Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-06-22

stood there, surprised at being kept
waiting SO long and wondering how
much longer her escort would keep her
in that attitude. Impatient ladies came
in shoals to add their solicitations to
those of their hostess
Our young man positively had to get
out of the predicament some how. He
did get out Of it, but with only one shoe.
for he also had stopped down and dis
covered the disappearance Of the mis-
guided slipper, and he marveled in deep
anxiety how he was going to explain such
state of affairs.
His one shod foot provoked general
hilarity, then delighted applause and
cries of "It's trick! It's some trick!"
The petted darling of the ladies smiled
a weak smile and stammered:
eyes, ladies, it is a trick"
Applause, accompanied by general
clapping of hands, greeted this an
nouncement, while Latournelle kept say
ing to himself:
''Oh, yes, it's q great trick, but some
one has played it on me, and don't find
it SO very funny. If only knew who it
was"-then, struck with an idea: "Heav-
ems! If it could be the general sin
gular performance just now-and / saw
him stoop down-if it was really he, it
would be a pretty uncomfortable joke on
me. How can make sure?"
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 therel He tried
to sound the other pocket, but slight
move on the generals part carried him
out of reach. To touch it, it was neces-
sary to pass around on the side where it
was.
''Where in the world are you taking
mef' 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 new obstacle that
he had not foreseen. The fact that the
lady had the arm nearest the general
made any attempt at exploration impos-
sible. He offered the other on the pre-
text of an old wound which was paining
him and was able at last to repeat his
former tactics. This time he was salts
fed. "It's therep he murmured, and he
did not enjoy the reflection that the hus-
band of his adored one had discovered
his maneuvers under the table.
To11 - L.
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.
Il must take the plunge, come what
may And he plunged.
Ladies'" he said, 81 have lost my Slip
per. I have not got it concealed about
my person; my pockets are empty"-he
turned them inside out-''nor is it in my
coat"-he heldit open-''n In my waist
coat"-he unbuttoned it-''nor in my
sleeves" and he turned them up to his
elbows "You see, ladies, have moth
ing in my hands or my pockets. | must
find out, then, where the lost article is.
Nothing is more simple. have only to
make slight cabalistic calculation
With this he covered his face with his
hands and assumed an attitude of pro-
found cogitation. Then, without re-
moving his hands, he counted: lone.
two, three, four, five. My slipper" he
cried, sis in the left pocket of the sixth
person to my right"
This person was the general.
s'Not badr' the latter exclaimed un-
der 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, aft
er much whispering, several voices
cried, "Oh, the general is his confeder-
ate.n
eyes, yes," came a chorus of voices:
"he's confederate"
The conjurer protested.
''Do it again, thenl" some one demand
ed, and everybody took up the cry: .'Yes.
yes! Do it again!"
"Oh," said lady, ''the general has
just been whispering to M. Latournelle'
And the cry went up again that he was
confederate.
The general affirmed that he was in no
sense furthering the conjurers devices.
"But you were just now whispering
with him" insisted the witnesses of the
conference.
"The exact truth is this, ladies: You
asked the conjurer to repeat his per-
fornance. just this moment told him
that it was one Of those tricks that should
not be tried a second time. Did not
-" said the general significantly.
Precisely, general, and shall fol
low your advice" replied Latournelle
1T shall not be repeated"
And it never was. Translated For Ar
gonaut From the French of Jules Moi
naux by L. S. Vassault.