The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-10-24
second Hall.

second Hall.
When Jack Newbiggin got back to
the parsonage he found that his host
had accepted an invitation for them
both to dine ut the Big House," as it
was called, the country. seat of the
Squire of the parish.
They were cordially received at the
big House." jack was handed over
forthwith to his old friends, who fig
uratively rushed into his arms. They
were London acquaintance; no more;
of the sort we meet here and there and
everywhere during the seeson, who care
for us, and We for them, as much as for
South Sea Islanders, but who grest us
with rapturous effusion when we meet
them in a strange place. Jack knew
the lady whom he escorted in to dinner
as gossipy dame, who, when his back
was turned, made as much sport of him
as of her other friends.
"I have been fighting your battles
all day." began Mrs. Sitwell.
"Was it necessary? / should have
thought myself too insignificant"
"They were talking at lunch of your
wonderful knack in conjuring, and
some one said that the skill might
prove nconvenient-when you played
at cards, for instance" hsao
"a charitable imputationl With
whom did it originated"
"Sir Lewis Mallaby."
Please point him out to me-"
He was shown grave, scowling face
upon the right of the hostess-a face
like a mask, its surface rough and
wrinkled, through which the eyes shone
out with baleful light, like corpse
candles in sepulcher. pleasant
creature! I'd rather not meet him
alone on dark night"
"He has terrible character. certain
ly. Turned his wife out of doors be-
cause she would not give him an heir.
1t is the want of children to inherit his
title and estate which preys upon his
mind, they say, and makes him so mo-
rose and melancholy"
Jack let his companion clatter. 1t
was his habit to get all the information
possible about any company in which
he found himself, for his own purpose
as a clairvoyant; and when Mrs. Sit
well tagged he piled her with artless
questions and led her off from one per-
son to another, making mental notes to
serve him hereafter. 1t is thus by care
full and laborious preparation that many
of the strange and seemingly mysteri-
GUS feats of the clairvoyant coniurer
are performed.
When the whole party had assembled
in the drawing-room after dinner, a
chorus of voices, headed by that of the
hostess, summoned Jack to his work.
There appeared to be only one dissen-
tent, Sir Lewis Mallaby, who not only
did not back up the invitation, but
when the performance was actually be-
gun was at no pains to conceal his con-
tempt and disgust.
The conjurer made the conventional
plum pudding in hat, fired wedding
rings into quartern loaves, did all
manner of card tricks, knife tricks, pis-
toll tricks, and juggled on conscientious
ly right through his repertoire. There
was never a smile on Sir Lewis face !;
he sneered Enthusiastically. Finally,
with an ostentation that savored with
rudeness, he took out his watch, a
great gold repeater, and Enthusiastically
yawned.
Jack hungered for that watch direct
ly he saw it. Perhaps through it he
might make its owner uncomfortable,
if only for a moment. But how to get
it into his hands. He asked for watch
"a dozen were offered. No; none of
those would do. 1t must be a gold
watch, repeater. Sir Lewis Mallaby's
was the only one in the room, and he
at first distinctly refused to lend it.
But so many earnest entreaties were
addressed to him, the hostess leading
the attack, that he could not, in COM
mon courtesy, continue to refuse. With
something like a 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 collector; all jeweled and enameled,
adorned with crest and inscription
an heirloom which had probably been
in the Mallaby family for years. Jack
looked it over curiously, meditatively,
then, suddenly raising his eyes, he
!. stared intently into Sir Lewis MALTA
by's face, and almost as quickly dropped
them again.
"This is far too valuable" he said
courteously; "too much of treasure
to be risked in any coniuring trick; an
ordinary modern watch might replace,
but not 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 posi-
,, BILE failure in the proposed trick as at
the recovery of his property.
Another watch, however, was pounded
up into Jelly, and brought out whole
from cabinet in an adjoining room
and, this trick successfully accomplished
;; Jack Newbiggin, who was now complete
ly on his mettle, passed on TO higher
flights. He had spent the vacation OF
the year previous in France as the
pupil of wizard of European fame
and mastered many of the strange feats
which are usually attributed to clairvoy
|, ance. There is something especially
uncanny about these tricks, and Jacks
reputation rapidly increased with his
1 new exhibition of his powers. Thanks
L. L.. "a -