Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-08-18
A CoNJURER,s FEAT.

The signor was giving series of
highly-successful performances in the
city OF Mobile; where Gas he tells us in
his autobiography people came to
consult him privately about love af-
fairs, 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 rather primitive, simple
minded community in those days. In
vain he disclaimed the fortune-telling
powers ascribed to him. 1t was still
believed that he could give the require cd
information if he would.
He was one day in the hall, prepar-
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.
al saw your doings here last night"
said the visitor, "and let me tell We,
twas the most wonderfulest thing
ever did see! l never laughed so in all
my born days!''
~ am glad you were pleased" re-
piled the signor, politely.
GLOW you could take so many eggs
out of bag that had been thrashed on
the stage and trampled on, upset all my
calc' lations! And how could you know
that stranger in the middle of the
hall had q chicken under his coatp 1
couldn't see feather of it till you
called him up and pulled the squawkin'
critter outs'
Tho signor silently listened to a good
deal more talk of this sort, until the
speaker came to the object of his visit.
"They do say, signor, that there 8
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 question that I'd will
ingly give one of my fingers to unpuz-
zle." a
"That's probably question
couldn't unpuzzis If all my fingers de-
pended on it." replied the signor.
1--we no such powers, outside OF my
own business, as many people sup
pose."
"Make this your business, and I'll
rewardyou well for it, said the visitor
"My name is Oatman. / live OH 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 / can't
think would steal from us"
"You have been robbedP" suggested
the signor.
Now how did you ever find. that
outp" cried the planter, astonished.
"You just told me-" laughed the
signor.
mot Ir' chuckled the other, with a
sagacious shake of the head. 81 hadn't
come to that part of my story. But i
see you read my thoughts before can
out with them. hare been robbed; in
the strangest way!' q
AS every wellto-do 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 in fortune-telling
fashion:
Your watch has been takenp'
Now how could you know Mat?'
the simple minded man exclaimed, in
delighted surprise. "It 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 till. -
1.-The thief must have been acquaint-
ed 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 {
the strange part Of it. Servants faith.
ful-Good 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 p6
trust myself. Nov, aoho could hav,
robbed nS7n
The worthy Oatman aimed this ques
tion point-blank at the signor, who an
swered seriously that he could not tell
You can tell! I'm sure you car
tell.' the planter insisted. stoutly. 20.
haven't come here without consulting
my family. My wife and daughter botl
advised me to come. Only my son triet
10 dissuade me. He said you couldn'
know anything about such matters, ant
would only be making bad mattel
worse. But then, he hasn't seen you
wonderful performances"
A quick suspicion shot through tn,
signor's intuitiye mind.
Your son WAS right; he gave yol
good advice. j dare say he was quit