The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-19

had come to him filled with a dozen
cheap tricks five years before. And
these simple bits of apparatus had led
the 12-year-old to make a study of the
art of sleight of hand.
His relatives and friends, knowing
his skill, had helped stock both his
cabinet and his library with magical
material, and twice Tommy had en-
joyed the distinction of seeing his
name on the dead walls when he took
the major part in church entertain
ments.
He had manufactured quite a num-
Der of novelties from drawings, for he
was skillful with tools and had even
invented two or three mechanical
tricks of his own.
The handbills announced that Ar
turio would hold forth at the town
hall that Saturday afternoon, when
10-cent ticket would also entitle one
to participate in what was described
as a grand distribution of costly souve-
Mrs. Saturday morning Tommy rush.
ed through the household chores and
was on the station platform when the
morning train came in. He recognized
readily Arturio from his black mus
tache and imperial, and being a person
of self-posse ssion, Immediately accost-
ed the wonder worker.
Say" he demanded. You're going
s 10 give tn6 SIlOW DIT lllG IONIl nan LlllS
afternoon, aren't you? Well" he con-
tinued as Arturio smilingly admitted
his identity, "if you want anybody to
help you, won't you let me? | can do
tricks myself and / just love to see
how you work. and help you with your
things I've got 10 cents for my ticket,
but I'd rather be part of the show
than just look at it."
Arturio smiled at the eager face that
looked up to his. II should be de-
lighted" he said easily. ito have the
assistance of so distinguished a con-
frere, and if you will first direct me
to the hotel we will afterward go to
the hall and you shall help me unpack
my apparatus. My regular assistant
was too i'll to accompany me this
morning and I shall be glad to have
your helm"
With swelling heart Tommy watch
ed the expressnan load the heavy
trunks on the baggage wagon and
then he proudly led the way down the
village street to the hotel. After Ar
turio. whose real name was Arthur
Jones, had removed the stain of
travel, they proceeded to the town
hall Tommy fairly reveled in the
work of unpacking the heavy cases
and kept up a running fire of chat as
he expressed his familiarity with most
of the simple apparatus Arturio used.
Finally 1t was all placed in position
and not until then did Tommy realize
his noon time dinner was long since
over Arturio who had taken a fancy
to the bright lad invited Tommy to
take dinner at the hotel and his cup of
happiness was complete as they en-
tered the long dining-room and he sat
in familiar converse with the magi-
clan while his fellows made excuses to
pass through the hotel hall past the
dining-room door to get a glimpse of
the wonder worker.
A short rest after dinner while Ar
turio sat in the hotel office and srnok-
ed a cigar, and then with laugh ne
reminded Tommy that working ma
they set off for the hall. There was
delightful twenty minutes of that
mysterious behind the scenes" while
the audience was coming in and Ar
turio exercised his long and supple
fingers handling cards and coins TO
get in shape for the entertainment
Almost unconsciously Tommy picked
up a pack of cards and initiated the
magician. Arturio watched him care
lessly for a while and then stopped
short in his work
Where did You learn to handle
cards so cleverly?" he asked.
Tommy 'blushed. This was praise
indeed. Mostly in the workshop"
he answered beamingly Its all In
a book that / got for Christmas two
years ago. What I couldn't make out
then I found out from a man that was
through here that spring. He wouldn't
tell me how he did it. but I watched
him and saw how it was DONE
ARTURO looked at him curiously
You do it very we'll" ne said do
you know how to handle coins?"
Tommy shook his head and for ten
minutes ARTURO Showed him the vari-
Gus front and back palms for coins.
Coin palming was not so common
then and Tommy fairly gloated over
the new tricks
SAY" ne said exultantly, do you
mind IL I do these when / give my
show? l want to go to business COT
lege next spring and It will take $50
I thought maybe I could learn some of
it with some tricks just before Christ
mas"
Arturio laughed.
Its public property" he said.
you're privileged to do as you like
with them, and ! shouldn't be sur
prised II you could do them as well
as ] by that time. Have you much
apparatus?"
Tommy gave a list Of the tricks and
IT,. 81 =