if you offered me ten times that amount of money. I don’t need -any money. I have plenty to eat and wear. But I haven’t time to stand -here in his Honor’s private bedrooms talking to a lady at this early -hour in the morning or at any other hour of the day.” - -“Well, well, _amigo_, you are a loyal servant. I only wanted to know if -his Honor has recovered from the fright I gave him a few days ago. I -really do not recall to mind the exact date,” persisted Miss Motuble. - -To which Juan replied: “The Governor is not so easily frightened as you -seem to imagine. _You_ never frightened him; you simply overpowered him -by means of your superior physical force.” - -“Whew!” was the surprised beginning of Miss Motuble’s reply. “Whew! -think of this great logician living all these years in Chihuahua and -until this moment undiscovered. I have done humanity a great act of -kindness by coming up here, even if my original object in coming was -what the physical world calls villainous.” - -“There has been more than one person here to-night for the same purpose. -But the Governor is alive and well, and will so remain until the end of -time.” - -“Juan,” tantalizingly replied Miss Motuble, “you are fast becoming a man -of science. Association has done it all, Juan—done it all.” - -At that moment a small figure in white appeared in the room where they -stood. - -“It is the ghost of Catalina,” said Juan. - -“It is no ghost. It is Catalina herself. She is a somnambulist. You do -not know what that word means, do you, Juan? It means she walks in her -sleep. Come; we will follow her,” concluded Miss Motuble. Catalina -walked quietly to the far end of the room in the direction she was -going, then, turning around, she retraced her steps and entered her own -room. She was closely followed by Marriet Motuble. Juan took advantage -of the occasion to slip away unobserved and to carry out the -instructions of Julio Murillo. - -Catalina climbed upon her little bed, and to all appearances went to -sleep. Marriet Motuble wanted to speak to the child, yet hesitated. -Going close to the bed and gazing intently on her upturned face, she -said: “She is very much of a child, indeed. I will not speak to her. -Juan, show me over the house.” Juan made no reply, and turning around, -she discovered for the first time that he was not present. “That is a -cool way of treating a guest. I will report the actions of this domestic -to his Honor the first time I meet him. Think of it. I, Marriet Motuble, -in her sixth life, with a full and complete remembrance of each, being -left to pilot myself through the grand mansion of the great Governor of -Chihuahua. It seems that the manners of domestics, and some people who -are not domestics, to-day are as much out of order as they were in the -nineteenth century. The nonprogression of some people is not to be -accounted for; at least, I shall not occupy my mind trying to figure it -out. There are other things of more consequence. For instance, were the -revolutionists successful in killing his Honor, and his coworkers? If -so, where are their bodies? If not, where are the revolutionists? There -are no signs of any disturbers of peace having been here. I’ll make a -hasty search through the house, and quietly make my exit.” - -No sooner had Marriet Motuble passed from the room, than Catalina sprang -from her bed, quickly put on a street dress, and in a few minutes was -out of the house. She passed on without attracting any attention. - -The streets were alive with trades-people hurrying to their respective -places of business. In the great bustle, no one noticed the child. -Marriet Motuble, too, evaded the guardianship of Juan, and was soon lost -in the crowds on the streets. Everywhere there were large numbers of -policemen, and now and then small squads of soldiers hurried by, all of -whom evidently had a place in view which they were bent on reaching at -an early hour. - -As she wandered on and on through one crowded street after another, she -met here and there a face whom she recognized as a revolutionary -sympathizer, many of whom had been amongst the crowd in the store room -the evening before, and heard her deliver a sympathetic speech, -disguised as a man. How none of them recognized her. How could they, -when no one had any suspicions that the speaker of the previous evening -was a woman in disguise. Marriet Motuble’s face wore a look of serious -disappointment. - -Approaching a small group of men she inquired the hour, and on being -told it was five o’clock, she then asked if the morning paper was out -and what news there was about the persons intent on disturbing the -peace. Several expressed themselves as considering the condition of -affairs very alarming; while others who joined the crowd thought the -affair would be of no further consequence. - -While the small crowd were talking, the cry of: “All about the -Revolutionists,” “Prisoners accused of Treason against the United States -of America,” from a hundred or more news-carriers, rang out loud and -long. - -Every person present bought a paper, the great daily _Chihuahuan_. - -Marriet Motuble opened her paper, and as she walked hurriedly toward the -Mexican Annex, read to herself: - -“Seventy-five of the revolutionary party traced by detectives to the -home of Governor Lehumada, where all but a few, who escaped during the -trouble which occurred while the arrests were being made, are now lodged -behind the prison bars awaiting trial. The object of these fanatics was -to take the life of the Governor, which would precipitate the State into -a fearful excitement, and aid them in getting a hold upon the ignorant, -and in increasing their nefarious deeds. The promoters of the -revolutionary sentiments: Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir, Father -Hernandez, and the Rev. J. T. Note, who were arrested and placed in jail -on a charge of treason against the Government, have escaped.” - -“Escaped!” exclaimed Marriet Motuble. “Escaped, and I did not know it -till now. Well, I never will tell _The Chihuahuan_ where I got the first -knowledge of the affair. Ha! ha! I would bet on J. T. Note every time. -He was slick in the other life that I knew him. He was a foreign -missionary. He came down to this country, which was then a part of the -fastly waning Republic of Mexico, to teach the descendants of the Aztecs -and the Spanish conquerors the Protestant faith. He represented a large -body of proselytes who were jealous of the hold the Catholic Church had -on the Mexican Republic. He exhorted and pleaded with the poor, -downtrodden people, to believe as the Protestants believed; to renounce -their faith in catholicism. He without question wanted the _centavos_ -the ignorant creatures stole and begged for, and he got them, many of -them at that. And he built himself a fine place of worship and clothed -himself and family in purple and fine linen, as the Bible expresses it, -and lived off the fat of the land from the sale of the _zarapas_ which -were donated for the use of the poor, ignorant peons whom he had -converted. Yes, he is slick. Now he is in the same boat that the priests -were in then. The faith in the teachings of the lazy creatures is -waning. There should be more corn-fields to plough and ditches to dig, -and everyone who subscribes himself priest or pastor should be compelled -to dig so many hundred feet every year, even if they missed part of -their prayers and confessions. Yes, J. T. Note will wiggle out of this -affair somehow, as he has out of jail. It may be, through the -instrumentality of the present _régime_ he and his associates will be -ebonized and put in a museum, where they will be of much interest to the -future generations. - -“The treatise on ‘Uses of Ebony Fluid,’ which I found lying on the -Governor’s desk in his private office the first day I called there, -speaks of using it to preserve the body in its present shape, after the -spirit of life has passed out. The use of a few drops of ‘Ebony Fluid’ -turns all such animal matter black as ebony, and preserves it through -all eternity. This gives me an idea. The copy of his treatise on ‘Mental -Fotography,’ which I took with me from the room, will enable me to -experiment with this lightning process of fotography known only to his -Honor, Messrs. Julio Murillo and Guillermo Gonzales, and to spring a -surprise upon them. Well, these meditations will save for another time. -What is this: ‘The Governor Spirited Away! He has not been seen at the -Mansion since eleven-thirty last night. Much fear is entertained that -foul play has been done. At this hour no news of his whereabouts can be -had. Much rioting and plundering by sympathizers from both the Catholic -and Protestant faith in many of the States. Those who are opposed to -free thought and the scientific demonstration of spiritualistic -advancement constitute a large body of the revolutionists.’” - -Folding up _The Chihuahuan_, and placing it in her coat-pocket, after -the fashion of business men, she increased her pace. - -“Ah!” she exclaimed, as she turned a corner which put her on the street -facing the Mexican Annex; “if there is not the child Catalina. Something -is taking place which I cannot ferret. She must not see me. I will hurry -to the Annex, disguise myself, and follow this child, who is wiser than -her years,” concluded the invincible Marriet Motuble, as she hurried on -with lightning tread. - -Catalina Martinet walked slowly on, now and then glancing around as if -she expected some one. On reaching the Alameda she increased her steps -and walked up to the magnificent statue of George Washington. After -viewing it intently for a moment, she sat down on a rustic seat near by. -“I will sit here and watch for her. She must be punished in this life -for her misdeeds. She, as well as ‘The Plunger from Kansas,’ escaped in -the other life. She was a peace disturber then, and who can say she is -not a peace disturber now? Ah, here comes a person who makes one feel -like there is no ill in the world. Her presence has the same effect on -me, after seeing Marriet Motuble, that oil does on a deep burn. It heals -and cools the fever caused by evil thoughts. I love her; she is my angel -of light,” concluded Catalina Martinet, as she sprang from her seat in -eager excitement, and ran to meet the object of her love. - -Helen Hinckley clasped her fondly in her arms, and exclaimed: “It is a -very early hour, sweet child, for you to be out and alone. I knew you -would be here; that is why I came this way.” - -“I expected you, Miss Hinckley. You must help me as you did the -Governor, if I need help. He is safe, is he not?” said Catalina. - -“You expected me, you say? Well, that is a coincidence. Yes, child, the -great Governor, author and scientific man is safe and unharmed. He is -beyond the pale of the revolutionists. No great harm can attend; the -great Divine Influence will protect him from physical destruction, but -often his existence physically will be in danger of annihilation. Come, -dear, tell me why you are out, and in what way I can serve you. We are -both working to accomplish the same result,” said the beautiful Helen -Hinckley, as she pressed the child’s soft white hands to her lips. - -“I am out,” answered Catalina, “to look after several people; those who -should be compelled to repent of their evil ways in this life, that -others in a life to come may not be imposed upon by them.” - -“So far,” said Helen Hinckley, “your answer is logical and full of -feeling. But who are the people about whom you have reached such a -conclusion?” - -“The main person is ‘The Plunger from Kansas.’ He is in hiding and in -disguise. He lingers and lingers in this city; yet it is hard to get him -to the bar of justice.” - -“That is true, child; there is a great mental magnet that holds him here -in spite of himself. And if by some means he becomes a _subject_, he -will walk up by his own free will and acknowledge the debt he owes to me -and others, and will proffer the money. The day of reckoning is sure to -come. Do not let the Plunger give you one moment of uneasiness, dear,” -added Miss Hinckley. - -“I am not uneasy. I am only anxious to get out of the body again; and I -wish to serve his Honor all that is possible before I go,” was the -rather serious reply of Catalina. - -“You are unhappy, child. Why is it, when you are surrounded by every -comfort, and are dearly beloved by his Honor? He could not love a child -of his own any more. Do not wish to leave. I will be lonely when you are -gone. And his Honor, I cannot say how badly he will feel. I do not like -to see a little girl so serious.” - -Helen Hinckley took the strange child on her lap as she concluded, and -pressed her face to her bosom. - -Catalina put her arms around her neck and as she kissed her fondly on -the cheek, said: “Before I remembered, I was not serious; but I took -spells of crying, and without any reason whatever I cried to be called -Catalina Lehumada. Then on the day I went to sell flowers and saw the -bad, bad man who caused me grief in the life gone by, I remembered. -Señor Julio Murillo says he put a small bottle of ‘Memory Fluid’ near -by, so I could not help inhaling the fumes, and that is what made me -remember. Then I knew why I felt as I did about not being his little -girl. It is enough to make any one serious to be born into a family in -which there is no harmony whatever with one’s life. When I see the -Plunger repentant, and hear Marriet Motuble confess her sins, and the -man who made me faint, mend his ways, I will go, and return, I hope, -into a sphere of harmony. There comes Marriet Motuble. I must follow her -instead of her following me.” - -“Where is she, child? queer, interesting, lovely, spiritual darling that -you are, tell me, where is Marriet Motuble?” quickly spoke Catalina’s -companion. - -“Do you see that large man dressed in steel-grey clothes, who walks like -a lawyer? Yes? That person is not a man. Marriet Motuble is the name of -the person. She is out for no good. Less than an hour ago she was in his -Honor’s mansion.” - -“Impossible! How did she enter?” cried Miss Hinckley, as she arose to -watch Marriet Motuble, the friend of her other life, now parading -nervously before the great Mexican Annex. - -“Stranger in this life than in the life she lived in the nineteenth -century. She is kind-hearted enough and true in a way. Her strange -actions are due to her inability to control her violent temper, on the -one hand, and to temper her jealousy, on the other.” - -“It is her love for his Honor, and the assurance she has that he cares -not for her, that causes her strange actions in this life. She is -looking for you. She believes you know where his Honor is, and if she -follows you she will find him. Look, Miss Hinckley, look; a dreadful -fight is taking place yonder, I want to go. I may be needed,” cried -Catalina. - -“Quite true, child. We will go. Listen to the reports of the guns. How -horrible to send one out of the body in such an uproarious fashion. Why -can’t they use the noiseless guns? This is simply barbarism.” - -“I want to go,” impatiently cried Catalina. “I must go. Miss Hinckley, -come with me. I am impatient to finish my work here and go. I cannot -longer endure the family relations into which I was born. It is a living -death to me. Look at the crowd! His Honor may be there and in danger. -His work has only begun; he must not be retarded in it.” - -Helen Hinckley took the strange child, strange to the uninitiated, by -the hand, looked intently into her sweet upturned face, which she kissed -fondly, and without a word they started briskly toward the street where -the fight was taking place. - -“Oh, I wish I were there,” impatiently cried Catalina. “If I had wings I -would fly.” - -“Stop, dear; put your right palm on my left palm and slip your left hand -under this strap. That is correct. We cannot fly like birds in the sky, -but we can sail along at a slow, steady rate, much faster than we can -walk; and if necessary, we can rise above the crowd and escape.” - -“How splendid!” cried Catalina, as she felt herself rising from the -ground. “How splendid! Miss Hinckley, you are my angel. You will carry -me safely. His Honor cannot live much longer in this life unless you are -with him. My dear papa! I love him, oh, so much! He _will be_ my papa -some day, when I return.” - -“He loves you now, as if you were his child, and so do I,” whispered -Helen Hinckley to Catalina. - -“I will be _your_ child, too. _Yours_ and his _Honor’s_,” answered the -child, happy in the thought that she would have in a life to come -harmonious environments. - -The crowd grew greater, and by the time Miss Hinckley and her little -companion reached the place where the trouble was occurring, ten -thousand people had collected themselves together, and from the threats -and cries against the Governor and his scientific coworkers, many -amongst them evidently were of the revolutionary party. - -Miss Hinckley and Catalina quietly pushed themselves into the thickest -of the crowd, and had it not been for the fact that they could hold -themselves above the crowd, both would have suffered for the want of -pure, wholesome air. - -At first no one paid any attention to them, but when Miss Hinckley saw -men fall back dying, she cried: “Stand back, gentlemen!” and everyone -looked at her in surprise. