The Newark journal., 1903-03-13
TALE OF A CONJURER.

VI idtfk NtHA bA thAiAOADtds dAA ANE httd- sion of the gathering was the visit of couple of minefs from the nearest township, 30 miles away.
 "Yes, We did have call from the chan you talk about, said Jack, and don't mind if 1 speak piece and let you know just what occurred
 He was all almighty fraud that's what he was a wrong 'un all through; what the parson would call a snare and delusion from one skin to the other, He came into the Gorge one afternoon looking precious seedy and down in the mouth. He seemed hungry, but he had on a black coat and black trousers, linen collar, and shiny hat. That was enough 10 set us against him, but the boys here are pretty mild and not quarrelsome, so some of us took him in hand, got him square meal iu this very house, filled his can with something to drink, and asked him what his game was
 He said he was conJurer, He likewise said he was a magician. He also gave us to understand tHat he was professor of ledger deemine; ditto an illusionist, and ditto an exponent of sleight -of-hand. lie tsttled all them words of jest though they was gos pei truth, and guess We was kinder i'm pressed.
 "The pore feller had been travelling with show, but the show had bust, and he was working bis way back on his feathers, giv ing magical performance anywhere he could get an audience.
 "When 1t came evening time, we was all gathered here-Ancient Henry can give evil dence as to what I'm saving '-tT The store keeper said, Dicks got the yarn pat; it's affidavit fact i've was sitting around and the chap said he'd like to give us an ex hibtiou of eonjuring and maJic fl we'd sub scribe bit to help him on his road. We'll we slung pot of money into the hat, and he started right away
 He commenced with some card business, and I'm owning up that what he done with the cards was calculated 10 wipe some of the professors of the face of the earth. He seemed to hide the aces and to bring up the kings and queens out just when Ae liked and where he liked, and if had quarter of his gift wouldn't be here. I'd be up in Frisco playing poker, and 1 reckon Id be able to retire in a month. Without mentioning any names. there's one or two here who can sit down to a gamble and bet money they rise up winners, all on account of a natural genius for manipulating the cards, but they couldn't never hold a candle to that fellow Some of the boys wanted lessons, and he said he'd see about that in the morning But he never had the opportunity, for when morning broke
 But there, let me tell what happened. He made bowling success with the card fakes, and we clipped in a few more pieces Then he produced an old hat, and, says he, Will some gentleman lend me gold watchF
 At once we all turned round to Birthstone Ike, who owned the only gold watch for 20 miles round 1t had been his grandfather's Tip up the ticker we says to Ike, and out he pulls it from his boot. I don't know as it'll do,' says Ike; 1t ain't been goin' for more 90 year But the eonjurer cove says, That's all right; hand t up Sc up went 1ke's gold watch.
 "The man took il and held it in the air I have here gold watch, he said. We said we knew that-it was the only one in the en- tire district The feller smiled, and dropped the watch matter of three feet into the old hat, which was on the table. We heard the watch go bang as 1t struck hard, and we saw lkeis face go white. But he set firm, and tried not to holler.
 "Then the feller he borrowed a pestle from Ancient Harry, which he smashes the sugar with, and Ike yelled out, What are you going ter do? The feller grinned and started pounding away at theigold watch Tn the hat, Smas sh, smash, went face and ease and works He turned the tile round, and there was the watch. smashed to smither eens. Ike had his gun out in a tick, and the feller was ss dead as door nails if we hadn't held Ike back He's broke my watch!' yelled Ike. We knew that, and we had been proud of that watch, for it was the only one in the place. and 1t made us seem quite tony to have it among us, but We wanted to give the eonjurer chance, and so we said we'd have fair play.
 "I got up and told the Teller that, if the watch was damaged, so would he be. He said, looking very frightened, Wait; it's a trick So l said, If it's trick, all right; but, mind you, no monkey businessi He gave a pale grin, stirred mp the broken works in the hat, twisted 1t round, and showed us the hat-empty The watch was gone!
 "Ike was madder than ever. He said he d tear the feller's heart out, if we'd only let him go, for stealing that watch and it was all six of us could do to hold him. But then the conjurer gives another ghastly grin, and produces the watch from the collar of his coat, all whole and right, and good and sound!
 
 trick to smash up gold watch and make 1t all good again in about two minutes, and we told the feller so, and Ike was modified, but kinder frightened. He said it was witch. craft. and we all felt bit skeery. and wished the feller 'ud go quick and leave us our skins when all of a sudden, Jim Blood stone who d been quietly examining the hat shouts out, Boys, it's fraud He never smashed the watch at aill Here's the goldarned works he bamboo1ed us with!'
 And sure enough the sneak had fooled us by dropping some old bits of brass and clock work into the hat, and it was them he had smashed with the pestle-not the watch al all, He never touched the watch once!
 "You never see such a riled crowd in your life. We'd been fooled, reg lar sold, swin. died, by q tramp in trousers and linen collar! He said that was the trick but reckon he could sec we didn't like that kind O trick in the Gorge. He had played it in the wrong shop.
 We had the rope ready for his neck in two-twos and Judge Lynch had got the sentence all pat, when Lawyer Bilko. who understands ths law through having done a stretch for manslaugh Lawyer Bilko up and says we couldn't very well hang a man for not smashing watch, because that wasn't felony. He laid 1t down that the crime amounted to petty false pretences, with malice aforethought so we brought tim in guilty of that, with a recommends tion to mel on account of his youth.
 sAs consequence We only tarred and feathered him, and that was why you saw him walk into your town in that condition last week Ally Slopers HalfHoliday.