y's attention was drawn to a handbill
which had been posted up in the store, the post office, the tavern, and
other public places in the village. It was to this effect:

"PROFESSOR HENDERSON,

"The celebrated Magician,

"Will exhibit his wonderful feats of Magic and Sleight of Hand in the
Town Hall this evening, commencing at 8 o'clock. In the course of the
entertainment he will amuse the audience by his wonderful exhibition of
Ventriloquism, in which he is unsurpassed.

"Tickets 25 cents. Children under twelve, 15 cents."

In a country village, where amusements are few, such entertainments
occupy a far more important place than in a city, where amusements
abound.

"Are you going to the exhibition, Walton?" asked Frank Heath.

"I don't know," said Harry.

"Better come. It'll be worth seeing."

In spite of his economy, our hero wanted to go.

"The professor's stopping at the tavern. Come over, and we may see him,"
said Frank.

CHAPTER XXIII. THE VENTRILOQUIST

The boys went into the public room of the tavern. In the center was
a stove, around which were gathered a miscellaneous crowd, who had
assembled, as usual, to hear and talk over the news of the day. At the
farther end of the room was a bar, where liquor and cigars were sold.
The walls of the room, which was rather low-studded, were ornamented by
sundry notices and posters of different colors, with here and there
an engraving of no great artistic excellence--one representing a horse
race, another a steamer of the Cunard Line, and still another, the
Presidents of the United States grouped together, with Washington as the
central figure.

"Have a cigar, Walton?" asked Frank Heath.

"No, thank you, Frank."

"You haven't got so far along, hey?"

"I don't think it would do me any good," said Harry.

"Maybe not; but jolly comfortable on a cold night. The worst of it is,
it's mighty expensive."

Frank walked up to the bar and bought a ten-cent cigar. He returned and
sat down on a settee.

"The magician isn't here," said Harry.

"Hush, he is here!" said Frank, in a low voice, as the door opened, and
a tall, portly man entered the room.

Professor Henderson--for it was he--walked up the bar, and followed
Frank Heath's example in the purchase of a cigar Then he glanced
leisurely round the apartment. Apparently, his attention was fixed by
our hero, for he walked up to him, and said: "Young man, I would like to
speak to you."

"All r