The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-28

although he was obviously trying to keep his
voice steady. there was distinct tremor in it.
Placing both hands on the little table, he sprang
upon 1t and stood erect Wyoming and Cam.
eron mounted chairs. one on his right and
enc on his left; they raised the huge cone from
the floor and slowly lowered it over hj,a. 1t
rested lightly on the rim of the little table.
wyoming drew out his watchand began count
ing the seconds. Cameron stepped down from
his chair, crossed to the large table in the center
of the stage, selected card from the pack,
glanced at it, showed it to the audience returned
it and replaced the pack as it was Then he
walked back and mounted his chair again.
Wyoming had stood motonless, with his ewes
on the dial and his ears strained to catch the
slightest sound.
At last he returned his watch to his pocket.
saying, sTime's up.
Then he and Cameron, amid dead siience in
the hall, seized the extinguisher and lifted it
slowly As il rose In the air. they heard sud
den murmur of establishment among the audi
ence In another second, as they lowered the
light paper cone to the stage, they saw the cause
of this. The little table wherein Monsieur
Blitzin had stood was empty. The magician
had vanished; he had gone without sign OK
sounds it was as though he had melted int
air.
Wyoming and Cameron examined the extin-
guisher, but it was no heavier than it had been.
was the little table in any way altered. The
spectators clapped and shouted with delight az
this most original trick. The two friends looked
puzzled glances they stepped down from the
chairs on which they had been standing, and
again examined the little table and the cone
But they found no clew to the disappearance OF
the magician.
Then there arose from the body of the hall
loud cry for the conjurer to appear 1t was
hearty and genuine call, such as few of the
strolling actors who had starred at the Pavilion
had ever been honorcd with.
"Fetch him out" said Wyoming to Cameron;
won know the tOnoprAnhv nf the nlacAU
Cameron crossed at once to the two dressing
rooms on the right of the stage, whence Mon
sieur Blitzini had issued at the beginning OF the
performance. Wyoming heard him knocking,
and then. opening the door, he said a few words
to the inpatient spectators, suggesting that they
should give Monsieur Blitzini breathing time
after his extraordinary exertions
The audience took this ii good part There
was cessation Of the loud shouts Md tumul.
tuous applause. Then In a minute Cameron
came back looking flushed and scared.
Hes not there, he whispered to Wyoming
"Then where is he," asked the American,
startled, and with a sinking heart
Il don't know. I've searched the stage, and
the two dressing rooms and the short passages,
and / m sure ne is not here"
GLOW could he get out9 You told me there
was no stage door"
And there is no space under the stage where
he could hide. / do not understand it at all.
Perhaps your spooks-"
But here Cameron was interrupted by impa-
tlent cries from the audience, who wanted to see
the conjurer.
stage, and made neat little speech to the spsc-
tators, in the course of which he said that Mon
sieur Blitzini had evidently determined that his
last trick should be complete success and q to-
tai surprise, and that to this end he had chosen
to vanish. He concluded by expressing his be-
lief that they all appreciated the remarkable
skill and address that Monsieur Blitzini had re-
vealed that evening
The audience gave Wyoming a round of APP
piause, and broke up in high good humor
The two friends returned 60 their hotel, mus
ing much and saying little.
do you understand the deep damn alton of his
taking off," asked Wyoming, as they parted for
the night.
''Not the least bit. Do your
ssNo."
At breakfast. the next morning, Cameron
passed the Witherington Daily Times across
the table to Wyoming, ard asked him to read
the final paragraph of the local reporters ac-
count OF the strange events of the preceding
evening.
Whether Mons Bltzini," so this paragraph
began, derives his extraordinary command
over legerdemain, as our lively neighbors call
it. from the abnormal sources set forth In his
advertisement, or no, is philosophical conun-
drum upon which we need not enter now Credat
Judeus Apelles. But besides his being jugglet
OF no mean proficiency, he is undoubtedly hui
morist of the first wafer Trick after trick was
transmogrifed in the most whimsical and face
tious fashion, and the admirable facial powers
which Mons. Blitzinl exhibited in depict
ing emotions of surprise and CONSERVATION
contributed not little TO this effect. He we'll
deserved the applause lavished on him coutinu4
ously, and the excitement of the intelligent and
brilliant audience knew no bounds when the ex.
tinguisher which played an important part in
the last trick. was removed, and Monsieur
Blitzini was found to have vanished in the
twnkling of an eye. We can confidently recon-,
mend all who like an exhibition of finished skill
and hearty laugh to attend Monsieur Blitzini's
second performance advertised in our columns
for tonight. We hope, however that on this
occasion he will not carry his invisibility so far
as to refuse appearing to receive the plaudits of
the admirng audience he so cleverly amused
Wyoming read this carefully, then he laid tho
paper on the table and said: "Ths reporter
seems to be a good many kinds of a fool"
Il suppose we shall go tonight to see Mon
sieur Blitzinis second performance9 asked
Cameron.
"Of course was the Americans short reply.
CHAPTER Ill
Monsieur Blitzini's second performance never
took place.
THE END.