The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-10-01
"Sir Lewis Mallaby."
.ssPlease point him out to me-

"Sir Lewis Mallaby."
please point him out to me-"
II He was shown a grave, scowling face
upon the right of the hostess "a face like
a mask, its surface rough and wrinkled,
through which the eyes shone out with
baleful light, like the corpse candles in a
sepulcher. t.9
"Pleasant creature! I'd rather not,meet
him alone on dark night"
"He has terrible character, certainly,
Turned his wife out of doors because she
would not give him an heir. It is this
want Of children to inherit his title and
estates which preys upon his mind, they
say; and makes him SO morose and mel
ancholy." #.Af #*t'E t.ss.t*.t#
Jack let his companion chatter on. It
was his habit to get all the information
possible about any company in which he
found himself for his own purposes as q
clairvoyant; and when Mrs. Sitwell flagg-
ed, he Piled her with questions and lee
her on from one person to another making
mental notes to serve him hereafter. 1t
is thus by careful and laborious prepare
ton that many Of the strange and SEEM
ingly mysterious teats of the clairyoyant
conjuror are performed. Is;
When the whole party assembled in
the drawing room after dinner, a chorus
of voices, headed by that of the hostess,
summoned Jack to his work. There ap-
peared to be only one dissentient, Sir
Lewis Mallaby, who not only did not
t.ouble himself to back up the invitation,
but when the performance was actually
begun was at no pains to conceal his'con-
tempt and disgust. g.. >......r.
The conjuror made the conventional
plum pudding IN a hat, fired wedding
rings into quartern loves, did all manner
Of card tricks. knife tricks, pistol tricks,
and juggled on conscientiously right
through his repertoire. There was never
smile on Sir Lewis face; he sneexed un-
mistakably. Finally, with an ostenta-
ton that savored Of rudeness, he took out
his watch, a great gold repeater, looked
at it, and Enthusiastically yawned. ~.
Jack hungered for that watch directly
he saw it. Perhaps through it he might
make its owner uncomfortable, if only
for moment. But how to get it into his
hands? He asked for watch-a dozen
were offered. No; none of these would
I'D. 1t must. be gold watch, a repeater,
Sir Lewis Mallaby's was the only one in
the room and he at first distinctly refused
to lend it. But so many entreaties were
addressed to him, the hostess leading the
attack, that he could not in common
courtesy continue to refuse. With some
thing like growl he took his watch of
the chain and handed it to Jack Newbig-
gin.
A curious old-fashioned watch 1t was,
which would have gladdened the heart
of watch collector; all jeweled and en-
ameled, adorned with crest and inscrlp-
tion-an heirloom, which had probably
been in the Mallaby family for years
Jack looked it over curiously, meditative-
ly, then suddenly raising his eyes he
stared intently into Sir Lewis Mallaby's
face, and almost as quickly dropped them
again.
"This is far too valuable, " he said cour-
teously, too much of a treasure to be
risked IN any conjuring trick; an ordina-
ry modern watch I might replace, but
not work Of art like this"
And he handed it back to Sir Lewis
who received it with ill-concealed salts.
faction. He was as much pleased, prob
ably, at Jacks expression of possible
failure in the proposed tricks as at the
recovery of his property. -..a
Another watch, however, was pounded
up into jelly, and brought out whole
from cabiuet in an adjoining room
and this trick successfully accomplished,
Jack Newbiggen, who was now complete
~ on his metal, passed on to higher
flights. He had spent the vacation OF? the
year previous in France as the pupil of a
wizard Of European fame, and had mas.
tered many of the strange feats which
are usually attributed to clairvoyance
There is something especially uncanny
about these tricks, and Jacks reputation
rapidly increased with this new exhibi.
ton of his powers. Thanks to his cross.
examination of Mrs. Sitwell at dinner, bic
was in possession Of many facts connect.
ed 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 terri.
tied hush which not uncommonly sue.
ceeds the display of seemingly super.
natural powers. 49,. 49,; -
ooh, but this is too preposterous," Si1
! Lewis Mallaby was heard to say quite
angrily. The continued applause pro.
foundry Disguised him. s'Th1s is the
merest charlatanism. It must be put an
end to. It is the commonest imposture
These are things which he has coached .uu
in advance. Let him be tried with some.
thing which upon the face of it he cannot
have learned beforehand by artificial
means" ..f 517
i TRY him, Sir Lewis; try him your.
selt," cried several voices. .''
81 scarcely like to lend myself to such
folly to encourage so pitiable an exhibi.
ton" ~ '=~ 5s7 :
Il But he seemed to be conscious that
further protest would tell in Jacks ia.
vor. y &C. --
II will admit that you have considera.
BILE power in this strange branch of nee.
romancy if you will answer a few ques.
tons of mine.'' 80
| proceed" said Jack, gravely, meet
ing his eyes firmly, and without finch.
ing q s".'.H - N2f G4@I .T12sA.
Tell me what is most on my mind at
l hIc c1,ek