The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-13
SOMETHING UP HIS SLEEVE
But 1t Was Hardly What the Quick Han
In tho Audience E1pected.

But 1t was Hardly w nat Gne 2u1ck 0A%sA
In the Audience Expected.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, " said the
corjurer, ''havIng shown you that the
cloth is absolutely empty, L will proceed
to take from IL a bowl of goldfish. Pres
top
All round the hall people were saying:
"Oh, how wonderful How does he do it?''
But the quick man on the front seat
said in big whisper to the people near
him, -up-his-sleeveF'
Then the people nodded brightly at the
quick man and said, ''Oh, of coursei'' and
every body whispered round the hall, He
-had-it-up-his- -sleeyeP'
my next trick, F." said the conjurer, ''is
the famous Hindoostanee rings. You will
notice that the rings are apparently sepa-
rate. At blow they all join (clang, clang,
olang) PrBsto''
There was a general buzz of stupefac-
tion till the quick man was heard to whis-
per- 'sHe = mnst-ha haye-had-an mother
p-his-sleeyei" >.
Again everybody nodded and whispered,
1.-The rings-were-up-
The brow of the conjurer was clouded
with gathering frown.
''I will now >" he continued, f'show you
a most amusing trick, by which L am On
abled to take any number of eggs from q
hat. Will some gentleman kindly loLa
He extracted II eggs, and for So seconds
the audience began to think that he was
wonderful Then the quick man whis-
pered along the front bench, ''He-has-a
up-his-sleeve!" and all the peo-
pie whispered it on He-has-a-lot-of
-Eans-up-his-sle
The egg trick WAS ruined.
1t went on like that all through. 1t
transpired from the whispers of the quick
man that the conjurer must have concealed
up his sleeve, in addition to tho rings.
hens and fish, several packs OF cards,
loaf of bread, dolls CRADLE live guinea
pig, a so cent piece and rocking chair.
The reputation of tho conjurer was rap
idly sinking below zero. At the close of
the evening he rallied for 4 final effort.
Ladies and gentlemen" he said, "I
will present to you, in conclusion, the ia
nous japanese trick recently invented by
the natives of Tipperary. Will you, sir, -
he continued, turning toward the quick
man, will you kindly hand me your gold
watch?'
1t was passed to him.
Have your permission to put it into
this mortar and pound it to pieces?" he
asked savagely.
The quick man nodded and smiled.
The conjurer throw the watch into the
mortar and graspad q sledge hammer from
the table. There was a sound of violent
smashing. He's-slipped-it his
sleevei'' whispered the quick man.
''Now, SIR" continued the conjurer,
"will you allow me to take your handker-
chief and punch holes in it? Thank you'll
You see, ladies and gentlemen, there is 10
deception. The holes are visible to the
eye''
The face of the quick man beamed.
This time the real mystery of the thing
fascinated him.
"And now, sir, will you kindly pass
ma xyOI1r ST TX bat and allow mo To fano,s
on it? Thank you!''
The conjurar made q few rapid passes
with his feet and exhibited the hat, crush
ed beyond recognition.
'And will you now, sir, take off your
celluloid collar and permit me to burn it
in the candle? Thank you, sirl And
will you allow me to smash your spect acleS
for you with my hammer? Thank youl"
By this time the features of the quick
man were assuming puzzled expression.
''This thing beats me- he whispered
81 don't see through it Bit
There was great hush upon the audi
ence. Then the conjurer drew himself up
to his full height, and, with a withering
look at the quick man, he concluded:
Ladies and gentlemen, you will OBJ
serve that l have, with this gentleman s
permission, broken his watch, burned his
collar, smashed his spectacles and danced
on his hat. If he will give me the further
permission to paint green stripes on his
overcoat, or to tie his suspenders in a
knot, shall be delighted to entertain you.
If not, the performance is at an end. -
And amid a glorious burst of music
from the orchestra the curtain fell, and
the audience dispersed, convinced that
there are some tricks, at any rate, that are
not done up the conjurer's sleeve.-Truth.
Don't fail to see the German play at
~ y