The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-10-14
Select STORY,
A CONJURER'S FEAT.

The signor was giving series of highly
successful performances in the city OF Mo
bile; where Gas he tells US in his auto-bio-
graphy) people came to consult him prl-
yately about love affairs, matters of business
and future events, thinking that one who
could do such wonders must be able to un-
ravel all the mysteries of life.
1t was a rather primitive, simple-minded
community in those days In vain he dis
claimed the fortune-telling powers ascribed
to him. 1t was still believed that he could
give the required information if he would.
He was one day in the hall, preparing
for the evenings performance, when an
elderly gentleman called upon him, and
with profound respect asked the honor of
taking him by the hand.
II saw your doings here last night, y said
the visitor, land let me tell ye, twas the
most wonderfulest thing [ ever did see L
never laughed so in all my born days.,
Il am glad you were pleased" replied
the signor, politely.
"How you could take SO many eggs out
of a bag that had been threshed on the
stage and trampled on, upset all my calc la
tions And how could you know that
stranger in the middle of the hall had
chicken under his coat ? [ couldn't see a
feather of it till you called him up and
pulled the squawkin critter out''
The signor silently listened to good
deal more talk of this sort, until the speak
er came to the object of his visit.
They do say, signor, that there's moth
ing you don't know, OF can't find out if you
try And I've come to consult you THE
old gentleman looked cautiously about the
hall, and lowered his voice-"on question
that I'd willingly give one of my fingers to
unpuzzle.
That's probably a question | could not
unpuzzle if all my fingers depended on it,
replied the signor.
"Tve no such powers, outside Of my own
business, as many people suppose"
"Make this your business, and I'll re-
ward you well for it." said the visitor.
"My name is Oatman. | live on my
plantation in summer, and bring my family
to town in winter We bring only two
servants with u.s. and they are old family
servants, that [ can't think would steal
from us.
"You have been robbed?" suggested the
signor.
"Now how did you ever find that out p
cried the planter, astonished.
"You Just told me" laughed the signor.
"Not r." chuckled the other, with sa-
gacious shake of the head II hadn't come
to that part of my story. But [ see you
read my thoughts before | can out with
them. [ haze been robbed in the strang-
est way!'
As every well-to-do planter carried his
watch and dangling fob-chain, and as
Mr. Oatman's person showed none, the
signor, who was fond of a joke, could not
help answering in fortune-telling fashion
"Your watch has been taken !"
"Now how could you know that 2" the
simple-minded man exclaimed, in delighted
surprise. at was the first thing missed.
Then we made search, and found my wife S
diamond ring was gone, and that over two
hundred dollars had been flched from my
till"
''The thief must have been acquainted
with the premises, suggested the signor.
"There you hit it again, said the plan
ter, with lively satisfaction. 'You score
one every time. He must know the prem
ises, whoever he is and that's the strange
part of it. Servants faithful-Good Lord
they would't know what to do with the
money and things if they had them Only
our son and daughter living with us. A
few intimate friends come in, that [ trust
as far as I'd trust myself Noao, aoho couId
haze robbed as?
The worthy Oatman aimed this question
point-blank at the signor, who answered
seriously that he could not tell.
"You can tell I'm sure you can tell J,
the planter insisted, stoutly. IL haven
come here without consulting my family
My wife and daughter both advised me tt
come. Only my son tried to dissuade me
He said you couldn't know anything abou
such matters, and l would only be making
bad matter worse But then, he hasn'
seen your wonderful performances.
A quick suspicion shot through the sig
nor's intuitive mind.
"Your son was right; he gave you goo'
advice 1 dare say he was quite anxiou
that you should keep away from me ?"
'Indeed, he was p said the planter
'He was so worked up about it, | had t
partly promise I wouldn't come, before h
would let me leave the house. He said
would make fool of myself, and | said
"Well, well, George, l Iwon'tp' He though
1 meant | wouldn't consult YOU. Blu
what I really meant was
"That you wouldn't make a fool of youl
SELF" the signor interrupted. "And her
you're doing it, I'm afraid, after all 7 !.
"Nol no cried the planter, confidently
1You just come around to the house wit
me, examine the premises, and talk to tn
folks, and I'm positive you can guess tn
riddle, if you haven't guessed it already
Ahr' he laughed, gleefully, Il see by you
eye you have guessed it r
Indeed, the suspicion which had entere
the signor's mind had become almost ce
tainty and it was not without hope Of b
yir - fts