Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-06-19

parts of the house. "Truchette! Truchette This is
of his tricks This is but lad He cannot do the
feats of monsieur! ~
Rudolph saw that his slight hold of the audience
would be gone in moment unless he did something
attention. He knew enough about audiences
know that out of the grasp of the artist is we'll
nigh impossible to get them back again. He nnledi-
ately determined on his of action His stay of
two years with his master assistant had given him
good command of the regular stage jargon to
jugglers And being exceedingly observant, he had
learned many things of which monsieur himself was
ignorant and had practised tricks of his
own He was bold and was determnedto succeed. And
his vision there fitted to inspire him the little
mother and the sister in the vale of Capras for whom
he serving monsieur, and whom he hoped before
long to visit when he had earned little more.
He his fingers through his curly hair ard began
to laugh The cries of the audience ceased and very
the people began to laugh too. Rudolph's laugh
contagious. In the midst of it all Rudolph raised
his hand and pointed the ceiling of the theater In
stanty every eye turned that way.
"See!" cried Rudolph. See the messengers of
Cupid their way. coming down earth to bring
mssive to the fairest lady in San Benito!"
1t common trick of the master juggler, but it
happened to be to the people of San Benito. A
pair of snowwhite doves appeared fly down from the
very of the theater dome. They alghted upon
Rudolps shoulders In the bill of one Of the birds
a bit of paper Rudolph took it, unfolded it and pre-
tended to read as follows:
"This to the farest in San Bento.
"Cupid sends thee greeting wishing thee beauty and
happiness years, and thee that thy beauty
will fade and thy happiness vanish if thou dos frown
upon him who is specially favored of the gods
RUDOLPH CLUNY OF Camprais."
There was a moments quiet from the audience, and
ten the generous applause that followed assured Ru-
dolph that his first attempt had given him favor with the
6che people He smiled and grew confident. The bird
pie The doves were wel-trained pets of NJ Truchette
Rudolph had come upon the stage with the birds
cealed of the profondes deep pockets, of his
dresscoa When he pointed to the ceiling of the thea
ter and every eye in the Audience directed to it, he
drew the birds from the pofende and tossed them up
into the air. They scared up little higher and then
settled back upon the young mans shoulders. Every
one is familiar with the fact that the eye is easily de-
ceiyed as to distances To the audience appeared
if the birds actually down from the dome. The
light dim up there and at rate there the birds
were, and they did fly from somewhere and aigh on
the lads shoulders AS for the letter. Rudolph simply
by rapid movement, he caressed one bird, placed
bit of paper within its bill And the rest easy
every stage ugger is provided with plenty to say,
speeches of attery nonsense, just to divert the audi
much possible from the movements of the
hands.
Over the audience went that rustic of expectation
dear the soul of every actor, that sharp but still
part of many people Rudolph, with the sensitive acute
of the artist heard and interpreted the sound
to interest the part of the audience that
would increase with the of his performances.
He felt proud think that he succeeding well
at the start, and proceeded with his trick with
jubiant feeling in his heart
This the Mysterious Table" on which he placed
basket of oranges which, after being covered with
sken CLOTH were transformed to vases of fresh-cut
The trick succeeded perfectly, did also the
mysterious Curtain" another favorite trick of his
clever master The trick was witnessed by the simple
but sharpeyed people of San Benito with feelings of
establishment, and loud cries of Bravo!" greeted the
youthful performer, who bowed his Acknowledgements
and felt very happy he proceeded with his next at
tempt, the Magic Painting"
This also entirely to the people of San
Benito, who beginning TO have admiration tor
this young from Camprais They watched the per-
Torrance with great eagerness. While Rudolph who
had never before attempted the magic painting alone,
determined that what might he would succeed
with it. But alas Who anticipate all the POSSIBLE
tiles which await in that difficult game OF leger-
denan?
gilt frame four feet square, resting upon easel,
had been standing upon the stage during the perform
Rudolph placed upon small platform
which he brought from behind the scenes, saying as
he did so, that he wanted everybody to the most
wonderful painting in all Europe, or, for that matter, in
the world.
Within the picture frame piece of blank canvas,
or what appeared to be this Rudolph walked de-
beratey to the side of the stage and waved his wand
The people looked in breathles anticipation Slowly
the outlines of landscape began to be visible ON the
canvas. Then they disappeared, and Rudolph turned
pale, and for the first time in the evening seemed dis
concerted. The trick had failed. and owing to the
peculiar in which it performed by the master,
Rudolph uncertain concerning the next movement
He hesitated and for moment he confused that
he could not think of anything do say in order to
cover his failure
That hesitation fatal TO him. The tickle audience
began to hiss. Rudolph stretched out his with
gesture of beseeching appeal 1t too late. The
people began raise the cry Truchette Trucette!"