The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-28
Modern Magic


That" said the father pointing, to
the portrait in an Illustrated paper,
lis DR.. Holbank, who wrote 50 many
schoolbooks. 1t should he of interest
to you"
Did he write 'Holbank's Arithme-
t!c'?" asked the boy.
Yes"
May I rave the ~picture?"
"Certainly-glad to see you taking an
intelligent interest in your work. You
can cut it out" The boy was of I'M
tidy appearance and sallow complex
ion. He possessed at school among
his fellows a reputation for mystery
which he thoroughly injoyed. He did
not attempt to it in the more
critical and sceptical atmosphere of
his home. His name was Williams
Charles Williams: Smith, aged II, fully
believed in him; Thompson, aged 13,
had admitted there might be some
thing in it.
AS they entered school Charles Will
7iams carefully abstained from speak
ing to Smith, but pressed a note into
his hand.
~ w. Sdiu Eoliillll IIol DtIlS
entirely ready for the mystery at the
moment.
Williams put one finger w~arningly
to his lips and passed on. Smith open
ed the note. 1t was incribed outside:
H. Smith, esq. Secrit and Private"
Inside II IAN:
See me Immediately after school on
a urgent mater of business. Your
help is headed. (Signed) c.. Williams"
Up the street from the school, down
by the left to the END of the town, went
c. Williams and H. Smith. 1t was a
winter afternoon, and dark. c. Will
liarns paused before q house in pro-
cess Of building, standing alone on the
outskirts. The workmen engaged on
it had gone.
There is the place. said Williams.
Follow me. No; wait until the Ian
tern is ready He produced a small
lantern from his pocket and lit it,.
Now we're ready. Ask no questions"
"Shan't we be copped?" asked Smith.
Who TO cop us?" replied the daunt-
less and mysterious one.
By means of a ladder they made
their way to the first floor, which was
still in the skeleton stage. Smith found
the ladder good.
This is rather SPORT he said.
1T won't be sport for some one else
when I've finished. Be careful-one
false step and you're dashed to atoms"
They seated themselves side by side
on a rafter. and Smith produced his
portrait OF DR.. Horbank.
DO you know who that is?"
NO"
It's the man who wrote the arith-
metic. I've been on his track for years
and now I've got him"
What are you going to do?"
xiii him: you're to help me. No
n VIII ever know. It's going to be
done by magic-the way they used to
do in the old days"
Il don't see what you mean"
See these pins?"
"Well?"
Have % got anything against the
man? Have you ever been kept in
for ~arithmetic?"
Twice last week. And my answer
were right and the answers in the book
were wrong"
Take these pins and dig them into
the two eyes OF the picture. That's
right: now he's blind"
Whatever we 10 to the picture hap
pens to rhe real man. I'm going to
dig a pin into the forehead myself
That's where the brain is, and It'll
send him mad. ThatT teach him to
lay traps for US: that'll leach him re-
curing decimals."
Il say do you think We ought to do
thfs?"
You don't know any more about
revenge than a child. Isve been on
h mans track for-Said that be-
fore? Oh. yes; 50 I did. How many
horses does It take to plough a field
in ten days II one OF the horses is a
goat? I'll teach him to ask questions
TX that! This one Is in his heart
And another pin perforated the CEN
tire OF the watch chain In the portrait.
Now he's dead"
II say" said Smith, aghast. isn't