The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-09-18

f~.-NNhen atnU' whole party Was assems
bled in the drawing room after dinner
a chorus of voices, headed by that OF
the hostess mmmooed Jack I'd his
work. There appeared to be only one
dissentientNSir Lewis Mallaby-who
not only did not trouble himself te
back up the invitation, but when the
performance was actually begun was
at no pains to conceal his contempt
and disgust.
The conjurer made the conventional
plum pudding in a hat, fred wedding
rings into quartern loaves, did all
manner of card tricks, knife tricks,
pistol tricks, and juggled on conscien-
tiously right through his repertoire.
There was never q smile on Sir Lewis
face; he sneered Enthusiastically. FIN
ally, with an ostentation that savored
of rudeness, he took out his watch. q
great gold repeater, looked at it, and
unmistakably yawned.
Jack hungered for that watch di-
rectly after he saw it. Perhaps through
it he might make its owner uncom-
Portable, if only for a moment. But
how to get it into his hands. He asked
for q watch, q dozen were offered.
No, none Of these would do. It must
be gold watch, repeater. Sir Lewis
Manaby's was the only one in the
room, and he at first distinctly refused
to lend it. But so many earnest en-
treaties were addressed to him, the
hostess leading the attack, that he
could not in common courtesy con-
tinue to refuse. With something like q
growl he took his watch off the chain
and handed it to Jack Newbiggin.
A curious, old-fashioned watch it
was, which would have gladdened the
heart of q watch collector-all ieweled
and enameled, adorned with crest and
inscription--an heirloom, which had
probably been in the Mallaby family
for years. Jack looked it over curl
ously, meditatively, then suddenly
raising his eyes he stared intently into
Sir Lewis Mallaby's face, and almost
as quickly dropped them again;
L Ills - x0I wv vdlu0V4O3 110 6NAus
courteously, ''too much Of treasure
to be risked in any conjuring trick; an
ordinary modern watch i might re-
place, but not q work of art like this. :"
And he handed it back to Sir Lewis,
who received it with ill-concealed sat-
isfaction. He was as much pleased,
probably, at Jacks expression of
possible failure in the proposed trick as
at the recovery of his property.
Another watch, however, was pound
ed up into a jelly, and brought out
whole from cabinet in an adjoining
room; and this trick successfully ac-
complished. Jack Newbiggin, who was
now completely on his mettle, passed
on to higher flights. He had spent the va
cation Of the year previous in France as
the pupil of wizard of European fame,
and had mastered many of the strange
feats which are usually attributed to
clairvoyance. There is something
especially uncanny about these tricks,
and Jacks reputation rapidly increased
with this new exhibition of his powers.
Thanks to his cross-examination of
Mrs. Sitwell at dinner, he was in
possession of many facts connected
with the company, although mostly
strangers to him; and some of his hits
were so palpably happy that he raised
shouts of surprise, followed by that
terrified hush which not uncommonly
succeeds the display of seemingly
supernatural powers.
''Oh, but this IS too preposterous,"
Sir Lewis Mallaby was heard to say,
quite angrily. The continued applause
profoundly disguised him. ssThis is
the merest charlatanism. 1t must be put
an end to. It is the commonest inn
posture. These are things which he
has coached up in advance. Let him
be tried with something which upon
the face of it he cannot have learned be-
forehand by artificial means."
"Try him, Sir Lewis, try him your
SELF" cried several voices. =
II scarcely like to lend myself to
such folly, to encourage SO pitiful an
exhibition"
But he seemed to be conscious that
further protest would tell in Jacks
favor.
81 will admit that you have con-
siderable power in this strange branch
of necromancy if you will answer a few
questions Of mine.r ---- -
proceed said Jack, gravely;
meeting his eyes firmly and without
flinching.
"Telf me what is most on my mind
at this present moment" s 5
"The want of q male heir" Jack re-
piled, promptly, and thanked Mrs. Sit
we'll in his heart.
Pshaw! You have learned from
Burke that 1 have no children" said Sir
Lewis, boldly, but he was little taken
aback. Anything else?''
"The memory of harsh deed that
you now strive in vain to redeem"
"This borders upon impertinence,"
said Sir Lewis, with a hot flush on his
cheek and passion in his eyes. "But
let us leave distractions and try tangi-
BILE realities. Can you tell me what l
have in this pocketP' He touched the
left breast of his tail coat. 4.......
"A pocketbook."
"Bah! Every one carries q pocket
book in his pocket" III
"But do your" asked several of the
bystanders, all of whom were grow
ing deeply interested in this strange
duel.
Sir Lewis Mallaby confessed that he
did, and produced tan ordinary mo-
rocco leather purse and pocketbook all
in one. Y f . e..4.t-ef
care you prepared to 60 on?" said
the Baronet. haughtily, to Jack.
Certainly"
"What does this pocketbook con-
tain?''
Evidence" - ~,,....
The contest between them was now
a roMtrG.ace. -g t,..s>t
Evidence of what?'
"Of facts that must sooner or later
come to light. You have in that pock-
etbook links in q long chain Of circum-
stances which, however carefully con-
cealed or anxiously dreaded, time in its
memorable course must bring eventual
ly to light. There is no bond, says the