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - THE CONSPIRATORS DISPERSED. - - -“It is only a woman!” exclaimed one man. “Finish the job, boys. She -cannot prevent us. Finish your slaughter, boys; then we will triumph. Do -not mind the voice of a woman. One of the makers of ‘Memory Fluid’ lies -dead now, and the others will be laid in the grave at the same time, if -they can be found.” - -At that moment the entire crowd was surrounded by police and soldiers, -and the voice of a general rang out: “Revolutionists, surrender or die!” - -Still, curses, threats and shots from the disturbers of peace rang out. -The soldiers were drawing nearer and on the point of rushing into the -revolutionists, determined to quell the uprising with their noiseless -guns and poisoned bayonets, when Helen Hinckley arose far above the -heads of all, with Catalina by the hand, and cried: “Colonel, no blood -must be shed. The principles of truth must not be established by -bloodshed. People cannot be forced to see the inner life. It can only -come through an awakening of self. Orthodoxism has been carried into -every country with the _sword_ in one hand, and the _cross_ in the -other. No lasting good has resulted. A knowledge of things not seen by -the eye cannot be forced on man. Come forward; the disturbers will give -up their arms. Take them prisoners, and if they will be subjects, if -they will take ‘Memory Fluid’ freely and without force, the evil in them -will be overcome. They will remember and when they remember they will -_see the things not seen by the eye_.” - -To the initiated the sight of Helen Hinckley and Catalina Martinet -suspended in the air wholly without any visible support, in consequence -of overcoming the law of gravitation, was the cause of much rejoicing. -On the other hand, the great mass of people present whose knowledge of -the great law of God was limited, or more often wanting, stood back in -awe. Some of the revolutionists cried: “Save us, save us! The wrath of -God is upon us. The end of the world is near.” - -The captain of one of the regular companies stood near by, and seeing -the effect of Helen Hinckley’s words and the sight of her and Catalina -now moving slowly from one part of the crowd to another, suspended in -space, concluded to take advantage of the occasion, and quietly and -without bloodshed make prisoners of the worst of the leaders of the -trouble. At the most opportune moment possible for him to be assisted in -carrying out his intentions, Helen Hinckley cried: “Lay down your arms, -you disturbers of law! Surrender before it is too late.” The soldiers -rushed in and with very little trouble disarmed those who had uttered -the revolutionary sentiments, those who were considered the most -dangerous, and the leaders of the party. - -With the assistance of the police, several hundred men were marshalled -away from the crowded street, some imprisoned and others put under -strict surveillance, where they would be kept until peace was finally -assured in the city, and the rebellion in general had been quelled. - -While the throng was dispersing, Helen Hinckley and Catalina sought the -wounded, and had them removed to the great hospital, while the dead were -taken to the morgue to await identification and be prepared for burial. - -Julio Murillo was discovered, when they were leaving to follow the -wounded to the hospital, jammed up against a large stone, several bullet -holes through him and one leg broken. A litter was soon at hand by Miss -Hinckley’s order, and the great man of science was carried hurriedly to -the Governor’s Mansion, where every attention known to science was given -him. - -Not for several hours after his leg had been set, the bullets removed -and the poison counteracted by means of “Liquid from the Sun’s Rays,” -did he return to consciousness. - -Señor Guillermo Gonzales, assisted by Helen Hinckley, performed the -entire operation, and sat quietly by his side discussing in subdued -tones the present state of affairs. When he again had control of his -mental faculties, he addressed himself first to Helen Hinckley. - -“You saved me from many long days of suffering by discovering my -condition when you did, and attending to my wounds so promptly. And I -thank you very much.” - -“I was out to do my duty, friend Julio; there is no occasion for thanks. -Many believed that you had left us; but I was determined not to take any -chances. It seemed impossible that you would pass away at the very -moment your services are the most needed. Now that you are with us -again, and I am assured of the fact, I will go to the hospital, where my -hands may be needed to care for the wounded and dying.” - -At that moment, Juan quietly entered the room, bringing a card which he -handed to Señor Guillermo Gonzales. - -He scanned the card closely and read: “‘William Jones, Physician and -Surgeon,’ A very plain, inoffensive name. I will receive Doctor Jones; -he may be able to render some assistance at the hospital. Show him up to -the reception-room, Juan. Hold a minute,” he said, turning the card -over; “here is a message written on the back.” - -“Your Honor,” it began, “I wish to offer my professional services. Let -me help care for the wounded and dying. Call me. I am your servant.” - -“Those are noble sentiments. I will receive him immediately. Miss -Hinckley, remain with friend Julio until I return,” concluded Guillermo -Gonzales, as he arose to leave the room. Julio Murillo detained him by -saying: “Doctor Jones has no doubt made this call partly to find out my -condition. I will consider it a favor if you let him come to this room, -and I insist that Miss Hinckley remain.” - -“As you like, friend Julio. You know your condition better than anyone -else. If you do not fear any evil results from having this stranger -present, Juan may show the visitor here, to this room,” concluded -Guillermo Gonzales. - -No sooner had Juan disappeared from the room, than a light tap was heard -on the door. Helen Hinckley opened it quietly and his Honor stepped into -the room. - -He clasped her hand warmly, and said in tones only heard by herself: “My -soul, my life, my preserver! I must speak to you alone. _When_ and -where? I want to know now.” - -“When the interview at hand is over, I will take you to our retreat, -found this morning. Hark! they are coming,” concluded Miss Hinckley, -going slowly with the Governor to the bed on which lay the wounded -scientist. - -Señor Guillermo Gonzales greeted the Governor cordially, and explained -the condition of Julio. - -The Governor sympathized heartily with the sufferer, and assured him -that the mere fact of his escape from death, or rather of his being -wounded in the affray, would serve as proof of the real intentions of -the rebels, and be a means of helping to bring the trouble to an early -end. - -“I have for the last two hours been closeted with the officers of war, -and constantly in receipt of messages from Washington. The Government is -determined to put down these small cliques of rebels. The condition of -affairs in some of the States east of the Mississippi River is worse -than in our own city. The President will arrive in the national capital -to-morrow night, and a council of war will be held immediately. -Instantly the result will be made known to us. There is much, much to be -talked about; but the condition of our friend Julio must be the first -consideration. Ah! here comes some one. Who can be intruding on the -wounded one?” concluded the Governor. - -Señor Guillermo Gonzales handed him the card of the prospective visitor, -and said: “A physician, who wishes to assist in caring for the wounded -and dying. It is at the request of Julio that he comes here.” - -At that moment the door opened at the order of Señor Guillermo Gonzales, -and Juan ushered in William Jones, M. D., but not alone. He was -accompanied by a much smaller and younger looking man, whom he -introduced to Señor Guillermo Gonzales as “my secretary, Francis -Maynard.” - -William Jones, M. D., bowed very stiffly when presented to the Governor -and Helen Hinckley, but was very profuse in his expressions of sympathy -when he was presented to the wounded scientist. - -“Ah, friend Julio, I could not resist coming to see you, after hearing -of your terrible accident. Gentlemen, I recognize in this unfortunate -man a friend of my youth. I beg of you to let me attend him. I have no -business at present, and your duties are many.” - -Questioning glances passed between Helen Hinckley, Guillermo Gonzales -and the Governor. Even Juan felt that something was radically wrong, and -as he looked from one to the other with a hopeful expression in his -face, he turned away, and as his eyes fell upon the face of Doctor -Jones, he shook his head, which confirmed all that his suspicions had -been aroused, and he evidently believed Doctor Jones to be the -suspicions person. The two strangers did not accept the chairs offered -them, and all in the room remained standing. - -Doctor Jones, seemingly unconscious of the suspicions his presence had -aroused, continued: “If my medical skill avails anything, the son of -Señora Suzzan Carriles, of Colima, shall not leave this existence until -the great work he is trying to accomplish is a success. Until ‘Memory -Fluid,’ and the wonderful results obtained by the use of it, are -heralded from one end of the universe to the other. It is a great and -noble cause for which you are working,—to see that justice is meted to -all. ‘The Plunger from Kansas’ is not the only one to whom justice will -be meted out. The ample proof at hand that he committed the great cattle -theft in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, and was then the -cause of suffering and poverty of many whom fortune favored in the way -of helping on retribution, by causing many whom he wronged, to live -another life at the same time the Plunger lived, that this very thing -for which you are working might come to pass. Gentlemen, let me -congratulate you, one and all.” With that the enthusiastic doctor shook -hands with the three scientists and Miss Hinckley. Everyone present -except himself seemed to be very much constrained. - -He rubbed his hands in evident satisfaction, and as he sat down by -Julio’s bedside he continued: “You will do me a very great favor not to -linger here any longer. Others need your services badly. It will give me -much pain to leave the son of Señora Suzzan Carriles, of Colima. Sit -down, Francis, sit down. I may need you. Gentlemen, consider yourselves -at liberty to go now.” - -Great astonishment was written on the faces of the Governor, Señor -Guillermo Gonzales, Miss Hinckley and Juan. They were too much surprised -at the audacity of Doctor Jones to speak. Even Francis Maynard showed -great uneasiness as he took a seat near the chair of Doctor Jones. - -Governor Lehumada offered Miss Hinckley his arm, and without a word they -left the room, followed by Señor Guillermo Gonzales, who tarried a -moment to give a few directions to Juan, and speak a moment with his -coworker, Julio Murillo. - -When the three were safely in the Governor’s private study, and the door -securely locked, the Governor motioned all to be seated. Standing in -front of them he laughed merrily, as he said: “It was well for my -reputation that no stranger was present when _Doctor Jones_ invited us -to leave our own apartments, and we quietly obeyed without any comments -whatever.” - -Both Señor Guillermo Gonzales and Helen Hinckley saw the humorous side -of the occurrence and they joined the Governor in his laugh. - -“The audacious señorita,” continued the Governor, “is irresponsible for -her actions.” - -Miss Hinckley and Señor Guillermo Gonzales exclaimed in a breath: -“Señorita?” - -“Certainly; Marriet Motuble. I do not believe it is possible for her to -effect a disguise I could not penetrate.” - -“Governor,” said Miss Hinckley, “you have confirmed my suspicions.” - -“And mine,” added Guillermo Gonzales. - -“The young fellow with her I cannot quite make out,” continued the -Governor, with a puzzled look in his face. - -“The fellow,” said Helen Hinckley, “is, I believe, ‘The Plunger from -Kansas.’” - -“Can it be possible?” exclaimed both the Governor and Guillermo -Gonzales. - -“Then we must not let him get away until we have his full confession in -writing, and a check for the full amount of his obligations,” said the -Governor. - -“You are quite right, Miguey,” said the Governor’s scientific friend, -and friend of his other life, “quite right. Possibly if we had been able -to present to the public a month or so ago all the necessary proofs of -what we claim for ‘Memory Fluid,’ the present trouble,—the uprising, I -mean—might have been prevented. It is a horrible thing. Fifty persons -now lie dead in the morgue.” - -“It is a serious condition of affairs,” replied the Governor, “for the -uninitiated, particularly, to be sent out of this existence during such -an unfortunate affair, and without any insight whatever into the unseen. -Think of the misery they will unknowingly cause the future generation. -If it were not the law that each must see the things not seen by the -eye, before they are fitted for the Realm on High, it would be fortunate -for those who will come in contact with them if their reappearance here -could be prevented.” - -“I hope the poor creatures at the hospital who were wounded and are in -agony with physical pain, will recover, that they may have a chance to -know. If your Honor and Señor Guillermo Gonzales will pardon me, I will -hurry to the hospital and tender my services,” concluded Helen Hinckley, -as she arose to leave the room. - -“One moment, one moment, Miss Hinckley,” said Governor Lehumada. “I will -inquire how the wounded are, and if your services are needed.” - -The Governor stepped into the chamber adjoining, built especially to -condense thought waves, which were made audible by holding a small -cone-shaped instrument to the ear which was connected at the smaller end -by means of a fine wire to the thought-condensing board. In a few -moments he returned to his study with a very much pleased expression on -his face. He dropped into a chair, and throwing his handsome head far -back and his arms out and forward in a suppliant manner, cried: “Great -Cause, thou everlasting Ruler, the Promoter of Harmony, and the -Distributor of Justice, I am happier this moment than at any other -period of my existence to my recollection.” - -Helen Hinckley and Guillermo Gonzales looked quietly on, but neither -spoke. - -After his exclamation was completed he looked at his friends smilingly, -and continued: “Miss Hinckley, and friend Guillermo, this is a -victorious day for us. I have this moment heard from the head physician -at the hospital, William J. Matling. He says that only two of the fifty -wounded will pass away. He further states that their blasphemous cries -and threats against myself and my able coworkers which filled the air -with horror for an hour or more, have subsided, and they are either in a -state which resembles a trance, or are relating strange stories, and now -and then one shouts: ‘I am happy. I know what it is to live. I see the -things not seen by the eye and hear things not heard by the ear.’ He -further says that a strange child, who declares she is his Honor’s -Catalina, has been going from one ward to another, and to no one has she -failed to talk a moment. He requested the head nurse to have the child -taken away from the hospital; but every man protested, and he allowed -her to remain.” - -“Catalina, the blessed one,” said Miss Hinckley; “she is determined on -doing her duty in this life.” - -“The physician asked me to use my influence in removing the child from -the hospital. He said he firmly believes she has bewitched the men, and -when they come out from under her spell they will be beyond his -control,” said the Governor. - -“Doctor Matling is certainly one of the uninitiated. Catalina should -give him a whiff of ‘Memory Fluid,’ and he would understand the spell he -thinks she has cast over those men,” said Señor Guillermo Gonzales. - -“I remember,” added Miss Hinckley. “She had a small basket on her arm -this morning, in which were several dozen small vials. She said they -were full of ‘Memory Fluid’ and she was going to give part of the -contents to each of the most vicious of the disturbers of peace she -could find.” - -“The dear, blessed darling!” exclaimed the Governor, rising. “We -discoverers of ‘Memory Fluid’ certainly owe that dear child an eternal -debt of gratitude. Miss Hinckley, I wish you to remain here for a few -days; your services are not needed at the hospital or on the street. You -can render me and the cause for which we all are working, more direct -good by staying here. The trial of the unfortunate creatures who -attempted to rid this existence of my presence physically, I hope to -have take place in the near future. The capture of the three instigators -of this uprising is looked for at any moment. The condition of the -revolt outside of the city is getting more serious.” - -“And in the North and East, friend Miguey, does not the President report -the condition alarming?” asked Guillermo Gonzales. - -“He does,” replied the Governor. “And the main body of rebels comes from -those who see the waning of dogmatic teachings, on the one side, and the -increase of scientific investigations in the realm of spirit, on the -other. One cannot be forced to see the hidden. The desire must be born -within. And when the desire is given birth, it needs strict adherence to -right, a continual reaching out for Truth, or little good is -accomplished.” - -“These priests and pastors and the fanatics who follow them are on the -whole responsible for the condition at present; but, Miguey, the final -is the great victory of the spirit; of the diffusion of knowledge of the -law of the unseen,” said Guillermo Gonzales. - -“The petition pending in the legislature of the United States,” said -Helen Hinckley, “for a law to be passed to the effect that all persons -who claim to be ‘called’ to preach what they call the religion of ‘Jesus -Christ,’ must either show that they have sufficient means to support -themselves, independent of the church, or can procure employment in -connection with their gospel teachings, that they may not be such a -burden upon the community, as well as objects of especial charity upon -their particular church, is a great move in the right direction. Also, -that both priest and pastor be compelled to dress while on the street in -ordinary business clothes; that the confessionals in the Catholic church -be done away with, and that all the priests, bishops, cardinals and even -the Pope, be granted the privilege of marrying; likewise, all the women -belonging to the various orders of the church be granted the same -privilege. This will be, in my opinion, the beginning of raising the -standard of morals and the creating of a desire for spirit knowledge,” -concluded Miss Hinckley. - -“I believe you were the originator of that petition, were you not, -Miguey?” asked Guillermo Gonzales, in a voice which showed the great -pride he had in his friend the Governor. - -“Yes, I framed the petition,” replied the Governor, “and I met with much -opposition when I took it to Washington and presented it privately to -several of the most unprejudiced senators and representatives.” - -“Why were they opposed?” asked Miss Hinckley. - -“They no doubt thought that such a law would interfere with the -religious beliefs of the people, and hence be directly opposed to the -Constitution of the United States of America. Am I not correct, Miguey?” -asked Guillermo Gonzales. - -“Quite true, quite true,” replied the Governor. “That was the first -objection that was broached; but I soon convinced them that such a law -would in nowise interfere with freedom of religious views. When I told -them that none but Mexican blood had coursed through my veins since time -out of mind, and how distinctly I recalled the practices of the priests -in my other existences, in Mexico, how they used the confessional as a -means to frighten the people into submission and extort money from them, -and how they held themselves up as shining lights of purity and virtue, -when those whose eyes were opened knew that their very thoughts were -seething masses of immorality, they promised to investigate the truth of -my statements before formally presenting the petition.” - -“And they have done so!” exclaimed Helen Hinckley; “they have done so, -and the President who gave it no ear at the start, is in favor of its -becoming a law. The full account of it is in the great daily -_Chihuahuan_.” - -“Is that true?” exclaimed the Governor. - -“It is, Miguey, and President Mortingo has, no doubt, reached his -present state of thought since becoming a subject,” said Guillermo -Gonzales. - -“If the petition becomes a law,” said Helen Hinckley, “it will no doubt -be attributed to the effect of ‘Memory Fluid’ upon the President and the -knowledge your wonderful discovery is continually producing upon -mankind. The discovery of ‘Memory Fluid’ is the wonder of this wonderful -age of scientific investigations, particularly in the spirit realm,” -concluded Miss Hinckley, as she glanced admiringly at the great Governor -of Chihuahua. - -“I thank you very much, Miss Hinckley, and so does my friend here,” said -the Governor, going up to her and taking both of her hands in his; “but -the truth is, Guillermo, Miss Hinckley’s modesty keeps her from letting -even her most intimate friends know of her own great knowledge of Law. -It was through her knowledge of Law that my life was spared only this -morning.” - -“Can it be possible!” exclaimed Guillermo Gonzales. “This is the first -intimation I have had of your life being in danger.” - -“Julio forbade anyone disturbing you while you were receiving the -messages from President Mortingo,” said Helen Hinckley. - -“The facts are as follows, friend Guillermo. A large crowd entered the -mansion unknown to Juan or anyone else on watch, intent on taking my -life. A few moments before they arrived, Miss Hinckley risked her life -by coming here to warn me. And while she was telling me of the -intentions of the rebels, the leader entered my room where we stood. -Without a moment’s hesitation, Miss Hinckley whispered in my ear: ‘Come; -we will escape,’ and following her instructions I stepped upon the -railing around the small balcony at the south door of my apartments, and -in an instant we were out of reach of the bandits, moving through space -without a support, wholly and solely by means of her knowledge of Law.” - -“I congratulate you, Miss Hinckley; you must become a member of the -Royal Academy. Yours is a great discovery. A knowledge of how to -overcome the law of gravitation has been sought for by the lettered and -the unlettered, lo, these many years. How happy I am that you were -destined to become the revealer!” exclaimed Guillermo Gonzales. - -“I attribute the greatest part of my ability to see the law,” replied -Helen Hinckley, “to the use I have made of your ‘Memory Fluid.’” - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - A WRITTEN CONFESSION. - - -“A modest way of putting it, my dear young lady, but we will not claim -the credit in the least part of aiding you to discover how to overcome -the law of gravitation. When we are once more able to resume in our -former quiet way, our scientific researches, I want a full account of -how this knowledge came to you and how you accomplish the movement,” -said Guillermo Gonzales. - -“With very great pleasure, Señor Gonzales, I will tell you all I know -concerning my ability to overcome the law of gravitation. There is so -much to be done for the afflicted before this uprising can be quelled, -that I, no doubt like yourself, feel that our first duty is to them,” -concluded Miss Hinckley. - -“Upon that very idea I have thought much, and now wish to speak to you, -my friends. Ah, but excuse me one moment; a messenger is awaiting me in -the thought-condensing chamber,” said Governor Lehumada, and at once -left the room. - -“It is from Juan,” said Helen Hinckley, “that the message comes. He is -no longer with Miss Marriet Motuble.” - -“How strange, and yet it is not strange, that you should have the power -to procure that knowledge,” replied Señor Guillermo Gonzales. “That -power has always been denied me.” - -Helen Hinckley made no answer to his remark, but said: “His Honor and -Juan will be here in an instant. His Honor wishes us to know all that -has happened.” - -Almost at that moment Governor Lehumada entered the room, and a light -knock at the door leading into the hall, announced the arrival of some -one else. Señor Guillermo Gonzales opened the door, and as prophesied by -Miss Hinckley, Juan entered. - -His face was ashen, and he trembled so violently that he was placed in a -chair by Señor Guillermo Gonzales. - -“What is it, Juan?” asked the Governor, as he led Miss Hinckley close to -his chair. “What has frightened you?” - -“Tell me,” said Juan, gasping for breath, “tell me, do you know that the -person who calls himself Doctor Jones, is not a man?” - -“Who is she?” asked the Governor, with a smile. - -“The big woman who has given me so many frights—I mean Señorita Marriet -Motuble,” said Juan. - -“It is a fact,” replied Guillermo Gonzales. - -“Do Señor Julio Murillo and Miss Motuble speak any language but -English?” asked Juan. - -“Julio speaks the Spanish fluently. He is, you know, of purely Mexican -origin, like myself,” said Governor Lehumada. “But while I have never -studied it in my present existence, a complete knowledge of it came to -me after I used ‘Memory Fluid.’ Also, Julio had a similar experience. -Tell us, man, what caused your great fright,” concluded the Governor. - -“You had no sooner left the room, your Honor, than Doctor Jones turned -to me and asked if I understood Spanish. I said no. Doctor Jones seemed -pleased that I did not, and said: ‘You are behind the times, Juan. You -are a full-blooded Mexican. Take “Memory Fluid,” that great “Liquid from -the Sun’s Rays,” discovered by one of your own countrymen, a -blue-blooded Mexican, and you will remember how to speak the language of -your ancient forefathers.’ I had a small bottle of ‘Memory Fluid’ in my -pocket—your Honor will pardon me for taking it without asking your -permission—I wished to become a subject without the knowledge of -anyone.” - -The Governor replied: “You were justified, Juan, in taking the fluid. -Your desire to become a subject is sufficient excuse. Continue.” - -“Doctor Jones immediately began talking Spanish to Señor Julio. I put -the vial containing ‘Memory Fluid’ to my lips, and while I was -hesitating about taking it, I inhaled it freely, and before I was hardly -aware of my act I drank the liquid. Almost instantly I felt as though I -were someone else. Then a voice seemed to say: ‘It is yourself and you -remember.’ Then I heard Doctor Jones say in Spanish to Señor Julio: ‘It -is no use in trying to fool you, friend Julio; no use in the least. Ha! -ha! That is a good joke on me.’ To which Señor Julio replied: ‘I knew -when your card was brought in, that you were disguised as Doctor Jones. -Also this fellow whom you introduced as Francis Maynard, is in disguise. -He is the “Plunger from Kansas.” Ah, Señorita Motuble, your little -tricks are known not only to myself, but to Governor Lehumada and Señor -Guillermo Gonzales.’ The ‘Plunger from Kansas’ jumped from his seat, -grabbed for his hat, and cried: ‘Señorita, I must make tracks out of -here.’ Señorita Motuble laughingly cried: ‘The cat is out of the bag, my -friend, so we will face the music!’ Señor Julio looked at the Plunger, -and said: ‘Be seated, sir. No harm can be done you. You are beyond the -pale of civil law. There is no law, civil law, I mean, in the United -States of America, that can cause a man to be arrested and punished for -crimes committed in a life gone by. There will be a law some day to that -effect, and you, my friend, will be the main instrument in making the -law.’ Marriet Motuble arose, walked the floor, her thumbs thrust into a -pocket on either side of her mannish jacket, and fairly screamed with -laughter: ‘Friend Julio, I knew I would be the means of making the -Plunger as famous in this life as he was one hundred and fifty years -ago, by stealing; or, to be more in line with the popular phraseology of -the time, as he was by manipulating successfully the sale of cattle, -which he had mortgaged as many as six times without lifting any one of -the mortgages. This is a great world, and to use the slang of the -nineteenth century, I will add that the Plunger always gets there, even -if it is on “the home stretch.”’ The Plunger smiled, and said: ‘I am -uneasy. Your words do not give me the assurance I would like to have. -The mental torture I have undergone for three existences is enough -punishment, without the clutches of the law being thrust upon me. I -desire to make a written confession of my misdeeds, refund the money I -took from my credulous friends, and call it quits.’ ‘It will be a -glorious day when that comes to pass, for the scientists who discovered -how to extract liquid from the sun’s rays will prove to the world the -use to which their “Memory Fluid” can be put,’ said Señor Julio. -Señorita Motuble patted the Plunger on the shoulder, and said: ‘That is -correct, sonny. Go up to the mourner’s bench and confess your sins. -Friend Julio, let me go after Rev. J. T. Note. Pleading with sinners at -the mourner’s bench when they are on the eve of being converted, is not -in your line. And the reverend gentleman is in his glory when making a -convert.’” - -“Ah, but she is an audacious woman,” said the Governor. - -“Considering that she ‘remembers,’” joined in Señor Guillermo Gonzales, -“makes the question of what disposition to make of her a serious -consideration.” - -“My friends,” said Helen Hinckley, “do not give her one moment’s -thought. She will dispose of herself.” - -“We will take your advice, Miss Hinckley. We will give our attention to -other matters, and hope that the aggressive señorita will dispose of -herself to our satisfaction very promptly,” said the Governor. “Is there -anything more, Juan, which you wish to relate?” - -“Nothing more, your Honor, except that the Plunger is in an adjoining -room writing his confessions, and the señorita has left Señor Julio’s -apartments.” - -“In that event,” said Señor Guillermo Gonzales, “I will attend to friend -Julio.” - -At that moment a despatch was announced by a servant, and before it -could be opened a service messenger delivered a large, bulky envelope, -which looked to contain page after page of legal documents. - -Juan left the room with the messenger and the household servant, and -hurried to Julio Murillo’s room. - -The Governor handed the despatch to Guillermo Gonzales. He tore it open -and read: - - - “WASHINGTON, D. C. - -“In every State where there is an uprising, the militia will be called -out to-morrow. If the rebels join forces and organize a large army, the -United States troops will be mustered out, and in a fortnight the rebels -will be subdued. And in ten days longer, peace and quiet will reign -supreme ‘over the land of the free and the home of the brave.’ Dear -Governor,” the message continued, “the effect of your ‘Memory Fluid’ on -me has been the most wonderful and delightful experience of my life. A -great wave from the spirit world has swept over the entire universe, -since your wonderful discovery was made known. People are thinking, as -they never have thought before, to my knowledge. I congratulate you upon -the result you have obtained in your scientific investigations, and I -will aid you in every way possible. I have seen the things not seen by -the eye and am convinced. - -“Command me. I am your obedient servant, - - “JAMES HENRY MORTINGO.” - - -“From more points of view than one,” said Governor Lehumada, “I am happy -to get that message.” - -“And I,” said Helen Hinckley. “One needs sympathy in the spiritualistic -world more than on the physical plane. The former is lasting, the latter -is transient.” - -“The results from our researches are being made apparent sooner than I -had hoped,” commented Señor Guillermo Gonzales. - -“We have much for which to be thankful,” replied the Governor, then -added: “This voluminous document would better be opened now. Friend -Guillermo, am I not correct?” - -“Certainly, Miguey. I will attend to it this moment;” and Señor -Guillermo Gonzales took the envelope and without further delay opened -it. “Be seated, friends; there is much length to this document, and it -will be tiresome to stand through the reading of it.” - -Governor Lehumada and Helen Hinckley sat down on a small cane settee. -Señor Gonzales seated himself in a large armchair close by, and began -reading the document at hand. - - - “HIS HONOR, MR. MIGUEL LEHUMADA, - “GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE OF CHIHUAHUA, - “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. - -“SIR:—After having read the article in the great daily _Chihuahuan_, of -to-day’s issue, your petition in the House of Representatives, which you -are praying to become a law; and after long and grave meditation upon -the same, I have reached the conclusion which you will shortly know. - -“Realizing for the first time in my life how fruitless it is for me to -dash my head against a stone wall, thereby losing my own self-respect, -and being the cause of keeping hundreds in ignorance and want that I may -live in the lap of voluptuous luxury, and increase the number of -converts to our faith, and the number of _centavos_ with which the -exchequer of the church already groans, I herewith write you this -confession. For some time I have seen the inevitable end of all -teachings which conflict with free thought scientifically demonstrated; -but I have followed the teachings of the church, and have held on with -the bulldog tenacity characteristic of the faith,—that same tenacity -which led the few teachers to the New Spain, which they held in their -iron clasp for more than four hundred years. - -“But light dawned upon them, and our power began to wane. It is useless -to fight for a lost cause, particularly when you know that that cause -cannot ever bring good to the people. - -“My great friend, Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir, and myself wish to -hereby confess that we are guilty of treason against our great -government, and are fully resigned to accept without a murmur the full -punishment of the law. It was a bitter struggle for us, for two people -who were taught, since remembrance began, to worship the religion and -customs of our long-lost Mexico, to hate our adopted mother and all her -fair sons and daughters, because of their Anglo-Saxon blood. - -“Great and noble Governor, we are repenting to-day in ‘sackcloth and -ashes.’ Do not judge us too severely, for we are not wholly to blame. - -“There are many things which weigh heavily upon my mind—things for which -I cannot account, or rather, impressions of things which have occurred -at some time in my life which do not seem definite to me. - -“Since I began writing this confession, a beautiful little girl has come -into the room, and on entering exclaimed: ‘Ah! I have found you leaders -of this riot; I have found you.’ (We are in a vacant house at the foot -of Calle de Hidalgo, in hiding.) ‘And now that I have caught up with -you, I have not the heart to let the police know, for they will imprison -your bodies as your souls are now imprisoned. Imprisoned on account of -your own stubbornness and ignorance. Gentlemen,’ continued the pretty -child, ‘why do you stand in the way of your own development? It makes me -weep to see you caring only for physical enjoyment. Why did you bring on -this rebellion? Why did you want to take my papa away from this -existence? His work is not done.’ - -“I interrupted her by asking her name; she replied modestly: ‘I am -called Catalina Martinet, but his Honor, Governor Miguel Lehumada, -should be my papa, and he will be some day, and that day I wish were -here now.’ Rev. J. T. Note, sitting close by, said: ‘That’s a corker! -This child must have taken some of that accursed stuff that the three -citizens of Chihuahua, who claim to be scientists, call “Memory Fluid.” -Say, little Catalina, the freak who wishes she had been born the child -of the great and wonderful Governor of Chihuahua, tell me, how can you -prove that you are not his child? And come, darling, sit upon my knee, -and let me hear thy musical voice tell about the other lives you have -lived. For if you are a disciple of the famous Governor, you claim to -have lived many, many times.’ Then chuckling her under the chin, he -continued: ‘Come, pet, tell the Rev. J. T. Note all about it. Of course -he believes every word you say.’ - -“Catalina surprised us all by saying: ‘No, Reverend Hypocrite, I will -not talk about things you cannot understand. Excuse me, I can only say I -am sorry for you from the bottom of my heart. Should you ever be -inclined, take a few drops of the contents of this vial; then you will -see things not seen by the eye.’ - -“Handing his reverence, myself, and my friend, Don Francisco R. Cantu y -Falomir, a similar vial, she left the room. Our brother of Protestant -faith made the air reverberate with exclamations not complimentary to -the child, yourself, or your coworkers, Mr. Guillermo Gonzales and Julio -Murillo. Without his knowledge the cork came out of the vial he held in -his hand, and unconsciously he inhaled the liquid. In about one hour he -fell forward in a senseless state. We were afraid he was dead, and with -the assistance of Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir, I laid him on a -bench near by. We were soon relieved of our anxiety. In fifteen minutes -he arose, and after looking at us for a moment in a dazed manner, said: -‘I cannot face the world again, gentlemen, for I feel too heavily the -force of the long life of sin I have led, not only in this existence, -but in the life gone by. Gentlemen, the truth is, I _remember_. My -spirit is crushed and bleeding. Oh, thou Everlasting God! Take me to Thy -bosom, that I may soon return and live the life, the example for which -You set for us in the beginning. Help me to the bench again, gentlemen, -help me. A great force has taken possession of me which I cannot -resist.’ - -“We assisted him to the bench, upon which he stretched himself full -length. His face shone with a smile surpassingly beautiful, and in a -moment his soul had left its house of clay. - -“My hand trembles, your Honor; I fear I cannot continue. Both Don -Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir and myself will in one second take ‘Memory -Fluid’ from the little vial given us by the strange child, Catalina. One -moment more, your Honor, before taking ‘Memory Fluid.’ A strange, large, -fair-haired woman came in unannounced this very moment. On seeing Rev. -J. T. Note lying silent, she said, making much noise with her loud -talking and laughing: ‘Brother Note has passed over. The grand panorama, -full of sights of his sinful life, which passed before his vision after -taking “Memory Fluid,” staggered him so completely, on seeing a picture -of the multiplicity of his sins, that he knew he could hardly rally, and -he asked to pass away, that he might come again. And he will come; there -is no getting rid of _him_, but I will wager a picayune he will not be a -missionary a third time. He has sinned and he has repented; now he -_sees_. Gentlemen, the object of my call is to present you with a vial -of ebony fluid. It is an easy way to preserve your figure after you -_will_ to pass over the river Styx. Good-bye. If my friend and lover, -the great Governor of Chihuahua, asks for me, tell him I am at the -hospital, but will soon be taken to the morgue.’ - -“She is gone. We have drunk ‘Memory Fluid.’ My pen drops away. I see. -Thank God, I see! - - “FATHER HERNANDEZ.” - - -After the reading of the strange confession was completed, the two -scientists and Miss Hinckley remained completely absorbed in their own -thought for some time. - -Señor Guillermo Gonzales walked the room, back and forth, rapidly, many -times. The shadows of the early evening were fast crowding over the -room, intensifying the somberness of the scene. - -“The reading of the document has simply overwhelmed me with joy,” said -Governor Lehumada, as he wiped visible moisture from his eyes. - -“It is sufficient cause, dear Miguey, if it be true,” said Señor -Guillermo Gonzales. - -“If it be true!” exclaimed Miss Hinckley; “if it be true! The -authenticity of it cannot be doubted.” - -“Oh, I thank you, Miss Hinckley,” exclaimed the Governor, “I thank you -very much! You relieve me of the terrible fear with which friend -Guillermo’s words seized me.” - -“I have not the power to see the world of thought, as Miss Hinckley has. -Forget not, my friends, the short length of time I have had the power, -my age at present, and the grossness of my body, caused by a long life -of voluptuous living, and judge me accordingly.” - -“There is no grim judge, Guillermo, in the physical world, who has the -power to judge of the unseen. And the Great Cause is not grim, but is -the embodiment of justice and kindliness,” replied the Governor. - -“What you have always shown me, dear Miguey. I sometimes shudder at the -thought of what my future existence would have been had I not -_remembered_ in this life. I owe all of it to you, dear friend of my -other life,” said Señor Guillermo Gonzales. - -“Do not let _fear_ enter your thoughts, Señor Gonzales. The Supreme is -the completion of Love. To those who are wholly in touch with the Hidden -_fear_ is a word unknown,” said Miss Hinckley. - -“We do not know Law as you do, Miss Hinckley. The privileges long -accorded man and denied women, have made our beings less easy to be in -tune with the spirit world. A good woman, a pure woman—pure in thought -and action—one who reaches out daily for knowledge of life—the life of -Love and harmony—is the highest type of creation the world can produce. -To me, friend Guillermo, Miss Hinckley is that type; she is the other -life I have longed to meet on earth. She is the one for whom I sought in -two lives gone by, and on account of the grossness of my nature I was -unable to find her. Yet the knowledge of her existence possessed me -constantly, and I searched in vain.” - -“You were not wholly living upon the physical realm, my own,” said Miss -Hinckley, with much feeling. “You were then endeavoring to discover a -means to perpetuate memory. You told me through the thought-world of -your desire. I hoped for you, I lived for you. I worked to perfect my -life, so when you could _see_ me, I would be worthy of your great love.” - -Don Guillermo Gonzales reached forth his hand and clasping the -Governor’s hand, warmly said: “My Miguey! My beloved friend of my other -boyhood and manhood, this approaches the completion of earthly -happiness! She is the other self. She alone can satiate the longing of -your soul. Without her, your life is incomplete.” - -Taking Miss Hinckley by the hands, which he kissed fondly, he placed -them in the large, strong ones of his friend, the Governor of Chihuahua, -and said: “Miguey, a parting must never be. She is the power behind the -throne, that has kept you from evil and led you in the path of purity. -To her is due the success.” - -“No, no,” cried Helen Hinckley, through her tears. “Señor Gonzales, do -not, do not overestimate my knowledge of the law of God. I am only a -creature of the earth, who lives not the highest law of God, but the -highest she knows. Do not attribute to me qualities I do not possess. -Your Honor, I entreat you to see things only as they are.” - -Señor Guillermo Gonzales stepped nearer to Miss Hinckley, and addressing -the Governor, said: “With your permission, Miguey, I will bestow a kiss -upon the brow of your future wife.” - -The Governor did not answer him in words, but gave his consent by a nod -of the head, and said: “My Helen, he is my brother, the one I love next -to you. His life, next to thy own, is more in tune with mine than that -of any other being upon earth. He has kept me from falling by the -wayside, when my physical life was too rank to feel thy beautiful -influence, before my eyes were opened.” He gently wiped the tears from -her eyes, his hand trembling with emotion. - -Señor Guillermo Gonzales embraced her after the fashion of a devoted -father, and bestowed a kiss of respect and admiration upon her brow. -Then, turning to the Governor, he embraced him after the fashion of the -men long, long ago in Mexico, before it became a part of the great -United States of America. - -Governor Lehumada clasped the bride of his past, his present, and his -future physical and spiritual life, in his arms, and whispered in her -ear: - - “_Thou art my other life I have longed to meet, - Without which life my own is incomplete. - Oh, dearer, sweeter self! Like me thou wert astray! - Straying, like me, to find the breast - On which alone can weary heart find rest._” - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - VIEWING THE EBONIZED BODIES. - - -About noon the next day Governor Lehumada, in company with Helen -Hinckley and Guillermo Gonzales, was returning from a professional and -scientific call upon the head physicians and surgeons of the public -hospital, when his vehicle of transport was called to a halt. - -Señor Guillermo Gonzales opened the door as a civil messenger appeared -at the side of the vehicle. - -The messenger handed him an envelope and said: “His Honor’s presence is -desired at once.” - -Helen Hinckley asked: “At what place is the Governor wanted?” - -“At the morgue. Anything further, Miss?” asked the messenger. - -“Nothing further; we will go at once.” - -The messenger disappeared. Guillermo Gonzales requested the motorman to -move the vehicle near the pavement, out from the crowd of the street, -while he examined the contents of the envelope. - -He tore it open quickly. He drew out first a bulky letter, written on -black paper. He turned it over, and read: “Marriet Motuble.” - -“From the aggressive señorita,” said the Governor. - -“Here is another letter. It is signed ‘Señor’—no, there is a line drawn -through it and through the word ‘Father,’ under it,” said Guillermo -Gonzales. - -“It must be from both Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir and Father -Hernandez, then,” smiled Miss Hinckley. - -“Your surmise is correct, Miss Hinckley; see, it is signed: ‘Francisco -R. Cantu, a citizen of the United States of America; Alberto Hernandez, -an American citizen.’” - -A smile was visible on the faces of the three occupants of the cab. Miss -Hinckley said: “They have become metamorphosed since taking ‘Memory -Fluid.’” - -“I will read what they have to say,” continued Guillermo Gonzales; -“there are only a few pages.” - -“Do; then we will hurry to the morgue,” said Governor Lehumada. - -“Marriet Motuble, or her body, will most likely be found at the morgue,” -Helen Hinckley added with a smile. - -The scientist Gonzales unfolded the written sheet, and read: - - -“YOUR HONOR, THE GREAT AND NOBLE GOVERNOR OF CHIHUAHUA:—I greet you! -When you receive this I will be in the other great and only real world, -sent hence by the use of your disintegrator, the power of which is known -to none better than yourself and your able scientific coworkers, Mr. -Guillermo Gonzales and Julio Murillo. Early this morning we went to the -public house for the dead, to which place we had sent the Rev. J. T. -Note, yesterday, to see if that strange and erstwhile aggressive and -very large, blonde woman—Marriet Motuble—was there as a spectator or -herself a spectacle. In the latter condition we found, and greatly to -our surprise, the ‘invincible señorita,’ as we often spoke of her. - -“Hers is now a massive body of ebony, and as hard as a rock called -flint. On seeing her thus, so serene and placid—the physical preserved, -aye, for all time—the soul which had its abiding-place in her, -gone—winging its way through space, frolicking here and there like a -happy schoolboy dismissed from his tasks, we envied her; for we had -begun to _remember_! I knew her—much the same as she was yesterday, and -to-day in looks and actions—in a life gone by. - -“Do not blame her for her strange doings, for back of all of them was a -kind and generous heart. Her position on earth throughout two existences -was the result of a misconception of sex. Her spirit was in the wrong -house. It should have been in a house of the masculine gender. - -“Poor creature! The note enclosed, which she sent to me, speaks of her -knowledge of the mistake. Her letter I trust you will read at your -leisure, fully and carefully. - -“One thing more I wish to say to you, then myself and my friend -Francisco R. Cantu, who at this moment is writing his will, and a -confession to be sent to his family, will desire physical oblivion, and -our souls will be set free. - -“Your able coworker and friend, Julio Murillo, is the son of Señora -Suzzan Carriles, of Colima, and myself in another existence. She was a -great worker in the church and a frequenter of the confessional. She was -a true, pure woman, who looked up to me next to her God. I took -advantage of her credulity. I asked her to grant the desire of my heart, -which I told her I did not consider sinful, and if she felt any remorse -of conscience, I would absolve her from all sin. I will make no further -statement than that she believed me. What is the use of my telling you -more about this matter. You were the then Governor of Chihuahua and -brought me before the bar of justice, on evidence furnished by Marriet -Motuble. I was condemned. Rather than face the decree of the State, I -departed that life by means of my own hand. I was what they called in -that day a suicide. Could I have been made to remember in that life, -look at the misery I would have escaped in this life! And the shame and -degradation I have subjected myself and followers to, is a nightmare to -me. When you have finished this, I pray you, my friend, thou who hast -left the gates ajar that I might see the beauties of the soul; of the -spirit life, that I might remember, and save the world the misery from -the unholy teachings I have been drilling into my stupid -followers—stupid because I made them so by keeping them in submission -and the knowledge of all light away from them, I pray you to use our -bodies, soon to be a mass of ebonized flesh, as a specimen in your -Natural History department of the Museum, to demonstrate the use to -which your Ebony Fluid can be put. The great wrong we have done you and -our dearly beloved America by stirring up these revolutionary -sentiments, only ourselves can appreciate. In a way good will result. -The wonderful results obtained by the use of ‘Memory Fluid’ will be more -fully and quickly made known to the world. Our testimony as herein -stated will be made known to the world to-morrow through the great daily -_Chihuahuan_, with which, and the personal and written testimony of the -‘Plunger from Kansas,’ your evidence will be complete, and the petition -which you are now hoping to present to the State of Chihuahua soon, -asking for it to become a law, will meet with hearty approval. Then a -great day of reckoning will be at hand; for all now living who committed -crimes in lives gone by, will be called to the bar of justice. I predict -the demand for ‘Liquid from the Sun’s Rays,’ to be so great, that -laboratories for the extraction of this liquid will be established all -over this world. Ah, while I have been writing, my friend, having his -will and confession completed, has taken ‘time by the forelock’—willed -his soul hence. The vial of Ebony Fluid is empty and is tightly clutched -in his hand; his soul has winged its flight, his body will soon be a -form of ebony, and I am alone. - -“Come, dear friend, to the morgue at your first leisure, for at this -moment the vial containing Ebony Fluid is being emptied into my mouth, -and I am willing my soul away, and with the soul of my friend I will be -soon. - -“Good-bye, and much luck! I will see you again in another life. -Good-bye. - -“FRANCISCO R. CANTU, a citizen of the United States of America. - -“ALBERTO HERNANDEZ, an American citizen. - -“P. S.—I requested my friend in the beginning to sign this confession -with me, as we had talked over what we thought the strongest points to -make in the document. For me it is exceedingly fortunate that I secured -his name to this sheet which served for the last page, before I began -the recital, or he would at this hour have been beyond the power of -mortal, to pen a line. - - “A. H.” - - -“The righting of wrongs could not have been so satisfactorily settled by -the civil law. It is the influence of the Great Unseen that has brought -this about,” said the Governor, as their vehicle sped rapidly toward the -morgue. - -All morning, before starting to the hospital, the Governor had been in -constant communication with the Federal authorities at Washington. -Reports to the effect that the rebels were increasing in power in many -States, and that the depredations being committed upon the property of -public officers in particular, and many inoffensive private citizens in -general, were now almost hourly occurrences, had been the cause of many -small affrays between the rebels and the State militia, in which many -lost their lives and others were wounded, on both sides. It was believed -by the authorities in Chihuahua that when the sad end of the instigators -of the trouble had become known, that an early abating of the -hostilities would occur, which would result in terms of peace being -effected. The manipulators of the presidential campaign and the -lobbyists out for booty, prayed for a continuation of hostilities; for -they believed the hold they had lost, when James Henry Mortingo became -President—when “parties” lost their hold—“when the plum was taken by a -stray”—(as those who felt sore from the result of the election expressed -themselves)—would be made strong again, from the very fact of the -rebellion that had arisen, and the part the President played in it. Many -claimed that they did not believe any rational beings would be in favor -of electing a man to the Presidency of the United States of America, who -publicly confessed having been a “Subject” on whom “Memory Fluid” was -used, or one who believed in it and thought it to be the greatest -discovery the world had ever known, and that through its use the world -would be taught about and brought to see and to experience the highest -laws of God. - -The fame of Julio Murillo had gone abroad. His name, at the head of long -columns in almost every newspaper in the land, was printed in flaming -red letters. He was spoken of as more of a prophet than any recorded in -the Bible or any other religious book. - -Helen Hinckley and Catalina Martinet both received their share of -criticism, of ridicule, of praise. - -Catalina was caricatured in various ways, and in each she was in a -different way giving “Memory Fluid” to humanity, who were grovelling at -her feet and beseeching for it. - -Helen Hinckley was represented in one paper as a beautiful, fair-haired, -young woman, suspended high in the air, and looking down with scorn upon -the awestricken people. - -In another she was gliding, with Governor Lehumada, out of a door that -led onto a balcony, from the second floor of the Governor’s Mansion, -into space. All of these things were commented upon by the Governor, -Miss Hinckley and Guillermo Gonzales as they hurried to the morgue. - -Hundreds of people were on the outside, eager to see the four suicides, -all of whom had been guilty of treason against the United States of -America. - -As the Governor and his party alighted from the strange, circular cab, -the throng drew near, and it would take volumes to hold the remarks -passed by them about the vehicle, the Governor as a public officer, as a -scientist, and strange to say, as a lover. - -Equally eager were they to catch a glimpse of Helen Hinckley, and -numerous were the criticisms passed upon her—upon the woman who, if -reports were true, would soon be the Governor’s wife; upon the woman -who, so far as they knew, was the sole possessor of the knowledge of how -to overcome the law of gravitation. It was quite evident that everybody -considered the Governor, his prospective bride, and his two scientific -coworkers, a queer lot. - -Amongst the large crowd of ultra-fashionable people who held tickets -which would admit them to the public temporary carnal-house, when the -examination by the law had been concluded, was Mrs. Grange, with her -enamoring graces. She was giving some fashionably dressed men near by, -the benefit of her first impression of the Governor and Miss Hinckley. -At the same time she was coquetting with her eyes, in the hope, no -doubt, of getting another promise from someone to help get her husband a -higher salary. - -The Governor’s party heard the remark, “It is a shame, Mrs. Grange, that -a woman so surpassingly beautiful as yourself, is not the wife of a -millionaire. I believe,” continued her flatterer, “that you have been a -_subject_, and without any jesting whatever, I know your engaging -manners could induce the Governor to teach you how to extract liquid -from the sun’s rays. And having been a _subject_, you could teach from -your own experience, and your husband could run the business. Your names -would go down to posterity then as renowned scientists.” - -“How lovely,” smiled Mrs. Grange. “How kind of you to think of it.” - -“Not at all, Mrs. Grange,” continued her admirer; “not at all. It would -be much easier for you to tell of its wonders and your own experiences, -than to spend so much sweetness canvassing for your husband. It is too -bad his voice failed. That is what I heard you say in the year of -eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, in El Paso, Texas.” - -Mrs. Grange’s countenance fell, and she only gave him a glance now and -then from under her brow. - -Not in the least abashed, the gentleman continued: “It was at the time -that he was connected with some road, less than one hundred miles long, -that extended from the Pass City, which was then, if you remember your -own expression, ‘nothing more than a rough border-town, absolutely -without any dramatic talent or voice culture.’ Oh, well, that is all -past and gone, Mrs. Grange; even the remembrance of the little dramatic -performance in which you displayed your enamoring graces, is known only -to the initiated.” - -“Then _you remember_!” exclaimed Mrs. Grange, looking at him with a -frightened look in her face. “Great God! if others and others continue -taking ‘Memory Fluid,’ and they look upon me with the scorn that you do, -and speak to me with the satire you do, I will be tempted to take Ebony -Fluid, after I learn to will my soul away, that I may preserve the -physical shape of this life. I want to close the present life and have -an opportunity to come again, and then I will live the life of a -rational being. A thousand times or more my heart has almost consumed -itself with shame, since I have _remembered_, at the thoughts of my -actions in the Pass City, and in this life also. Then I flaunted myself -before the public, flirted with men, drank beer, wine, anything that -would make me more lively—danced and otherwise dissipated, until my life -was wrecked and my reputation gone. In this life I have done much the -same things, and added to them the accomplishment of _doing men_ for all -they were worth, under the pretence of soliciting for my husband. -Unfortunately for me, I have the same one I had in the other life. He -has gone through much the same experiences, losing his voice and all. -Great God! I hope I may be spared in another existence, the same family -relations I have in this life and the desire to be a professional beauty -and a hypocrite in general.” - -“You are saved, Mrs. Grange. The desire you have this moment voiced, -will be the means of your salvation, if you at once change your mode of -action to one that accords with Law, and continue, to the best of your -instruction, to live in touch with the Unseen. I have often thought that -you were destined to be mine,” said the gallant, rich and lettered man -by her side. - -Mrs. Grange gave one long gasp as she exclaimed: “Since taking ‘Memory -Fluid’ I have known it to be a fact. In another life it will come to -pass,” and fell back amongst the crowd in a dead faint. A cab was hailed -and she was immediately taken to her home, and a physician, who had -knowledge of “Memory Fluid,” sent to attend her; her gallant friend -accompanied her. - -Governor Lehumada, Señor Guillermo Gonzales and Miss Helen Hinckley -entered the room where lay the physical transformation of the once -invincible Señorita Marriet Motuble, and the two instigators of the -rebellion. - -Prominent physicians from the city and neighboring towns and States, who -had flocked to the great capital of Chihuahua since hearing of the -wonderful discovery of the scientists, were allowed to enter the room -with the Governor’s party. - -The scientist, Guillermo Gonzales, examined the bodies first. The -Governor, with Helen Hinckley on his arm, passed from one to the other -and viewed them in perfect silence. - -Nearly one hundred physicians and investigating scientists looked in -turn with amazement upon the ebonized forms of the three bodies before -them. The Rev. J. T. Note, cold and stiff in the hands of death, lay at -the far end of the long death chamber quite alone, and forgotten by -everyone present, except the Governor’s party. When the last person had -surveyed the ebonized bodies, Guillermo Gonzales addressed them and -said: - -“Your Honor, Miss Hinckley, and friends, yonder lies the dead body of -Rev. J. T. Note, an aider and abettor of the rebels. He is not dead by -means of Ebony Fluid, it does not cause the state called death, but from -remorse of conscience, the result of taking ‘Memory Fluid.’ He is, -therefore, a fit subject upon whom I can demonstrate to you the magic -action of Ebony Fluid. It is a knowledge of science we are working for, -and the sooner the power of this wonderful fluid is made known to -humanity, the sooner the present microbic condition of matter will be -extinguished. I will have the body moved to the center of the room, and -I will immediately transform this seething mass of microbes into a -harmless body of ebony flint.” - -Two attendants of the morgue entered at the request of Guillermo -Gonzales, and moved the corpse of Rev. J. T. Note to the center of the -room, and immediately made their exit on being informed that their -services were no longer needed. Everyone stood as near the body as -possible, to watch the effect of Ebony Fluid upon the corpse. - -Guillermo Gonzales removed the sheet from the corpse. Mortification had -set in, and the odor escaping from the body was, to express it mildly, -exceedingly disagreeable to the lookers-on. The scientist sprayed the -body with a powerful deodorizer, and immediately the offensive odor was -gone. Then, inserting a small tube into the mouth of the corpse, he -pressed a bulb to which it was connected, and emptied the Ebony Fluid -which was in the bulb, into the body. The body jerked and writhed, the -face became contorted, and in all, was a very grewsome object. - -The most stoic of the scientists and physicians present, turned their -faces away to shut out from view the terrible sight before them. It -sprang into a sitting posture, then fell back against the hard board -with a thud, the limbs rigid and straight. The physicians and scientists -looked inquiringly at Guillermo Gonzales and Governor Lehumada. - -“Explain, friend Guillermo,” said the Governor; “explain the action of -Ebony Fluid upon animal matter.” - -The scientist poured a small quantity of the fluid into a thin glass, -and holding it high in his hand, said: “The black fluid you see before -you we call Ebony Fluid, because of its color. The great struggle the -corpse underwent after the injection of this fluid into it, was due to -the struggle of the microbes trying to resist the influence of the -fluid. The battle was bravely fought, but the microbes were conquered at -last. Nothing in life can resist its influence. See this body, only a -few moments ago repulsive to the sight and emitting an odor so offensive -to the smell, and rank with poison, that if it were allowed to remain in -a room for five minutes, every occupant of the room who remained for -that length of time in the atmosphere of the poison, would inhale enough -bacteria to fill them with disease which would eventually end their -lives very shortly. The action of Ebony Fluid after the death of the -bacteria, hardens, then petrifies the entire body. Assist me, doctor,” -continued the scientist, speaking to the physician next to him, “to lift -the body of Rev. J. T. Note, and we will stand it in the corner.” - -It required much effort for the two men to lift the body and carry it to -the wall. There they stood it erect, and held it in place by means of a -stout cord across the shoulders, each end of which was fastened to a -large screw in the wall. - -“Nothing better illustrates the magical power of Ebony Fluid than that -figure,” concluded the scientist. - -“All day to-morrow, and next day, the morgue will be open for the public -to inspect these bodies,” said the Governor. “While these gentlemen are -present, do you not think it is wise, Miss Hinckley, and friend -Guillermo, to read the confession of Marriet Motuble, that creature whom -we all considered so strange, so unlike other women?” - -Miss Hinckley replied: “Your Honor, it would be just to them to hear the -statements of Miss Motuble read, after having viewed her ebonized body, -and after seeing the effect of the fluid upon Reverend Note. There is no -wanting of testimony in favor of the use to which these fluids can be -put; however, I am sure it would be well for these men of science to -hear the statements of this señorita, which I am sure will be -interesting.” - -“Miss Hinckley has spoken wisely, Miguey. I will read the document -without further delay. Be seated, gentlemen, and I will begin.” - -When he had placed three comfortable chairs near together, on which he -invited the Governor and Miss Hinckley to be seated, he seated himself -upon a high stool, and began reading the confession. The densely black -paper and clear white letters made a curious looking paper and was in -itself exceedingly characteristic of the author. - - -“Reverend Father Hernandez and Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir! Ha! ha! -I laugh even in this last stage of the game, at the thought of the title -‘Reverend’ and ‘Father’ attached to the name Hernandez, and louder and -longer do I laugh at the title ‘Don’ preceding Cantu, and the ‘y’ and -Falomir following the name. Say, gentlemen, there is no use in further -pretensions upon your part; they have a dead cinch upon you, so you -might as well walk up to the mourner’s bench and take your medicine like -men. What kick have you against Uncle Sam’s government? He didn’t take -you under his wing because he wanted an addition to his family. He took -you because he was sorry for you, and the most intelligent people of -your race wanted to be adopted. - -“Now my purpose in writing this note is not to rake up a bone for -contention, nor do I write this to you because I love you with all my -heart and soul and strength; for there are others whom I love more. Whom -I love so much that my heart is sore, and I cannot pen him a line; but -knowing this will reach him through you, I rest content. - -“To the point: In my present and a former existence, the ego of my life -entered a habitation unwittingly of the wrong sex. In other words, I -should have been born of the masculine gender. Such not being the case, -is why I have not been able in this life to find my counterpart. In my -first incarnation I wed a man according to the civil law. I became the -mother of six children who grew up to be thorns in my side. - -“In this life I did not wed, because I thought the great and noble -Governor was destined for me, until I became a _subject_; then my eyes -were opened. Then I knew I must live again in the castle of a man, -before I would meet the one who would be my counterpart physically and -in the realm of spirit.” - - -“How strange, how strange!” exclaimed one of the physicians present. - -“It is an entirely new thought to me and not wholly without reason,” -said another. - -“She often told me, when I met her in Chihuahua in the year eighteen -hundred and ninety-eight,” said Helen Hinckley, “that she felt a great -injustice had been done her by not being born a man. It seemed to be the -regret of her life.” - -“Poor creature,” said Governor Lehumada; “poor creature! I sympathize -with her from the bottom of my heart. Continue, continue, friend -Guillermo; I am anxious to hear the last of this strange letter.” - - -“On leaving you I went straight to the morgue. I had heard that Rev. J. -T. Note had passed over, and I felt humanity was blessed. I viewed the -remains over and over. Afterwards I found a bench unoccupied; I sat -down. Near by was a young woman who had suicided because her lover was -false. Her soul was sent forth to grope through the dark night in -despair. My heart ached for her; so I said I will go now, send my soul -forth and search for her. And as I gazed upon her sweet, pure face, I -knew she was intended for my bride, had I been a man; and my soul cried -out: ‘Great and everlasting Cause, guide me to her! Let me find her and -whisper the sweet story into her ear!’ Presently I heard a sweet, clear -voice cry out in glad surprise: ‘I hear you, Miguel. I hear you. Come; I -am by the fountain in the great public garden at the outskirts of the -city. Come; I now know it was you for whom I sought. It was you upon -whom my affections were bestowed, and in my ignorance of law I thought -it someone else.’ - -“When no attendant was in sight, I stretched myself upon a bench, and -after willing my soul away, placed the Ebony Fluid to my lips (for I -wished my body to be preserved). In one instant I will have swallowed -it, and my soul, now winging itself free, will seek its counterpart. We -both will be born again and together we will meet you. - -“I am Marriet Motuble in this life. In the next life I will be _Miguel_. -You will know me when I speak.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - THE FLIGHT OF CATALINA’S SOUL. - - -Three weeks have passed since the city of Chihuahua was shaken to its -foundation by the suicide (the masses knew no other term by which to -call the act which had caused their soul’s flight) of three people whose -names had grown to be household words. - -And while their ebonized bodies were thought to be grewsome by many, a -greater part of the town had become exceedingly scientific in thought, -and they looked upon them as the natural result of taking Ebony Fluid. - -The revolutionists who had attempted the life of the Governor were yet -confined behind the bars. No conclusion had been reached as to what -disposition should be made of them. The government of the State of -Chihuahua was strictly opposed to capital punishment, as well as very -reluctant in imposing a life sentence upon anyone, no matter of what -great crime he had been convicted. The small revolutionary faction had -grown into a large army of rebellion and was now, according to the best -authority, marching onto the National capital. - -The leaders of the dogmatic teachings of the churches and their -followers were determined, if bloodshed could do it, to put a stop to -the heretical teachings of the great scientists. - -They had opened up the battle; no free-thought person, or scientific -investigator had expressed himself against the great army of parasites, -except in words of the greatest sympathy. - -Julio Murillo was now able to be around in an easy-chair, which was -propelled by an automaton. - -The President of the United States made no move, without first -consulting him, the great seer of Chihuahua, as he was now called. - -A presidential campaign was another theme for discussion, and was the -cause of many sleepless nights for the regular “pullers” of the two main -political parties. - -The Governor of Chihuahua, and his friend, were the least concerned, -perhaps, of any men in the United States holding high offices, about the -result of the presidential campaign. They were more interested in the -cause of humanity at large; in developing in the heart of each a desire -to come in touch with Nature, with God. - -At an early stage of the presidential campaign, the party who ran in the -“stray horse,” as President Mortingo was called by the two great -political parties, were so delighted with his _régime_, in which there -had been but little intriguing; a rule which had become known throughout -the universe for its aid in extending, financially and legislatively, -scientific investigations, particularly those which he believed would -assist man in freeing himself from the heavy chains which held him to -his physical environments, and they were determined to reelect him, if -no man of superior ability could be found. - -Since the fame of the great Governor of Chihuahua had traveled -throughout the continent of America, and hundreds rose up to give -testimony to the effect of “Memory Fluid” upon them and the power it had -of bringing man in touch with God, the party which had caused the -election of President Mortingo, turned its eyes upon Governor Lehumada -as its choice for the next President of the United States. During the -last few days he had been solicited by the new party which, as if by -magic, had grown to be of great power, for his consent to allow his name -to be used as a candidate for the presidency of the United States of -America. After several hours of consultation with Julio Murillo, Miss -Hinckley, Guillermo Gonzales and the state officers, he left the matter -entirely in the hands of Julio Murillo, at the suggestion of his dearly -beloved _fiancée_, Helen Hinckley. - -Señor Julio sent word to the party which had done the Governor of -Chihuahua the greatest honor they could offer, from a worldly point of -view, that he wished to wait thirty days, that the fulfillment of his -prophecies could be manifested, before making a decision for or against -the Governor’s name being used in the present presidential campaign as a -candidate for the office. - -The public fumed and growled at the delay; yet it was the inevitable, -and there was but one thing to do; to wait. The party who wished his -nomination knew there was some good reason why the delay was thought -necessary, and were satisfied, believing the answer would be in favor of -their cause, and at the end of the campaign their candidate would bear -the laurels. - -In one of the revolutionary speeches made by the late Don Francisco R. -Cantu y Falomir, as he styled himself with pride, he laid special stress -upon the statement that not since Mexico became a part of the great -United States of America, had a man of purely Mexican origin been at the -head of the nation. He claimed that the prejudices the Anglo-Saxon race -had against the Latin races—particularly those of Spanish and Indian -origin—were the cause of their great men being kept in the background. -He even claimed that many of the best people of Anglo-Saxon origin -objected strongly to the mixing of the blood by marriage. If such had -ever been the state of feeling, the fact that a strongly Anglo-Saxon -faction now wished to elect Señor Don Miguel Lehumada, the present -Governor of the great and famous State of Chihuahua, a man through whose -veins none but Latin blood had ever flowed, to the presidency of the -United States of America, would forever stamp out the erroneous idea -that any prejudices existed. - -Also a further proof of the fact was the marriage soon to take place -between Governor Lehumada and Helen Hinckley, whose family had since -time out of mind prided itself upon its royal Anglo-Saxon blood. - -What can more closely unite two nations than a marriage for love between -them? The eyes of the whole world were centered upon these two people. -Helen Hinckley was called the great heroine of the age, and the press -never tired of lauding her bravery in saving the life of the great -Governor of Chihuahua, even at the peril of her own life. That while she -understood how to overcome the law of gravitation, so far as her own -ability to propel herself through space was concerned, it was a noble -deed for her to risk her own life in the way she did to save another. - -The rebels seemed to have flown from the town which was their starting -point. - -The fate of their leaders, no doubt had a great effect in cooling the -ardor of their revolutionary intentions. Chihuahua was possibly, so far -as the rebellion was concerned, the most quiet capital in the Union. - -In many other respects it was the liveliest, and it certainly was the -center of attraction of the scientific world, and the great Mecca to -which all great thinkers were flocking, for whom it was possible to -leave their business and homes. - -The great test case of “Memory Fluid,” which would be decided at the -trial of the “Plunger from Kansas,” was causing an influx of legal -talent as well as scientists, free-thinkers, and students of the occult. - -The fact that the Plunger had given himself into the hands of the law -for the settlement of the crimes he committed in another life, when -there was no civil law covering the case, was considered within itself -sufficient proof of the value of “Memory Fluid” to science. The fear and -trembling that took hold of some of the uninitiated when they thought -that they might have been guilty of a crime in the past of which they -now had no knowledge and for which they would be brought to the bar of -justice, was certainly sufficient reason for their greatly disturbed -minds. - -The large hotels in Chihuahua were fairly groaning under the burden of -caring for such a great number of people which increased in number each -day, all of whom were flocking to the city with the same object in view: -That of hearing the trial of the most famous case in the annals of man. -To see the man who confessed to the crime of which he was accused; to -hear his testimony of having lived through at least three lives; to hear -him confess to having known in lives gone by the very people who bore -witness against him; to see the child, Catalina Martinet, who was -conscious of having lived another life and the tomb where she was -buried; the wonderful woman who had won the heart of the Governor—the -woman who could suspend the law of gravitation at will; the men who had -discovered “Liquid from the Sun’s Rays,” and to see the ebonized figures -in the Museum, was certainly enough to draw the crowd that was gathering -in the great city. - -The morning on which the trial would begin, dawned clear and cool. Long -before nine o’clock, the hour for opening the court, the halls and rooms -adjoining the great court-room were filled to overflowing. - -The statutes of the States of Chihuahua did not cover the hearing of -such a case as the one about to be heard, but a recent special -legislation did. Many of the legal fraternity were wondering if the case -of “The Plunger from Kansas” would be the means of establishing a -precedent which would make the special and temporary legislation, a -general and permanent act of Congress in the near future. - -Judge Ulloa, of the Supreme bench of the State, was one of the most -advanced thinkers of the age. His success as a lawyer had been nothing -short of marvelous; at least that was the opinion of the public, but -_he_ knew that his success was due to his knowledge of the “great powers -that be.” - -The case in hand was to him a supreme moment, for by special legislation -it came under his jurisdiction. It was generally known that President -Mortingo believed implicitly in the scientific revelation of Governor -Lehumada and his able coworkers. - -Arrangements had been perfected whereby the President of the United -States, the cabinet, and many great legal minds, who were not able to be -in attendance at the trial, could hear the testimony as it would be -given in the Chihuahua court-room, by means of the soundcondenser, in -their own private offices in Washington, New York, or whatever city in -which they lived. - -When the great throng rushed into the court-room at the hour of opening, -the accused and the prosecutors (the Governor, Miss Hinckley, Guillermo -Gonzales and Julio Murillo), with their respective attorneys, were -seated conspicuously near the judge, and all eyes were immediately -centered upon them. - -For the benefit of the public, the great daily _Chihuahuan_ contained a -plan of procedure which the court would follow in the case of the -“Plunger from Kansas,” in that morning’s issue, and now officers -distributed programs, which explained every step to be taken. - -It was a new order of things, but so far, it was exceedingly -satisfactory to all concerned, and the public at large. - -The statement of the case was first called. The attorney representing -the scientists from one point of view, and Miss Hinckley, who claimed to -be one of the injured in the great cattle robbery which occurred nearly -two centuries ago, from another point of view, arose and said: - -“Your Honors: The case for the hearing of which we have assembled to-day -is one, as you know, of unusual occurrence, and is composed of such -intricate features that the gross or impure element of humanity will -look upon the testimony as out of the reason of man. But when all -_understand_, the full force of the argument will be to them the most -rational thing on earth. - -“There is a divine law which proceeds from the ‘powers that be,’ which -says that there must be an adjustment of all evil; if not in the life in -which the sin was committed, then it will be repaired in another one of -the lives which each person will live, until all evil he has committed -will be punished through self conviction. - -“In the case at hand, had it not been for the great discovery of ‘Memory -Fluid’ by the three renowned scientists of our city, the ‘Plunger from -Kansas,’ yonder, who committed the great cattle robbery in the year of -our Lord, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, would have escaped -repairing the mischief he did then until another existence in the body. -But when _memory_ was restored, and our renowned townsmen brought the -influences of the ‘powers that be,’ which cannot be seen by the physical -eye nor heard by the physical ear, to bear upon the Plunger, he first -became uneasy, then a knowledge of his other lives dawned upon him. - -“At the first realization there was naturally a great shock experienced. -Then came a desire to escape the