to
the quick work of Joe Strong. His strength, too, played not a little
part in this, for ordinarily the cabinet required two men to shift it.
But Joe had a knack of using his powerful muscles to the best
advantage, and it was this, with his most marvelous nerve, that enabled
him to do so many sensational things, about which this and future
volumes concerning our hero will tell.

The professor having been sent to his hotel to rest, and the
pantomimist having finished his act, Joe went out on the stage to
continue the performance. He made no reference to the non-appearance
of the chief performer, letting it be taken for granted that Professor
Rosello had finished his part in the entertainment.

"I would now like to borrow a gold gentleman's watch," began Joe; this
misplacement of words never failing to bring out a laugh. He then
proceeded to perform the trick of apparently smashing a borrowed watch,
firing the fragments from a pistol at a potted plant, and causing the
reunited watch to appear among the roots of the pulled-up flower.

As this trick has been described in detail in the first volume of this
series, exposing just how it is done, the description will not be
repeated here. In that book will also be found the details of how Joe
made an ordinary egg float or sink in a jar of water, at his pleasure.
(This is a trick one can easily do at home without apparatus.) Joe did
that trick now, and also the one of lighting a candle, causing it to go
out and relight itself again while he stood at one side of the stage,
merely pointing his wand at the flickering flame. (See the first
volume.)

Joe now essayed another trick. He brought out a bottle, apparently
empty, and said that it was a magical flask.

"From this I am able to pour three kinds of drinks," he stated. "Some
persons like water, others prefer milk, while nothing but grape juice
will satisfy some. Now will you kindly state which drink you like?"
and he pointed to a man in the front row.

"I'll have grape juice," was the answer.

"Very good," returned Joe. "Here you are!" He tilted the bottle, and
a stream of purple grape juice ran from the flask into a goblet. Joe
handed it to the man.

"It's perfectly good grape juice," Joe said, smilingly. "You need not
be afraid to sample it." The man did so, after a moment's hesitation.

"Is it all right?" Joe asked. "Just tell the audience."

"It's good," the man testified.

"Take it all. I have