The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-12-21

uOVrs NOs not I0us uoF tous F@I4us
nor you. Jalsey"-and he ran through
al their namcs
They had now ceased their gnm-
bols and were staring hard AZ their
vIsitorl- moment was propitious;
Jack Newbiggin began. He had
fortunately filled his pockets with
nuts. oranges and cakes before leaving
the parsonage. 50 he had half his ap-
paratus ready In hand.
The pretty boy had very soon left
the father ut the fire and had come
over 10 join In the fun. going back.
however. TO exhibit his share Of the
spoil and describe voluminously what
had occurred This and the repeated
shouts OF laughter seemed 70 produce
some impression on him. Presently
he looked over his shoulder and said,
but without animation;
1T Is very good Of you. sir surely;
very good for you to take so kindly 70
the little chicks II does them good
70 laugh bit. but it amt much as
they've had to make 'em lately"
1T Is good for all Of US now and
again. take IT," said Jack. desisting
and going towards him, the children
gradually collecting in fnr of corner
and comparing notes.
"You cant laugh. sir. II your hearts
heavy; II you do it can DO only a
sham"
While he was speaking he had taken
the Bible from the shelf, and rcsum-
| ing his seat began to turn the leaves
over.
I'm an untaught. rough country
man. sir. but l have heard tell that
these strange things you do are only
tricks; amt it SOP"
Here was indeed a hopeful symptom.
He was reused then TO take some in
terest in what had occurred.
'.All tricks. OF course; It all comes
| OF practice. said Jack. rs he proceed
ed to explain some OF the simple proc
esses. hoping TO enchain the mans at
| tention.
That's what thought. sir. or I'd
have given you job to do I've been
in want Of a real conjuror many long
day. and nothing less'll do. See here,
sir" he said. IS he took small. caro-
fully-folded paper from between the
leaves Of the Bible. lido you see this?''
| 1t was half Bank OF England note
for ElO0.
How. sir. co uld any conjuror help
me to the other half?'
Glow did you come by it?" asked
Jack at once.
iii tell you, sir, short as can
make 1t. Conjuror or no conjuror.
you've got kindly heart, and I'm
main sure that you'll help II you can.
Dan then described how he had picked
up the basket from the lO:45 Liverpool
express.
There was the linen: I've kept II.
See here; all marked quite pretty and
proper, with lace round the edg es. n
though its mother loved TO make the
little one smart"
II Jack examined the linen; II bore q
monogram and crest The first HI
made out to mean II. l. NJ. and ths
crest was plainly two hammers crossed
and the motto: II strike mot a com
mon crest-and he never remembered
TO have seen il before.
And was that all?
"'Cept the bank note. That was in
poor old purse with a pawn-ticke,
and thimble. kept them all.
Like true detective Jack examined
every article minutely. The purss
bore the name Hester Gorrigan. in rud,
letters inside. and the pawn-ticket was
made out in the same name.
| THE SECOND HALr.
i When Jack Newbiegin got back Il
the parsonage he found that his hos
had accepted an invitation for then
both TO dine 1T the big House, a,
II was called. the country seat Of thu
squire Of the parish.
i "Ihave been fighting your battle.
all day." began MIRA Sitwell. the host
ess, when seated at dinner next V
Jack
| WAS Il necessary / should hav,
thought myself too insignificant"
| They we're talking al lunch OF your
wonderful tricks In conjuring. and
some one said that the skill migh
prove inconvenient-whcn you playet
cards. for instance"
i "A charitable imputation; will
whom did IL originator"
"Sir Lewis Mallaby"
| Please point him out TO me.''
He was shown . grave, scowlinc
face upon the right Of the hostess
face like a mask. the surface rough
and wrinkIcd. through which the eve.
shone with baleful light. like corpse
candles In . sepulchcr.
| Jack let his companion chatter on.
Il was his habit to got all the infor-
nation possible about any company in
which he found himself for his own
purpose as clairvoyant. and wher
Mrs. Sitwell tagged he piled her with
artless questions, and led her on from
one person 10 another. making mental
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