"Wonderful!"
"That's the best trick I've seen yet!"
"Really a remarkable performance," said the old cavalry officer, who had
done the firing. "How did you do it?"
To this question Carl, of course, made no reply. He was not in the habit
of giving away his secrets.
But we will let our curious readers into the mystery. The way the trick
was worked was as follows:
When Carl received the marked bullet back from Walter Raymond he
substituted in its stead a similar-looking one made of amalgam of
tinfoil and quicksilver. This bullet was rammed into the pistol so
forcibly that it went to pieces beneath the paper. Even if it had not
gone to pieces the firing of the weapon would have shattered it.
When Carl received the apple he split it partly open and dropped the
marked bullet inside on the sly. The rest of the trick will now be
readily understood.
The remarkable performance with the pistol and some additional acrobatic
feats from Leo brought the entertainment to a close, and the two
performers hurried to the house to get into their street dress.
"You must have dinner here before you leave," said Walter Raymond as he
paid them off. "It is but a slight return for killing that mad bulldog
and saving the children."
The performers were hungry, and readily accepted the invitation. While
they were eating Walter Raymond sat close by.
"I wouldn't mind knowing how to do some tricks," he said. "It must be
lots of fun."
"Not so much when one performs for a living," returned Carl. "To do
tricks for your friends is amusing."
"Can you show me some simple ones?" Walter pleaded.
Carl smiled.
"Let me have a cent," he said, and after it was produced he took a knife
and cut a little nick in one edge, turning the shaving of metal outward.
"Now this cent will stick on any door you place it," he said, and
illustrated by sticking it up with the metal shaving clinging to the
woodwork. "Any boy can do this with ease."
"That's a nice trick."
After this Carl explained a number of other simple tricks with coins and
cards, and then he and Leo departed with a cheer from the young people
as they walked away.
"Well, what's to do now?" questioned Leo as they hurried on.
"I move we get our baggage from Mrs. Gerston. I need some of my
clothing, especially if we are to give garden exhibitions."
"That's true. All right; Mrs. Gerston's it is."
The walk back to town did not take long. At first the boarding-house
mistress frowned on them, but when they explained that they intended to
settle up her expression changed.
It was too late to go anywhere that night, so a bargain was struck
whereby she agreed to let them remain and have breakfast for one dollar
more, or eleven dollars in all.
"That leaves us with just a dollar capital," laughed Leo. "Not much, but
a good deal better than nothing. The question is, what shall we do
to-morrow?"
"We had better try to work our way from town to town," replied Carl.
"Perhaps we'll be fortunate enough to give exhibitions on the way. Even
if we can't strike garden parties, we can show at country hotels and
take up a collection. It's not a nice way to do, but it's better than
begging."
The next morning found the pair up bright and early. Their baggage--two
satchels belonging to each, for their trunks had been lost--were soon
strapped up, and after breakfast they set out to shake the dust of the
town from their feet.
Hardly had the last house in the place been passed than Leo noticed that
they were being followed by a burly fellow, who carried in his hand an
ugly-looking rawhide whip.
The fellow soon caught up to them.
"Stop there, do yer hear?" he called out.
"What do you want?" asked Carl, coming to a halt.
"I want ter talk to yer. Ain't you the chap as killed the dog over ter
Raymond's place?"
"I am."
"I thought so. Do yer know I was the owner of that dog, an' that he was
a valuable beast?"
"If he was valuable, it's too bad. He was mad and had to be killed," put
in Leo.
"He wasn't mad--he only had a fit. He gits 'em often. I want yer to pony
up twenty-five dollars fer him. If yer don't I'll fix ye, see?"
"I'll not pay a cent," cried Carl. "He was mad and we can easily prove
it."
"No sech thing, boy! Are yer goin' ter pay?"
"No."
"Then take that!"
The fellow raised the rawhide whip and brought it down with a whir over
Carl's head.
Had the rawhide descended as intended the young magician would have been
seriously injured.
But Carl was not to be caught unawares.
He leaped aside, and before the man could raise the whip again, Leo
wrenched it from his grasp.
"Give me that whip or I'll fix yer, as sure as my name is Jack Darrow!"
fumed the fellow.
"Stand back!" ordered the young gymnast. "You have no right to attack my
friend."
"I'll show ye!" yelled Jack Darrow, and leaped upon Carl.
The young magician was on guard, and in a twinkle he put out his foot
and sent the fellow on his back.
"Now leave me alone or I'll shoot you," he said sternly, and walked
away. Leo threw the whip over a fence and followed.
Darrow got up and stood still. He shook his fist after them, then
disappeared in search of his whip.
The next village was four miles distant, and when they reached the
place, Carl, who had lamed his foot on a stone, was glad enough to sit
down. He entered a tavern and took a seat by a corner table.
"I'll be with you in a few minutes," said Leo. "I want to see what the
prospects are here."
"All right, I'll wait," replied the young magician, and taking up a
paper that lay handy he glanced it over.
Presently a man came in and dropped in a chair opposite to him. Carl
glanced over the paper and saw it was Nathan Wampole.