The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-11-17

Did you ever before witness this per-
Torrance in a public restaurant ?"-
making the cards purr.
Il can not say have. amused.
well, no more have IL
Why, then do you do it?"-with re-
newed interest.
Shall l tell your fortune?"
Not now. I had much rather you
would tell me the meaning of this
play"
I leaned toward her and whispered
mysteriously: The truth is, belong
to a secret society, and I was cutting
the cards to see whether or not !
should blow up the postoffice tonight
or the police station. You mustn't
tell anybody"
Obi" She started back from the
table You do not look it, she added
suddenly.
I Il know it; appearances are SO de-
ceptiye," said / sadly.
Then the old man laughed, and the
girl laughed, and | laughed; and
wasn't quite sure that the grave
waiter did not crack the ghost of q
SulllG-1u T6ll6l-
And what, may ask, was the fatal
card?" inquired the old man, folding
his paper.
1.-The ace of spades; we always
choose that gloomy card in secret So
cieties. There is something deadly
and suggestive about it." I answered
morbidly.
Indeed"
"Yes. An, If only you knew the ter
| rible life we lead, we who conspire!
| Every day brings forth some CALLING
| disappointment. We push a king off
into the dark, and another rises i'm
mediately in his place. Futility, fulfil
ity everywherel If only there were
some way of dynamiting habit and
custom! am Russian; all my
family are perishing in Siberian
| mines, "-dismally.
"Fudgel" said the girl.
"Tommy-rotl" said the amiable old
gentleman.
Uncle, his hair is too short for an
anarchist"
And his collar too immaculate"
$50 the old gentleman was this charm
ing creatures uncleD
I'VE are obliged to disguise our
selves at times" l explained. THE
police are always meddiing. 1t is dis
couraging."
you have some purpose, humorous
| or serious" said the girl shrewdly
"A man does not bring a pack of
cards"
Il didn't bring them; sent oat for
them"
bring a pack of cards here simply
to attract attention" she continued
TRANQUILITY.
Perhaps l am prestidigitator in
a popular dime museum I suggested,
willing to help her out "and am doing
a little advertising"
Now, that has plausible sound,
she admitted, folding her hands under
her chin 1T must be an interesting
life. Presto-change! and all that"
"Oh, | find 1t rather monotonous in
the winter; but in the summer it is
fine. Then I wander about the sum
ner resorts and give exhibitions"
You will pardon my niece" inter.
polated the old gentleman, coughing a
bit nervously. IF she annoys you
"Uncle!"-reproach
Heaven forfend!" l exclaimed Gag
erly. There is a charm in doing IN
conventional things; and most people
do not realize it, and are stupid"
Thank you, sir" said the girl, smil
ing She was evidently enjoying her
self; so was I, for that matter. do q
trick for me-" she commanded pres
emily.
l smiled weakly. I couldn't have
done a trick with the cards,-not il
my life had depended upon it But
rather neatly extricated myself from
the trap.
Il never do any tricks out of bust
ness hours"
Uncle, give the gentleman ter
cents; want to see him do a sleight
of-hand trick"
Her uncle, readily entering into the
spirit of the affair. dived into a pocket
and produced the piece of silver. 1
looked as if 1 were caught.
There! this may make it worth
your while" the girl said, showing the
coin in my direction.
But again 1 managed to slide under
! was not to be caught.
1T is my regret to say,"-frowninl
slightly, that regularity in my bust
ness is everything. 1t wants half al
hour for my turn to come on. If
tried a trick out of turn, / Nigh
foozle and lose prestige. And besides
I depend so much upon the professor
and his Introductory note: Ladies anC
gents, permit me to introduce tn,
world-renowned Signor Fantoccini
whose marvellous tricks have long puz
zled all the crowned heads Of Eu
rope"
"Fantoccini," - musingly. That
Italian for puppet show"
Il know 1t, but the dime museum
visitors do not It makes q fine i'm