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 s.p.a.ce 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 k.n.o.b 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 sh.e.l.l, 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 sh.e.l.l, 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 pa.s.s!"

"To circle No. 2," said an interested boy.

"Advance, and do as bidden!" cried Carl, making some pa.s.ses 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.

CHAPTER XXI.-AN UNEXPECTED BATH.

Soon after this the young performers brought their performance to a close.

But the last trick-how was it performed? we hear some of our readers say.

It was very simple. When the curtains were closed Leo came forward and concealed himself under the table. He had a powerful magnet, and wherever he pushed the magnet under the table the bit of metal on top of the table was sure to follow.

Leo knew where the circles were to be placed, and made his movements accordingly. A swift motion at the finish dropped the metal into the little girl's lap.

"I would like to see you," said a gentleman at the close of the engagement. "I belong across the river about ten miles north of here.

The folks are going to give a sociable, as we call it. I will give you twenty dollars if you can give us a first-cla.s.s entertainment to last two hours."

"We'll try to suit you," said the young gymnast, and the engagement was duly entered on a pa.s.sbook he had purchased.