The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-09


Not even his most intimate friends
would easily have recognized In the
arrived at Stonecrop Hall In (hired)
motor-car on the evening of the TWEEN
ty-eighth. the flippant young man an
the dingy dressing gown who had an
swered her ladyship's communication
from the seclusion OF No. 3 Mansfield
Grove. His dark eyes now flashed i'm
pressively from beneath shaggy. grey
eyebrows, and his tousled white hair
set of his clean-shaven, olivetinted
features with striking effect.
We wore long. light overcoat and
q wide brimmed felt hat. and his only
impedimenta consisted Of large port
manteau. When Lady 2tonecrop re-
ceived him In the hall, she was visibly
Impressed, and she suddenly regretted
that more adult acquaintance were
not To- be included in the audience
This romantic, Oriental-loolSing person
would surely be wasted on mere 1uven-
lies! However, there was no help 10!
II now. Perhaps he might be secureti
again on a future occasion; his terms
were remarkably reasonable and, at
any rate, IL would be seen whether
his performsnc nee bore out the promise
OF his appearance.
+ Prof Osiris bowed low, with a
graceful sweep OF his. sombrero, and
in melodious barytcne, with charm.
ing foreign accent. presumed he was
addressing Lady Stonecrop.
Her ladyship graciously assured him
that such was the case. and. instead,
OF rele gating him to the care OF the
lbutler, as had been her original inten'
ticn. ("These people must be kept Ia
their places, you know, my dear! }
she invited him sweetly into her own
drawing room, just as though he had
been the Spanish hidalgo he looked.
| The professor inclined his head
gravely. and followed With majestic
stride, his dark eyes rowing restlessly
hither and thither.
Lady Stonecrop' waved him to a
chair and seated herself. The pro-
| fessor's long coat had been removed,
but he had declined to part with IL.
and in evening dress, with glittering
star Affixed to his breast. he looked u
distinguished figure indeed.
Fancy such a man being consigned
to the butler! Lady Stonecrop shud-
dered inwardly at her narrow escape
from such an objectionable faux pas !.
II suppose you do not, as rulo,
seek to amuse children, professor.
! she observed, quizzicafiy regarding
him through her lorgnette.
Indeed, no, madam answered
Prof. Osiris. Still have made up q
program of quaint manifestations
which think may appeal TO the little
ones as well as prove, trust, not un-
interesting to their elders"
Really" said her ladyship curious
~. you seem to have no apparatus be-
yond-she hesitatcd and glanced
pointedly at the portmanteau which
lay near his feet-the first time, prob
ably. that such an object had ever
found entrance In Lady Stonecrop s
craving room.
II am not an ordinary conjuror.' re-
piled Prof. Osiris with kindly twin
kle which toned down the reproach
my entertainment deals chiefly wlth
curious natural phenomena"
Il suppose there Is 10 danger oil
the children being frightened?" sug'
gested Lady Stonecrop. with dim re-
membrance of Miss Armstrong; refer
ence to snakes.
The professor smiled.
Your ladyship need nave no fear.
he treasured her.
"I have given similar entertain.
ments before Prince - and the little
Princess -" he mentioned great
names which completely removed any
lingering doubts In Lady Stonecrop
mind. There Is just one thing he
went on. II shall have to ask that
] one or two conditions be observed
[, during my perfOrmance-the question
of light, for instance, and possibly
little patience"
Everything shall be precisely as
you wish said her ladyship eagerly.
The professor bowed.
Then" said he rising briskly: Il
think the outcome may be somewhat
beyond your expectations"
"Will you not take-Y began Lady
Stonecrop. placing her hand to the
bell.
IL thank your ladyship. no." an
swered Prof. Osiris. II dined before
coming hither. After my little enter
tainment q glass of wine, perhaps, II
you will be so kind. I presume my
audience awaits met"
"They were seating themselves
when | came down." said her lady
ship, "or rather the governess and
those with her were arranging them
in their places. This way, II you
please"
The private theater was crowded
with an audience. composed chiefly OF
children, with sprinkling of elders.
including Lord Stonecrop himself and
dozen choice companions, who had
temporarily forsaken the billiard
room in order to witness the perform
ance of this "two-penny fakir" who
had been imported to ''amoose the
kids" as the Honorable Jimmy Dow
ser put II.
Prof. Osiris stepped on to the tiny
stage, a solitary and impressive fig
ure. He was surrounded by no prop
critics." and simply held a small wand
in his hand. The Honorable Jimmy
opined in hoarse whisper that "the
brute looked like a winner, any
how"
A few ordinary sleight-of-hand tricks
opened the performance, but they
were done with such dexterity, and
the accompanying gag was so smart,
yet in such perfect good taste, that
the youngsters applauded delightedly
and even their elders forgot to appear
bored.
Then, with an "enough-of.this-fool.
| ing" air, the professor advanced 10
the footlights and held up his hand