The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-09-24

wi hen the father sees them Interested
and amused be may warm little,
speak perhaps, approve, perhaps smile
and in the end give in. Jack, will you
try ?"
Jack Newbiggin was by profession
9 conveyancer, but nature had in
tended him for new Houdin or 9
Wizard of the North.
He was more than half q profess
sional by the time he was full grown.
In addition to the quick eye and ia
cile wrist, he had the rarer gifts of
the suave manner and the face Of
brass.
He bad even studied mesmerisin
and clsirvoyancs, and could upon oc-
ession surprise bis audience consider
ably by bis power.
They entered the miserable dwell
ing together.
The children-eight of them
were skirmishing all over the floor.
They were unmsnagable, and beyond
the control of the eldest sister, who
was busted in setting out the table
for the midday mea. one other child
of six or seven, bright-eyed, exceed
ingly beautiful boy. the least--were
not natures vagaries well known
likely to be born among and belong
to such surroundings. stood between
the legs of the man himself, who bad
bis back to the visitors and was
crouching down low over the scanty
fire.
The man turned bis head for mo-
ment, gave blank stare, then an
imperceptible nod, and once more he
glowered down upon the fire.
Here, little ones, do you see this
gentleman? He's copjuror. Know
what eoniuror is, Tommy ?" cried
the parson. catching up mite of four
or fye from the floor. "No; not you;
nor you, Jackey,-and be ran through
all their names.
They had now ceased their gam
bols and were staring hard at their
visitors-the moment was propiiious !:
Jack Newbiggin began.
He had fortunately filed bis pockets
with nuts, oranges, and cakes, before
leaving the parsonage, so be had half
his apparatus ready TO hand
The pretty boy had very soon left
the father at the FIRE, and bad come
over to join in the fun, going back,
however, to exhibit his share OF the
spoils and describe voluminously
what had occurred.
This and the repeated shouts Of
laughter seemed to produce some i'm.
preston On him.
Presently be looked over his shoul-
der, and said. but without anima-
ton:
at be very good of you, sir, surely;
very good for to take 80 kindly to the
little chicks. 1t does them good to
laugh a bit, and it amt much as
they've had to mako 'em lately"
at is good for sll of US, now and
again, ! take it," said Jack, desist-
ing, and going over toward him.
and tns children gradually collecting
in far-of corner and comparing
notes.
"You can't laugh, sir il your heart
is heavy if you do, it can be only q
sham.',
While he was speaking be had ta-
ken the Bible from the shelf, and re-
suming his seat, began to turn the
leaves slowly over.
'1'm an untaught, rough country
man, sir, but l have heard tell that
these strange things you do are only
tricks amt it SO 2"
Here was indeed hopeful symp-
tom.
He was reused, then, to take
some interest in what had occurred.
"All trick, of course it all comes
Of long practice" said Jack, as be
proceeded to explain some Of the sim.
pile processes, hoping to enchain the
mans attention.
That's what / thought. sir, or I'd
have given you a job to do. I've
been in want of a real copjuror many
a long day, and nothing less'll do.
See here, sir" he said, as he took a
small, carefully folded paper from be-
tween the leaves of the Bible do you
see tbis ?n
1t was half Bank of England note
for fl00.
Nov, sir, could any copjuror help
me to the other half?"
How did you come by it?" Jack
asked at once.
"I'il tell you, sir, short as l can
make il. Conjuror or no coDjuror,
you've got very kindly heart, and
Pm main sure you'll help me if you
can"
Dan then described how he had
picked up the basket from the quarter
to ii Liverpool express.
There was the linen I've kept it.
See here; all marked quite pretty and
proper, with lace round the edges, as
though its mother loved TO make the
little cne SMART
Jack examined the linen; it bore o
monogram and crest. The frst be
made out to mean II. l.. NJ, and the
crest was plainly two hammers cross
ed and the motto, III strike"-not q
common crest-and he never remem-
bered 10 have seen it before.
"And this was all 2"
"'Cept the bank note. That was
in 8 poor old purse. with a pawn
ticket and thimble. l Kept them
all.n
Like true detective Jack examin-
ed every article minutely. The purse
bore the name of Hester Gorrigsn in
rude letters inside, and the pawn
ticket was made out in the same
name.
Il cannot give you much hope that
! shall succeed, but will do my best
Will you trust me with the note for
time?"
Surely. sir, with the greatest Of
pleasure If you could bst find the
other half it would give Harry
that's what we call him-such q grand
start in life; schooling and the price
of binding him TO some honest
trade"
Jack shook the mans band, prom
l. ~ l~-k ~.l lxf< L.