The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-02-01
TUE SECOND HALE.

parsonage he found that his host had
accepted an invitation for them both tc
dine at the ''Big House, as it was called,
the country seat of the squire of the
parish.
81 have been fighting your battles all
day, began Mrs. Stillwell, the hostess,
when seated at dinner next to Jack.
WAS 1t necessary / should have
thought myself too insignificant y
They were talking at lunch of your
wonderful tricks in con turing. and some
one said that the skill might prove in
convenient-when you played cards, for
I instance"
"a charitable imputation; with whom
did it originated
"Sr Lewis Mallabyn
"Please point him out to me-"
lie was shown a grave, scowling face
upon the right of the hostess face
like a mask, the surface rough and
wrinkled, through which the eyes shone
with baleful ght, like corpse candies
in sepulchre.
Jack let his companion chatter on. 1t
was his habit to get all the information
possible about any company in which he
found himself, for his own purpose as a
clairvoyant, and when Mrs. Stillwell
tagged he piled her with artless ques-
tons, and led her on from one person to
aIfs[SsS, making mental notes to serve
him hereafter. Il is thus by careful and
laborious preparations that many of the
strange anG seemingly mysterious feats
of the clairvoyant conjuror are per-
formed.
When the whole party were assembled
In the drawing room after dinner a
chorus of voices. beaded by that of the
hostess, snrTAoaed Jack to his work.
There appeafa2 20 be only one dissen-
tient Sir Lewis Mallaby, who not only
did not trouble himself to back up the
invitation, but when the performance
was actually begun was at no pains to
conceal his contempt aud disgust.
The coniuror made the conventional
plum pudding in a hat, fired wedding
rings into quartern loaves, did all manner
of card tricks. knife tricks, pistol tricks,
and juggled on conscientiously right
through his repertory. There was never
smile on Sir Lewis's face; he sneered
unmistakably. Finally. with an ostenta-
ton that sayored of rudeuess. he took
out his watch, great gold repeater,
looked at it, and Enthusiastically yawned.
Jack hungered for that watch directly
he saw it. Perhaps through it he might
make its owner uncomfortable, if only
for a moment. But how to get it into
his handsl He asked for a watch-a
dozen we're offered. No. none of these
would do. 1t must be a good watch-a
repeater
Sir Lewis Mallabys was the only one
in the room, aud he at first distinctly re-
fused to lend it But so many earnest
were addressed to him, the
hostess leading the attack, that he could
not in common courtesy continue to re-
fuse.
With something like a growl he took {
his watch off the chain and handed it to
ack Newbiggin.
A curious, old fashioned watch it was,
which would have gladdened the heart
Of watch collector-all jeweled and
enameed, adorned with crest and in
heirloom, which had
probably been in the Mallaby family
for years. Jack looked it over curiously,
then, suddenly raising his
eyes, he stared intently into SIR Lewis
Slallaby's face and almost as quickly
dropped them again.
''rhis is far too valuable,u he said
- st--ssi fzsAly as,,Ee. u.
t--fleotlsiy, So. -
-srisked in any conju,.:s trick. An
ordinary modern watch might replace,
tut not work of art like this"
And he handed it back to Sir Lewis,
Who received it with i'll concealed salts
action. He was as much pleased, prob
.bly. at Jacks expression Of possible
allure in the proposed trick as at the
Of his property.
Another watch, however, was pounded
INTO jelly and brought out whole from
cabinet 10 an adjoining room.
'Oh, but it is too preposterous, Sir j
lewis Mallaby was heard to say, quite .
ingrily. The continued applause pro-
oundly disguised him. .s'1his is the {
nerest charlatanism. It must be put an
nd TO. 1t is the commonest imposture.
These are things which he has coached |
Up in advance. Let him be trieo with
which upon the face of it he
aunot have learned beforehand by
rtificial means"
'sTry him, Sir Lewis, try him your
ELF, y cried several voices.
al scarcely like to lend myself TO such
oily or encourage so pitiable an ex-
libition.
But he seemed to be conscious that
urther protest would be in Jacks favor;
0 he said: "Can you tell what I have
n this pocketf' He touched the left
,reast of his coat.
"A pocketbook."
"'Bahp Every one carries pocket ;
iook in his pocket"
''But do you7" asked several of the {
,ystandors, all Of whom were growing
ieeply interested in this strange duel
Sir Lewis Mallaby confessed that he
i'd, and produced tan ordinary
morocco leather purse and pocketbook,
Ii in one.
care you prepared to go onl" said the /,
'aronet, haughtiiy, to Jack.
Certainly"
"What does this pocketbook contain3"
evidence.
evidence OF BhatG" {
''Of facts that must, sooner or later,
ONE to lightn
''What ridiculous NONSENSE give +
on my word this poeketbook contains
othing absolutely nothing-bsfra
tank OF England note to- .oo--.,..,,,Sn
- rswbiggip, facing 7
i'm abruptly, and speaking in ayolce OF !
hunder. 1T is not so-you know it I
is only the half"
And as he spoke he took the pocket
ook from the hands of the really stupe- ]
ed Baronet and exhibited for inspec- ,,
half of a Bank of England note .
or 600.
There was much applause at this harm