The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-11-18


cred down upon the fire.
Here, little ones, do you see this con-
Jurer he's conjurer. Know what q
conjurer Is, Tommy" cried the parson,
catching up mite of four or Ave from
the floor mo, not you; nor you, Sa-
rah, nor you, Jackey''-and he ran
through all their names.
They had now ceased their gambols
and were staring hard at their visitors
the moment was propitious; Jack New
biggln began. He had fortunately filled
his pockets withs nuts, oranges and
cakes before leaving the parsonage, so
he had half his apparatus ready to
hand.
The pretty boy had very soon left the
father at the fire, and had come over to
join In the fun, going back, however, to
exhibit his share Of the spoil, and de-
scribe volumlnously what had occurred.
This and the repeated shouts of laughter
seemed to produce some impression on
him. Presently he looked over his
shoulder, and said-but without anlma-
ton.
ut be very good Of you, sir, surely;
very good for to take so kindly to the
little chicks. 1t does them good to
laugh bit, and 1t amt much they've
had to make 'em laugh, lately"
ut Is good for all of us, now and
again, take it, said Jack, desistlng,
and going toward him-the children
gradually collecting in far off corner
and comparing notes.
"You can't laugh, sir, If you're hearts
heavy; If you do, it can be only sham"
While he was speaking he had taken
the Bible from the shelf, and resuming
his seat began TO turn the leaves slowly
over.
"I'm an untaught, rough country
man, sir, but have heard tell that these
strange things you do are only tricks,
amt 1t sop''
Here was, indeed, hopeful symptomsl
He was aroused, then, to take some in
terest In what had occurred.
" All tricks, of course, 1t all comes of
long practice" said Jack, as he proceed
ed to explain some of the processes, hop
ing to enchain the mans attention.
"That's what I thought, cir, or I'd
have given you job to do. I've been
In want of real conjuror for many a
long day, and nothing else'll do. See
here, sir" he said as took small, care
fully folded paper from between the
leaves of the Bible; 80 do you see
this 7"
1t was half Bank of England note
for G100.
"Now, sir, could any conjuror help
me to the other halfp"
"How did you come by itY" Jack
asked at once.
"I'll tell you, sir, shortas i can make
1t. Conjuror or no conjuror, you've
got a kindly heart, and I'm main sure
that you'll help me If you can"
Dan then described how he had picked
up the basket from the 1O.45 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 the mother loved to make the
little one smart"
Jack examined the linen; 1t bore a
monogram and crest. The first he made
out to mean H. l.. NJ, and the crest was
plainly two hammers crossed and the
motto, strike''-not common crest
land he never remembered to have seen
it BEFORE"
"And this was ALL"
"'Cept the bank note. This was in a
poor old purse, with pawn ticket and
thimble. kept them ALL"
Like true detective, Jack examined
every article minutely. The purse bore
the name Hester Georgian in rude letters
inside, and the pawn ticket was made
out in the same name.
:" 1 cannot give you much hope that 1
shall succeed, but 1 will do my best
Will you trust me with the note for
time ="
"Surely, sir, with the greatest of
pleasure. II you could but find the
other half 1t would give Harry-that's
what we call him-such grand start In
life schooling and the price of binding
him to some honest trade.v
Jack shook the mans hand, promised
to do his best and left the cottage.
When Jack Newbiggen got back to
the parsonage he found that his host had
accepted an invitation for them both to