Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-02-18
Up His Sleeve.
A CONJURER'S REVENGE.

~ NoNJ y REX ENGE.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, u
said the copjurer, having shown
you that the cloth is absolutely
empty, will proceed to take from
it bowl Of goldfish. Presto!"
All around 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, He-had-it- his
sleeve.n
Then the people nodded brightly
at the Quick Man, and said, "Oh,
OF course" and everybody whis-
pcred round the hall, He-had-it-
up-his-sleeve."
My next trick" said the con-
juror, " is the famous Hindoostanee
rings. You will notice that the
rings are separate; at blow they
Will all join; (clang, clang, clang)-
Presto !"
There was general buzz of stu
pefaction Till the Quick Man was
heard to whisper, He-must-have-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"
Again everybody nodded and
whispered, Tho-rings- we're -up-his-
sleeve"
The brow of the conjuror was
clouded with gathering f'rown.
81 will now, he continued, "show
you most amusing trick, by which
L am enabled to take any number of
eggs from hat. Will some gentle
man kindly lend me his hat? Ah,
thank you-Presto !"
He extracted seventeen eggs, and
for thirty-five seconds the audience
began to think he was wonderful
Then the quick man whispered along
the front bench, He-has-a- hen.up-
his.sleeve," and all the people whis-
pered on, He-has- lot Of hens
his. sleeve"
The egg trick was ruined.
1t went on like that all through.
1t transpired from the whispers of
the! Quick Man that the conjuror
must have concealed up his sleeve,
in addition to the rings, hens and
fish, several packs of cards, a loaf of
bread, doll's cradle, live guinea
pig, flve-shilling piece and a rock
ing-chair.
The reputation Of the conjuror
was rapidly sinking below zero. AT
the close of the evening he rallied
for final effort.
"Ladies and gentlemen" he said,
81 will present to you, in conclusion,
the famous japanese trick recently
invented by the natives of Tippe-
rary. Will you, SIR" he continued,
turning towards the Quick Man,
will you kindly hand me your
gold watch 2"
1t was passed to him.
Have l your permission to put
it into this mortar and pound it to
pieces ?" he asked, savagely.
The Quick Man nodded and smiled.
The conjuror threw the watch into
the mortar and grasped a sledge-
hammer from the table. There was
sound of violent smashing. "He's-
Observation-Disclosures" whispered
the Quick Man.
"Now, sir" continued the con-
juror, l. will you allow me to take
your handkerchief and punch holes
in it? Thank you. You see, ladies
and gentlemen, there is no deception,
the holes are visible to the eve"
The face of the Quick Man beamed.
This time the real mystery of the
thing fascinated him.
And now, sir, will you kindly
pass me your silk hat and allow me
to dance on it? Thank you"
The. conjuror made a few rapid
passes with his feet, and exhibited
the hat crushed beyond recognition.
And will you now, sir, take off
your collar and permit me to burn
it in the candle? Thank you, sir,
And will you allow me to smash
your spectacles for you with my
hammer? Thank you"
BY this time the features of the
Quick Man were assuming a puzzled
expression. "This thing beats me,n
he whispered. - don't see through
it Bit"
There was great hush upon the
audience. Then the conjuror drew
himself up to his full height, and,
with whitening look at the Quick
Man, he concluded:
"Ladies and gentlemen, you will
observe that have, with this gentle
mans permission, broken his watch,
burned his collar, smashed his spec.
tacles and danced on his hat. If
he will give me further permission
to paint green stripes on his over
coat, or to tie his braces in a knot, l
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, con-
vinced that there are some tricks, at
any rate, that are not done up the
conjuror's sleeve.