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

and then showed that the hat was absolutely
empty. aud he returned it to its owner as swiftly
as he could
He stood before the spectators perturbed and
painting, and he bowed again and again before
the plaudits of the audience, getting his breath
back in the brief respite to announce that this
concluded the first part of the entertainments,
and that there would be an intermission OF ten
minutes. With another salutaIion he withdrew,
returning fearful to the stage, and walking off
hastily to the right
"Wel" said Wyoming. as the magician dis
appeared from view: what do you think nowW
II don't know what to think, as / said before.
1t is very picturesque performance, take, all
round
81 think I've found out the secret"
"Stand and deliver" said Cameron.
Assuming that these disturbances are caused
by exasperated spirits as we are justified in do
ing
"Of course we are. interrupted Cameron; 'syou
and know modern magic from Alfred to Oma-
ha, and we know that these little effects are
% this GGnco
I'VE have to discover why it Is that Monsieur
Blitzni meets with no misadventures except
when he is on the stage. Now have a theory.
The front of the stage is circular. and it is only
behind the arc of the footlights that the spirits
torment him. 1t has struck me that perhaps
there has been a reversal of the sacred circle of
ire within which the sorcerer who evoked spirits
was safe from their assaults"
about him when he spent a lively night with the
spooks in the Coliseum at Rome-is that what
you mean?"
Precisely" answered Wyoming HE was
safe within the mystic ring of flame because the
spirits were without and could not break in.
But Blitzini is at the mercy of the spirits con-
fined within the flaming segment of the foot
lights, and he is only free from torment and
torture when he breaks out"
II shouldn't wonder If you were right" Cam
an Nln6 QEfn ANk 7yhk
Your theory that be is the slave Of the lamps
and Of the ring at least explains the phenonie.
non, which is otherwise almost inexplicable."
During the performance of the second part of
Monsieur BlitzinTs programme the two friends
had many opportunities of verifying the hypoth-
esis, and they found that it was in accord with
the facts. One of the tricks was performed
wholly among the spectators without the return
OF the magician to the stage, and in this Mon
sieur BlitZin was perfectly successful and no
untoward incident marked its performances But
the very next illusion, called LIE Boisson de Tan
tale, required the constant presence of the con-
juror on the stage, where he operated an ex-
change of two liquors, filing two decanters placed
at opposite extremties of the footlights, and al
though the ignorant spectators saw nothing al all
unusual in the substitution of cone of blue fire
for a bottle of brandy, Wyoming and Cameron
knew that the hooking spirits were again taking
treakish revenge on the froward magician who
had dared to use their names without asking their
permission. In another trick which appeared
on the bills as Les Drapeaux de rUnivers, and
which required the conjurer to produce mystic
riously a bundle of the flags of all
nations, the spirits again gained the
upper hand and changed the pretty silken
emblems into stiff cactus, the sharp branches
of which bristled with thorns. In desperation
Monsieur Bltzini crossed the line of the foot
lights, his face white with apprehension, but a
glance of rigid determination still cleaning from
bis eye; no sooner had he stepped out upon the
run down than the green cactus gave way to a
sheaf Of Italian flags. In yet another Illusion
the next to the last. entitled I'm Duel aux
Carries, card chosen by one of the audience was
to be caught on the point of sword when the
spectator threw the pack in the air. The pre-
liminary fourishes Of the trick, performed amid
the audience, were accomplished without let or
hindrance, but when Monsieur Biitzni took up
his position in the centre of the stage with the
naked sword in his right hand and when the
spectator threw the cards toward him the blade
changed suddenly into revolver and the pack
was riddled oy six bullets discharged by the ma
gician involuntarily and as though in obedience
to will stronger than his own.
THAT is pretty good; l wonder what he will
do next said Cameron, quoting the charming
tale of the parrot and the exploded ship.
eff he has as much sense as give him credit
for" replied Wyoming, she will crawl along
to the last trick like streak Of creased light
Ming"
Cameron referred to his programme. Gle Mage
Ipvisiblique is the last trick"
'1nvisiblique Is good" Wyoming remarked:
'Td like to know what it means"
Il think it to imply either that the mage-that
is Monsieur Bltzini himself of course-becomes
invisible. or that he has his eyes blindfolded so
that he cannot see. We've paid our money and
he will take his choice"
81 have been wondering what he means to do
with that tall cone there at the back He must
useit in this trick somehow" Wyoming said;
lit looks like a huge extinguisher doesn't it,
fit to put out the candles of Giant Blunderbore."
AS the American spoke Monsieur Bltzini
brought the cone forward and placed it by the
side of one of the light little round tables of
which there were two, one at the right and one
at the left of the stage To the sharp eyes of
the two friends it evident that the magicians
nerves were unstrung, and that he was in great
haste to get to the end of his labors. He darted
now and again suspicious chances behind him. as
though in trepidation and bodily fear When
he began to speak his voice was furried and
broken.
thine runs short" said Monsieur Blitzini
facing the audience, ''and / am approach
ing the conclusion of my entertainment l do
not like to tax the kindness or to impose on the
patience Of my friends, the Spirits OF the Silent
Sphere'-and here he shuddered slightly-''by
whose aid have been enabled to work the won
ders you beheld this evening. I shall have the
honor OF concluding my entertainment by ex
hibiting before you the strange feat which / |
have called +he Mage Invisiblique. For this
need the assistance of two gentlemen from the |
audience if they will kindly grant me their
help"
Monsieur Bltzini's eyes, which had been wan |
dering fitfully during the delivery of this speech.
now fell on Wyoming and Cameron, who waited |
for no further invitation. but sprang up the run
down. and stood on the stage by his side.
''Thank you" continued Monsieur Blitzini. |
bowling. Wyoming thought he detected fleet |
ing expression of relief on the conjurer's face, |
as though he was glad to have some one near |
him 10 come to his ala in case of need
1.-The beginning of this experiment is very |
simple;.i it is only the end which is strangely |
startling and inexpressibly surprising. / put a |
pack of cards on the centre table here. Then |
stand on this little table with glass top and Task
these gentlemen to cover me over with this ex- |
tinguisher, in order that I may be wholly una |
BILE to see what may take place on the stage. |
Then one gentleman will count thirty seconds. |
while the gentleman takes card from the pack |
looks at it, shows it to you and returns it. At |
the end of the half minute both gentlemen lift !