登陆注册
4609200000023

第23章 A STRANGE COMPANION.(1)

At ten o'clock the next day Harry presented himself at the hotel. He carried in his hand a carpetbag lent him by Mr. Leavitt, which contained his small stock of under-clothing. His outside suits he left at Mr. Leavitt's.

``I see you are on time,'' said the professor.

``Yes, sir; I always mean to be.''

``That's well; now if you'll jump into my buggy with me, we will ride round to the Town Hall, and take in my apparatus. I have to keep a carriage,'' said the magician, as they rode along. ``As a general thing, the places at which I give entertainments are near together, and my horse answers my purpose.''

They drew up in front of the Town Hall, and in a short time the apparatus was transferred to a trunk in the back part of the buggy, and securely locked.

``Would you like to drive?''

``Yes, sir,'' answered Harry, with alacrity.

``I am going to give an entertainment in Holston this evening,'' said his new employer. ``Were you ever there?''

``No, sir.''

``It is a smart little place, and, although the population is not large, I always draw a full house.''

His companion leaned back at his ease, and talked socially on various subjects. He paused a moment, and Harry was startled by hearing a stifled child's voice just behind him: ``Oh, let me out! Don't keep me locked up here!''

The reins nearly fell from his hands. He turned, and heard the voice apparently proceeding from the trunk.

The truth flashed upon Harry. His companion was exerting some of his powers as a ventriloquist.

``Oh, it is you, sir,'' he said, smiling.

His companion smiled.

``You are right,'' he said.

``I

don't see how you can do it,'' said Harry, in admiration. ``It was perfectly natural.''

``Practice, my boy.''

A week later, Harry reached a brisk manufacturing place which I will call Centreville.

In company with his employer he drove over from a neighboring town, and, according to custom, put up at the village hotel. He assisted the professor during the afternoon to get ready the hall for his evening performance, and, at half-past five, took his seat at the supper table.

Just as Harry began to eat he lifted his eyes and started in surprise as he recognized, in his opposite neighbor, Luke Harrison. Precisely at the same moment, Luke also looked up, and the recognition was mutual. Luke was disagreeably startled at Harry's sudden appearance. Not knowing his connection with Professor Henderson, he fancied that our hero was in quest of him, and not being skilled in the law, felt a little apprehension as to what course he might take.

``How are you, Walton?'' he said.

``I am well,'' said Harry, coldly.

``How do you happen to be in this neighborhood?''

``On business,'' said Harry, briefly.

Luke jumped to the conclusion that the business related to him, and, conscious of wrong-doing, felt disturbed.

``You left us rather suddenly,'' said Harry. ``No one knew where you had gone.''

``Why, yes,'' said Luke, hesitating. ``I had reasons. I'll tell you about it after supper.''

As Harry rose from the table Luke rose, also, and joined him.

``Come upstairs to my room, Walton,'' he said, ``and have a cigar.''

``I'll go upstairs with you, but I don't smoke.''

He led the way into a small apartment on the top floor.

同类推荐
  • 旧典备征

    旧典备征

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 滋溪文稿

    滋溪文稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The King's Jackal

    The King's Jackal

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 犹及编

    犹及编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 闺墨萃珍

    闺墨萃珍

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 小故事 大感悟

    小故事 大感悟

    人生需要感悟,有感悟的人生是睿智的人生,先辈、哲人的人生不能复制,但可以创造;先辈的智慧不能抄袭,但可以借鉴。生命,就是在一代一代的创造和借鉴之中延续、发展。感悟是一种境界,是一种心有灵犀一点通的默契。它不但意味着知识的渊博、处世的精明,语言的机灵,更意味着宽广的胸怀、长远的眼光和坚定的信念。
  • 雚经

    雚经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 家有贤妻:下堂庶女不从夫

    家有贤妻:下堂庶女不从夫

    为了母亲,她这个庶女嫁给传说中皇上的私生子。他绝对“忠心”绝对“仁义”,她绝对“贤惠”绝对“本分”新婚三日,新郎避而不见,她回门不过夜,原轿去原轿回。成亲不到一月,夫君说他所爱另有其人,她立刻亲自上门去提亲。这世上还有比她更贤惠的妻子吗?可偏偏有人意不平,冷笑挑起她的下巴:“到底要怎么样,才能挑动你的情绪?”她掩面而泣:“夫君对我如何都可以,但万不能不要我!”大雨中,她接过他的休书,一夜失踪。-再相见,她于国宴之日长跪朝堂,低眉顺眼:“妾愿远嫁西凉国,保两国和平,世世代代!”五年后,她率百万铁骑,踏破他的家园,令他成为阶下之囚。她身后,站着面容与他相似的男孩,而她的身边所站立的,早已换做他人。
  • 重生之二嫁前夫

    重生之二嫁前夫

    郎才女貌,幸福美满,这样一份让人羡慕的爱情,却破碎了,前世难产而死,留下孤零零的包子。重生入天下第一美人的身体,卷入皇权争斗之中,女子当自强,什么阴谋诡计,什么权术斗法,她统统接着。一道圣旨将她许给前夫,深呼吸,看她如何收服浪子,保护包子,战平妻斗小妾,努力追求美满幸福的生活。
  • 沧海遗珠

    沧海遗珠

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 邪王的一品宠妃

    邪王的一品宠妃

    穿成克父克母克全家,本是侯府嫡女却被送到尼姑庵修行的灾星该怎么破?开了金手指的谢歆玥飞出十根银针磨刀霍霍地表示,乖,迷信是病,得治!女扮男装,她妙手回春游走在王侯贵族之间,成为了人人追捧的玉面神医!极品亲戚赖上门,不好意思,当初叫我滚,现在已经滚远了!灾星命格疑点重重,为夺回母亲嫁妆,报仇雪恨,她决定再入侯门!且看嫡女归来,如何痛打牛鬼蛇神,成就本朝独有的一品女医!还有那个谁,别以为你是王爷就能拖欠诊费!啊呸呸呸以身相许泥煤,钱我不要了卧槽你这妖孽表过来!
  • 想你是座不夜城

    想你是座不夜城

    他是被誉为有着上帝之手的珠宝设计师,俊美无双,他万花丛中过,却片叶不沾身,直到遇见她。她是他见过最没有天赋的模特——临上场之前找不到首饰,走秀时会撞到其他模特,下场时还会摔倒。原本这样一个不起眼的她,和他简直如云泥,永远也不会有交集,可谁知,初见时的出手相助,竟然让两条平行线产生交集。都说时尚娱乐圈没有真爱,她却用尽真心去豪赌。本以为自己输得一败涂地,殊不知,那个星光璀璨的夜晚,他连求婚都格外霸道——陆心凉,我一直在等你,等你放下过去,等你爱上我,等你嫁给我。
  • 净土十要

    净土十要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 最强帝灵系统

    最强帝灵系统

    杀神转世,神物俯身,身揣洪荒异宝,最强升级系统。灵气稀薄,修为难升,本大爷用的是妖力!
  • 剑扫风烟:腾冲抗战纪实

    剑扫风烟:腾冲抗战纪实

    本书是以塑造人物的类型群像见长的,其中腾冲籍的国老李根源、老县长张问德、绅士杨筱山、医学博士张德辉、女学生徐秀红、傈僳族英雄余子然和余子厚兄弟、游击司令梁正中以及后来加入腾冲籍的外籍战士张仁勇、仁二林……这一系列的人物是腾冲人民的优秀代表,也最为生动、感人。他们虽然是有名有姓的个体,但在作者的心中,他们都是“腾冲人”,即腾冲人的英雄群像的一个组成部分。