The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-10-17

the control of the eldest sister, who was
busted in setting out the table for the mid
day meal. One other child, of six or seven,
a bright-eyed, exceeding beautiful boy, the
least--were not natures vagaries well known
likely to be born among and belong to
such surroundings, stood between the legs
of the man himself, who had his back to
the visitors and was crouching low over the
scantv fire. The man turned his head for
a moment, gave blank stare, then an i'm
perceptable nod, and once more he glowered
down upon the fire.
"Here, little ones, do you see this gen
tleman? he's conjuror. Know what a
conjnrer is, Tommy?" cried the parson,
catching up mite of four or five from the
floor. ''No, not you; nor you, Sarah; nor
you, Jacky"-and he ran through all their
names.
They had now ceased their gambols and
were staring hard at their visitors-the
moment was propitious and Jack Newbiggin
began. He had fortunately filled his pOck-
cts with nuts, oranges and cakes before
leaving the parsonage, so he had half his
apparatus ready to hand.
The pretty boy had soon left the father
at the fire and had come over to join IN the
fun, going back, however, to exhibit his
share of the spoils and describe volumnious-
lv what had occurred This and the re-
peated shouts of laughter seemed to pro-
duce some impression on him. Presently
he looked over his shoulder and said-but
without animation
at be very good of you, Sir, surely; very
good to take so kindly to the little chicks.
It does them good to laugh a bit, and it
amt much as they've had to make 'em
lately"
':It is good for all of us, now and again,
l take it, said Jack, desisting and going
toward him-the children gradually col
lecting in far-off corner and comparing
notes.
"You can't laugh, Sir, if your hearts
heavy if you do, it can only be sham.
While he was speaking he had taken the
Bible to turn the leaves slowl ly over.
II m an untaught, rough countryman,
Sir, but have heard tell that these strange
things you do are only tricks, amt it SO? ?"
Here was, indeed, hopeful symptom
He was reused, then, to take some interest
in what had occurred.
'AlI trick, of course; it all comes of long
practice" said Jack, as he proceeded to
explain some of the simpler processes, hop
ing to enchain the mans attention:
''That's what thought, Sir, or I'd have
given you a job to do. I've been in want
of a real con uror many long day and
nothing less'll do. See here, Sir" he said,
as he took small, carefully folded paper
from between the leaves of the Bible; edo
you see this ?"
1t was half of bank of England note
for 9100.
Chow sir, can any conjurer help me to
the other half?"
"How did you come by it?' Jack asked
at once.
"I'll tell you, Sir, short as [ can make
it. Conjurer or no conjurer, you've got a
kindly heart and I'm main sure you will
help me if you can
Dan then described how he had picked
up the basket from the 1915 Liverpool
express.
t'There was the linen; I've kept it. See
here; all marked quite pretty and proper,
with lace round the edges, as though the
mother loved to make the little one smart "
Jack examined the linen; it bore mon
ogram and crest. The first he made out
to mean Ii. L. NJ; and the crest was plain
ly two hammers crossed and motto, IL
strike"-not a common crest-and he never
remembered to have seen it before"
"And this was all p
"'Cept the bank-note. This was in
poor old purse, with pawn ticket and
thimble. I kept them all. y
Like a true detective, Jack examined
every article minutely. The purse bore
the name Hester Gorrigan, in rude letters
inside and the pawn ticket was made out
in the same name.
81 cannot give you much hope that |
shall succeed, but l will do my best. Will
you trust me with the note for time ?"
"Surely, Sir, with the greatest of pleas
ure. If you could but find the other half
it would give Harry-that's what we call
him-such grand start in life; schooling
and the price of binding him to some hon
est trade"
Jack shook the mans hand, promised to
do his best, and left the cottage.