The National tribune., 1881-12-03

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fore taking back the diamonds to the King.
COLLINS, lie remembered to have heard, were very
treacherous as well as cruel it would be better
not to trust them too far, he thought. And the
end Of it was that he carefully hid the diamonds
under q corner of an old stump, and set out alone
to see what was to be thought OF the state of at-
fairs before bringing out the treasures from which
he hoped to gain so much
He went toward the castle; the draw-bridge
was down, but at the end of it, just within the
gloomy doorway, stood a cross old porter, who
said, gruf1ly:
What do you want, AtOm?"
"If you please, sir" said Spideree, politely, II
have news Of his diamonds for the King!"
"You!" said the rough old porter What
you know can't be worth much. But come
along to my MASTER and he'll soon find out what
You have to say for yourself!"
Spideree followed the porter through the dusky
halls of4he CASTLE until he stopped before a heavy
door, and knocked.
Come in!n some one shouted.
The porter threw open the door, and said, bow
ing low: /" I beg pardon, your Majesty, but here's
a conceited mite of fairy thinks he's got your
precious diamonds"
"Ha hal" roared the King. "Got my dia-
monds, has he? Hand 'em over sir, and then
III have you and the diamonds tool"
please sir" said Spideree's shrill little voice.
Il thought was to have anything 1 wanted for
q reward"
$50 you believed that silly story, did your"
said the King. well, it wasn't true as any one
with any sense might have known. So give up
the diamonds"
Il havn't brought them with me, please sir"
said Spideree.
Gas if I'd believe that!" growled the King, and
he picked up Spideree, and looked in all his
pockets and even inside the lining of his hat, to
see if the gems were hidden anywhere about him.
His Majesty flew into a terrible rage as he went
on, for he thought Spideree had been only foolng
him, and at last, in fit of anger, he tossed him
out of the window shouting:
Get out, you miserable, decetfu1 little mite!"
He was so angry that he threw Spideree far
across the moat, to the hard bank beyond which
for the little fellow was really very fortunate
Bruised and sore, he picked himself up and
limped back to his woods. There he soon made
for himself healing salve of red cup-moss, and
the juices of some wood plants, well mixed to-
gether, which in a short time restored him to his
natural vigOr.
For whole day and night he sat on his toad
stool, rejecting. But at last he said to himself
Nothing venture, nothing have!" and taking
the thousand sided diamond from its hiding
place, he started once more for the stone CASTLE
When he reached it, all the inhabitants were out
of sight, and the draw bridge was raised
what shall 1 do now?" muttered Spideree
Z They will never bear such littls voice as mine
calling across the moat. How am I ever to get
into that precious Off cavern of a castle?"
AS he stood puzzling over this difficult ques-
ton, he raised his hand to rub his head, as puz-
lied people are very apt to do, and no sooner did
all upon the draw-bridge, than it slowly lowered
Itself, and then the way to the castle lay open |
before him. Now he felt certain of what he had |
ong suspected, that the diamonds were magic |
ewels, and that it was for this reason that the |
King of the COLLINS was so anxious to get them |
,nce more into his own possession.
Greatly pleased with this idea, Spideree passed |
,ver the bridge, and with single CLEAN from
he diamond opened the huge gates which were
ocked across his way. But alas, although the
;astle gates flew open before the enchanted rays,
lie could not open with them the door of a single
hamber, and was forced to return to the woods |
or the other two diamonds, before he could make !
lis way any further. When he came back with
hese, Spideree soon found that, while the dia-
nond with thousand facets controlled only the
lraw-bridge and the great gates, the one with
wo thousand sides made every door in the castle
ly open. Hastily he made his way to the apart
nent which he remembered as the Kings Here
e paused moment, and then taking courage
ct single beam from the gem fall upon the
massive door. Instantly it flew open, and with
n sat the Goblin King, who, the moment he saw
he sparkling stone in Spiderees hand started
p, shouting: "At last! At last, have them!"
nd rushed toward the door, with his hand
tretched out to seize the jewell. The light
which streamed upon him from it did not seem
0 affect him at ALL and Spideree, in terror, just
ad time to draw the third diamond from his
osom and direct it's beams upon his enemy
AS the glittering radiance fell upon the goblin
he laughter died upon his lips the brightness
aded from his eyes, and slowly he grew still and
gid before the wondering eyes of Spideree who
ow saw in front of him. instead Of a raging foe,
My statue Of stone, with its hand outstretched
5 if to grasp the empty air. Spideree knew now
nat at last he had found the means of conquering
1e goblin tribe and undoing all the evil which
leir avarce and harshness had worked Swiftly
e flew from room to room, changing the inhabi-