The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-03-01
A Conjjurer's Feat.

: unravel all the mysteries of life.
1t was a rather primitive, simple
minded community in those days.
In vain he disclaimed the fortune
telling powers ascribed to him. II
was still believed that he could give
the required 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 re-
spect asked the honor of taking him
by the hand.
81 saw your dolngs here last
night said the visitor, "and let me
tell We, twas the most wonderfullest
thing ever did see! 1 never
laughed so in all my born daysw
81 am glad you were pleased" re-
piled the signor, politely.
Glow could you take so many
eggs out Of bag that had just been
thrashed on the stage and trampfed
on, upset all my calculations! And
how could you know that stranger
in the middle of the hall had a
chicken hid under his coat? I
couldn't see feather of it until you
called him up and pulled the
squawkin' critter outr'
The signor smilingly 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's
nothing you don't know, or 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 a ques-
ton that I'd willingly give one of
my fingers to unpuzzle."
That's probably a question 1
couldn't ugpuzzle if all my fingers
depended on it." replied the signor.
GIVE no such powers, outside of my
own business, as many people sup
pose"
snake this your business, and
I'll reward you well for it," replied
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 us; and they are old family
servants, that 1 can't think would
steal from u.s.
"You have been robbed?" sug-
gested the signor.
"Now, how did you ever find that
out?' cried the planter, astonished.
"Your just told me-" laughed the
signor.
Not Ir' chuckled the other, with
sagacious shake of the head. ct
hadn't come to that part of my
story. But I see you read my
thoughts before can out with them
1 hare been robbed; in the strangest
rwayr'
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
joke, could not help answering, in
fortune-telling fashion:
"Your watch has been takenr
"Now, how could you know Mat2'
the simple minded man exclaimed,
in delighted surprise. at was the
first thing missed. Then we made
a search, and found that my wife's
diamond ring was gone, and that
over two hundred dollars had been
filched from my till"
|, "The thief must be acquainted
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, who
ever he is; and that's the strange
part of it. Servants faithful-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 in
innate friends come in, that l trust
as far as I'd trust myself. Now, |
aUb0 could have robbed lss''
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!'' the planter insisted stoutly. |
81 haven't come here without con-
sulting my family. My wife and
da1tghter both advised me to come. |
Only my son tried to dissuade me.
He said you couldn't know anything
about such matters, and l would
only be making bad matter worse.
But then, he hasn't seen your
wonderful performances"
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 wasp said the plan
ter. "He was so worked up about
it, had TO partly promise would
not come before he would let me
leave the house. He said I'd make
a fool of, myself, and said, We'll,
WE'LL, George, l won't. He
thought l meant wouldn't consult
you. But what I really meant
was
"That you wouldn't make a fool
of yourself" the signor interrupted.
"And here you're doing it, I'm
afraid, after ALP
mo! nop' cried the planter, con-
fidently. You just come round to
the 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 al
ready. Ah!' he laughed gleefully,
Il see by your eye you have guessed
itp'
Indeed, the suspicion which had
entered the signor's mind had be-
come almost certainty; and it was
not without hope of being able to
solve the mystery to his own salts
faction, if not to the planters, that
he finally consented to visit the
house.
He was introduced to the planters
wife and daughter; saw the servants
"a simple old negro and his wife,
n, x-oe chow, tho ,.rl0r,, from viii oh