Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 180: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

522 “ How do you know you can get them?” ‘Got a crate of them already.” Brady, watching them from a few feet away, now approached and lifted his hat. “Good morning, Miss Humphrey—you, . too, Higgins.” Balboa H. had to reply. Caroline might do most anything if he didn’t. But his an- swer was not noticeably cordial, For Hig’s part the ensuing hour was ex- tremely uncomfortable. Brady was forever interposing a bit of advice, and the conjurer couldn’t get in a word of what he intended to tell Caroline. After doing the stunt a dozen times, the perspiring Balboa decided to call it a day. He returned to the Aster- pole alone. Much to the magician’s disgust, Brady saw fit to be present at all the rest of the rehearsals,.and Miss Humphrey seemed to take increased pleasure in his company. Sunday morning—the matinee would witness the first public presentation of their new finale—Hig could stand it no longer. At ten o’clock he demanded audience with Caroline, and she listened in silence for twenty minutes to the outpouring of his heart. Apparently he made little impres- sion on her, though. ‘“Why have you kept this to yourself so long?” she asked, rather unfeelingly. “ You wait until you think I’m going to pair oe with some one else, and then—”’ ‘But I thought you knew it, Car'line. I didn’t think it was necessary to tell you in so many words.”’ “Look back at last Sunday morning,” she reminded him. ‘‘ Think of the way you treated me on the street-car! Was that any indication of what you thought of me? You don’t interest me.” ‘“T know I’ve a beastly temper. But I will be able to make you happy, Car’line. I know I will!” ‘“ Maybe couldn’t. else,” Hig couldn’t think of anything else worthy of conversation. But he wasn’t to have much further opportunity, anyway. A knock sounded on the door, and Caroline called: ‘‘ Come in.” you could— maybe you But let’s talk about something ARGOSY AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. Bughouse Brady, fresh as a new-laid egg, entered. Sunday houses always were good in Oak- land. A quarter of an hour before the Cal- clum matinée began the “ Standing Room Only ” sign was displayed. At twelve minutes after three the street - drop before which Brady delivered his nut monologue was raised, disclosing the stage setting of Mysterious Higgins and Com- pany. The conjurer with the rapidly shift- ing features had not varied the prelimi- naries of his entertainment; but after he had heen on ten minutes, spectators who had witnessed last week’s performance be- came cognizant that the act was going to finish differently. Balboa H. advanced to the footlights. “For my closing item, folks,” them in a soft, but distinct voice, ‘I shail present a brand-new illusion entitled ‘Noah’s Ark—or After the Flood.’ ” The ark, which was wheeled on by a Stage-hand, differed in some essentials from its ancient prototype of shittim-wood. For one thing, it was mounted on four slender castored legs. Hig took charge, and swung the boxlike affair around, that the audience might view all sides. Then, wheeling it well forward, he lowered its rear door, then the front coor.. He also let down its hooded ends. Undoubtedly the thing was empty—vou could look right through its skeleton to the rear of the stage. But, had you viewed the ark from be- hind, you would have beheld Caroline Humphrey, erstwhile Helia, of “ Burned Alive,” firmly secured to the hanging rear door by two welt-raising straps. Assuredly the posture was uncomfortable. | The stage-hand helped Hig close the front door first—then the end hoods. To- gether they now lifted the back door into place without suggesting to the audience that it was heavier than the front one. The conjurer produced from somewhere a large, tin funnel, and inserted its spout in a hole in the front left corner of the ark’s flat top. He stepped back a moment, then: “On with the flood!” Three stage-hands each made three trips he addressed - NOO Co S Co mM