The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-05-22
IN AN INCH OF HIS LIFE.
A Case of Circumstantial Evidence--An
Original Story Written for
the Journal.
BY ARACHEL.
(New Berne Journal.)

d. AhAO1hLS
New Berne JournalO
l am a commercial traveller, com
monty known as Drummer" 1 travel
In the interests of Flotsam and Jetsam.
hardware merchants of Baltimore.
In the year 1856 I was ION the road"
in the eastern section Of North Caro-
lima. I had finished up my business in
the beautiful little town of Tarboro,
and was ready to leave next morning
on the stage for Rocky Mount, the
nearest railway station. I had taken
several good orders and had a satisfied
feeling.
After supper I asked the landlord of
the hotel if there was any place of
amusement open in town that night.
He replied that there would be a slight
of-hand performance in a tent one
square from the hotel, at s o'clock.
I was always fond of these things,
and went around at the appointed
hour. At the entrance, in a trans
parency burned a lamp which brought
out in brilliant relief the words painted
on the cloth: ga Stounder, Magician"
1 paid my quarter. and went in. 1
found a large crowd Of spectators and
was forced to take an elevated back
seat. It proved, as 1 soon discovered,
to be one of the best in the house for
observing the performance.
Mr.. Stounder showed himself to be
proficient in his work and gave us an
exceedingly pleasant entertainment
for more than an hour. But when he
came to perform the trick of catching
bullets in his teeth that were fred at
him from a pistol, an unlocked for in
cident occurred. Every one in the tent
had given their undivided attention to
the tricks shown on the stage, except
one man. He had evidently been
drinking too much. His applause was
always more vociferous than anyone
else's. He began to talk out loud and
was disturbing those near him when
the bullet trick came on. The report
of the pistol and the display of the bull
let in MI. Stounder's mouth excited
him. Quick as thought he drew a
pistol from his pocket and, aiming at
the performer, shouted:
Catch this, mister" and fired. The
spectators arose as one man and cried
out: ARREST himT'
But 1 was looking to see if the show
.. -o1 IyJpE Hn moo still
on the stage, with a face white with
rage, gazing eagerly into the crowd to
find the man who had fired the last
shot. I saw his eye fash as he caught
sight of the drunken man. With one
leap he cleared the space between them
and, as his feet struck the ground, he
threw out his right fist and struck the
rufian full in the forehead and felled
him to the earth. For a moment
Stounder stood over the PROSTATE man
ard ~perceiving that he was more
stunned than hurt, he worked his way
through the crowd and mounted his
platform.
Ladies' and gentlemen" said he,
s'there is no damage done. This man
frightened me and I have shocked hin
we are even. If some of you will be
kind enough to call a policeman and
have the man removed to the guard
house, we will go on with the perform,
ance. There are seve, al curious n
entertaining tricks which l wish to
show you"
These words were spoken with calm
ness. ease and fuency. There was o
no trace of anger or emotion IN his
quiet countenance. >,
Go on-go ont" resounded from all
parts of the house. The drunken man.
now in a stupor, was carried out oy a
policeman and quiet reigned again
Then came a most wonderful display
of ventriloquism. He assumed tne
garb and appearance of every charac