The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-12-27

'Can ycu teAt thatf lie asked, turning
With i aAr n, yorrg NJ! NslI But his
ME Ca VI n! ic s..N u I readrtGs
w..! wiiti- .dA ywsh .cccpis The challenge,
and threA yf ball n Le style in tie
same directeA
i, w,s really msgni!lcert t. row; and
was net :ur,r.sed " cn a c. de came
rurLing b.ck to snnclEce I n M2xwell's
ball lid ySye some i.ye ysCs beyond
Chanlers. ! vss astcl ; ed when |
noticed how ssp,,cr.ed IA )eared to
be- and the air ost c.. .,is! d .sion that
settled upon him after his defeat.
Then, as We lett the links, he gave me
new surprise.
II an tlerkirg" he said "of buying
Colonel Jeplson's pony for my little son.
VIII you come rornd to TIE stables TO look
at him?'
And as Maxwell rcadily consented, could
but follow, though what on earth little Rao
could do with polo pony passed my powers
Of comprehension was still more puzzled
when, at the stables, Chanlcr himself as
sisted the groomto saddle the epony, andthen
suggested that Maxwell should mount him.
II want to be sure that he is quiet before
purchase him, Rao explained
2 Maxwell rather drew back.
= Colonel Jephson might not like it, he
said
Y But have the colonel's permission, .
said Chanlcr Il told him | should ask
you, and he said by all means"
The groom confirming this, Maxwell at
length consented. He sprang to the saddle
with the ready ease OF an experienced rider
But no sooner was he mounted than that
abominable pony began every equine trick
cry you can imagine. He plunged, and
kicked, and reared, and buck jumped; then
he bolted for a hundred yards or more; then
he stopped dead, only to begin the whole
performance over again.
1t was splendid piece OF horsemanship,
and set me wondering whether there was
, anything this dandiied youth could not do.
- But Chanler shook his head
4 The pony" he said, would be much
too rough for little Rao'
= And the disappointment seemed percep-
tibfy to increase his growing discomfort
That afternoon | got my first suspicion
that this Davenport business was turn
ing the poor fellows brain But had
no time to dwell on the point, for just at
that moment the manager came up with a
request. Mr.. Maxwell and Some other
guests had been telling him Of Chambers
wonderful performances in London and
elsewhere; and, with many apologies for
the liberty he was taking, he yentured to
ask whether Rao would help him to meet
the problem ola wet afternoon by entertain
ing the guests with Eastern magicp
At first Chanler absolutely refused; he
hal no apparatus--it was holiday-he
had much else to think Of. Then just as
suddenly he changed his mind, and became
quite keen on the project. And the result
was that for the next half hour walters were
busy arranging seats in the drawing room,
and Chanler was engaged in collecting a
most curious mixture OF everyday articles
as substitutes for his regular paraphernalia.
4 The first trick was an old one. 1t was the
illusion OF the egg, which, in Chanler's
hands changes into almost anything the
audience may choose As usual, 1t finished
up by turning into live mouse ina mouse
trap. But on this occasion, by some care
lessness or mischance, Chanler opened the
door OF the trap and let the mouse loose.
= The FIVE ladies OF our company, who
occupied front seats, screamed and gathered
up their skirts as the lii,le creature ran
towards them. But Maxwell, who was
sitting near Miss Clifford, stopped down at
once and cleyerly caught the mouse in his
hand and restored it to the trap. rharler
was proiusc in his apologies for the mishap.
Judged from his face that he fully realized
that this was not a very happy beginning.
The next item in the program was new
to me, Rao had borrowed my razor and
strop He now took up the razor and,
explaining that he required the kcenest
possible edge, requested young Maxwell to
strop it am rather particular about my
razors, and was about TO offer to do this my
self. when Charicr restrained me by a sig
nihcant glancr ~, the moment Maxwell
took it in hand ~ h-g&n. il. quite a proies-
sional manner to ss'pip fpn heel 10 tip,
turning the blade care ull, each tine On the
back, saw that he could bo trusted safely.
Even Chanler himself, who was care
fully watching the operation, ses sat'sfe6
thai the blade was perfectly skarpsned!
Then, with apparently nothing in his hand
but my highly-tempered razor, he chopped
an ordinary kitchen poker into four pieces
and handed the pieces round, together with
the undamaged razor, Tor our inspection.
The third trick was with Colonel Jeph-
sons hat. You know how Chanler varies
his hat trick. This time Il was fruit A
monster melon, three fine pines, grape3