The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-09-01
A CONJURER'S FEAT.


city of Mobile; where Gas he tells us in
his autobiography people came to con-
suit him privately about love-alfairs, mat
tiers of business and future events, think
ing that one who could do such wonders
must be able to unravel all the mysteries
of life.
1t was a rather primitive, simple
minded community in those days. In
vain he disclaimed the fortune-teliing
powers ascribed to him. 1t was still be-
ieved 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 houor
of taking him by the hand.
80 / saw your doings here last night"
SAID the visitor, "and let my tell we,
twas the most wonderfullest thing ever
did see l never laughed so in all my
born days !"
81 am glad you were pleased" replied
the signor politely.
GLOW you could take so many eggs
out OF bag that had just been thrashed
on the stage and trampled on, upset all
my lc'lations And how could you
know that a stranger in the middle of
the hall had a chicken hid under his
coat? l couldn't see feather of it till
you called him up and pulled the
squawkin' critter out y
The signor smilingly listened to good
deal more talk of this sort, until the
speaker came to the object of his visit.
"They do say, signor, that there's
nothing you don't know, or can't find
out if you try. And I've come to con-
suit you"-the old gentleman looked
cautiously about the hall, and lowered
his voice" on q question that I'd will
ingly give one of my fingers to I'M
puzzle.
"That's probably question 1 couldn't
unpuzzle if all my fingers depended on
1t, replied the signor. "Tve no such
powers, outside of my own business, as
many people suppose.
"Make this your business, and I'll
reward you well for it, said the visitor
"My name is Oatman. 1 live on my
plantation in summer, and bring my
family to town in winter. We bring
only two servants with us, and they are
old family servants, that 1 can't think
would steal from us.
"You have been robbed ?" suggested
She sighor."
"Now, how did you ever find that
out ?" cried the planter, astonished.
"You just told me-" laughed the
signor.
"Not I |" chuckled the other, with q
sagacious shake of the head. 81 hadn't
come to that part of my story. But l
see you read my thoughts before ] can
out with them. have been robbed; in
the strangesf way p
AS every we'll TODD planter carried his
watch and dangling fob-chain, and as
Mr.. Oatman's person showed none, the
signor, who was fond of joke, could
not help answering, Ill fortune-telling
fashion:
"Your watch has been taken %
"Now how could you know that ?" the
simple minded man exclaimed, In de-
lighted surprise. cit was the first thing
L missed. Then we made search, and
found that my wife's diamond ring was
gone, and that over 5000 had been
,6lched from my till.
"The thief must have been acquainted
with the premises" suggested the sig
nor.
There, you hit it again y 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-G0od Lord, they wouldn'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. Now, who could have
robbed us ?"
TIE worthy Oatman aimed this ques-
ton point-blank at the signor, who an
swered seriously that he could not tell.
lyon can tell I'm sure you can tell !!
the planter insisted stoutly. haven't
come here without consulting my family.
MY wife and daughter both advised me
to come. Only my son tried to dissuade
me. He said you couldn't know any
thing about such matters, and / would
ouiv he making bad matter worse. But
then he hasn't seen your wonderful per-
formances.
A quick suspicion shot through the
signOr's intuitive mind.
"Your son was right; he gave You
good advice. i dare say he was quite
anxious that you should keep away from
me?"
Indeed he was - said the planter
az He was so worked up about it. l had
TO partly promise L wouldn't come, be-
fore he would let me leave the house.
He said / would make fool of myself.
and I said, Well. well, George. Iwon't =
He thought meant I wouldn't consult
Won. But what I really meant was"
"That you wouldn't make fool of
yourself" the signor interrupted. "Aud
here you're doing it, I'm afraid, after
all T.
"Nol no y cried the planter. cont
IDENTITY. "You just come around 10 tAe
house with me. examine the premises.
and talk with the folks. and I'm positive
you can guess the riddle, if You haven't
guessed it already. All y he laughed,
gieefully, ct see by your eye you have
guessed it T.
Indeed, the suspicion which had en-
tered the signor's mind had become nj .
most certainty; and it was not without
hope OF being able 10 solve this mystery,
to his own satisfaction If not to tho