Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-10-07

/ the children-that marvellous hanky-
panky of yours-those surprising tricks
IA child takes to YOU naturally at once,
Try and make friends with these. Per-
haps when the father sees them interested
and amused he may warm a little, speak
perhaps approve, perhaps smile, and in
the end give in, Jack, will YOU try
Jack Newbisgin was by profession a
conveyancer, but nature had intended
him for a new Houdin or a Wizard of
the North. He was more than half a
professional by the time he was full
grown. In addition to the quick eve and
the facilc wrist, he had the rarer gifts Of
the Suavc manner and the face of brass
He had even studied mcSmerism and clair
voyance, and could upon occasion sur
prise his audience considerably by his
power.
They entered the miserable dwelling
together. The children, eight of them,
were skirmishing all over the floor They
were unmanagcable, and beyond the con-
troll of the eldest sister, who was busted
in setting out the table for the midday
meal; one other child of six or seven, a
bright eyed, exceedingly beautiful boy,
the lcaSt-wcrc not natures vagaries
well kuown-hkely to bo born among and
belong TO such surroundings, stood be-
tween the legs of the man himself, who
had I'm, back 10 the visitors and was
crouchjug low over the Scanty FIRE.
The man turned his head for a mo-
mcnt. gave d blank stare, then an impcr-
ccptiblc nod, and once more he glowcrcd
down upon the fire.
Here. little ones. do YOU see this con-
iurcra he's a couiurcr Know what a
couiurcr Is. Tommy" cried the parson,
catching up a mite of four or five from
the floor. "No, not YOU; nor YOU, Sa-
rah, nor YOU, Jackcy," and he ran through
all their names.
They had now ceased their eambols
and were staring hard at their visitors, the
moment was propitious. Jack Newbiggin
began. He had fortunately filed his
pockets with nuts, oranges and cakes be-
toac leaving the parsonage, so he had
halt his apparatus ready 10 hand.
The pretty boy had very soon left the
father at the frc, and had come over to
JOIN in the fun, going back, however, TO
exhibit his share Of the spoil and describe
yo.umin0usly what had occurred. TIN,
and the repeated shouts Of laughter
seemed % produce some impression on
him. Presently he looked over ms
shoulder, and sand, but without anima-
tion,
III be very good of YOU, sir, surely;
very good for to take SO kindly TO the lit
tie chicks. Il does them good to laugh
a bit, and !; amt much as they've had to
make en- laugh, lately
1T is good for all Of US, now and
again. take it, said Jack, dcsisting,
and going towards him-ihe children
gradually collecting in far Oft corner
and comparing notes.
You can't laugh, sir, if YOU re heart 5
heavy; ii YOU do, i; can be only sham.
While be was speaking he had taken
the Bible from the shelf, and rcSumng
hi, seat. began TO turn the leaves slowly
over
I'm an untaugh,, rough countryman,
,ir, but | have heard tell that these
strange thing, YOU do are only tricks;
ain, j, SO:
Here was. indeed a hopeful symptom.
He was aroused, then, to take some IN
,c.c>t in wha, had occurred.
"Au trick, of course; It all comes of
long practice. said Jack, as he proceeded
20 explain some of the processes, hoping
20 euchaiu the man attention.
THAT'S what ! thought, sit, or I'd
have given YOU a job TO do. I've been
in want of "a real conjurer tor many
long day, and nothing less'll do. See
here. sir be said as he took small
carefully folded paper from between the
leaves OF the Bible; do YOU see this;
/, was half Bank Of England note
for fl0O.
Now. sir, could any conjuror help me
20 the other half
"How did YOU come by t. JACK
asked at once.
III tell YOU, sir, short as | can make
it. Conjvror or no conjuror, you've got
kindly heart, and I'm main sure that
you'll help me il YOU can.
Dan then described how he had picked
up the basket from the quarter to eleven
| 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 It's mother loved 20 make the lit
tie one smart.
Jack examined the linen; it bore a
monogram and crest. The first he made
out to mean II. L. NJ, and the crest was
plainly two hammers crossed and the
motto, Il strike, not a common crest,
and he never remembered to have seen 1t
before
And this was ALL
"Cept the bank note. That was in a
poor old purse, with pawn ticket and a
| thimble. | kept them all.
Like true detective Jack examined
every article minutely. The purse bore
the name Hester Gorrigan 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. VIII
YOU trust me with the note for time
..S,,rnl,. LIZ ,,ith thn rrrnntnst OF nleaS-