Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-31


nailed the lid on. Then he
would make another speech
before firing the gum in that
way giving time to get
around from under the stage.
so l could walk down the
aisle right after the shooting. III
But while was getting in, the N
man with the gun came UP NH
on the stage, and after the lid mn
had been fastened down | nm
could hear him and the Doc /////
arguing He said he was going nm
to shoot into the box himself, NM
with his own gun, and / W/TH0
couldn't help wishing that the MR.
measles or something else WAl
that was dangerous had struck nm
in on him when he young. MN
1t would have been all right WN~z
if the Doc could have stepped XZG@
on the spring; but the man A~-
with the gun happened to #/@
stand right over the nail so >/z<
instead of landing the %IzN/&
mattress under the stage and IHXlEI/
being free from harm had to E/$zzZN
stay in the box and listen to I/Z4ZX
the argument. 1t was of /kIt
the most dismal debates | [LS/>@
ever heard ////
Il didn't call for volunteers /<<<//
on the firing line said the /<
| Doc. If You wish to get in <
the box, I'll be perfectly will .,
| ing to accept your services; -NFRf
but I'm going to do all the 7. Mus. H
| shooting myself. ~, %,
The fellow seemed to he way one
| kind of public character in Made Me
| the town, and good manyof
the men and bows urged him
| on by calling out q" You're all right Petey.
| Don t let him bluff you" and things like that
| Several old Sunday school lessons returned
to my mind while | was waiting for the worst
| to come, and suddenly | remembered how
Lii 4 II, ,,,l hi
| Jonathan Gilbert back of the ear, one time.
thought of lot of other mean things I'd done
at one time and another, and | sorry l
hadn't been model boy but while disagree
able thoughts were running through my MIND
| the Doc kept right on arguing that he had all
the help he needed to perform the trick. and l
could tell by the sound of his voice that he was
losing his patience. The crowd had begun to
yell =" Fake!' too, and | knew that something
was going to happen before long; but can
say that l was anxious to hurry matters.
shouldn't have cared much if the show had
ended in riot right there.
AIDES and gents the Doc said, beginning
- another speech to gain time " am about
to perform, as l said before, the greatest feat
can public. You have seen the man securely
fastened in the box now before you. lmme-
diately after the fatal shot is fired the same
man will walk down the center aisle, un-
scathed.'
You told us that before!" somebody
yelled.
will some kind person please give that
child a piece of candy" the Doc answered.
" He will walk down the center aisle unscathed.
But in concluding this hair raising act | am
going to show you another that Is not on the
bills. The individual who has come upon the
stage for the purpose of interfering with the
performance has insinuated that the gun now
hold in nv hand is not loaded with real bullet.
He has given it as his opinion that have
through some sort of jugglery removed the
charge l shall, with your permission kind
ladies and gents, prove. to your entire salts
faction and also to his, that he is mistaken. |
am going to let him shoot into the box"
could feel my hair getting stiff and straight
as the Doc stopped for second while the
people clapped their hands, and | had just
made up my mind to yell for help, hoping
the committee would break the box open and
let me out. when the wizard began speaking
again.
IL am going to let him shoot into the box.
he said, on one condition. He must let me
shoot at him at the same time. l will count
three, and we will both pull our triggers. |
agree not to hit him in vital place; but
don't promise that he is not to lose an arm or
leg or perhaps ear"
There was more clapping, and some of the
people cheered The fellow seemed to be
game. though. l didn't hear him make any