THE WAITER AND THE TENCENT PIECE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 22, Issue 29, 14 April 1911, Page 5

THE WAITER AND THE TENCENT PIECE.

A CONJURING STORY. I have been very nearly a victim on) some occasions in restaurants or bars which I have visited during my travels, and have been forced to practice a little conjuring in selfdefence. Whilst playing an engagement at the Folies Marigny, in Paris, I visited one of the best-known restaurants in the Gay City. I was with friends and feeling good, and the waiter evidently mistoak me for a foolish millionaire.

For instance, we selected the various dishes we required from the bill-of-fare, when I noticed that the one to which I had first referred, with prices on, had disappeared, and in its place had been substituted one without prices—a trick the method of which I did not at that moment detect, But, not satisfied with this, they played another trick on me, I called for n bottle of wine. There were five in our party, and each one was served with a glass. The waiter emptied the bottle into four glasses, and of course we were compelled to order another bottle for our fifth guest. Looking at the, si*e of the glasses. I again recognised a trick performed by a non-conjurer. Greatly amused, and attil wondering how I could get even, I called for roy second bill, which was —Wine 40 francs ; couvert (or use of serviettes), 5 francs; ice, 2 francs ; making a total of 47 francs. Reasonable, wasn't It, for the last two Ttem/j ? 'fills was aftw the supper. I ga’e the waiter a 100-franc note, and this if} what I was offered for change? a 20 franc gold piece, three 10-franc gold pieces, a 2-fraac piece, and a 1 frano piece. But one 10-franc piece was placed under the 2 franc piece. uf course. She waiter anticipated lhat I would leave the small change tor him, and then be would retain the 10-fr»nc pl*te which was placed under the 2-franc piece ; but as I am always in th« habit cf counting my change before touching it, I again •'‘jaw art other trick, and I made up »y mini to have my revenge there omi thfr.. I i.-.formed the waller he was ten franca short. NaiuraUy he did not want to disclose the wbeteabouts of the 10-fi«.ac piece, so he handed me the missiag amount, aud I picked up the money, leaving the three francs in silver tor hia lip.

1 had conjured the 10-franc piece from under the 2-frano ptt-cc without his slightest suspicion, and; he was horrified as he looked under the silver, found nothing there, and. realised the predicament he was in—ten francs out of pocket, and could not say anything !

Of course, I was ten francs in, and my revenge was complete ; but, as I did not wish to keep his money, I informed him that we were very pleased with his services, especially with his honesty, a,nd therefore I wished to make him a present of ten francs extra. Handing him the money, it again disappeared, and I found it in his pocket. I then showed him how I could make twenty francs out of ten francs and v handing, him the money, li requested him to close his hand quickly, On opening it he found a brass cain, when his eyes nearly stood out of his head.

He was- then told that I was the conjurer who mystified hundreds nightly at the Folies Marigny, and that for once he had tried his game on the wrong man.—-Horace Goidwin, in the “Pall Mall Magazine.”