“Ladies and gentlemen, I protest that the quarters have been stolen.”
“Oh, that’s all right. Go on with the show.”
The real fact was the performer did not have any more quarters—he hadn’t received his salary. He was a gambler and the three dollars in silver was all the money he possessed. He had been compelled to save them for his great act.
The man stepped up to Ike and said:
“You scoundrel, if you don’t surrender that money, I’ll call an officer and have you arrested.”
Ike turned, and facing the audience, said:
“This man accuses me of stealing his money. He can’t work his trick, and that’s the way he is trying to get out of it.”
When the magician had threatened our hero he had stepped quite close to him and had whispered in his ear. We relate this in order that our readers will more readily comprehend what is to follow.
“You stole my money,” said the magician.
“You had the two gentlemen search me.”