Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-01-30

L tound mYSen IN 1IlVerpooI, WDefe
| had arrived from a South Ameri-
can voyage and had been paid off
with fifty poumds-a considerable
sum for me to have in my posses
sion at one time. E
Strolling along the streets at ear
~ evening, ready for anything in
the way Of amusement that might
turn up, my attention was caught
by II poster announcing the per
formance of PROF. llolbrook. the
unrivalled ana world-Ienowned ven
triloquist. - had never seen 4
performance of hat sort but after
reading the bill / resolved to go. |
was Just in time when ! reached the
hall of exhibition, and taking Il
! ticket entered and took a seat. |
thought the professors entertain
ment the most wonderful thing |
had ever seen or heard. After n va
riety of sounds and voices had been
initiated with marvellous skill, he
informed us that he would hold
! conversation with an imaginary per-
son up the chimney. When the re-
sponsive 'Ila, la u came down 1
was startled to such u degree as to
rise from my seat. 1t was the same
voice, in precisely the same peculi-
ar tones that had heard so many
times from the Norway's maintop.
A minute later, the professor hav-
ing finished his part, came forward
to the front of the stage and, in
spite of his flowing beard and other
disguises, l recognized one whom !
had supposed to be dead five years
before.
Jack Hastings ~ said |, aloud,
forgetting in my excitement, where
was.
"Sit down :" J'ut him out :" cried
dozen voices ut once.
subsidized, of course, but not be-
fore l had received sign of recog-
milton from the ventriloquist. When
the performance was over he beck
onei to me, and in the privacy of
his own room grasped my hand with
a hearty pressure.
Hastings" | asked, chow in
the name OF miracles were You say
ed 2"
"SaYcd Where %:
"When you jumped overheard
raving mad"
He laughed-his own natural, hear
~ laugh not the unearthly one
which he sent down from chimneys
and mastheads.
II never jumpted overheard, Ash.
ten," said he 'tand 1 never was
any more mad than / am at this
moment, 1t WAS only a plan to
frighten old Phelps, and | think it
succeeded but too well. II he had |
beer tried for his life and I had
thought him in danger, l should
have appeared in court aud fright
ened him again to save his life.
But he could not be found, and l
never heard OF him since. My mad
ness was all sham, and the man
overheard was only a bundle of old
duds, surmounted by my old hat. !
l slipped down into the forepeak
and lay concealed till the night at
ter the ship arrived, when 1 stole |
out and went ashore. OF course
you understand the cries You
heard %
"Certainly and the other strange |
sounds on board. Your ventrllo-
quish explains the whole matter"
II performed in most of Ihe cities
and large towns in England before !
l knew you but was then dissi- |
pated in my habits, and squandered |
all that made. While OIL one of !
my spIees shipped and went to |
sea, and that IS how you found me
in Cronstadt. But 1 was never
stock to make sailor of. Since l
have returned 1 have done we'll and
saved money, and you must allow
that l acquit myself better on this
stage than did on board the Nor
way"
And that's the only Launted ship |
that ever l was in. I've heard Of |
others, but probably those cases
might all be explained in some SINH
lar way. -r