ordeal which seemed to be first -overtaking him, and the ‘Plunger from Kansas’ flitted hither and -thither, trying to find a place where he would be contented. He came to -Chihuahua, the very city to which he fled at the time in his previous -life after he had committed the crime. - -“His presence here was an assistance in awakening memory. - -“After hearing the statements of various witnesses, we hope to close the -case with a glorious victory in favor of the great spiritual life each -could live, if he only _knew_,” concluded the prosecution. - -Catalina Martinet arose, when called to the stand, and when asked to -tell all she knew about the “Plunger from Kansas,” said: - -“In that life gone by, of which you speak, I had the misfortune to be -born not according to law. Ignorant of the cause of my birth, I lived -the life of a happy child up to the age of tender girlhood, when I -learned I was a child out of the pale of civil law; then my great pride -was crushed, my heart was broken, and I passed away. I came again, -however, and while I had the misfortune to be born into a family -inharmonious, I am not an illegal child. I will leave again soon, and -when I return I will be in the most harmonious condition for spiritual -development.” - -“The child seems to wander in her thoughts,” said the judge to the -Governor. - -“With your permission, I will speak to her,” said the Governor. - -The judge replied by an inclination of his head, and the Governor said: -“Catalina, it is the story of the ‘Plunger from Kansas’ the court wishes -to hear.” - -Catalina looked at the court dazed for a moment, then going to the -Governor, placed her arms around him and said: “My papa, I was unhappy a -moment ago; that is why I was telling of my misfortune. I will now tell -all I know about the ‘Plunger from Kansas.’” - -Exclamations of surprise, disgust and pleasure were heard on every side, -but when Catalina began to speak, everything was severely quiet again. - -In answer to the question from Miss Hinckley’s attorney: “Did you know -the accused in a life gone by?” Catalina replied: “I did, your Honor.” - -“Then tell us all you know about him,” said the counsel. - -“One cold, rainy night, a cab drove up to our house. I heard it, and -childlike I was anxious to know why such an unusual occurrence was -happening. My mother opened the door, and Mr. J. Ecarg stepped into the -room. He often came to our house, and when he did not have too much -pulque he was pleasant. This night he had had much, and told my mother -there were two men in the cab outside, and she must let them have the -only room we had with a bed in it. My mother said she did not want them, -and he told her not to be a fool; that they would stay anyway, and she -would be well paid. They came. He did not give their names, but the -fellow who was trembling and crying, he afterwards told my mother, was -the ‘Plunger from Kansas’—that he was hiding from people in the United -States, because he had stolen cattle from these people and sold them. -Mr. Ecarg threatened my mother in various ways, if she ever told about -the men being at her house, what she saw them do, or heard them say. -They often had a Mexican lawyer and an interpreter; this lawyer knew -everything and gave them advice. I was often in the room when he was -there, playing with my dolls, and I heard all they said. The Plunger -gave me _centavos_ often, and said he liked little girls. And he gave me -these pictures; this one is of him; this his wife, and this his baby,” -concluded Catalina, handing the pictures out to the attorney, and -seating herself beside the Governor. - -From one to another of the legal profession on the rostrum the -photographs were passed. - -The accused was then asked to take his place, and the attorney began a -series of interrogations. - -“What is your name?” - -“I am called the ‘Plunger from Kansas.’” - -“Have you any knowledge of a previous life on earth?” - -“I have, your Honor.” - -“Did you ever see this picture before?” - -“It is myself, long ago, though not unlike me now.” - -“And this, and this?” continued the lawyer. - -“This,” exclaimed the Plunger, “is a splendid photograph of my wife of -long ago! Poor woman, how she stayed by me during my trouble, until -death claimed her as his own. Ah; and this is the child we loved and who -never came again.” - -“Did you know the witness just on the stand?” asked the lawyer. - -“I did, she is Catalina Martinet, and the image of herself in the life -gone by. J. Ecarg said, when he took me to her mother’s, the night she -spoke of, that the child was his, and he helped to support the mother.” - -Mr. Niksab was the next witness called. He testified to his knowledge of -the Plunger’s doings, his acquaintance with Catalina and her mother, and -verified the statements previously made. - -J. Ecarg next took the stand. He said he was repenting in sackcloth and -ashes for the many sins he committed in that life gone by. He said the -good Governor would give testimony to the truth of his unholy conduct in -that life long since passed, of his relations to Catalina’s mother, and -his connection with the “Plunger from Kansas.” He said his time here was -short, but in a future life on earth, he would live on a higher plane, -because he _remembered_, and in consequence he would profit by his past -varied and unhappy experiences. - -At the moment J. Ecarg took his seat, a messenger handed the Governor a -note. After reading it, he passed it to the judge, and in turn it was -passed to the lawyers on either side. - -After a brief consultation was held between the judge, the attorneys and -the Governor, the lawyer for prosecution said: - -“Francisco de Urdiñola will now take the stand.” - -A tall, well built, dark-complexioned man, of commanding presence and -delightful manners, took the stand. - -“Your name?” asked the court. - -“I am, your honor, Francisco de Urdiñola.” - -“What is your occupation, and where is your place of residence?” the -court questioned. - -“I have the honor of being president of the school ‘For Hidden Thought,’ -and my place of residence is Saltillo, the city in which this school is -situated,” quietly replied the distinguished man. - -“Do you know the accused?” asked the court. - -“The ‘Plunger from Kansas,’ to whom you refer, I have no acquaintance -with now.” - -“Did you in a life gone by; if so, tell the full circumstances.” - -The stately man bowed and said: “The court will grant me a few moments -to explain my position in a life previous to knowing the ‘Plunger from -Kansas.’ In the year of fifteen hundred and fifty, I commanded an -expedition against a tribe of Indians called the Chichimecas, who -inhabited all of Northern Mexico. I came north as far as the beautiful -valley of what afterwards was known as Saltillo, at which place I -founded a city in the year of fifteen hundred and fifty-nine. There I -left twenty Spanish families, and as many of the conquered Indian tribe. -Going further north I founded many other cities. Two years later I -passed out of life, but my entity guided the life of my son, whom I -aided in subduing the Indians in every way possible; also in bringing -sixty Spanish families to the beautiful valley of Saltillo, and formally -laying the foundation of the city in fifteen hundred and seventy-five. -My son remained there for a quarter of a century, tyrannizing over the -conquered Indians, then passed away. A craving for experience, no doubt, -led me to be born into my next existence in the United States of -America, although of Spanish parentage. They belonged to the conquered -of Mexico, and fled to the United States in preference to returning to -Spain. Now comes the important part of my story. I inherited from my -father large tracts of land in the State of Kansas. I engaged in the -cattle business, and was a heavy lender to dealers. The daring young man -known as the ‘Plunger from Kansas,’ was one of my heaviest borrowers. I -trusted him, for I thought he had too much self pride to prove false to -me, being his main stay. He was, like Julius Cæsar, too ambitious, and -he fell—and by his fall ruined many families, amongst whom was my own. I -was no longer a young man, and seeing nearly all swept from me without a -moment’s warning, I felt that I could not face poverty, and without -further ado I gave up the ghost. Still in quest of knowledge, my spirit, -now free, roamed the world over in the hope of finding the open sesame. -Up to this time I had no knowledge of a previous life, but I was -conscious of having had experiences for which I could not account. In -the year of two thousand I again became identified with physical life. -And as my experiences in spirit, although I was not cognizant of them, -fitted me to live on a high spiritual plane in the physical, I became, -at the age of fifteen, a student of the occult, with the result you -know. When I saw the first accounts of the discoveries of your great -Governor, and that by means of ‘Memory Fluid,’ he was trying to find the -‘Plunger from Kansas,’ and bring him to justice by means of remorse of -conscience, I knew that in some way I was connected with him. For days I -felt as if my senses were leaving me, conscious that something must be -done, and done quickly. My silent appeal to the Great Cause was -answered, and I received a spiritual impression from his honor, -Professor Julio Murillo, which said: ‘Take “Memory Fluid.” It will -arrive by the next express.’ From that moment I was calm and contented. -Fifteen minutes after taking that wonderful fluid, I lived in memory all -my past existences, part of which I have just related to you. Yonder -sits the ‘Plunger from Kansas,’ and it is due to myself, Miss Helen -Hinckley, the orphan daughter of my bosom friend in that time long since -passed, and many others who, no doubt, will speak for themselves, that -he refunds the amount of his obligations to us and its accumulations for -one hundred and fifty years. I have nothing further to say, your honor.” - -The great Governor of Chihuahua was the next witness. - -He was not questioned, but was simply requested to state what he knew -about the “Plunger from Kansas.” Much that has been related was repeated -by him, to which he added many spicy instances connected with the life -of the Plunger while he was a refugee from justice in Chihuahua. - -“Shortly after arriving in the city,” said the Governor, “he sent me, by -a private and confidential carrier, his card, which was accompanied by -two thousand dollars in gold, which was equivalent then to nearly five -thousand dollars in Mexican money. I had no disposition to accept a -bribe, nor to help shield him from the law. He fled from this city after -several months, and from accounts at the time he was lost at sea or by -pestilence; but by his own confession he was a suicide. If his means is -not sufficient to pay the debts he owes, I hope the law will take all he -has, and part of all he earns, for employment he must get at once, until -every cent he stole from those who befriended him, is paid.” - -Helen Hinckley told all she knew of the Plunger, when she was a child, -and he a frequent visitor at her father’s house in Kansas City. She said -that she was left an orphan after he had robbed her father, and her -struggles for a livelihood, alone and unprotected, were, even yet, when -she thought of them, a horrible nightmare to her. - -No further witnesses were called, nor did others present themselves. - -Judge Ulloa announced that the testimony had been heard, and the jury -could absent itself and weigh it very carefully. - -During its absence a message was handed the Governor. After looking it -over, he arose and said: “The message in hand concerns everybody as much -as myself. It is from the War Department, and reads: ‘The army of the -rebellion engaged in a battle with the United State troops in West -Virginia, at an early hour this morning. The loss was heavy on either -side, but the victory is ours.’” - -For a few moments there was wild disorder in court, and shouts of: -“Truth will triumph,” came from every side; for those who had been -sympathizers with the rebels before the trial began, were now thoroughly -convinced of their error, and strongly favored supporting the Union and -stimulating scientific investigations. - -At the height of their rejoicing, the jury entered, and the foreman -announced that the vote was unanimous in favor of conviction. - -The Plunger was asked if he had any statement to make. He arose and -said: “To escape the torture of mind, soul and body to which I have been -subjected through this, the third existence, I will gladly give up every -cent, and work to pay the rest. I herewith hand your honor checks to -meet my full obligations to Miss Hinckley and President Francisco de -Urdiñola, and part pay to others I robbed; the balance I owe them will -be paid as I earn it.” - -A murmur of approval was heard throughout the court-room. The judge -dismissed the case. - -When the crowd was on the eve of rising to leave, Catalina Martinet -arose, and throwing her arms out, cried in a voice which startled -everyone and made them turn around: “Great and Everlasting Cause, and -all the powers that be, my work in this existence, where my home -environments are so inharmonious, is done. I pray you, let me depart, -and come again. Now that I _remember_, my next life in the physical will -be of the greatest contentment possible on earth; for I will be his -Honor’s child, and my mother will be Helen Hinckley. Adieu, all whom I -love and who are beloved by me; adieu. I am gone but I will come again.” -She fell back, her spirit having fled, and the Governor caught her in -his arms. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - THE GOVERNOR MARRIED. - - -Julio Murillo had become such a well-known seer by name, and also well -known through the press, from the fact that upon him alone fell the -responsibility of deciding whether the Governor would become a candidate -for the presidency of the United States of America or not. - -Now that the thirty days’ time he had requested to be given him, in -which he could study the matter over, was on the eve of elapsing, the -public was in a state of great excitement, in expectation of what the -answer would be. - -The Governor and Helen Hinckley had been recluses since the day of the -trial of the “Plunger from Kansas” was concluded, and the child, -Catalina Martinet, passed away. She had grown to be very dear to them, -as well as a favorite with a great many people, particularly those -persons who were interested in scientific investigations. By all she was -missed. Had it not been for the knowledge that she was with them in -spirit, and would come again in the physical life, her separation from -the Governor would be almost unbearable to him. Helen Hinckley had -remained at the Governor’s Mansion since the day after she saved him -from the clutches of the rebels. She had no home since the trouble in -the family of Francisco R. Cantu, and he wished to give her his -protection. - -She was now seated in her pretty parlor connected with the suite of -rooms she occupied in her future permanent home, and was reading aloud -to the Governor’s housekeeper, a dear old lady of whom she had grown to -be very fond, the newspaper accounts of the war. - -“It is only a question of a few more weeks until the uprising will be -subdued, and hundreds more will understand the law,” replied Miss -Hinckley, in answer to a question propounded by her companion. - -“The paper says,” continued Miss Hinckley, “that if Señor Julio Murillo -decides to-morrow that the Governor’s name shall be entered as a -candidate for nomination to the presidency of the United States of -America, that the rebels will know their chances for severing the Union -will be smaller than at present, and they will gradually disperse, -themselves.” - -“Is the question of whether he will or will not allow his name to be -used as a candidate for nomination to the presidency, to be decided -to-morrow?” asked the housekeeper. - -“That is my understanding,” replied Miss Hinckley, “and while I have not -spoken to the scientist, Julio Murillo, in regard to the matter, a -knowledge comes to me from within that he will report favorably, and -when the election takes place, his Honor will be the next President of -the United States of America. From a material point of view, it is a -great honor; but from a spiritualistic point of view it is no honor.” - -“Do you not believe,” replied her companion, “that the election of -Governor Lehumada will be the means of promulgating spiritual -researches?” - -“His election is the only means now known that will bring about that -end. It is the inevitable, and his election will take place,” replied -Miss Hinckley. - -At that moment a light knock was heard at the door. At Miss Hinckley’s -request it was opened, and Juan entered. He handed Miss Hinckley two -cards, one bearing the name of Julio Murillo, the other of Guillermo -Gonzales. On the latter was written: “We are requested by his Honor, to -see you upon a matter of much importance.” - -“Show them in, Juan; show the gentlemen here at once,” replied Miss -Hinckley. “But what is the matter? You seem to be terribly distressed,” -she concluded, as Juan was leaving. - -“Oh, miss,” he cried; “there is enough the matter. I have taken more -‘Memory Fluid.’” - -“Is that all?” asked the housekeeper. - -“That is enough, quite enough; for I now _remember_ too much,” replied -Juan. - -“Then you are one of us, Juan,” said Miss Hinckley. “When the scientists -leave, Juan, come and tell us what you remember. I will not now keep you -waiting longer.” - -Juan passed out, and the housekeeper arose to leave the room. “Do not -go!” exclaimed Miss Hinckley. “I wish you to be present. The interview -concerns the marriage of myself and his Honor. He has been in the most -serious meditations since the flight of dear little Catalina’s soul. I -have not seen him since the memorable day, but I have constantly heard -from him. He says it is the physical over which he yet has not perfect -control, and that makes him mourn for dear little Catalina. She has been -with him in spirit since the moment of her departure. And while he -realizes that her passing away will result in our mutual happiness, he -still grieves for her.” - -A rap at the door interrupted her further comments upon the subject. The -two scientists entered, and after a cordial greeting, Guillermo Gonzales -said: “Miss Hinckley, his Honor deputized friend Julio Murillo and -myself to ascertain from you the earliest date you would consent to your -marriage (already taken place spiritually, with him) to be celebrated -publicly, and by the civil law.” - -Miss Hinckley smiled and said: “The civil law must be respected, yet I -feel so little interest in it, I will leave the matter entirely in the -hands of our friend, Julio Murillo. The seer of the age is hereby -appointed master of ceremonies. Is that not a wise conclusion, Señor -Gonzales?” concluded Miss Hinckley. - -“His Honor, the Governor, will be greatly pleased, Miss Hinckley, for as -you know, the Governor trusts him with all the affairs of the -Government, and he is the greatest seer of the age,” replied Guillermo -Gonzales. - -Without any embarrassment whatever, at the great knowledge attributed to -him, Julio said: “The day set to nominate candidates for the office of -the presidency of the United States of America, will take place on the -twenty-third day of this month. Governor Lehumada will be nominated at -ten o’clock in the morning. At twelve o’clock the state marriage -ceremony will take place in the parlors of the gubernatorial Mansion, -and will be performed by Judge Ulloa, of the Supreme bench. After the -civil ceremony I will make the formal announcement of your spiritual -marriage, which took place some time ago; after which, a reception will -take place, and many renowned people will be present, some of whom will -be from the spirit world,” quietly concluded the great seer. - -“From a human point of view I am delighted, and from a sense of the -fitness of the eternal, my