The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-07-01

and her parents, tOSetner Wltn ner AoFe'
and his parents, went to the city.
The first thing which met Irene's eye
when she arrived in St. Louis was bill
announcing that Professor George Shol
bach would exhibit his wonderful illu
sions for one week at certain hall. Tht
bill stated that the magician would intro
duce his new feat of cutting off man
hand and restoring it to its place agait
without hurting the man. Irene shud
dcred and turned pale when she saw thi:
bill. Her lover noticed this, and, or
being told the cause, laughed.
"My darling" he said, ''you ought to
be cured of that trouble by this time.
Remember that in few days you will
have husband to protect you. know
your horror is only temporary.
shouldn't be surprised if you asked me
to take you to see him in few days"
Was it prophetic2 The desire to see
Sholbach's performances again grew
upon Irene. The simple knowledge that
she was in the same city with him had
strange fascination for her. She strug.
glcd against her growing desire to sec
Sholbach, but found herself unable to
conquer it. At length, in sheer despera.
ton, she asked her lover one evening to
take her to see the magician. lie laughed
heartily.
81 knew YOU were cured of yout
strange aversion for him. There's moth.
ing like light heart and a good digcs
tion to remove unpleasant fancics.
Accordingly, they went in the evening
to the hall and secured seats near the
stage. When Sholbach's eyes fell upon
them he started as if hc had been shot.
He fixed burning glance upon them,
and in moment understood their posi-
ton; for Irene clung to John for protec.
ton. Then Sholbach bowed slightly and
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 to 60 upon the stage. Then
he removed his collar and necktie and
coat. Then Sholbach appeared with a
large knife and suddenly scizing the
man plunged it into his throat. The
man screamed and struggled. The
blood poured from the wound. The
audience, convinced as they were that
the man was q confederate. were silent
with horror. Presently Sholbach
whirlcd the knife around with quick
movement and then held up the mans
head. A murmur of horror ran through
the audience The body was removed
and the professor treated the audience 20
three minute lecture. He was inter
rupted by the appearance at the other
end of the hall of the man who had been
decapitated, alive and smiling. The au-
dience hcaved a sigh of relief and then
awarded the successful magician a round
of applause.
"You may Think said Sholbach,
"that the man who has just been on the
stage was confederate. Now, in order
to convince you that he was not, de-
sire any gentleman who hus the courage
to come upon the stage and will repeat
the experiment"
AS he said this Sholbach looked at
John Manners. The powerful Young
physician suddenly felt an Irresistible
desire to go upon tho platform. He
arose as if to start.
"John, you are not going" exclaimed
Irene, in tone of terror.
Eyes," he replied, laughing; 81 want
to find out how it was DONE"
"Let me 60 with you?"
And without waiting for his answer
she followed him.
This is hardly the sort of exhibition
for lady to look upon at close quar-
ters," said Sholbach. "You had better
sit behind this screen until it is over"
"No! no." said voice from the
house. "Let the lady sec how you do it
ii she can."
Sholbach bowed, and gave Irene q
chair on the side of the stage, opposite
to Manners. AS he went off to get the
knife he paused for single instant in
front of her and glarcd into her eyes.
Don't you move or speak," he whis-
pcred.
Poor girl! She could not have
stirred if her life depended upon it.
Cold beads of perspiration broke out
on her brow and shivcring chills ran
down her spine. But she was voicelcss
and nervclcss. Sholbach had brought
the full power of his will to bear on
her and she was completely mcsmcr-
! lied.
( When the conjurer stood before Man
ners he gazcd intently into his eyes.
! The young physician, strong as he was,
felt himself grow weak before that look.
He endcavored to speak, but SholDach
| frowned, and the words seemed to freeze
in his throat. The conjurcr did not
take his eyes off the physician while he
spoke to the audience.
This man is very powerful" he said,
"and must allow him time to control
his nerves before begin, or he might do
me some injury"
Then for time he was silent. Tho
audience waited and watched the three
silent figures. At length, without TAX
ing his eyes from Manners, Sholbach
! said:
''It is time"
Then with sudden expression of
frightful fcrocity he plunged the knife
into the throat of the man before him.
Tie head fell forward and the hands
gripped the side of the chair convulsivc-
" for q moment; then John Manners was
as still as if he were dead Sholbach
asked some of the men in the front row
whether they could sec that the knife
had really been plunged in The mans
throat. They said there was no doubt
of it.
CAS- the hour is late" said Sholbach,
81 will not prolong this exhibition.
put this screen in front Of this man so.
Now in two minutes you will sec him
enter that door,
No one had noticed Irene while Shol-
bach was performing his feat, but it was
now seen that she had tainted. Two or
three persons made movement to 90 to
her assistance, but Sholoach stopped
them with wave of the hand.
II can bring her out of the faint in a
moment he said.
Then lifting her as easily as if she
had been a child he carried her off the
! stage.
! The audience waited until the two
minutes had expired. Then they began
to look for the temperance of Manners
from the front of the stage. But no one
came. There was dcathly silence in
the house, and the stage remained empty.
Three. four, five, ten minutes passed,
and neither the physician nor the con-
jurer appeared.
There's something wrong here" ex'
claimed man sitting in the front row.
So saying he sprang upon the stage
and overthrow the screen behind which
the magician had hidden Manners.
4 horrible sight was exposed. The
young physician sat still in the chair
with the knife in his throat, the blood
trickling slowly down his breast, dead.
\ dozen men rushed forward to examine.
There was no doubt about it: a murder
had been committed, calmly and boldly,
in the presence of three hundred wit
ncsseS.
The building was searched before and
behind the scenes. Then. it was found
that both the conjurcr and the young
woman had disappeared. The police