The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1885-04-20
light heart and good digestion to remove

unpleasant fancits.p
Accordingly, they went Ia tho evening TO
the hall and secured seats near the stage.
When sholbach's eyes fell upon them he
started rs If he had been shot. He fixed
burning glance upon them, aud in a moment
understood their position; for Irene chung
to John for protection. Then Sholbach
bowed slightly aud smiled reassuringly.
From that time until near the close Of the
entertainment he appeared to take no notice
of them.
The usual tricks had been performed and
he began his concluding feat. A man WAS
summoned from among the audience 10 go
upon the stage. Then he removed his col
lar and necktio and coat Then ShOlbach
appeared with a large knife aud, suddenly
Selling the man, plunged it into his throat
The man screamed and struggled. The
blood poured from the wound The au-
dience, convinced as they were that tho
man was confederate were silent with
horror. Presently Sholbach whirled the
knife around with a quick movement and
then held up tho mans head. murmur
of horror ran through the audience The
body was removed and the professor treated
the audience TO n three-miuute lecture. lie
was interrupted by the appearance at tho
| other end of the hall of the man who had
been decapitated, alive and smiling. The
| audience heaved a sigh of relief and then
awarded the successful magician round of
| applause.
"You may think" said sholbach chat
| the man who has just been on the stage
was confederate. Now, In order to con-
| vince you that be was not, desire any
| gentleman who has the courage TO come
| upon the stage, and l will repeat the OK
| pertinent"
As he said this Shlobach looked at John
| Manners Tho powerful young physician
suddenly felt an irresistible desire to go
upon the platform. He arose as II to start.
| John, you are not going! exclaimed
| Irene, in tone OF terror
| Yes" he replied, laughing, II want TO
find out how 1t is done"
| Let me go with you ~
| And without waiting for his answer she
| followed hin,
| "This is hardly the sort of exhibition for
a lady to look upon at close quarters, SAID
sholbach. You had better sit behind this
screen Until 1t is over
| mo nor said voice from the mouse.
LET the lady see how you do 1t If she can"
Sholbach bowed, and gave Irene chair
on tho side of the stage, opposite to Man
ners. AS he went OIL to get the knife he
paused for single instant In 'front.' oil her
and glared into her eyes,
Don't you move or speak " he whis-
peTeo. ,, a.. ,,, 80. hoo s,rroa 70
POOR girl she could not nave stirreo II
her life had depended upon IT, o9ld
beads OF perspiration proke ous on her
brow and shiveriDg chills ran down her
spine. But enc was voiceiess anu nerve
less. Sholbach had brought the iuli power
OF DIS wiz TO pear on her ana sne was
completely mesmerized.
When the conjurer stood before Manners
ne gazeu lntently into MS eyes, Inc
young physician, strong as he was, ielt
himself grow weak before tnat LOOK he
endeavored to speak, put SnolDsch lrownea,
and the words seemed TO freeze IN MS
throat. The conjurer did not take his
eyes OIL the physician "hlle ne spoke TO
the audience. .,
inns man Is very powerful, ne sala
and must allow MIN time TO control MS
nerves before begin, or he might do me
some INJURY. :,
Then FOR time he was silent. Inc audi
fence waiteo ana watcneu tne three suent
hgures. AT length, wlthout taking MS eyes
irom manners, enoioach SAID
IL is tlme.
Ihep, with sudden expression OF irlgnt-
iul ieroclty, ne plunged tne kniie Into the
tnIoao Oh t1e man peiore n5n' Ihe neau
lei FORWARD anu inc nahus griPpeu bhe
sides OF the chair convulsiveiy for mo,
menu tnen John manners was as seiil as II
he were dead. ShoiDach asked some Oh tne
men IN the 'front.' row whether they could
see that the khlie mao really peen plunged
." 'NS NJ SN N'''s 5000
was no doupt OF IT, ~,
las the honr is iate'" saia sholpaGh, -
VIII not prolong tnls exhloltion' put
TINS screen IN 'front.' oil thls man, SO. NOW
In two minutes you VIII see MIN enter tha'
door. :,
No one had noticed Irene while sholbach
? was performing MS 1eat, put IL was now
seen that she mad tainted; Two or tnree
. persons made movement TO 90 TO her as
sistance, put Sholpach stopped tnem Win
wave OF the nano'
r u can prlng her out Oh the iaint IN
moment, ne salu.
Then liiting ner as easily as II sne had
been chliu, ne carried her OH tne stage,
Inc andlence waited until the Two MN
utes mad EXPIRED Ihen they began u
LOOK Tor inc temperance Oh manners IRON
the mont oil the mouse: But no one came
Ihere was deathIy silence IN inc nous
four, five, ten minutes passed, and neithe
% the physician nor the coniurer appeared.
Wrhere,s somethinp wrong here ~. az
D. Chained man siotlnB III que ironO row.
:, oo sayins no spians upou ono estso ~ w
U oVertnreW gne screen, pehlnu WINCH I'll
MAGICIAN had hidden Manners.