Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
he rick E hat allied

stage, and rested each end on parallel support The audience are invited to test the somber case by sending few of their number forward as an inspec- tion committee, and 1t seems truly as tonishing that the method of the illu-- sion has gone on so long undiscovered. After inspection the conjurer's assist ant Is placed in the coffin, in which there would appear little room for turn ing, and the lid tightly closed. Now comes the mystery! The conjurer takes up long sword, as keen of edge and point as a scythe, and, after handing 1t around for inspection, passes It slow ly through a prepared slot in the coffin lid until the blade shows through an aperture ill the cOffin's bottom, direct ly opposite the upper slot. The main portion of the audience are puzzled, the weaker minded horror stricken. Then the sword is withdrawn, the coffin lid removed and the assistant absolutely unharmed, comes forth amid thunders of applause.
 You who read these lines might laugh at the suggestion of a simple trick in- spring fear in anyone of ordinary per ceptiveness. Yet l, who have per formed in the trick in the capacity of assistant, shudder to-day at even the sight of a coffin of construction genuine or otherwise. I will tell you why, and you will know that my nerves had just cause to be shaken on that, to me, we'll remembered night two years ago.
 I was "on the road" with as clever conjurar as ever handled a property silk hat, a man whose movements were as swift as they were accurate, and my humble position in his employ as assist ant 1 deemed good enough for training until should be competent to open on my own behalf.
 Herr Bruer's wife had died about six months before I joined him, and even at first sight of his face I could judge how great had been his sorrow at her loss. Some of his actions off the stage soon led me to believe that his mind was slowly but, to the most recently formed of his acQuaintances, percept- ibly unhinging.
  mans power? No, for 1 so trusted his ability that at each performance Of his great trick 1 got into the coffin as read fly as if I were going to bed. His stage properties, too, were all so thoroughly made up-as proof against accident and detection as the specialist could make them. How easily that trick" coffin El how readily its side had fallen outward, affording me a shelf of safety from harm by the swords downward pass age.
 Our provincial tour-my first and only one with Bruer-had so far been a great success. At each of our new | openings the hall employed was packed with the thousands who had heard of his skill, and as the nights passed l grew more confident of my own prog ress. From the moment when, in an swer to an advertisement for a lady assistant, there came to us the dearest 1 girl with whom I have yet been asso- ciated a renewed energy came to me, and I seemed to learn fresh departures in the conjuring art with ever-increas- ing ease. You smile! An, yes, loved her-and who could help doing the same? Millie soon came to understand my feeling for her, and the joy that filled my soul when she one night, in answer to my proposal for her hand, gave a sweet affirmative, I cannot ex- press in words. But on my mentioning to her the necessity of announcing our engagement to Bruer noticed a pecu- liar look of fear cross her face.
 "Oh, Harry" she cried, cannot we keep that from him until our wedding day?"
 The question struck me as a strange one. Keep our engagement secret?
 But" I remonstrated, where's the need of holding back from the man what doesn't affect him in the least? Our union need not deprive him of our services, for time, anyhow"
 You do not understand" she said, slowly. Something would happen, I am sure, if he comes to know what there is between us. Listeni" and she lowered her voice to a whisper, al though we were out of eavesdropping reach. Last night he called me to his room, and, to my astonishment, de clared his love for me in mad way. And when I told him that could never allow anything more than business re- lations to exist between him and my self mad gleam came into his eyes, and l hurried from the place, fearful lest he might harm me. Now, is 1t not just as advisable to keep him in the dark until we are married? Some stu pid jealousy might cause him to do you harm, and there are so many ways, you know, Harryw
 She spoke earnestly, and I promised not to divulge a word of our engage. ment to anyone.
 On the following morning I called al
 hillie's lodging, and, in answer to my inquiry for her, was told she had been sent for by Herr Bruer, who urgently required her services in the hall. This information had a thrilling effect or me, for l remembered what Millie had told me regarding her treatment of his advances. At once acted on a sudden impulse to follow her to the hall, and F. T