Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-22

child. He will kill me, as he killed nv
mother and sister,
II thrust my hand threateningly into
my pocket.
Take carep screamed the child. He
has knife and he will stab youp
That l WILL said l, drawing a poig-
nard.
Everybody fled, except two courageous
men, one of whom seized me by the wrist,
but not quickly enough to prevent me
from plunging the knife to the hilt in the
side of the child.
Murder! Arrest the assassin shrieked
the Mortified man in inexpressible an
guish.
sat this moment the stairway was in
vaded by furious crowd, which was about
to lynch me. when coolly lifted my vic
tim with one hand, while with the other l
held out my hat to the spectators.
"'The child is Of wood said /, this is
my first appearance in London The
crowd began to laugh, and ] reaped an
abundant harvest. Ny reputation was es-
tablished. l still keep my doll; perhaps
you will see me with it again some day."
said he gloomily.
Il would not wish it, for your sake" l
answered
He did not profit by the lesson of the
past, for in a short time he had exhausted
his second inheritance. He then left Paris
and went to the Indies, where he married
little Partisan actress. One evening, at
the close of the play, his wife suddenly
died, leaving him one child, little daugh-
ter, upon whom he lavished untold affec-
ton. But the fever of the boulevard COM
ing once more upon him, he sold his few
effects and returned to Paris.
Upon the way he reflected that his
purse was exceedingly light, and that as
| there were now two to feed, he must seek
some new method of diverting the Paris
ians.
In his peregrinations he had often been
enabled to observe closely the tricks of
the Indian jugglers, and having discov-
cred the key of the pretended mysteries of
the fakirs, he resolved to make use of this
knowledge by giving exhibitions of his
skill in Europe. He initiated his little
daughter into his plans, intending to make
her valuable assistant.
They landed at Marseilles, where he de-
termined to give performance. In order
to test his power he gave a private exhibit
ton to the members Of the press and few
favored ones, and was gratifed beyond
measure by the immense success that he
| achieved.
Among his tricks was the "Indian bas-
| ket," and after the rehearsal he gave his
daughter a few final instructions, saying
above all, my little darling, do not
forget that | am supposed to kill you
while you are in the basket, so, before you
pull the trap, cry at the top OF your voice,
so as to increase the illusion. Cry, shrek
and call"
The next day the public exhibition
took place. The hall was crowded, and
all the tricks of 1.-THE Man with the
Speaking Doll'' were applauded to the
| echo. At length came the moment for
that of the Indian basket. The young
girl came forward, and after mimic
scene, which produced an immense effect,
entered the hamper. The juggler imme-
dlately ran his long sword through the
basket, then, hearing a piercing shrek,
drew forth the blade, dripping with blood,
and held it up to the view of the enthusi-
astic audience.
The orchestra executed thrilling ire
molo, and the attention of all was riveted
on the basket. When he was sure of hay-
ing sufficiently excited the imagination of
his audience, the father smilingly raised
the lid to allow his daughter to spring
from her narrow prison-house.
But all of sudden he staggered and
Tell upon the stage, crying in heart-rend-
| ing tones:
"My child! My childr'
In the bottom of the basket lay the
young girl, bleeding and motionless, her
heart pierced by the stroke of her fathers
sword !! The trap, improperly adjusted,
had not worked, and the poor child was
dead.
The crowd rushed forward, and sympa-
thizing hands gently lifted the unfortu-
nate man. He opened his eyes slowly
and began humming the refrain from Pa
pillon: 'If l die, let me be buried" in
way that went to the hearts of all who
heard it. The iuggler had gone mad.