"Yes, sir."

By this time the magician had reached the platform.

"I am sorry to doubt the young gentleman's word," said the professor,
"but I will charitably believe he is mistaken. Perhaps he forgot
these articles when he said it was empty," and he drew forth a couple
of potatoes and half a dozen onions from the hat and laid them on the
table.

There was a roar of laughter from the audience, and Ben looked rather
confused, especially when Rose turned to him and, laughing, said:

"You've been robbing Mr. Crawford, I am afraid, Ben."

"The young gentleman evidently uses his hat for a market-basket,"
proceeded the professor. "Rather a strange taste, but this is a free
country. But what have we here?"

Out came a pair of stockings, a napkin and a necktie.

"Very convenient to carry your wardrobe about with you," said the
professor, "though it is rather curious taste to put them with
vegetables. But here is something else," and the magician produced a
small kitten, who regarded the audience with startled eyes and uttered
a timid moan.

"Oh, Ben! let me have that pretty kitten," said Rose.