Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-02

schooling and the price Of binding him
to some honest trade"
Jack shook the mans hand and prom
ised to do his best. and left the cottage.
When Jack Newbiggin got back To the
parsonage he found that his host had ac-
cepted an invitation for them both TO
dine ut the big House." M it was
called, the country seat of the squire Of
the parish.
They were cordially received Mt the
big House. Jack was handed over
forthw ith TO his old friends, who iigura-
lively rushed into his arms. They were
London acquaintanccs no more; of the
sort we meet here and there and every
where during the season, who care for
us, and we for them, rs much ms for the
South Sea Islanders, but whom we greet
with rapturous cifusion when we meet
them in n strange place. Jack knew the
ndy whom he escorted into dinner us Il
gossipy dame. who, when his back was
turned made rs much sport Of him a. Of
her other friends.
- have been fighting your battles all
day." began Mrs. Sitwell.
"Was It necessary? / should have
thought myself too insignificant"
They were talking nj lunch of your
wonderful knack in conjurinc, and some
one said that the skill might prove in
conyCnicnt-when you played cards. for
instance"
"a charitable imputation With
whom did it originator
"Sir Lewis Mullaby."
please point him out 10 me.
He was shown grave, scowling face
upon the right Of the hostcs5--a face like
Ill
through which the eyes shOnc out with
bnlcful light, like corpsc-candlcs in "A
scpulchor.
Pleasant creature! I'll rather not
meet him alone on dark night
Il lie has Il terrible character. ccr-
tainly. Turned his wife out Of doors
because she would not give him an heir.
II is this want OF children TO inherit his
title and estates which prcys upon his
mind, they sag, and makes him so
morosc and melancholy
Jack lrt his companion chatter On. II
was his habit to get all the information
possible about any company in which he
found himself FOR his own purposes ~
clnirvoyant; and when Mrs. SitWcl
tagged, he piled her with questions. and
led her on from one person 10 another,
making mental notes TO serve him here
after Ii is thus by careful and lnbori-
Gus preparation that many Of the strange
and seemingly mysterious feats Of the
clairvoyant conjurcT are performed.
When the whole party was assembled
in the drawing-room after dinner. a
chorus OF voices, headed by that Of the
hostess, summoned Jack % his work.
There appeared to be only one dissenti-
cnt. Sir Lewis Mallaby, who not only
l;I tr.,,tt. Itv,.a.1g g.. l..y1- So. 81
invitation, but when the performance
was actually begun was at no pains To
conceal his contempt and disgust
The Coniuror made the conventional
plum pudding in a hat, fired wedding
rings into quartcrn loves. did all manner
Of card tricks, knife tricks. pistol
tricks. and jugg,ed on consCicntiously
right through his repertoire. There was
never smile on Sir Lewis face; hc
ncercd unmisiakahly Finally. with
an ostcntation that savorod OF rVdenc-s,
hc took out his watch, great gold re-
pcatcr. looked at It, and unmistakahiy
yawnrd
Jack hungcred for that watch directly
he saw IT, Perhaps through IL he might
make ils owner uncomfortable, If only
for moment But how to get 1t into
bis hands2 lie asked for a watch--a
dozen were offered. No; none Of these
would do. Il must be gold watch. a
repeater. Sir Lewis Maliaby's was the
only one in The room, and he at first dis
tinctly refused to lend IL. But So many
cutrcaiies were addressed to him. the
hostess leading the attack. that lac could
not IN common courtesy continue 10 re-
fuse. With something like a growl hc
took his watch of the chain and handed
II 10 Jack Newhiggin.
A curious old-fashionrd watch ii was,
which would have gladdcned the heart
Of watch collector; all jcwelcd and
enamcled, adorned with crest and in
scription-an heirloom. which had pro-
badly been in the Mallahy family for
years. Jack looked IL over curiously,
meditatively, then suddenly raising his
eyes he stared intently into Sir lewis
MaliRhy's face. and almost ne quickly
dropped them again.
This is far too valuable" he said.
Courtcougly. too much Of treasure TO
be riskcd in any couiurinc trick; An
ordinary modern watch might replace,
but not r work of art like this
And he handed 10 back to Sir Lewis.
who received 1t with ill-conccaicd sstis-
faction. lie wus as much uieased. pro-
badly. at Jacks expression of possible
failure in the proposed trick as at the re-
coycry of his property.
Another watch. however. was pounded
up into jelly, and brought out whole
from cabinet in an adjoining room !;
aud this trick successfully accomplished,
Jack Newbiggin, who was now COM
pletcly on his metal. passed on TO higher
flights. lie had spent the vacation Of
the year previous In France ne the pupil
Of n wizard Of European fame, and had
mastered many Of the strange fcats which
are usually attributed to clairvoyanco.
/ There is something especially uncanny
about these tri ks, and Jacks reputation
rapidly increased with this now exhibit
| tion Of his powers. Thanks TO his cross
examination of Mrs. Sitwell at dinner,
lac WIS in possession Of many facts con-
nected 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 uncom-
l mon lv auCagnda tho dianlay ~ anot.xt Il, L.,