soul is contented, and cries out in great joy -at the harmony of my life. Tell his Honor I am conscious of his presence -always, and of his great love for me. It is to me the ‘peace of the soul -that passeth all understanding’; the understanding, of course, of the -_uninitiated_,” said the Governor’s _fiancée_. - -“To-morrow,” said Guillermo Gonzales, “will be announced publicly his -Honor’s intentions of becoming a candidate for the office of President -of the United States of America.” - -“At the same time,” continued Julio Murillo, “the public announcement of -the date of your and his Honor’s marriage will be made.” - -“I am content to leave everything to your judgment, friend Julio,” said -Miss Hinckley, extending her hand to them as they arose to leave. - -“Then you and his Honor will have nothing to regret,” said Guillermo -Gonzales, as they passed from the room. - -The Governor’s good housekeeper clasped Helen Hinckley in her arms, and -as she pressed her lips to her brow, said, with tears streaming down her -cheeks: “I am an old woman; three-score years have passed over my head, -yet I have not the knowledge of which you speak. Tell me, my child, tell -me from whom can I learn of the inner life?” - -“It can only come, my good woman, from an awakening which must proceed -from within, out. It is the subjective life that must make itself felt. -The great Cause which lies back of the ‘powers that be,’ must be felt, -and that can only be done when one’s life is in tune with the great -Cause.” - -“But how am I to tune my life with the Great Cause?” was the next -question. - -“By making the physical life subservient to the spiritual is the first -step,” immediately replied Helen Hinckley. - -“Then the taking of ‘Memory Fluid’ will do much toward the desired end, -I suppose,” said the housekeeper, evidently much interested in how to -become spiritual. “Tell me about that wonderful fluid, Miss Hinckley. -How did it affect you, and after what length of time?” - -“Juan is coming, my dear woman. He no doubt will be able to explain to -you, better than I, the workings of ‘Memory Fluid,’” said Helen -Hinckley, as she drew her companion onto the sofa by her side. - -As prophesied by Miss Hinckley, Juan’s steps were heard at the door, and -on being asked to come in, he entered, timidly, and dropped into the -nearest chair without any invitation. Miss Hinckley smiled to herself as -she looked at him. - -The housekeeper looked worried and said: “And you have taken more -‘Memory Fluid,’ Juan? Is that why you are so sad?” - -“Yes, madam, that is the reason,” replied Juan. - -“Then you regret having taken it,” was her next comment. - -“Not in the least,” replied Juan. “I would rather be sad for a season -and _know_, than be ignorant and happy. For the happiness of the -ignorant is not lasting. And when one recovers from the shock, which -first makes them sad, of having learned the lesson, I fancy that no -worldly affairs can mar his happiness. I understand now what dear little -Catalina meant by _things not seen by the eye or heard by the ear_.” - -“Tell us, Juan, of your other lives, if you have the remembrance of any. -Mrs. Serrano is interested in ‘Memory Fluid,’” said Miss Hinckley. - -“That is what I came to tell you; but I do not feel so sad about what I -know as I did a while ago. First I took two tablespoonfuls of ‘Memory -Fluid.’ In three minutes afterwards I was astonished to see myself a -little boy, walking down the street in South America, holding the hand -of the ‘Plunger from Kansas.’ I nearly fainted at the shock it gave me. -I heard him say: ‘Poor lad; his mother is gone. They are hot on my -tracks, after five years of dodging here, and were it not for the lad I -would end my existence now. What would you do, son, if you had no papa -to care for you?’ he asked, turning to me. I swelled up in great -fashion, and replied: ‘I would join the circus and be the clown.’ He was -shocked, of course; no doubt, he wished me to be a _plunger_ like -himself. Imagine my feelings, Miss Hinckley, when I was forced to -realize that _I_ was born into my first existence the son of the -‘Plunger from Kansas.’” - -“You were not to blame, Juan, and now that you _remember_, see that in -your next physical existence you do not enter an inharmonious physical -dwelling,” replied Helen Hinckley. - -“How interesting,” added Mrs. Serrano. “Tell us, Señor Juan, did you -join the circus and become a clown?” - -Helen Hinckley smiled at her inquisitiveness, and continued: “Certainly, -friend Juan, tell us all about yourself in other lives.” - -“I did, madam, and lived the life of a clown up to a ripe old age. I -broke my neck by turning a double somersault, and died without the least -pain,” said Juan. - -“And did you live again before now?” eagerly asked Mrs. Serrano. - -“Yes,” replied Juan, as he heaved a great sigh; “that calamity happened -to me.” - -“Why do you call it a calamity?” asked Mrs. Serrano. - -“Because I presented myself into a family who were intent upon opening -up missionary schools—that was in Chicago—and if they couldn’t make the -children believe as they did, by giving them a sweet cake now and then, -they used a club, and the children said they believed as they did -whether they did or not. When I was ten years old I heard my father say -that he had raked in five thousand dollars that year, over and above -expenses. When I told him he had committed a great sin, he gave me a -lick with a great club, over the back. In about an hour my soul fled, -and just before I passed over, I remember I thought how glad I would be -to get rid of such a life. You can hardly imagine how conceited I was -about my past, before taking ‘Memory Fluid.’ I thought if I had lived at -all, I certainly had been a man of very great note. I even imagined -myself in one life Julius Cæsar; in another George Washington; and yet -another, the great, though not very beloved, Santa Ana. _That_ was the -cause of my sad face when I first learned the truth. It was a great fall -for my feathers. I have knowledge now, and I do not care for the -vanities of life,” concluded Juan, as he rose to leave the room. - -“You feel better, Juan,” said Miss Hinckley, “because you have had a -feast of the soul. You have been in an harmonious circle for the last -thirty minutes, and it is the first time since your awakening. Many -people with good intentions are made demons, because of inharmonious -surroundings. As you grow strong in the Light, we will enjoy many an -hour together, Juan.” - -Juan left the room with a bow and a “thank you,” and Mrs. Serrano arose -and walking the floor back and forth in intense excitement, said: “My -dear child, that story is divine to me. Show me the way. I must know if -I had a past existence.” - -“I can do nothing more, Mrs. Serrano, than to get you a little of -‘Liquid from the Sun’s Rays,’ known as ‘Memory Fluid.’ If you take it, I -feel quite sure that you will not be disappointed in the result,” -replied Helen Hinckley. - -“Get it, child; get it, and I will take it in honor of yourself and the -good Governor.” - -While Helen Hinckley knew the good housekeeper would take it mainly to -satisfy her curiosity, she cheerfully gave her a vial of the liquid, and -said: “Have no fears, Mrs. Serrano; no harm can result from it. When -your memory is restored, I will gladly take you with me on a trip -through space.” - -“How charming, to be the envy of all eyes,” said the worldly Mrs. -Serrano. - -Helen Hinckley made no reply, but laughed heartily as the two separated -for the night (so Mrs. Serrano thought); but Helen Hinckley knew they -would not meet again until her wedding day. She knew how keenly Mrs. -Serrano would feel the disappointment in not being able to tell her -to-morrow what she remembered, and take a trip through space, yet she -knew it was for her good, and she caused the delay. - -Time in the Governor’s Mansion went very quickly, and Helen Hinckley was -as happy as a mortal can be. How that the day had arrived which would be -celebrated in her and the Governor’s honor with so much grandeur, she -could hardly realize that she was the same Helen Hinckley who came to -the great city of Chihuahua only a short time ago, homeless, friendless -and almost penniless, searching in an ill-defined way for her other -self, and for the one who had caused her to be an orphan in a life gone -by, and who was instrumental in causing her grief and sorrow in her -present life—the loss of parents, home and money. - -She attributed all of her good fortune to the high life she had always -aimed to live; to her delving with things pertaining to the occult, and -the taking of “Memory Fluid.” She was happy and knew the cause, so -nothing could mar her pleasure. Before she left her room, which was at -an early hour, numerous congratulatory messages were brought to her from -President Mortingo and others of note, as well as from many others, from -various parts of the world, wholly unknown to herself and to the public. - -When she was through reading the first lot of messages received, she -dressed herself in a close-fitting black gown, from the bottom of which -only her feet extended, and took a trip through space. When she reached -the very outskirts of the city, she sat down near the top of one of the -Sierra Madre mountains. - -The sun was just rising, and she thought she had never seen such a -beautiful sight. Out from the rays of the sun there seemed to glide a -figure of some person. When it came closer and became more distinct, she -recognized Catalina. - -The child smiled, and said: “We will be at your wedding, dear Helen.” - -“I do not see anyone but you, sweet child,” said Miss Hinckley. - -“I mean,” continued Catalina, “Marriet Motuble and I. She will not come, -though, unless his Honor is willing.” - -“There he comes,” said Miss Hinckley, rising to meet the Governor; “ask -him.” - -“You were expecting me, dear life. I can hardly realize that this is the -day to which I have so long looked forward, the day on which all the -world may know that we have conformed to the civil law and are thereby -man and wife according to human customs,” said the great Governor, as he -folded her in his arms. - -“I am sure, my other self, there will be nothing to mar our happiness, -since we both remember and are conscious of having sought for each other -throughout two existences, and knew no peace until we were found,” -replied the woman whom he loved. - -“Some one must be hiding close by, dear heart; in fact, I feel the -presence of many besides you,” said the Governor, glancing nervously -around. - -“My other life, my dear heart, I was so rejoiced at seeing you, that I -neglected to tell you that we have company. Come; there are Catalina and -Marriet Motuble sitting by that big rock.” She led him by the hand to -the rock. - -“I do not see them,” cried his Honor. - -“You are too much engrossed with physical pleasures, my other life, to -see the spiritual form of the dear child you love so well, and of the -erstwhile aggressive señorita, as you were wont to call Marriet Motuble. -She wishes to get your consent to attend our marriage,” said Miss -Hinckley. - -“You have spoken wisely, dear Helen. I am a little out of tune this -morning. I have allowed my vanity to be flattered by the assurance from -Julio that I am to be the next President of the great United States of -America. Yes, say to Marriet Motuble, dear Helen, that we will be -pleased to have her at our wedding assembly,” concluded the Governor. - -The Governor and Helen Hinckley bade their spirit friends adieu, and -hand in hand they glided through the air, and discussed the -possibilities of the future in regard to scientific discoveries and the -growth of spiritual knowledge. - -So contented were they away from the bustle of life, that they did not -realize how swiftly time was flying, and when they returned to the -Governor’s Mansion, the hour was nearly eleven-thirty. A message awaited -the Governor, announcing his nomination. Only one half-hour remained for -them to prepare for their wedding. Guests had already arrived in large -numbers. Judge Ulloa and many of the legal fraternity and scientists -clamored for the Governor, to offer their congratulations for the great -victory he had achieved. - -Mrs. Grange was there, and persisted in being allowed to be the first to -congratulate the Governor. - -Poor woman! She was very much cast down. Her husband had died recently, -as a result of not being able to recover from the disgrace of losing his -position through joining the rebel party and of having a wife who had -been a _subject_. Mrs. Grange was a changed woman. She endeavored to -live a higher and better life, but having the physical developed more -than the spiritual, it was difficult for her to be in this life much -different in her actions, after remembering, than her long life of -dissipation, intriguing and deceit had made her. - -At Miss Hinckley’s suggestion the Governor had given her a place in the -State Library as one of the under clerks, that she might earn her daily -bread. She was still a coquette, and not much hopes were felt for her in -her present existence. It was common talk at the library that she was -laying siege to the heart of the scientist, Guillermo Gonzales; but what -impression she had been able to make no one knew but the scientist. - -Promptly at eleven-thirty the bridal party entered the large parlors, -which were beautifully decorated. - -Helen Hinckley was on the arm of Guillermo Gonzales, and Governor -Lehumada had for his best man the renowned seer, Julio Murillo. - -Guillermo Gonzales handed Miss Hinckley to her betrothed, and Judge -Ulloa pronounced the words which, according to the civil law of the land -made these two people recognized as man and wife. - -When the Governor and his bride faced the audience, the entire room -seemed suddenly to be filled with thousands of invisible musicians. Such -delightful strains of melody had never been heard by man before! The -Governor and his bride stopped, and with faces beaming with happiness -looked up, and listened intently to the divine music that seemed to come -from above. - -One by one the people arose and assumed the same listening attitude. - -The melodious sounds ceased for a moment, and Mrs. Grange ran forward, -clutched the arm of the Governor and cried: “Your Honor, forgive me; but -I must know from whence all of this music comes, or I will go wild. I -feel as if I would fall dumb with terror!” She threw her head around, -rolled her eyes from one side to the other, and looked the very picture -of one insane from fright. - -“Dear Mrs. Grange,” said the Governor, “the music comes from my spirit -friends; they are celebrating the union of two lives between which there -is perfect harmony.” - -“Catalina leads the band. You know her, do you not, Mrs. Grange?” asked -the Governor’s bride. - -“I did know her,” replied Mrs. Grange, “but I do not care to know her -now. Oh, God, if to remember makes one undergo such torture as this, I -pray you to let me pass into oblivion.” - -“That is how I felt,” said Juan, coming close by, “when remembrance -first came to me. You certainly would not blame me for wishing to die -and never know again, when I became conscious that my first existence -upon the physical plane was as the son of the ‘Plunger from Kansas.’” - -A murmur of surprise was heard from every side. The Plunger was there, -and when asked by the Governor if he remembered Juan in a life gone by, -he exclaimed: “Yes! and great God! I was not sorry I committed suicide, -for to have seen my son a clown in a circus, when we had such great -aspirations for him, would have finished me.” - -“The wrongs committed and the evil done others consciously and -unconsciously, will be obliterated in another life. This is a great -school and, friends, we all are learning. Our musical friends wish to -give us one more grand serenade before departing,” said the Governor. - -Julio Murillo arose, and addressing the Governor, said: “With your -Honor’s permission, I will deliver a message to Mrs. Grange from her -husband.” - -“My permission is granted, if Mrs. Grange wishes to hear it delivered,” -replied the Governor. - -Mrs. Grange was hanging onto the arm of the scientist, Guillermo -Gonzales, and with one of her most bewitching smiles looked up into his -face and said: “Would it be wise to hear it, Señor Gonzales?” - -The great scientist smiled, in spite of his efforts to control it, at -the conspicuous and humorous position he occupied, and said: “Dear Mrs. -Grange, it is due science that you hear his message, as well as to show -the proper respect to your once dearly beloved husband.” - -In a low voice, full of emotion, she said: “Tell Señor Julio to deliver -it.” - -Julio Murillo, the great seer, was the object of greatest interest to -all present, and in their eyes he was a connoisseur. - -He approached near the place where the Governor and his bride had seated -themselves, and with hands outstretched, asked the Great Cause and the -powers that be, to make the great assembly of mortals present see the -spiritual serenaders; to let them surround the bridal party, and when he -had delivered the message from Mrs. Grange’s husband to her, they could -end the marriage celebration with their music. - -Mrs. Grange leaned heavier and heavier upon the arm of Guillermo -Gonzales, and gazed upon the face of the Governor and this bride with -eyes that seemed charmed, and her face shone with rage and jealousy. - -The eyes of everyone were riveted upon the Governor and his bride and -the scientist - -Julio Murillo stood a moment, eyes lowered as if in silent prayer, then -raising his head and stepping aside, said: “They are here.” - -The exclamations of “Oh’s,” and “Oh, dear,” “I see,” “I see,” “That is -Catalina,” and “Marriet Motuble,” were frequently heard. - -Julio said: “Mrs. Grange, this is what your husband says: ‘Beware, Inez; -do not make so many pitfalls as you have in the past, or you will never -have an harmonious life.’” Mrs. Grange’s head fell forward when the -message was finished. Señor Guillermo Gonzales laid her on a lounge near -by. Her soul had fled. - -The spirit band at that moment sent forth delicious strains of melody. -Catalina played the harp and Marriet Motuble towered above the rest at -their backs and blew a large horn; the vibrations which made the music -were so large that they could be seen by everyone. - -When they had ceased, the Governor and his bride arose to leave, after -thanking those present for the honor they had paid them. As they glided -through the air out of the room, to the amazement of all, the spiritual -band followed them, playing Milton’s “Allegro.” - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - THE CELEBRATION. - - -President Miguel Lehumada was entering upon the third year of his second -term as President of the United States of America. - -All of the prophecies of the seer, Julio Murillo, had been fulfilled to -the letter. The nation clamored for him to be placed at the head of the -“National School for Scientific Development,” but he preferred to remain -in the home of President Lehumada and carry on his scientific -investigations quietly and alone, save for the companionship of a few -whom he knew to be earnest in their investigations and of an harmonious -temperament to him. - -The President and his wife were of the greatest assistance to him, and -while the President was ever busy with the affairs of the nation, and -his wife with her social and domestic duties, they both found time to -attend to the development of their spiritual life, and they never -wearied practicing their beliefs, and thereby showing others the -beauties a knowledge of the only _real life_ gave them. Señor Julio -lectured once a month to the school, and the President and his wife -never failed to be present. - -The petition presented by President Lehumada, when he was Governor of -Chihuahua, to the United States Congress, asking that all priests and -female members of different orders of the Church be granted the -privilege of marrying without the consent