Adventure Magazine Cover — page 85: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The People of the Fourth Dimension Her answer was the answer of the woman of India. Men, reputed wise men, have wrangled over the possibility of telepathy; ‘yet only an ignorant fool denies the power of suggestion. The two are one and the same, made slightly variant by the distance bridged. Whosoever does not believe this— from the lips of an agnostic—let him stain his face and body, learn language, and live as a native of India with the natives—if he has the wit not to be discovered—for twelve months. Chances are he will become as superstitious as a devotee of juju. Again the preparations, the lowering of the light— protracted tonight, however, almost as if the actors were late and the stage and cur- tain must be kept back for them, by loving interruptions, which Sesson found very soothing. He even asked for more, but the lady became suddenly firm, smiled, pointed to the ink, pouting delightfully. “Seek me there as thou didst tell me.” And Sesson—feeling like a boy caught in a lie—stared, pretending his best, after a long kiss. Hardly had he concentrated upon the saucer, when his eyes closed and he be- lieved himself elsewhere, and he found it very pleasant. His sensations were those of lying upon a bank of flowers, by a small stream in that delightfully lazy condition only possible to healthy tiredness, perfect nerves. Besides, he was content to let the voice talk to him. It was a fascinating voice, which rose and fell with the strangely soul-stirring sounds of an aeolian harp. As a chorus, there was the faint sob of the wind among the trees, with the whispered comments of the birds. But, presently, Sesson knew that the voice was telling him something important— was not merely entertaining him with its beauty. So he listened carefully until, among the music of the many sounds, he came to distinguish what was meant for him. It thrilled him with memories and echoes of religion. And the theme was obedience. But no man had ever preached or writ- ten upon obedience in the wonderfully allur- ing manner in which the subject was now imparted to Sesson. His soul seemed to become in tune with the voice and to an- swer back with emotional fervor that obedi- ence was the whole duty of a man. In his ecstasy, it never occurred to Sesson to ask whom he should so utterly obey. It was 79 enough for him, then, to absorb with in- tense enjoyment the lesson—obey, and all . things thou delightest in and seekest shall be given unto thee. Surely, he thought, the voice must be that of some old prophet of the Bible. He became embued with religious enthusiasm to which he had ever before been a stranger. To obey! What-a wonderful, soul-entranc- ing Creed! To obey, obey, obey, obey. He sat up on the flowers, anxious to begin the path of obedience. He tried to hear more, but the voice was failing. Into the scenery about him he stared, seeking the owner of the voice. He used his eyes as he wou'd have done picking up a buoy on a dark night at sea, and—saw Laulee staring at him, her lips parted. His experience he told to Sinclair in de- tail, not forgetting to mention his standing | in the narrow street with the call to fight coming over him and his decision to go through with the thing, “like having trouble with the crowd forrard.” But at this Sinclair frowned and shook his-head. “That’s like you, of course, and I admire it. But you cannot approach this affair in that frame of mimd. Think! How can you? Imagine wrestling with a being who occupied four dimensional space. Try to picture your efforts to get a toe-hold on him! Won’t do! Impossible. No, there is only one way for you to go into this thing, and if that way dismays or annoys you, why, we will drop the whole affair. “The way is—as in your last experience— absolute and entire obedience. You must subjugate your will to their intentions, Or nothing worth while will happen. You must become a mere automaton in their hands, or there will be no result. I know it sounds unattractive, if not worse; but I can promise you that you will suffer no injury. You may be somewhat inconvenienced, but only for a few days, orso. Permanent effect there will not be. You know me and can trust me. I am banking on a natural law. Will you go through with it on these terms?” For the first time since he had known the man, Sesson was aware of what was noth- ing else but a pleading note in his voice. This was remarkable. Why was Sinclair so tremendously interested in this vague peo- ple? Sesson gave it up. It was beyond him. But Sinclair pleading! That was un- necessary. Of course he would go through Go VOOLKS ANIC (C@)