338 MEN I HAVE FISHED WITH. 



"Never lived in New York," and he gave me a look 

 of inquiry. "What made ye think that?" 



"I meant New Jersey. They're close together, and I 

 made a mistake. I can always tell a man that comes 

 from New Jersey, no matter how long he's been away 

 from it." 



"See here, stranger! I was a boy in New Jersey 

 once, but you don't know it ; you only guessed at it. You 

 may be good at guessin' ; guess ag'in." 



"Well, you lived down along the salt water, about 

 Raritan Bay or Staten Island Sound. I only want to 

 look into a man's eye to tell where he comes from, and 

 didn't have to ask where you came from." 



Then I mystified him with some old sleight-of-hand 

 tricks; passed a half dollar through his hat, let him draw 

 a card from the pack, and then after putting it back with 

 the rest told him to feel in his coat pocket and find it, 

 and several such simple tricks, which puzzled him. 



Said he: "Look a-here, stranger, that's the best I 

 ever seed. Oncet, on the old Massaseep, I seed a feller 

 do sich tricks, but he had a show on a boat an' a stage, 

 an* we wus so fur off we c'u'dn't see how he dun 'em; 

 but I'll be durned ef you don't do 'em right here with my 

 own keerds. Say, do 'em over agin', will ye? I want to 

 see how ye do 'em. Say, stranger, ef you'll stay here 

 with me I'll keep ye six months an' show ye the bes' 

 claims about yere." 



I declined to repeat the tricks ; all great magicians re- 

 sist such entreaties. I had puzzled this shrewd frontiers- 

 man by some simple things, and didn't care to lose my 

 prestige, just as you never wish to make a second rifle or 

 pistol shot after a very lucky first one. 



When we were alone Warren said : "Them tricks was 

 all right; I don't know just how you do 'em, but that 



