The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-05-03
EBENSBURG, PA. FRIDAY. MAY 3. 1889


he looked over his shoulder and said,
but without animation:
1T is very goode<SS you, sir, surely;
very good for you tet-ile so kindly to
the little chicks. 1t does them good
to laugh a bit, but 1t amt much rs
they've had 10 make 'em lately
1T Is good for all of Us now and
again. / take it, " said Jack, desistinC
ana going towards him, the children
gradually collecting il = far OF corner
and comparing notes.
You cant laugh. sir, IL your hearts
heavy; If you do it can be only a
sham
While he was speaking he had taken
ing his seat began TO turn the leaves
over.
I'm an untaught, rough country
man, sir, but have heard tell that
these strange things you do are only
tricks; amt it so?''
Here was indeed 4 hopeful symptom.
lie was reused then TO take some in
terest in what had occurred
..AIl tricks, of course; it all comes
OF practice" said Jack, as he proceed
cd TO explain some of the simple proc
esscs, hoping TO cnchain the mans at
tcntion.
That's what thought, sir. or I'd
have given you job to do. I've been
in want of a real coniuror many a long
day. and nothing lcss'll do. See here,
sir" he said, as he took u small, care
fully-folded paper from between the
leaves OF the Bible, ''do you see this?"
1t was half Bank OF England note
for elOO.
''How. sir. could any coniuror help
me to the other half?'
''How did you come by it?" asked
Jack at once.
I'm tell you, sir, short as can
make it. Coniuror or no coniuror,
you've got a kindly heart, and I'm
main sure that you'll help if 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 it
See here; all marked quite pretty and
proper, with lace round the edges, as
though its mother loved 10 make the
little one smart"
Jack examined the linen; 1t bore a
monogram and crest The first he
made out to mean II. l. NJ, and the
crest was plainly two hammers crossed,
and the motto: Z" | strike not COM
mon crest-and he never remembered
TO have seen it before
And was that all?
a. 'Cept the bank note. That was In
q poor old purse with a pawn-ticket
and thimble. kept them ali"
Like a true detective Jack examined
every article minutely. The purse
bore the name Hester Gorrigan, in rude
letters inside. and the pawn-ticket was
made out in the same name.
THE SECOND HALF.
When Jack Newbiggin got back to
the parsonage he found that his host
had accepted an invitation for them
both to dine at the big House" as
1t was called, the country seat OF the
squire Of the parish
81 have been fighting your battles
all day." began Mrs. Sitwen, the host
css, when seated at dinner next to
Jack
WAS It necessary? I should have
thought myself too insignificant"
They were talking at lunch OF your
wonderful tricks in conjuring. and
some one said that the skill might
prove Observation-Disclosures YOU PLAYED
cards, for Instance"
"A charitable imputatIon; with
whom did it originator"
=. Sir Lewis Mallabvu
please point him out to me"
He was shown a grave, scowling
face upon the right of the hostess-a
ace like a mask, the surface rough
and wrinllled, through which the eyes
shone with baleful light, like corpse
candles in a sepulcher. 2.
Jack let his companion chatter on.
II was his habit TO get all the infor-
nation possible about any company in
which he found himself, for his own
purpose as 4 clairvoyant, and when
Mrs Sitwell Jagged he piled her with
artless questions, and led her on from
one person TO another, making mental
notes TO serve him hereafter. 1t is
thus by careful and laborious prepara-
tions that many Of the strange and
seemingly mysterious feats OF the clair
voyant conjuror are performed.
When the whole party were assem-
.bled in the drawing-room after dinner
chorus of voices, headed by that of
the hostess, summoned Jack to his
work There appeared TO be only one
dlssentient Sir Lewis Mallaby, who
not only did not trouble himself TO
back up the invita- ton, but when the
performance was actually begun was
at no pains to conceal his contempt
and disgust
The conjuror made the conventional
plum pudding in a hat fred wedding
rings into quartern loaves, did all man
ner OF card tricks, knife tricks. pistol
tricks and iuggled on conscientiOusly
right through his repertory There
was never smile on Sir Lewis face;
he sneered Enthusiastically Finally.
with an ostentation that savored of
rudeness, he took out his watch, a
great gold repeater, looked at it and
yawned
Jack hungered for that watch direct-
ly he saw it.sPerhaps through IL he
night make Its owner uncomfortable,
( only for moment. But how to get
I into his hands? He asked for
dozen were offered. No one
If these would do 1t must be "a good
yatch-a repeater. .--.-~ -.
Sir Lewis Mallaby's was the only
me in the room, and he at first dis
inctly refused to lend it But so many
,arnest entreaties were addressed to
him, the hostess leading the attack,
hat he could not in common courtesy
continue to refuse
With something like a growl he took
lis watch of the chain and handed it