Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-12-16

years, fasting, tho hot rays of the sun,
and intense mental suffering, had be-
come as withered as dried plum.
"What monstrosity is this2" he ex-
claimed, in wonder.
81 am that honorable and much
abused parsonage whom men call the
devil, +" humbly and courteously replied
the captive. my wicked motther-in-
law-oh that | had her now in my
claws has kept me imprisoned here
for ten years. Set me free, valiant war
rior, and l will grant you any favor you
may ask of me"
"I wish an honorable discharge from
the army" said the soldier.
"YCu shall have it. Let me out now
as speedily as possible, for it IL mon
strous shame to keep shut up, in this
revolutionary time, the foremost revolu-
zionist in the world"
The soldier half uncorked the bottle.
From the opening thus made came a
mephitic vapor which almost suilocated
him. He sneezed violently, and with
the palm of his hand gave the cork "A
blow which submerged it 80 deeply that
the bottom of it struck the head Of tho
devil; causing him to give utterance to a
cry of pam.
"What are you doing, you vile earth
worm ?" he exclaimed. "Let me out
as YOU promised
Hold a bit !" said the soldier. 81
think the service you ask of me is worth
n larger reward than you have offered.
In addition to an honorable discharge
from the army, 1 desire thousand
doubloons."
You ayaricious hound, / have no
money = cried the devil
The soldier looked incredulous.
BY Satan by Lucifer by Beelze-
bub! / haven't a single maravedi !"
screamed the devil
Haven't single maravedi You're
a great monarch, you are p said the
soldier, contemptuously
II have no need of money, and so
l don't keep any," said the prisoner.
You have need of money now, for
without it you will not get loose. Give
me 1000 doubloons, and will set you
free refuse, and L will leave you here
on this mountain"
"I tell you have no money r. vocif-
Grated the devil.
The soldier placed the bottle on the
ground.
well, guess I'd better be jogging
along, he said. "Good-by.'
He began to descend the mountain.
"Come back come back :" whined
the captive. 81 have indeed no money,
but l will get some for you"
The soldier retraced his steps.
How will you get it for me ?" he
asked
"Set me free, " said the captive, "and
will enter into the body of the p incess
of this kingdom. She will be very i'll,
and the royal physicians will be sum
moned to attend her; but none of them
will be able to cure her. At the proper
time do you present yourself at the
palace and offer to restore her TO health,
placing your compensation at thousand
doubloons. The King loves her dearly,
and will accede to your terms. After
you have doctored her for a short time |
will 60 forth from her body, leaving her
in perfect health, and you will then re-
ceive your money"
agreed" said the soldier.
He uncorked the bottle, and the devil
departed and entered into the body of
the Princess. She became very ill. The
royal physicians were summoned but
were unable to cure her. The King was
in the EXTREMIST affliction.
At the proper time the soldier pre-
sented himself at the palace and offered
to cure the princess for thousand doub-
AO'Ao' lit ihAAib talllllLtth llS beFNlceS,
but only on one condition-if the cure
was not effected within three days the
presumptuous doctor was to be hanged.
To this condition the soldier, who was
very confident of success, raised not the
least objection.
Unfortunately the devil heard the bar
gain.
The first day passed without the re-
covery of the Princess.
The second day passed and still she
lay groaning upon her couch. Then
the soldier began to suspect that the
devil intended to remain in the body of
the Princess more than three days, for
the purpose of having him hanged. But
he did not despair.