San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-17

course she dld-=haveh't 1 been saying
so? Why not?"
"Well, observed Leander, $50 that's
how he got out of it, was it? Hah! he
was a lucky chap. Those were the days
when magicians did a good trade,I sup
pose? Should you say there were any
such parties now, on the quiet like, Ell,
sir?"
"Bah! Magic is lost art, degraded
to dark seances and juvenile parties
the last magicians dead for more than
two hundred years. Don't expose your
ignorance, sir, by any more such ques-
tons"
NO." said Leander; al thought as
much. And so, if any one was to get
into such a fix nowadays-of course
that's my talk, but if they did-there
amt practising magician anywhere to
help him out of it. That's your opinion,
amt it, sir?"
"As the danger of such contingency
is not immediate" was the reply, "the
want of remedy need not, in my hum
BILE opinion, cause you any grave I'M
easiness."
no." agreed Leander, dejectedly:
al don't care, of course. l was only
thinking that, in case-but there, it's
no odds! Well, Mr.. Freemoult, you've
told me what was curious to know,
and here's your little honnyrarium, sir
two shillings and two sixpences, MAX
ing three shillings in all, precisely
"Keep your money, sir, said the old
man, with contemptuous good humor,
"my working hours are done for the
day, and you're welcome enough to any
inc ,nfinn 'ra h1a of iri,,
from my remarks: It's not saying
much, dare say"
"Oh, you told it very clear, consider
keep it, tell you, and say no more
about it,"
So, expressing his thanks, Leander
left the place and when he was outside
felt more keenly than ever the blow his
hopes had sustained.
He knew the whole story of his pre-
decessor in misfortune now, and as
precedent it was worse than useless.
True, for an instant a wild idea
crossed his mind of seeking some lonely
suburban crossroad at dead of night,
just TO see if anything came of it. "The
last time was several hundred years
ago, it seems" he told himself, but
there's no saying that Satan mightn't
como by for all that. Here's Venus
prosecuting as lively as ever and never
heard the devil was dead. I've good
mind to take the tram to the Archway
and walk out till find likely-looking
place"
But on reflection he gave this up. aft
he did come by couldn't bring him
lilC-aot e:Gn from The conjurOr in
High 'ObO.n-&ad ~ tan might make me
put EIy hand to something binding and
[ ShoulN2't b. 10 ."Tt"ro T. NO.i don't
see no way of getting back my ring and
poor Titles cloak, nor yet getting rid
of that goddess any more than before.
There's one comfort, l can't be any
worse off than / am"
Oppressed by these gloomy reflections
he returned to his home, expecting a
renewal of his nightly persecution from
the goddess, but from some cause, into
which he was too grateful to care to in
quire, the statue that evening showed
no sign of life in his presence, and after
waiting with the cupboard open for
some time in suspense he ventured to
make himself some coffee.
He had scarcely tasted it, however,
before he heard from the passage below
a low whistle, followed by the peculiar
stave by which a modern low life
Blondel endeavors to attract notice.
The hairdresser paid no attention, being
used, as a Londoner, to hearing such
signals ana not imagining they could
be intended for his ear.
But presently a handful of gravel
ratified against his window, and the
whistle was repeated. He went to the
window cautiously and looked out. Be
low were two individuals, rather care
fully muffied; their faces, which were
only indistinctly seen, were upturned to
him.
He retreated, trembling. He had so
much to think of lately that the legal
danger he was running by harboring
the deteSted statue was almost forgot
ten, but now he remembered the in
spector's words and his legs bent be-
meath him. Could these people be de-
tectiveS?
as that Mr.. Tweddle up there?" said
a voice below, because if it is he'd bet
ter come down, double quick, and let us
in, that's ALI"
ERE, don't you skulk up there"
added a coarser voice; 1--WE know yer
there; and if yer don't come down to
us, why, we'll come up to you"
This brought Leander forward again.
Gentlemen" he said, leaning out and
speaking in an agitated whisper, for
goodness sake, what do you want with
me?"
"You let us in, and we'll tell you"
"Will it do if come down and speak to
you outsider" said Leander.
There was consultation between the,
two at this, and at the end of it the
first man said: "It's all the same to
us where we have our little confabula-
ton. Come down, and look sharp about
it!".
Leander came down, taking care to
shut the street door behind him. "You
amt the nOlicepn he said apnrehenSive-