over the scene. Each wire is terminated by a bag of sand or shot, which counter-balances the weight of the piano. It will be noticed that there is a fifth wire secured to the false case. It is run up also over the pulley in the truck, and then off to the side of the stage beyond the side scenes. By pulling this wire the piano is raised or lowered to any desired distance. Counterweights hold the instrument at any position. There is a rope attached to the overhead truck, so that it can be pulled back and forth, thus causing the piano to move across the stage. There are, of course, slits in the ceiling of the mimic stage which allow the wires to pass through. [Illustration: Fig. 31.--The Mystery Explained.] The lady is raised by a curious device. There is attached to the piano stool a clear piece of plate glass, which comes up through a slot in the stage technically known as a “slider.” This glass is made to raise or lower by means of a windlass. The glass rests on a cross-piece of wood and works up and down in a grooved frame, which is secured to a movable truck under the stage. The slot in the stage is continued in the direction in which the glass is to move, and the carpet is of a marked design which will cover the narrow opening. The bouquet is secured with a thread attached to the piano, and it then goes through the door, where an assistant holds the loose end. A small loop of wire is attached to the bouquet, and a thread runs through it. When the lady enters the room and lays the bouquet on the table, this thread is passed through the loop of wire. When the bouquet is desired to travel to the lady, the assistant has only to raise the end of the thread high enough and the bouquet slides down the incline into the lady’s hand. [Illustration: Fig. 32.--The Telegraph Set.]