In vain Jack Darrow protested against the proceedings. He was lifted
into the carriage without ceremony, and the horses' heads were turned
back along the road to where a bridge crossed the brook.
The stable reached, Leo and Carl went upstairs. The loft was filled with
loose hay.
"I'll pitch it over with this fork," said Carl, and took up the
implement he had mentioned.
He had proceeded but a short distance into the hay when one of Leo's
valises came to light. His own followed, and soon all their baggage was
recovered.
"Well?" called the tavern-keeper from below.
"We have it," replied the young gymnast.
"Good enough. This fellow is good for a term in the State prison."
At this Darrow began to whine and beg. But Mr. Cook was obdurate and
told him to shut up.
As soon as the two performers came below again the party drove off for
the squire's office, situated over the general store and post office.
Here a formal complaint was lodged by Mr. Cook, and Jack Darrow was
locked up to await the sitting of the grand jury at the county seat.
"He'll be indicted--I'll see to it myself," said the tavern-keeper, as
he and our heroes drove back to Charlotting.
Leo and Carl were anxious to get to the place where they were to perform
that night, and as it was some distance out Mr. Cook drove them directly
to the spot--a fine country seat, at which a party of over forty were
stopping.
A round of applause greeted their appearance in the drawing-room some
time later. The drawing-room opened into a conservatory, and the latter
was used by the pair for a stage.
As usual, Leo was the first to appear, doing a number of feats which
were watched with close attention. As the space was limited he did not
confine himself to acrobatics but, in addition, performed several tricks
with fire which Carl had taught him.
Among other things he did was to stuff his mouth with burning cotton.
"He'll burn himself up!" cried several, but Leo only smiled. His mouth
had been washed with a strong solution of alum, and was to a certain
degree fireproof. Of course, he had to be very careful in doing the fire
tricks, for at the best such tricks are highly dangerous.
"I will next swallow a red-hot knife," he announced, and brought in an
iron blade, heated to a red heat. He faced the audience sideways, and it
looked as if the knife slid down into his open mouth, which was thrown
back, but in reality it slipped close to the outside of his mouth, on
the side from the spectators, and into a sheath inside his collar,
placed there to receive it. As the knife disappeared, the sheath
followed, and he faced the audience to show that all was fair and
square.
This concluded Leo's single act, and then Carl came on. After giving a
number of the tricks previously mentioned, he came forward smilingly.
"I have in my hand a box given me by the Prince of Wales," he said,
holding up an oblong object four inches wide by four high and eight
inches long. "This box, the prince insisted, was the most wonderful box
he had ever possessed. See; I open the box, and find it contains nothing
but an empty sliding drawer. Will somebody be kind enough to put a
quarter into the box?"
He held the open drawer out, and a young lady threw a piece of silver
into it. Then Carl shut the box up and blew upon it. When he opened the
box again the silver was gone!
The company applauded, while the young lady looked glum. Carl smiled
upon her.
"Never mind; we'll try to get the silver back," he said, and struck the
box on the bottom. Then he opened the drawer, and out tumbled the coin
into the lady's lap.
"Good! good! Very neat!"
Carl turned around to put the box on the table. Leaving it there, he
came forward again.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen," he began, when of a sudden the box on the
table began to dance, finally dancing to the floor.
"Well, I declare!" cried the young magician. "Something has surely
gotten into that box. And yet we left it empty, did we not?"
There was a nod from the young lady, who had looked into the box when
the coin came out.
Holding the box before him, Carl gave the knob to the drawer a jerk, out
it came, and a shower of small candies flew all over the audience. Some
fell into the young lady's lap, and all present sent up a shout of
laughter, in the midst of which Carl temporarily withdrew.
Now, no doubt our young readers are, as usual, anxious to know how it
was all done. The explanation is simple.
The box was not exactly what it appeared to be. Instead of having one
drawer it had two, one that worked inside of the other. The outside
drawer was a mere shell, without a back, to allow the inner box to slide
back and forth within it. There was a little spring outside at the end
which held the inner drawer when desired.
When the box was opened first the coin was placed in the second or inner
drawer. When it was opened again the second drawer was held back by the
catch, and out came the shell, or empty drawer. The third time the
second drawer came with the coin, as described.
After the young ladies and the others had seen the box was empty Carl
turned toward the table, and while so doing slyly poured the candy from
his bosom into the open box, and after closing the article stuck a bent
pin into one corner to which was attached a long, black horsehair, the
other end of the horsehair being pinned to his leg.
As he began to talk, he pulled in jerks on the horsehair, which caused
the box to dance and fall. Then bringing it forward he opened it and
released a spring that held the bottom, thus causing the candy to fly in
all directions. When he retired the horsehair was removed, and he
prepared for his next trick.
Carl now came out in a new role--that of a mesmerist, and after drawing
the curtains over the door for an instant, requested the company to draw
around, that they might get a good view of the top of the table which
was covered with a smooth cloth which reached to the floor.
"You have all played tiddle-de-winks and such games," he said. "I have
my own way of playing them. See, I place three circles on the table, and
also this shining bit of metal--my mascot, I call it. I name the circles
1, 2, and 3. Now, will somebody kindly designate a circle to which the
bit of metal shall pass!"
"To circle No. 2," said an interested boy.
"Advance, and do as bidden!" cried Carl, making some passes at the
metal, and slowly but surely the piece moved across the table until it
reached the center of the circle, where it stopped.
"Again?" said Carl impressively.
"To circle 3," said a lady.
Slowly but surely the mesmerized metal turned in the direction. Then
circle 1 was called out, and the others again. Wherever commanded the
metal went.
"And now who will keep the mascot for a keepsake?" cried Carl.
The little girl of the house spoke first, and as she was sitting close
to the table the metal moved to the edge and fell into her lap.