Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-12-05
THE MASTER
OF MAGIC...
az ELIAS Isle
BY ELIAS Isle
Copyright. 1901, by a. S. Richardson

proprietor of the towns one hotel as he
exhumed the register from heap OF
empty bottles.
Fire king and master OF magic,
known to large public as Pyro," said
l politely, ornamenting my signature
with lambent flames In ink, It's a
great advertising dodge II you can man.
age to have the register left open on
the counter.
You've struck Campbellstown at a
good time" said mine host.
80 my ascendant star informed
me-" | replied. 1t does no harm u
throw In little astrology now and
then.
'The miners are In from all around
Old Kanawha's In food and that means
knock of work at the mines"
Seven days shall the flood endure
then shall the waters subside and
those In the depths OF the earth shall
walk dry shod." pronounced In my
best manner. Weather lores a fine
blum II you put 1t far enough ahead 20
that you'll be out of the way In case
things don't turn out according to pro.
gramme. But l missed 1t clean that
time.
man scornfully. at amt the water
that does the damage. It's the gas.
When Kanawha gets up very high
and she's higher now than for years
the natural gas outlets get shut of.
Nobuddy knows just where they are,
but they're In the river or on the
banks somewhere and when the water
shuts 'em off the gas puffs out all
around the country, specially In the
mines. Then, after few OF the boys
has keeled over or there's been u blow
out or two, they knock of and walt for
the river to go down. TOwn'll be full
of 'em this afternoon, and Campbells-
town full of miners IL about as peart a
spot as your find In West Virginia."
"Peart" 1t certainly was. There were
two shooting ARRAYS and general
fight that afternoon. by my Invitation
a dozen OF the visiting miners came In
and had drinks on me, and gave them
taste of my quality by blowing fame
instead of froth from my beer and light
ing my cigar with the end of my finger.
MOrose fellows they were, the effect, |
believe. OF working In darkness. but
they served my purposes by spreading
abroad the fame OF my gifts. 30 that I
was assured of crowd that night.
One OF my guests 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 perfOrma nee
and seeing that things went right
kinder ugly. ehT' 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"
had an overlooking house that
night, and In the third row | beheld
Mr. Turner's forbldding face. Every
thing went well, and I soon had my
audience In u condition OF mingled de-
light and awe. When l went down into
the body OF the house to collect silver
dollars. white mice and other mlscella-
niles from my admlrlng spectators, |
was In such high spirits over the sue
cess OF the evening that did foolish
thing. | pulled a dollar from between
the scowllng eyes of Sledge Turner.
At the same time / saw the hllt OF o
murdrrOus 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 I'm the box office and was
getting my apparatus packed, the door
burst open and Turner had me by the
thrOut with both hands. Between his
teeth hc held the big knife 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 pos
sessed by the average man. IN an In
stant ! had sent a squirt OF flame 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 he loosed bis grip on me, and
the next instant gave him japanese
elbow trick. Down he went and lay
there struggling on the floor for had
caught him fair In the thront, and the
blow Is an ugly one. II struck me chill
ingly that | had rather overdone the
thing. Throwing long ulster over my
Inferno costume OF scarlet and black,
explained hastily to my assistant and
fnaHn ms ff. hn
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" be
said. thrusting the weapon into my
hand. you've done Sledge Turner,
and the lodge Is after you"
ut was In self Defense" I said.
Whatever the lodge may be. 1t
can't"--
ITS the miners lodge" he interrupt
ed. BLOOD oath and life for life.
Sledge was member II they get their
hands on you they'll string you up like
cat"
There was hOarse roar outside that
grew nearer and nearer.
"Hustlew 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. was an athlete and IN good
training; magician has to be. The
Eoar OF the river told me the road,
and as | sped away into the darkness
ran full upon man and knocked him
Nat. 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 I went at my best speed u
good hundred yards In advance OF the
van OF my pursuers. Presently ! be.
came aware Of brightness IN front OF
me, and, coming around a turn, I saw
half dozen negroes seated around a
fire at the roadside There WAS hut ons,