The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-14

When Jack Newhiggin got back 10 The
parsonage hc found that hii host had &C
ccpiol an invitation for them both tr
dine AT the "iig house. as il was called. /
the country seat of the squire of the
parish.
Il have been fighting Your battles all
day" began Mrs Sitwell The hosts
when seated at dinner next to Jack
WAS it necessary; ! should have
thought myself too Insignificant
They were talking at lunch of yom
wonderful tricks in conjuring. and one
said that the skill might prove inconyen.
icnt-whcn you played cards, for Ill
stance
"A charitable imputation; with whom
did it originated
Sir Lewis Mailabv.'
please point hum out 10 me.
lie was shown grave. ccowling face
upon the right of the ho~tcss-a face like
a mask. the surface rough and wrlnkled,
through which the eyes sh0ne with al
haleiul light ike corpse candles IN a
scpulchcr.
Jack let his companion chatter on. il
was his habit to get all the information
possible about any company III which hC
found himself. for his own purpose as q
clairvovant. and when Mrs SltwcA
tagged hc piled her with artloss Qucs-
lions. and led her on from one person e.
another. making mental notes 10 serve
him hereafter. II l. thus hv careful ana
labori0us preparations that many cf the
strange and seemingly mysterious icais
Of the clairvoyant conJmor are per
formed
When the whole party were assembled
in the drawing room after dinner q
chorus of voices. headed b. that Of tho
hostess. summoned Jack 20 Lis work.
There appeared 10 hc only one On sem
tient. Sir Lewis Mallaby. who not only
did not trouble himself 10 back up the
invitation but when the performance
was actually begun was at 80 pains 10
conceal ms contempt and digusi
The cOnlurer made the conventional
plum pudding IN q hat, Erred wedding
rings into quartcrn loaves, dill all ia'''-
ncr Of card tricks. knife tricks pistol
tricks, and iugglcd on conscienii'usiy
right through his rcpcrtOry. There was
never a smile m sir Lewis face, Ae
snccred Enthusiastically. Finally, with "a
ostentatiOn that saHorcd of rudcncss. he
took out bis watch, q great gold repeater,
looked AT II. and unmistakahly yawncd.
Jack hungcred for that watch Ci-
rcctlv be saw H. Perhaps through II he
might makc IT, owner uncomfortable. II
only for a moment But how TO get #
into his hands, lie asked for watch
"a dozen were offered. No, none Of these
would do. 10 must he good vatch-a
repeater
Sin Lewis Mallahy's was the only orc
i'm tbc room. and be at tirat distinctly re-
fused to lend II. But SD many earnest
cntrcafics were addressed 10 him, TIE
hostess leading the attack. that Zee could
not ia common courtesy continue To ic
fuse.
With something like q grovi he tooh
his watch off the chain and handed 1t l.
Jack Nswbiggin.
4 curious. old fashioned watch 1t was,
which would have gladdencd the heart
of watch collcctor-ali icwclcd ana
cnamcled. adorned with crest and IN
scnption-m heirloom. which had pro
Labfv been in the Naiiaby family foi
wears. Jack looked IL over cWiousiy,
meditatiVcly; then, suddenly raising ms
ewes. ne stared intently into sir lHwh
Nallabys face and almost as quickly
dropped them again.
"fh.s is far too valuable, % De said cour-
tcouslr. too much OF treasure, 70 he
rishod i'm any coniuIing trick. An oldl'
nary modern watch | might replace, but
not work OF art like this.
And lac handed it back Ia sir Lewis,
who received it with Ill concealed salts
faction lie was as much pleased, prob
ably, att Jacks expression 81 possibl,
failure in the proposed trick as az the re.
Covery of ms property
Another watch, however, was pounded
into a Jelly and brought out whole from
a cabinet ~ an adjoining room.
oh. hut il Is too prcposterous Sii
Lewis Malaty was heard IL say, quite
angrily. The continued applause pro
foundly Disguised him. This Is the
merest challatanism. 1t must be put an
end 10. II is the commonest rnposture,
Those are things which he has coached
IN in advance. Let him be tried WIN
something which upon the face Of II lio
cannot have learned beforehand by artl'
dcial means.
TRY him. Sir Lewis; Try him your
SELF cried several voices.
u scarcely like to lend myself to such
folly or encourage so pitiablc an exhibit
ton"
But he seemed 20 bc conscious that fur-
ther protest would bc i'll Jacks favor, 80
he said. Can YOU tell what | have III
this PICKETT" lie touched the left breast
Of his coat.
~ pocketbook.'
"Bahl Every one carries a pocketbook
in his pocket
But do youf" asked several Of the by
ISLANDERS, all Of whom were growing
deeply interested in this strange duet.
Sir Lewis Mallaby confessed that ne
did, and produced it--an ordinary mo,
rocco leather purse and pocket book vi
Ill oDe.. o.,