The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-11-18
BY ELIAS Isle



ing my cigar with the end of my finger.
Morose fellows they We're, the effect,
believe. of working in darkness. but
they served my purposes by spreading
abroad the fame of my gifts. so that
was assured of a crowd that night.
One of my guests, a powerful fellow
with an evil eye, seemed to take dis
taste for me and cursed me as he left
| for no other reason than that he didn't
take to my ways. and announced his
intention Of being at the performance
and seeing that things went right.
kinder ugly, eh?" commented my
host. That's Sledge Turner, and he's
one of the worst men in these parts
when he's drunk. He always goes
heeled too"
l had an overfiowing house that
night, and in the third row | beheld
| Mr. Turner's forbidding face. Every
| thing went well. and soon had my
audience in condition of mingled de-
light and awe. When | went down into
the body of the house to collect silver
dollars. white mice and other miscella-
Il A1AC0 LAOLu cPCCldlOI6,
was in such high spirits over the sue
cess of the evening that | did foolish
thing. / pulled dollar from between
the scowling eyes of Sledge Turner.
At the same time l saw the hilt of a
murderous knife projecting from his
belt and heard his announcement that
he'd have that dollar back or cut my
heart out.
After the performance, as my assist
ant was out in the box office and was
getting my apparatus packed, the door
burst open and Turner had me by the
throat with both hands. Between his
teeth he held the big knife l had seen.
There were hate and murder In his eye.
The profession of magic makes a man
quick to think in emergencies. 1t also
provides him with resources not DOS
sessed by the average man. In an in
slant ! had sent a squirt of fame to
Turner's face from the wire in my
sleeve connected with the battery be-
tween my shoulders The current
wasn't strong enough to knock him
down. but be loosed his grip ON me. and
the next instant gave him a japanese
elbow trick. Down he went and lay
there struggling on the floor, for had
caught him fair in the throat, and the
blow is an ugly one. 1t struck me chill
ingly that | had rather overdone the
thing. Throwing long ulster over my
inferno costume of scarlet and black, l
explained hastily to my assistant and
made my way back to the hotel. Ten
minutes later my host entered my room
without the formality of knocking. In
his hand he held revolver.
Take this and git for your life," he
said, thrusting the weapon into my
hand. you've done Sledge Turner,
and the lodge is after you"
''It was in self Defense" | said.
whatever the lodge may be. it
can't
tits the miners lodge" he interrupt
ed BLOOD oath and life for life.
Sledge was member. If they get their
hands on you. they'll string you up like
a cat"
There was hoarse roar outside that
grew nearer and nearer.
Hustler cried my kindly host mo
time for the door. Take the window.
Keep right down the river road. Ten
miles down you'll strike Carton. You'll
be safe there"
To reach the ground was an easy
matter. My chances were good. My
tights made an excellent light running
costume. l was an athlete and in good
training; magician has to be. The
roar of the river told me the road,
and as sped away into the darkness
ran fun upon a man and knocked him
fat The mischief was done. The
view halloo of the man hunt rang in
the air, and, with a roar, the pack of
human hounds was ON my trail. Down
the road | went at my best speed q
good hundred yards in advance of the
van of my pursuers. Presently l be-
came aware of a brightness in front of
me, and, coming around a turn, l saw
half a dozen negroes seated around q
fire at the roadside. There was but one
thing to do. With a demoniac roar /
charged them. 1t was as had hoped.
The sight of scarlet and black devil
leaping at them from out the blackness
of night was enough. Like rabbits
they plunged into the brush, and the
sound of their frantic prayers bore me
company as | sprinted past the fire. 1t
would have made corking fine poster
that scene, ''The Apparition of Pyro."
Then a shot sounded out behind me,
and put my thoughts into my heels. /
was gaining on the pursuit when my
feet splashed into water and was up
to my knees before could check.
l wasn't in the river, for / could hear
the flood roaring well to the right of
me; besides, this water was stagnant.
The true nature of the pool flashed into
my head; it was a backwater from the
river that had flooded the road and was
probably but short distance across
But If the miners knew of any path
around they could head me off, as my
progress through the water would be
slow, even if did not have to swim for
it and lose my bearings. Nevertheless.
straight ahead was my only chance.
Before l had got waist deep there
was a flicker OF light ON the bank, and
by the glow of brand which they had
snatched from the negroes fire l saw a
group of my pursuers peering out
toward me.
Hes taken to the water" said one
'sThen we've got him." cried another
''Bill, you and Bibbey get around and
head him off"
kept ON till the water was at my
shoulders. Then something choked me
like a rope around my neck. had
heard about the choking feeling of de-
spair, and l thought this was it.
staggered aud almost fell back as
strange. thick smell clogged my nose.