The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-05-28

kept Wa1IlnB so long, ana wondering
how much uonger her escort would
keep her in that attitude. Impatient la
dies came in shoals to add their solicit
tations to those of their hostess. Our
young man positively had to get out
Of the predicament somehow. He did
get out of it, but with only one shoe,
for he had also stopped down and dis
covered the disappearance Of his mis-
guided slipper, and he marveled, in
deep anxiety, how he was going to ex-
plain such state of affairs
His one shod foot provoked general
hilarity, then delighted applause and
cries Of "I's a trick it's some trick y
The petted darling Of the ladies
smiled weak smile and stammered:
Eyes, ladles-it is a trick"
Applause, was accompanied by a gen.
eral clapping of hands, greeted this
announcement, while Latournelle kept
saying to himself:
"Oh yes it's a great trick; but some
one has played it on me, and 1 don't
find it so very funny. If 1 only knew
who it was"-then, struck with an
idea-"heavens If it could be the
general--his singular performance just
now-and I saw him stoop down-if 1t
was really he it would be a pretty un-
comfortable joke for me. How can I
make sureT'
AS he escorted the lady through the
room, he tried to get near the general.
He managed to do so, and with the
back Of his hand he cautiously knocked
against the pocket of the generals coat
which he suspected contained the Slip
per there was nothing there He
tried to sound the other pocket, but a
slight move on the generals part car
ried him out of reach; to touch it, 1t
was necessary to pass around on the
side where it was.
where in the world are you taking
me?" demanded the lady on his arm.
"Why-er-to the head Of the room,"
and as he was now on the right side Of
the general, he wanted to try the other
pocket. Here was a new obstacle that
he had not foreseen: the fact that the
lady had the arm nearest the general
made any attempt at exploration i'm
possible. He offered the other on the
preteXt Of an old wound which was
paining him, and was able at last to
repeat his former tactics. This time he
was satisfied. TITS there p he muir
INJURED, and he did not enjoy the re-
Election that the husband of his adored
one had discovered his manoeuvres un-
der the table.
"Well, I'm in pretty mess" he con-
cluded.
Everybody had crowded into the
room, there was an eXpectant hush,
and all were on tiptoe for the promised
trick. There was no way to retreat.
"Here goes" said the imprudent
lover; 'I must take the plunge, come
what may" And he plunged.
Ladies'" he said 81 have lost my
slipper. 1 have not got it concealed
about my person; my pockets are
empty"-he turned them inside out
NOR is it in my coat'-he held it
open-"nor in my waistcoat'-he un-
buttoned it-"nor in my sleeves"-and
he turned them up to his elbows. "You
see, ladies, have nothing in my hands
or my pockets. I must find out, then,
where the lost article is. Nothing is
more simple; have only to make
slight caballstic calculation" With
this, he covered his face with his hands,
and assumed an attitude of profound
cogitation. Then, without removing
his hands, he counted: zone, two, three,
fou, five. My slipper" he cried, " is
in the left pocket Of the sixth person
to my right"
This was the general.
mot bad y the latter exclaimed,
under his breath; and in obedience to
the universal cries of Search yourself,
search yourself, general" he drew the
slipper from the pocket indicated.
A storm of applause was evoked by
the brilliant success of the trick. Then,
after much whispering, several voices
cried: "Oh, the general is his confed-
crate"
Eyes, yes" came a chorus of voices
"hes q confederate"
The conjurer protested.
"Do 1t again, then - some one de-
manded; and every body took up the
cry; Yes, yes Do it again y
oh" said lady, 1.-The general has
just been whispering to NJ. Latuor-
nellie" And the cry went up again
that he was q confederate.
The general affirmed that he was in
no sense furthering the conjurer's
devices.
But you were just now whispering
with him." insisted the witnesses of
the conference.
1.-THE exact truth is this ladies: You
asked the conjurer to repeat his per-
formance. 1 just this moment told
him that it was one of those tricks that
should not be tried a second time-did
not, sir?" said the general, signifi-
cantly.
Precisely, general; and shall fol-
low your advice" replied Latournelle.
ut shall not be repeated"
Ana n naN,ar x,,oc Tro n cla tod for the