The Red Cloud chief., 1882-10-06
A CONJURER'S FEAT.

The slgnor was giving n series o
highly-succcssful performances i'm tn,
city oi Mobile; where (as he tells us IL
his autobiography people came tc
consult him priva ely about love af-
fairs. mat crs of business and future
e,cn,s. thinking that one who could
do such wonders must lie able To uii.
IA el all the mysteries of life.
IL was a rather primitive, simple
minded community in those DAYS. In
vain he discla;mcd the fortuae-tc.liny
powers oscribcd to him. IL was still
believed tina: he could give the required
information il ho would.
He was u day IN the hall, prcpar-
Ing for the evenings performance,
when an elderly gentleman called upon
him. and with profound respect asked
the honor of taking him by the hand.
81 saw your doings here last right"
said the visitor. land let me tell We,
twas the most wonderfulcst thing I
ever did see. never laughed SO in all
my born days."
Il am glad you were pleased" re-
piled the signor. politely.
"iiow you could take so many eggs
out of a bag that had been thraShed on
the stage and tramplcd on. upset all my
calculations! And how could you know
that a stranger i'm the middle of the
hall had q chicken under his coat? l
couldn't see a feather of il till YOU
called him up and pulled the squawkin'
crittcr out.'
The signor silently listened 10 a good
deal more talk of this sort, until the
speaker came 10 the object of his visit.
They do say, signor, that there's
nothing You don't know, or c:n't find
out if YOU try. And I've come 10 con-
suit you"-the old gentleman looked
cautiously about the hall, and lowered
his voice-"o on a question that I'd will
ingly give N Of my fingers to unpux-
zle."
That's probably n question l
couldn't unpEzsic if all my fingers de-
pended on it," reptile the signor.
I've no such powers. outside Of my
W business. rs many people sup
pose"
Make this your business. and I'll
reward YOU well for IT," said the visitor.
My name is Oatman. l live on my
plantation in summer. and bring nv
family 10 town in winter. We bring
only two ervants with us; and they
are old family servants. that l can't
think would steal from us"
You have been robbed?" suggested
the signor.
Now how did YOU ever find that
out?' cried the planter. astonished.
You just told me-" laughed the
signor.
Not II chucklod the other. with a
stgacious shake of the head. Il hadn't
come TO that part of my story. But l
see you read my thoughts before l can
u with them. l hare been robbed; in
The strangest way"
As every well-to-do PLANTER carried
his watch and dangling fob-chain. and
rs Mr.. Oatmans person showed none.
the signor, who was fond of a joke, could
rot help answering in fortune-telling
fashion:
Your watch has been takenr' \
Now how could you know that's"
the supplemented man exclaimed, in
delighted surprise lit was the first
thing | missed. Then we made search,
and found that my wife's diamond ring
was gone. and that over two hundred
dollars had been filched from my ill"
The thief must have been acquaint-
cd with the premises" suggested the
signor.
There you hit it again." said the
planter, with lively satisfaction. You
score one every time. He must know
the premises, whoever he is; and that's
the strange part of it. Servants faith
ful-GoOd Lord, they wouldn't know
what to do with the money and things
il they had them. Only our son and
daughter living with us A few intimate
friends come in, that / trust a. far as I'd
trust myself. NOr, Mho could haze
robbed usF' /,
The worthy Oatman aimed this Ques-
fion Point-blank at the signor, who an
swered seriously that he could not tell.
You al tell! TIM sure you can
iell!' the planter insisted. stoutly. I'll,
haven't come here without consulting
my family. Mywife and danghterbo6
advised me 10 come. Only my sou txied 3
TO dissuade M. He said You couldn't
know anything about ucA matters and
] would only b making . bad matter
worse. But then, he kaaa't seen your
wonderfd per1oEmances." F
Aqqick suspicion shot through the /
intpfive nina
Yar@ We night; be gare you
essod 4yfcA Idaye ~ ta-sNnes Sajfo{s