The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-12-19

each. As Abijah Jenkins was holding
his stock at the stir price Of $500 a
head. this announcement created q
sensation and determined many thrifty
persons to pay the nominal fee Of ten
cents, see the show and get turkey
at half price.
There was to be a matinee and an
evening performance AS the would
be owners Of turkeys at s100 apiece
were sceptical of the professors abil-
ity to conjure enough of the birds for
two performances, they went to the
afternoon show, and a half hour before
the curtain was due to be raised the
place was jammed to suffocation.
The audience was prepared for con-
tingencies-if the thing was a fraud,
the professor would hear from them.
Carlo, taking in dimes at the door.
was palpably nervous. He knew, as
none Of the others could, that the
professor couldn't conjure a turkey
out OF a packing box to save his
French soul, and Carlos skin was dear
10 him and he knew also he would
share whatever the professor got.
That gentleman, smiling and apparent
ly unafraid, slipped out the back way
a few minutes before show time with
a peck Of corn he had purchased, and
disappeared. While he was gone. the
| doorkeeper sweated, but promptly at
the advertised hour the magician reap
peared and the show began.
Professor Amiel was undeniably
good at his business and the wonder
was that he should have come down
so in the world For an hour, out Of
his slender resources, with hand
that was quicker than the eye, he en-
tertained his audience, and Carlo, re-
llnquishing his job as doorkeeper, be-
came alternately the magician's assist
ant and butt. Toward the last, how
ever, the attention of the audience, in
tent on buying conjured turkey for
a dollar, waned, and there was muir
muring and shufIiing Of feet that told
the professor he had better begin his
great act.
4 have here an ordinaire box" be-
gan the amiable wizard. "Eet is a COM
mon dry goods box. which l purchased
from your friend Meester Cox, who
zink is in zee audience"
That's right" said the storekeeper,
Il sold it to you"
"Will one-two gentlemens examine
re box?" asked Professor Amiel ge-
nially. One or two gentlemen, one Of
them Mr.. Atljah Jenkins, who had
come with a sound determination to
ventilate the preposterous s1.00 turkey
business, were perfectly willing to. ex-
anime the packing case and did so
with great thoroughness, rapping top,
bottom and sides with their knuckles
and In the end pronouncing 1t COM
mon packing case indeed, the like OF |
which could be bought for a quarter.
"Ze audience is satisfied Eat eet is
all right" asked the professor. VERY
well-I draw lines wiz chalk on re
floor, and set re box wiz great care
so. Now, cover re box wiz cloth"
proceeding to do so with the bed.
clothes Of the night before. zen |
roll up my sleeves. take my magic
wand, wave eet so, and say ee magic
word, 'Abracadabra! Carlo, open re
box"
The assistant, convinced that his
principal was crazy, meditated a run
for 1t, but, transfixed by the profess
sor's glittering eye, he unwillingly ad-
vanced, threw off the cloth, lifted the
lid-and drew forth a complaining,
Tapping turkey!
The applause was tremendous.
Hi, there, professor, let me look
at that box again" said Mr.. Jenkins,
alarmed at the ease with which the
trick had been done. The triumphant
magician smilingly complied. and the
turkey speculator pounded it heartily
without unusual results.
Here, lem'me look at that bird" he
demanded, and the bewildered assist
ant promptly handed it over.
TITS real turkey fast enough" de
,lared the mystiied Jenkins, "as good
rs any in my flock. I'm going to buy
t." and he slapped down a dollar.
Take re cash, Carlo" said the pro
'essor, and Carlo did so mechanically
rhe crowd was in considerable dis
,rder now.
DO the trick again." they cried.
"A hundred times" said Professor
Amiel. Again the cloth was thrown
'ver the box, the wand waved and the
magic word said.
Carlo, open re box" said the wiz
I'D, and turkey number two came
tapping into view.
A dollar came rolling on the little
tage
Here, chuck me that turkey" said
man inelegantly but forcibly, and re-
eived his dollars worth.
The show turned into a poultry sale.
With mechanical regularity, the pro
essor and Carlo worked, receiving dol
ars and delivering turkeys. When
he audience was supplied, Abijah Jen- !
ms, with the despairing hope of saw
lg the remnants Of his turkey specu. ,
alton, contracted for the rest of the
m, frtrad furlxave % 1 m