The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-07-22

ny poy; be cure of 'ttGt. IT shall come
back to Noel, and from him: In, some way
to YOU, this very night; feel confident OF
that. And the pet scheme of Boncourt
md Adele shall at the same time crumble
before their gaze. Her marriage with
Young Marlowe-this is their last. great
stuke. ene they shall lose the game!
Curse them! my revenge Will be none the
less sweet for its long delay"
-Of course. believe that the juggleI
was BoncouEts s instrument, said Jasper.
But there is still something mysterious
If there has been connection ull along
between Boncourt and All Ben -Meddn,
as be calls himself, why should not Adele
have mentioned the fellow in the course
Of her lover chat with Noel at some time
or another2"
-She is entirely too deep, man. to have
let such secret escape. Moreover, there
has been no regular connection of the
solt-not necessarily. + have only. once
seen the juggler nt the De Mauleon
rooms. The latter's preliminary sugges-
tion to Poins goes to show that he had
only resolved to hins Ah-Ben's services
for o-days occasion, of which be. has SO
well ayailed himself"
But the juggler hmself-how the
deuce could be perform those marvellous
feats? His skid at slight Of 4hand does
not altogether explain them.
Chiefly, but not altogether; and the
rest is as easily accounted lor. Lam no
two myself in the art of secret .manipu-
lation, and I vas observing the fellows
performances constantly from sort OF
professional standpoint. His successes
wee only apparent, or the result >ot
guess work, until he came to young Mar
lowe, in whose case he was enahled to act
on pretty assured information.
How so?"
by beforehand posting, on tho part OF
Boncoult, who could have received bis
inform ion from Adele. Isn't it plain2
The pair of them are deep, fsr-seelng,
and never let chance slip. Boncourt's
exploration of Noel's pockets-his coat
pockets-day before yesterday produced
nothing. The coveted paper was not
there; ergo it must be in some other
pocket. Adele has since obtained the
necessary knowledge, with q view to
uture opportunity, which to- days chances
have brought about. Thus primed be-
forehand, the jlggIer was enabled to call
off those bills and other papers, first
submitted to him. with accuracy. In
like manner, he knew of the bloodstone
under the cigars. Then didn't you notice
how he sounded Noel himself before he
got the pocketbook into his possession?
The rest was pure legerdema:n. He abb
stracted and examined everything the
pocketbook contained, with lightning
like rapidity, while fumbling it over and
over, and pressing it to his breast and
forehead. The deep, loose sleeves Of
that Oriental robe of his were also vastly
in his favor. 1t is matter of pure prac-
tiee. I, myself, can beat him all TO
pieces with deck of cards, and without
any of that preliminary hocus-rocus; or
at least ! could when my nerves were
steadier.
Rollingstone concluded with sort of
regretful sigh. -
sThey seem to be strong enough now. :"
observed Jasper. Indeed, if you will let
me say so without offense, it is mystery
to me how you can think and act SO stead
ily when you drink so much.
ats the drink itself that enables me
to do 1.-THE drink that is at the same
time slowly killing me, and perhaps not
too slowly, after nll," was the broken
mans muttered reply, as he passed o
hand wearily across his eyes. i care for
it even more than for cards, in these days.
If could only find my sister-my kind
foster-sister, who used 10 befriend me in
tie old times, but who has long since dis
appeared, it might be different now. But
-helloi what am maundering about?
say, Bently, there is one thing about
that missing paper you are 30 anxious
about that even can't understand.
"What is that?"
Young Marlowe's explanation at fnd-
ing it puzzled me. He said both its con-
tents and signature we're in poor imitation
Of some ohe's handwriting. Now, Of
course, to whonsoever it may refer-and
YOU have not taken me wholly into your
confidence on this point-it can have no
real value to you, il not genuine"
1T is genuine" said Jasper, quietly.
None should know better than /, who
received it at first-hand, and for eighteen
yee1s afterward never parted with it..
How then account for what young
Marlowe thought Of it?"
He is doubtless mistaken" was the
thoughtful reply. "Or it may we'll te
that the handwriting of the writer and
signer has gradually undergone some
change in its characteristics. Such is
often the case, you know"
-True. Let us now SO and dine some
where, pending the close Of the opera.
We shall avoid the Surrey Inn, for fear OF
being bored by that chap, Squiggles,
again