by Tony Verna

Created on: December 08, 2009

In our last installment: An alarmed Jancy was shocked when her Tonio caught a speeding bullet with his teeth.

*  *  *  *

The day had ended with a trip to the train station. While awaiting the appearance of Tonio, the Professor gave Jancy and Chester an explanation of how the bullet illusion was performed.

"In his hand Tonio had concealed a short tube with one open end and one closed end. He dropped the tube into the muzzle so that it would land with its open end upward. When the bullet was dropped, it fell into the tube, where Tonio rammed it with a special ramrod designed so that it could pick up the tube holding the bullet, thus removing the bullet from the rifle. When he put down the ramrod, he removed the tube and palmed the bullet. Later, when he feigned nervousness and cleared his throat, he popped the bullet into his mouth. The plate he held was pre-shattered and glued together so that he could crumble it with his hand. The rifle's explosion was real. The shattering of the plate was fake, as was Tonio's fall."

Chester was more impressed with the explanation than with the trick itself, but Jancy wasn't listening. Tonio had arrived. He hugged her goodbye and she turned glum.

As Tonio boarded the train, a squad of wounded New York Highlanders, still with their fighting kilts and crutches, struggled to load the coffins of their comrades onto the back of the train Under the railroad station canopy, an old woman sang 'They All Came Home But Mine.'

The depot candles spluttered low in their sockets as the Professor promised the now tearful Jancy that Tonio would be sending for her soon. Chester's eyes went to Jancy as she sank into her black coat like an octopus in its own ink. The train had pulled away, and her lover had become one with the night.

- - - - -

New Year's Day 1863, and a long line of people stood in front of the White House waiting their chance to shake the President's hand. A couple of thousand did, and by noon Abe's hand was swollen when he took a pen and signed the Proclamation of Emancipation.

The crowd had thinned out by late afternoon when Chester and Jancy arrived, with Jancy being tugged by an English bulldog on a leash. Stamps was the mascot at the War Department's mailroom, and he loved to do his duty behind the White House. While Jancy took care of that matter, Chester watched the President pass on his way to the War Department. All seemed so peaceful. Little did Chester know that The Lucky Seven remained docked on the Potomac

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