Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-01-03

with an ostentation that savored Of
rudeness, he took out his watch. q
great gold repeater, looked at 1t and
Enthusiastically yawned.
Jack hungered for that watch direct
ly he saw it. Perhaps through it he
might make its owner uncomfortable.
If only for moment. But how to get
it into his hands? He asked for a
watch-a dozen were offered. No one
of these would do. It must be good
watch-a repeater.
Sir Lewis Mallaby's was the only
one in the room, and he at first dis
tinctly refused to lend it But SO many
earnes. entreaties were addressed to
him, the hostess leading the attack,
that he could not in common courtesy
continue to refuse.
With something like growl he took
his watch off the chain and handed it
to Jack Newbiggin.
A curious, Old-fashioned watch it
was, which would have gladdened the
heart of watch collector-all jeweled
and enameled, adorned with crest and
inscrlption-an heirloom. which had
probably been in the Mallaby family
for years. Jack looked it over curious
~, meditatively; then, suddenly rails
ing his eyes, he stared intently into
Sir Lewis Mallaby's face and almost as
quickly dropped them again.
''Ihis is far too valuable" he said,
courteously, ''too much of a treasure,
to be risked in any conjuring trick.
An ordinary modern watch might re-
place, but not a work of art like this. "
And he handed it back to Sir Lewis,
who received it with ill-concealed sat-
isfaction. He was as much pleased,
probably. at Jacks expression of pos
sible failure in the proposed trick as
at the recovery of his property.
Another watch, however, was pound
ed into jelly and brought out whole
from cabinet in an adjoining room.
''Oh, but it is too preposterous." Sir
Lewis Mallaby was heard to say, quite
angrily. The continued applause pro-
foundly disguised him. This is the
merest charlatanism. 1t must be put
an end to. 1t is the commonest i'm
posture. These are things which he
has coached up in advance. Let him
be tried with something which upon
the face of it he can not have learned
beforehand by artificial means"
TRY him. Sir Lewis, try him your
SELF" cried several voices.
II scarcely like to lend myself to
such folly or encourage SO pitiable an
exhibition"
But he seemed to be conscious that
further protest would be in Jacks ia
vor; SO he said: ''Can you tell what !
have in this pocket?" He touched the
left breast of his coat.
"A pOcket-book.
"Bah! Every one carries pocket
book in his pocket"
But do you?" asked several of the
bystanders. all of whom were grow
ing deeply interested in this strange
duel.
Sir Lewis Mallaby confessed that he
did, and produced tan ordinary mo-
rocco leather purse and p0cket-book, all
in one.
"Are you prepared to 60 on?" said
the Baronet, haughtily, to Jack.
Certainly"
"What does this pocket-book con-
tain?'
Evidence"
Evidence of WHAT"
"Of facts that must, sooner or later,
come to light"
What ridiculous nonsense! / give
you my word this pocket-book contains
nothing-absolutely nothing-but a
Bank of England note for one hundred
pounds"
"Stay!" said Jack Newbiggin, facing
him abruptly and speaking in a voice
of thunder. 1T is not so-you know
tit is only the half!''
And as he spoke he took the pocket
book from the hands of the really stu
pefied BarOnet and exhibited for in
spectiOn-the half of Bank of En-
gland note for one hundred pounds.
There was much applause at this
harmless and successful denouement of
what threatened at one stage to lead
to alteration. perhaps to a quarrel.
But Jack Newbiggin was not satisfied.
"As you have dared me to do my
worst" said he. ''listen now to what I
have to say. Not only did l know
that was only the half of a note, but l
know where the other half is to be
found"
$50 much the better for me-" said
the Baronet, with an effort to appear
humorous.
THAT other half was given to-
shall say. Sir Lewis?''
Sir Lewis nodded indifferently.
1T was given to one Hester Corri-
gan, an old nurse, six years ago"
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