The Jasper news., 1907-01-31


Uncle!"-reproachfu
Heaven forfend" l exclaimed eag-
erly. There is charm in doing un-
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 /, for that matter. DO
trick for me-" she commanded pres
emily.
| smiled weakly. I couldn't have
done trick with the cards,-not If
my life had depended upon it. But I
rather neatly extricated- myself from
the trap.
81 never do any tricks out of busi-
ness hours
Uncle, give the gentleman ten
cents; | want to see him do sleight-
ofhand trick"
Her uncle. readily entering into the
spirit of the affair, dived into pocket
and produced the piece of silver. 1t
looked as if were caught.
There! this may make it worth
your while. the girl said, showing the
coin in my direction.
But again managed to slide under;
was not to be caught.
1T is my regret to say,"-frowning
slightly, that regularity in my busi-
ness is everything. 1t wants half an
hour for my turn to come on. If /
tried trick out of turn, | might
foozle and lose prestige. And besides,
! depend so much upon the professor
and his Introductory note: Ladies and
gents, permit me to introduce the
world-renowned Signor Fantoccini,
whose marvellous tricks have long puz-
zled all the crowned heads of Eu-
rope"
"Fantoccini," - musingly. That's
Italian for puppet show"
II know it, but the dime museum
visitors do not. 1t makes fine inn
pression.'
She laughed and slid the dime back
to her uncle.
I'm afraid you are an impostor,"
she said.
I'm afraid SO, too," l confessed,
laughing.
Then the comedy came to an end by
the appearance of our separate orders.
threw aside the cards and proceeded
to attack my dinner, for was hungry.
From time to time l caught vague
fragments of conversation between
tie girl and her uncle.
It's fool idea" mumbled the old
gentleman; you will get into some
trouble or other"
"trhat doesn't matter. 1t will be
like vacation,-a flash of old Rome,
where | wish l were at this very mo-
ment. | am determined
This is what comes of reading ro-
mantle novels, with kind of grum-
BILE.
Il admit there never was particle
of romance on your side of the fam
ily," the girl retorted.
Happily. There is peace in the
house where / live"
do not argue with me-"
Il am not arguing with you; l
should be only wasting my time. l
am simply warning you that you are
about to commit folly
IL have made up my mind
"Ah! In that case / have hopes"
he returned. when a woman makes
up her mind to do one thing, she gen.
orally does another. Why can't you
put aside this fool idea and go to the
opera with me?"
Il have seen Carmen in Paris,
Rome, London and New York." she
replied.
evidently travelled young per.
SON.
Carmen is your favorite opera, be.
sides"
mot tonight, whimsically.
go, then; but please recollect that
If anything serious comes of your
folly, / did my best to prevent it. It's
scatter-brained idea, and no good
will come of it, mark me-"
Il can take care of myself,"-trucu-
lently.
SO have often been forced to OBJ.
serve" ,"--dryly.
Il wondered what it was all about.)
"But, uncle dear, am becoming SO
dreadfully bored!"
THAT sounds final" sighed the old
man, helping himself to. the haricots
verts {The girl ate positively nothing. }
But 1t seems odd that you can't go
about your affairs after my own rea-
sonable manner"
II am only twenty"
The old mans shoulders rose and
fell resignedly.