The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-05-01
The Trick That Failed
N old trick? Well. yes. A

~ coffin. to all appearance of
NJ genuine manufacture. is
brought on the stage, and
rested each end on a parallel support.
The audience are invited to test the
sombre case by sending few Of their
number forward rs an inspection COM
mittee, and it seems truly astonishing
that the method of illusion has gone
for so long undiscovered. After in
.spection the conjurers assistant is
placed in the coffin. in which there
would appear little room for turning.
and the lid tightly closed. Now comes
the mystery! The conjurer takes up
a long sword. AS keen of edge and
point as a scythe. and, after handing it
around for inspection. passes it slowly
through a prepared slot in the coffin
lid until the blade shows through an
aperture in the coftin's bottom, directly
opposite the upper slot. The main por-
tion 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the sword Is withdrawn.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 q simple
trick inspiring fear in any one of ordi-
nary perceptivenesS. Yet L. who nave
performed in the trick in the capacity
of assistant. shudder to-day at even
the sight of coffin of construction
genuine or otherwise. 1 will tell you
why, and you will know that my
nerves had Just cause to be shaken on
that, to me, well-remembered night
two years ago.
was ION the road" with as clever
a conjurer as ever handled a proper
ty" silk hat, q man whose movements
were as swift as they were accurate,
and my humble position in his employ
as assistant 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. could
Judge how great had been his sorrow
at her loss. Some of his actions OH
the stage soon led me to believe that
his mind was slowly but, to the most
recently formed of his acquaintances,
perceptibly unhinging.
Had 1 no fear of placing myself IN
the mans power? No, for l so trusted
his ability that at each performance
of his great trick got into the coffin
as readily as if were going to bed
His stage properties, too, were all so
thoroughly made up-aS proof against
accident and detection as the special
ist could make them. How easily that
+'trick" coffin baffled the scrutiny OF
the curious, and how readily its side
had fallen outward, affording ME q
shelf of safety from harm by the
swords downward passage.
Our provincial tour-my first anu
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
uSdTu VI LIS Shlli, 1Au 40 SiS t1's9A@>S
passed I grew more confident Of my
own progress. From the moment
when, in answer to an advertisement
for a lady assistant, there came to us
the dearest girl with whom 1 have yet
been associated renewed energy to
learn fresh departures in the conJur-
ing art with eyer-increasing ease. You
smile. All, yes, 1 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 sweet
affirmative. I cannot express in words.
But on my mentioning to her the ne
cessity of announcing our engagement
to Bruer l noticed a peculiar 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 a secret?
But" l demonstrated. 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 a time, anyhow
You 10 not understand" she said,
slowly. Something would happen, l
am sure. if he comes to know what
there is between us. Listen" and she
lowered her voice to 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 TO-. me in mad way.
And when I told him that could
never allow anything more than busi-
ness relations to exist between him
and myself q mad gleam came into his
eyes, and l hurried from the place,
fearful lest he might harm me-"
She spoke earnestly. and promised
not to divulge a word Of our engage
ment to any one.
On the following morning called at
Miles lodging, and, in answer to my
inquiry for her. was told she had been
sent for by Herr Bruer, VINO urgently
required her services in the hall. This
information had thrilling effect on
me, for 1 remembered what Millie had