The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-21
ALEXANDER HERMANN,
The King Of rlagicians Who Died Zee. II,

acting some business with the interior de-
partment. He took his dusky wards, half
a dozen of them all told, to see the per-
formance at the opera-house. The In
row, and Hermann saw his chance as
soon as the curtain went up. He didn't
do thing but have fun with those inno-
cent Indians all the evening. He found
of them and pulled a live rabbit out from
under another's blanket. He gave one
of them a lady's handkerchief to hold
and and when he took it back pulled it out
INTO cotton bandage about eight feet
long. He let them pick cards out of a
pack, and then had his spirit hand on
the stage tell them what cards they
were holding. and altogether convinced
them before the evening was over that If
they were not actually holding converse
with the devil himself that the small man
medicine"
But the climax came when Nine. Her.
mann appeared to do her vanishing lady
trick. which was that year arranged in
a chair with drop canopy over it. un-
der the prOgramme-title of 1.-THE Calioh
of Bagdad." Nine Hermann was seated
In the chair. and two of the audience
hands after the canopy was dropped over
her. TO make sure that she did not get
away. One of these safeguards was a
young fellow in evening dress, but Pro-
for the other. Nine. Hermann smiled
sweety on them as she extended them two
delicate little hands through the slits in
the canopy. The cover was then dropped
over her completely, and Hermann, step
ping back, fired point blank at the chair
with a six-shooter At the report of the
pistol the cover of the chair was whisked
away and the chair was empty. Madame
Hermann's fingers had slipped from the
hands that held her, and she was gone.
The house broke out into roar Of
course. and the young man in evening
dress arose, smiling somewhat sheepishly
bling Bear was petrlfed. In spite Of the
applause in the house behind him. he re-
mained fixed as a statue. his hand en-
tended Just where he had held Nine.
Hermann's fingers and stared at the
chair as though he was not sure whether
he was crazy or whether everybody else
was. He would probably have been
standing there yet. but Nine. Herman
him lightly on the shoulder, laughinrly
shook hands with him. That broke the
spell and the Indian walked slowly back
to his seat. shaking his head. probably
thinking to himself just about what Ham
let said to HOratio.
Another stock that Hermann was fond
of telling was where he had perhaps as
credulOus. If somewhat more distin-
guished subject. He was in CONSTANT
with the Sultan. The next day was set
for private display Of the wizards
powers at the palace, so he was on the
alert for something startling. The sultan
had very handsome watch which Her.
nan got good look at In the course. or
the interview. He took stock of that
watch. and going out Immediately secured
the bazaars I'll he had gotten one that
was ringer for it. The next day at the
palace after two or three minor tricks: he
asked the loan Of the Sultan's timepiece
and quietly substituting tre bazaar watch
for it banded that back and requested his
exalted hiphness to drop " into an iron
mortar which was one of the stare prop
parties Then Hermann took a pestle and
coolly g~ound the watch no into small
pieces. The sultan looked on. rather dis
pleased r,t the liberty and didn't see much
fun in it when the wizard scooped up a
handful Of snrinos and wheels and bits OF
case md asked his highness If he had a
peweler who could nut them together.
As no one would undertake the lob. tho
professor loaded the fragments into an
old blurderbuss. took not shot at one
of the Su,tan's bodyguard. and then ex-
tracted the original watch unharr1ed
from the Nuhiar's mouth. II was pref
tv expensive trick and one that 1t would
not DO to reneat very often. Rnt the pro-
fessor was nlaying that trip for renu-
tation. and in faw davs he got back his
Investment with i,'erost in the shape of
gold medal set with diamonds.