of the Pope, and that both -priests and pastors become less like parasites upon the community, had -become a law, and the effect of it was already felt by the people. - -And many men too lazy to earn an honest living, and who claimed to have -been called to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, turned their attention -to something else, when they learned that if they had no means they -would be compelled to engage in some honorable work to help support -themselves, while trying to convert people to a religion which they -claim to be called to preach, and help those whom they sought to teach, -instead of being a burden upon them. - -Since the petition became a law, quite six years ago, it was shown by -statistics that the number of fine buildings called churches, which had -been built every year previous to the passage of the law, had diminished -more than one-half, and on the other hand, the number of homes built and -well furnished by the poor, had been on the increase each year since -that time. - -There seemed to be less immorality than formerly; for each person who -had no visible means of support was given employment, if he were able to -work; if not, such persons were cared for by the State. However, there -were very few people who were disabled for work by chronic diseases. -“Memory Fluid” had become a powerful germ killer, and wherever it had -been used, the person using it had completely recovered from the disease -which had disabled him. - -The use of it was, however, not compulsory; and a great many people -objected to taking it, preferring to suffer than to know of a past -existence, if they had any. - -In cases other than these, no one was incapacitated for labor unless he -was severely crippled. - -Many of the formerly so-called mysteries of life, were no longer -mysteries to the great body of thinking people, to those who had been -_subjects_, and delvers in spiritual philosophy at the “School for -Hidden Thought,” at Saltillo, since their awakening. - -Many students at the “National School for Scientific Development” knew -the law, and continued to live their lives upon the highest plane -possible, and their efforts were rewarded. - -Juan, the former trusty servant of Governor Lehumada, and the worldly -Mrs. Serrano, both had become valuable assistants in the diffusion of -the spiritual philosophy. Juan occupied the same position in the private -laboratory of the Governor of Chihuahua, Guillermo Gonzales, as Julio -Murillo, the great seer and constant associate and adviser of President -Lehumada, did when he first entered the employment of the then Governor, -Miguel Lehumada, of Chihuahua. - -Mrs. Serrano occupied the position she formerly did, that of -housekeeper, with the exception that she had added to her name, the name -of Degatau; in other words, she had become the wife of Juan Degatau. -They were happy in their new life, yet both realized that many -existences on earth would have to be experienced by them before they -could have the harmonious conditions necessary for the highest knowledge -of Law. They did their duty from day to day, as they understood it, and -grew stronger in the knowledge of truth by so doing. Strict surveillance -was for a long time kept over the revolutionists, after they abandoned -their evil designs upon the government to all outward appearances. At -the same time, from the day they surrendered, which was on the first -inaugural day of President Lehumada, they were permitted to return to -their homes and continue their usual avocation unmolested. Of the large -number who had no employment and no means of support, the government -gave them work for which they were well paid; at the same time, the -government saw that the work was well done, at the proper time. No one -realized better than the famous author of “Liquid from the Sun’s Rays,” -and the great seer, Julio Murillo, that “an idle brain is the devil’s -worship”—to use the language frequently heard on all sides in the -nineteenth century—and suitable employment was given to everybody who -could not procure it themselves. - -There were very few people, even amongst the uninitiated, who were given -to shrugging their shoulders at people whose calling on earth was very -lowly, and had not sufficient money to live in the same style that they -did. For they never knew who of them had taken “Memory Fluid,” or -belonged to the great society of the initiated. - -The O’Sullivans and O’Rileys, who now sped around in their gilded -vehicles, were the descendants of Pat and Tim, who run the joints around -the corner in an early day; and of Mary McPherson and Susan O’Hallihan, -both of whom did the scrubbing at the big folks’ houses. These people, -before the discovery of “Memory Fluid,” boasted of their social position -and inherited wealth; for they never dreamed that anyone knew or would -ever know that Pat and Tim killed a man for his money in their “joint,” -one night. Since the trial of the “Plunger from Kansas,” they had -changed so much that strangers even noticed it. - -One’s social position is rated by the knowledge he has of the Great -Cause and his desire to learn spiritual truths. - -Money no one scorns, but it is only considered as the medium by which -commerce is carried on; the means by which the necessities of life can -be obtained the most independently. The sustaining of self in the -highest manner possible is the doctrine the teachers of the occult -inculcate. To be true to self, and never a burden on anyone else, was -the first great lesson. A lesson which none but the initiated could -understand. - -“The beauties which emanate from the Great Cause are so numerous, and so -plainly demonstrate the great ‘World without end,’ that physical man, in -his present state of grossness, would not be able to get more than a -peep into the real life during the present existence,” Julio Murillo, -the great seer, often said to those seeking admittance into the -“National School for Scientific Development,” when they wished to be -placed in touch with the Hidden immediately, “Take ‘Memory Fluid.’” - -All such persons were first advised to take “Memory Fluid,” after which -there would be some hopes for them. - -Preparations were begun for the celebration of the discovery of “Liquid -from the Sun’s Rays,” and the entire nation had been invited to take -part, by the promulgators of the “Schools for the Study of the Occult,” -and others devoted to scientific researches in general. It was to be a -great event, and every one looked forward to it with great pleasure. - -Not since the marriage day of the President, now seven years past, had -the public ever been treated to a serenade like the one given that day -by the spirit friends of the Governor of Chihuahua, and his bride. And -many hoped the same music would come again; yet the possibility of -hearing it was not held out as an inducement to secure a large -attendance. - -The great auditorium, connected with the grand Museum at Washington, -built under the supervision of President Lehumada, his wife, and the -well-known seer, Julio Murillo, had a seating capacity of fifty thousand -people, with acoustics, heating, lighting, cooling and ventilating -facilities unsurpassed. - -While there were more people from a distance, in Washington, who had -come to attend the celebration, it was hoped that everyone who desired -would have the opportunity of being present at one or more of the -lectures, to be delivered during the three days of celebration. - -Francisco de Urdiñola, president of the “School for Hidden Thought,” of -Saltillo; Guillermo Gonzales, Governor of Chihuahua; Juan and his wife; -and “The Plunger from Kansas,” were conspicuous figures at the national -capital. The Plunger was as young in appearance as ever, but he had less -money than formerly, to spend on such occasions as the present one, -where it had been his delight to make everyone wonder at the freedom -with which he spent large sums of money. - -He wore the first new suit of clothes he had bought since the conclusion -of his famous trial. Yet the money he had taken by stealth in the life -long since passed, was not paid in full. He was working to fulfill his -promise to lift that burden he had helped to place upon himself in his -present existence, for he well knew that if he failed to pay the debt -now, he would be compelled to do so in a life to come. - -One of his objects in coming to Washington was to try to secure -employment at higher wages than he was able to get in Chihuahua. - -“What do you wish to do?” asked a newspaper correspondent, who was -interviewing the Plunger on the street. - -“Oh, it does not matter what I do; but it is the price I get, about -which I am concerned. I mean, of course, it does not matter what I do, -so long as I am engaged in an honest business,” replied the Plunger. - -“Then you do not care to make another ‘plunge’ on someone’s else money, -in order to make a stake?” asked the reporter, with a meaning smile. - -“Well, hardly; the taste I had of that in the year of our Lord eighteen -hundred and ninety-eight, as the makers of the chronicle said then, has -not left me yet. No son, no more plunging for me. Remorse of conscience -is the greatest punishment one can have. Take the advice of a man who -_remembers_, son, and never engage in dishonest transactions. There will -come a day, as sure as fate, when you will have to repair the wrongs you -have committed, if you do,” was the fatherly advice of the Plunger. - -The reporter stood quietly by for a few moments, no doubt revolving in -his mind the many exaggerated stories he had written about different -people, and wondering if he would, in a life to come, be compelled to -retract all he had said. - -The Plunger noticed his thoughtful attitude, and said: “When you take -‘Memory Fluid,’ you will ponder more seriously than you do now. Come, -help a fellow if you can. I want to get this burden of debt off my -shoulders.” - -“It was on that subject I was studying, my friend. I know a man who -wants a head gardener; wages, one hundred dollars a month and board,” -replied the reporter. - -“I hope I can get the job,” said the Plunger, as the two walked on arm -in arm. - -“We will see about it at once, then go to the auditorium to hear the -discourses upon the great scientific subjects. Ah, and I must have you -in the description of this great celebration. What a lucky fellow I am -to have fallen in with you this morning. I will be promoted to city -editor on account of getting the first interview with you,” said the -reporter, delighted over the prospects. - -“If I get the job you mention,” replied the Plunger, “no one else can -have an interview with me.” - -On seeing a man coming toward them, the reporter became very excited, -and exclaimed: “There is Judge Barrow now! I am in luck again. He is the -man who wants a gardener.” - -At that moment Judge Barrow met them. He seemed to be very much in a -hurry and when the reporter spoke to him, he said, hurriedly: “No -interview this morning, Tom. Nothing new.” - -“But, Judge, one moment. You want a gardener, do you not?” exclaimed the -reporter, hurrying after him. - -“Yes,” said the judge, turning around. - -“Well, I have just the man here for you,” said the reporter, delighted -at his success so far. - -“What experience has the man had?” asked the judge. - -“Oh, he has had none; he is the ‘Plunger from Kansas’!” - -“The what? The ‘Plunger from Kansas’!” exclaimed Judge Barrow, eying him -closely. - -“That’s my title, Judge. I have had no experience; for since I made the -memorable plunge, I have lived the life of a gentleman through the -biggest part of three existences, but since I had to whack up, I have -been dead-broke, and am still in debt. I will get out of debt in this -life, if I am given a chance.” - -“Ah, you are a noble young fellow. You can have the job, at one hundred -and fifty dollars a month, and board. Show up in the morning, young man. -It is a great thing for me to have such a noted person for my gardener,” -concluded the judge, as he left the two men spellbound. - -“After all, I am not having such a bad time. It is not so bad to repent, -after all,” said the Plunger. - -“Nor to have been a _subject_,” added the reporter. “Who are the people -coming toward us; they seem to recognize you. Are they some of your -friends in a life gone by?” asked the reporter. - -“Yes, and no,” seriously said the Plunger. “The man, however queer it -may sound to you, was once my son. In this life, no; and the woman upon -whose arm he is clinging is his wife.” - -“How strange! The man is much older than you. This is an age of marvels, -and when I stop to consider, I am at sea without a pilot, or in a -wilderness without a guide,” commented the reporter. - -At that moment Mr. and Mrs. Degatau came up, smiling, no doubt, at -seeing on the street of a big, strange city, a familiar face. - -Juan Degatau held his hand out to the Plunger, and said: “Papa, I am -glad to see you. This celebration could have not have been much of a -success, had you stayed away.” - -“That I had no thought of doing. I have a twofold purpose in being here, -however,” replied the Plunger. - -“Yes?” said Mrs. Degatau, without further question. - -“Ah, what a crowd of distinguished looking people. I must get out -amongst them and see if I cannot get items for to-morrow’s paper, which -_The Hidden_ does not contain,” said the reporter, moving away uneasily. - -“That you cannot do,” said Juan; “for if the seer sees fit to report to -_The Hidden_, the most powerful daily paper in the world, the trivial -affairs you are collecting this morning, your paper will fall short of -being anything but second-class.” - -“Now, _son_,” said the Plunger, his tone betraying the satire he -evidently tried to conceal, “don’t be so hard on Tom. He is doing the -best he knows how. What were your thoughts before you _remembered_? Tom -has done for me this morning, more than my son (and he has been a -_subject_) ever offered to do for me.” - -“The reporter, no doubt, was born to a higher plane in his first -existence, than your son,” curtly replied Juan, “and that accounts for -his natural kindness of heart. The curse of having to live through three -existences in punishment, on account of the house in which one lived his -first existence being so full of sin, did not fall to his lot. Good -morning, gentlemen, good morning; my wife and I are going to the -auditorium. If we tarry longer, we will not get in. I wish you and Tom, -Papa, much luck.” Juan bowed very low, and together with his wife, -walked very rapidly toward the auditorium. - -The third and last evening of the great celebration, in honor of the -seventh anniversary of the marriage of the President of the United -States, Miguel Lehumada, and Helen Hinckley, was at hand. - -Sharply at eight o’clock, the house already filled to its utmost for an -hour or more, arose at a signal given by the master of ceremonies, to -witness the arrival of the President, his wife, and their beautiful -twins, a boy and a girl six years old, moving through the air. When they -took the seats assigned for them on the rostrum, the audience sat down. -After the President’s address of welcome, there was an eloquent -discourse by the great seer, Julio Murillo, upon the “Divine in Man,” in -which he spoke of the discovery of “Memory Fluid,” the great destroyer -of germs, without any but good effects upon the physical, making man in -his physical state cognizant of all his past, and creating in him a -desire for a knowledge of the Great Cause. - -At the close of his remarkable address, he spoke of the strange effect -of Ebony Fluid upon animal matter, after the spirit had taken its -flight. A screen was removed from the side of the rostrum, which -disclosed to view the ebonized bodies of Francisco R. Cantu, Father -Hernandez, Rev. J. T. Note, Marriet Motuble, and last, of the little -child, Catalina Martinet. - -These bodies had been in the National Museum for some months, but had -never been unveiled for inspection. The history of all the persons, -whose bodies, black as midnight and as hard as flint, stood before them, -was familiar to everybody, and were objects of very great interest in -consequence. - -The two children of the President ran from one ebonized body to the -other, while Julio Murillo explained which had been occupied -respectively by the five persons who had made many pages of history teem -with interest. - -The little girl was a beautiful brown-eyed child, retiring and quiet and -a very striking likeness of the President. - -The boy, much taller than the girl, was aggressive, and quite the -contrast of his sister Helen. His hair was light brown and curly, and -his eyes were blue. _Little_ Miguey, as he was called, after his famous -father, was strikingly unlike either of his parents. - -His great talent for music had been cultivated by the best masters, and -at the tender age of six years he could handle skillfully any musical -instrument; but his fondness for the horn was shown by the masterly way -in which he played upon it. - -The committee in charge of the music for the celebration secured the -consent of the President and his wife to allow their talented son to -play the horn in the last musical number on the program, for the last -evening of the celebration. It would be his first appearance in public, -yet the fact gave him no concern. - -The large horn used by the child hung on a rack on the rostrum, and was -an object of much interest, as well as the ebony figures. - -Julio Murillo concluded his talk upon the subject of ebony bodies, by -saying: “The souls which once occupied these bodies, are here in spirit, -and with others whom we knew in a life gone by, will now appear before -us, and we will have music from the spirit choir.” - -The stillness in the room was appalling to those who did not know, to -the uninitiated, until the music began. - -At first the Spirit Choir was invisible; but as the music grew in power, -first one, then another could be seen surrounding the President’s -family, until all who were taking part were seen. After the conclusion -of their music, Mrs. Lehumada arose to thank them, and when she had -expressed her thanks for their music and for the pleasure she had at -seeing them, she concluded: “There is but one thing concerning this -celebration which makes me sad, and that is, dear spirit friends, that -you did not bring a little child I once loved dearly, Catalina Martinet; -and another, a lady whom I grew to wish for after she passed to spirit -land—she of whom I speak was called Marriet Motuble. And her music on -the horn in spirit was only to be heard once, to be wished for again.” - -“Dear Mamma,” cried little Helen, “do you not know that it is I, who was -Catalina whom you loved? I came back to you and my dear papa—that is -Catalina’s ebonized body. I live again.” - -The President clasped the child in his arms, and the audience went wild -with delight. - -Little Miguey took his big horn from off the rack, and stepping to the -front, said: “And it was I, dear Mamma, who was Marriet Motuble—and you -shall hear my music.” - -The crowd arose in amazement, and while the strange child played -divinely upon the big horn, the spirit band disappeared. - -And when the child laid his horn up, his mother arose, and clasping him -in her arms, said: “After all, there are, even to the initiated, many -things which cannot be explained.” - -And there was heard throughout the great auditorium the musical murmur -of “Amen.” - - _Saltillo, Mexico, Wednesday, September 12, 1899, 12 o’clock_ A. M. - - - THE END. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES - - - 1. P. 198, changed “Well, well, _omego_, you are a loyal servant.” to - “Well, well, _amigo_, you are a loyal servant.” - 2. Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in - spelling. - 3. Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed. - 4. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DON MIGUEL LEHUMADA *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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