Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-04-03

/ he rick hat allied


" n Olu trlcKl We'll, yes. n CONN,
/H\ to all appearance of genuine
manufacture, is brought on the
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 scythe, and, after handing
1t around for inspection, passes 1t slow
ly through prepared slot in the coffin
Lid until the blade shows through an
aperture III the coffin's bottom, direct
ly opposite the upper slot. The main
portion Of the audience are puzzled, the
weaker-mtnded 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the sword is withdrawn.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 coffin Of construction genuine
or otherwise. 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.
was ION the road" with as clever a
conjurer as ever handled property"
silk hat, q man whose movements were
as swift as they We're accurate, and my
humble position in his employ as assist
ant I 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 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
eoon led me to believe that his mind
was slowly but, to the most recently
formed Of his acquaintances, percept-
fbly unhinging.
Had no fear Of placing myself in the
mans power3 No, for SO trusted his
ability that at each performance of his
great trick got into the coffin as read
nv as II 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
baffied the scrutiny Of the curious, and
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 80 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 q lady
assistant, there came to us the dearest
girl with whom have yet been asso-
ciated a renewed energy came to me,
and 1 seemed to learn fresh departures
In the conjuring art with ever-increas-
ing ease. You smile! All, yes, loved
her-and who could help doing the
came? Mile 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 ex-
press in words. But on my mentioning
to her the necessity of announcing our
engagement to Bruer l noticed a pecu-
liar look Of fear cross her face.
"Oh, Harry" she cried, cannot we
keep that from him until our wedding
dayT
The question struck me as a strange
ono. Keep our engagement 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 time, anyhow"
"You do not understand" she said,
slowly. Something would happen.
am sure, II he comes to know what
there Is between US. Listenl" and she
lowered her voice to whisper, al
though we were out of eavesdropping
rench.S "Last night he called me to his
room. and, to my astonishment, de-
clared his love for me In mad way.
And when told him that could never
allow anything more than business re-
lations to exist between him and my
self mad CLEAN came into his eyes,
and 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, Haryw
She spoke earnestly, and 1 promised
not to divulge word Of our engage
ment to anyone.