The Benton weekly record., 1880-02-13

apparatus ready to hand.
The pretty boy had very soon left til
father at the fire, and had come over /
join IN the fun, going back, however, t
exhibit his share Of the spoil and descIib
Yoluminously what had occurred. Thi
and the repeated shouts of laughter seem
ed to produce some impression on him
q Presently he looked over his shoulder an
said, but without animation:
TT be vely good Of you, sir, surely
very good for to take so kindly to the littl
chicks. 1t does them good to laugh a bit
and it amt much as they've had to MAKE
'em laugh lately"
"It's good for all of us, now and again
take it., said Jack, desisting, aud going
toward him-the children gradually col
lecting in a far off corner and comparing
notes.
''You cant't laugh, sir, if your hearts
heavy; if you do, it can only be a sham. .
While he was speaking he had taken the
Bible from the shelf, and resuming his sear,
began to turn the leaves slowly over.
''I'm an untaught, rough countryman,
sir, but have heard tell that these things
you do are only tricks, amt it 50 ?''
Here was, indeed, a hopeful symptom
lie was reused, then, to take some interest
in what had occurred
''AIl trick, of course; it ali comes of
long practice, ! said Jack, as he proceeded
to explain some Of the processes, hoping
to enchain the mans attention.
''Thats what / thought, sir, or I'D have
given you a job to do. I've been in want
Iof a real eonjG,rer for many long day,
and nothing else'll do. See here, SIR" he
said as he took q small, carefully folded
paper from between the leaves Of the BIZ
Bile; -do you see this?'
'It was half q Bank of England note for
e1O0.
"Now, sir, could any conjurer help me
to the other half?H
Glow did you come by it?' Jack asked
at once.
''Ill tell you, sir, short as I can make it,
Conjurer orno coniurer, you'y We got kind
ly heart, and I'm main sure you will help
me if you cam
Dan then described how he lad picked
up the basket from the JAS Liverpool cx-
press.
''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 to make the little one smart - /
Jack examined the linen; it bore mon
ogram and crest. The first he made out to
mean Il. L. NJ, and the crest was plainly
two hammers crossed and the motto, II
a common crcst-and he nev-
cr remembered to have seen it before.
"Anl this was all. ..~.. =.-...
'''Cept the bank-note. This was a poor
old purse, with pawn-ticket and thin
BILE, kci.t them all.''
Like true detective Jack opened them
Ill minutely. The purse bore the name of
Hester Gorrigan in rude letters inside, and
he pawn-ticket was made out i'll the same
manner. %:-"E
81 can not give you much hope that |
shall succeed, but will do my best VIII
you trust me with the note for time?'
Surely, sir, with the greatest of pleas
Ire. If l could but find the other half it
would give Harry-that's what we call
a grand start in life; schooling
ind the price of binding him to some hon
.st trade.
Jack shook the mans hand, promised to
10 his best, and left the cottage.
When Jack Ncwbiggin got back to the
parsonage he found that his host had ac-
,epted an invitation from them both to
line at the 'sBig House." Jack was hand
ID over forthwith to his old friends, who,
iguratiVely, rushed into his arms They +
we're London acquaintances, no more, of ]
he sort we meet here and there and every ,
nd we for them, as much as for South Sea a
sianders, but whom we greet with raptu1- Z
lis elfusion when we meet them in
TRANCE place. Jack knew the lady whom +
c escorted into dinner as ghostly dame,
fho when his back was turned, made as !,
luch sport Of him as Of her other friends. -
II have been fighting your battles all T
az, \ began Mrs. SitWel.
''Was it necessary? I should have i
fought myself too insignificant. y +
stThey were talking at lunch of your 4
,onderful l1Ilaek Of oonjuring ana some
nc said that the skill might prove incon- n
enient, when You played cards for in b
anc6." n
''A|charitable imputation! With whom
ID ii. originate ~ Il
Sir Lewis Mallaby." i
'*Please point him ont to me-, 4
He was shown a grave scowlins face up \
/ the right side Of the hostess, a face like
mask, its surface rough and wrinkIed, Z,
trough which the eyes shone out with !.
llefui light, like corpse caddles in Sc /,
1lchre. u
pheasant creature! I'd rather not meet
m alone on a dark night" n
HE has 0 terrible character, certainly. Il
urncd his wife out Of doors because she
ould not give him an heir. 1t is this .
ant Of children to inherit his title and
tates which preys upon his mind, they
Y, and makes him SO morose and melall- >,
loly." =
Jack let his companions ehatteI.on. It
as his habit to get all the information pos is
bic e.about any company in whichhe found ),
mself, for his purpose as clai1yoyant; and i
hen Mrs. sitweil tagged he piled heG i
it'll arttess questions, and led her on from r.
.e question to another, making mental n
tics to serve him hereafter. It's thus, hy
refnl and laborious preparation, that !,
any of the strange and seemingly nayste- l.
,us feats Of the clyirvoyant conjurer are \,
.rformed. ~
When the whole party was assembled !5f.3
the diUing room after dinner 4 chorus
voices, headed by that Of the hostess, 4
Jack to his work. There a9- I.
red 70 be only one dissentient, Sir i,
avis Mallaby, who disl not only trssai,le n N
mself to back the invitation, but when
il performance was actually begun was
no pains to conceal llis contempt ani
sgast. .
The coniurer made the conventional i,
un1 pudding ii his bat fired wedding I,
lg5sgginto qnartered loaves, did AL man 4.
i of.eard tricks, and juggled en con- y
enfionsly right through his repertoire. Il
r !. N