The National tribune., 1892-02-25

- Ming hald the Ola man 10 A4NAHtlA a -
pretend that I'm n fortune-tcllcr." Aud elated
with his scheme he hastily thank ed the inn
keeper for his hospitality aud departed. I'm
barking that day from Tain on sallng-Yes-
sci bound for Havre he reached the latter
place two weeks later, and proceeded onward
10 Paris.
lie found much difficulty in gaining access
TO the Palace the military guard ut first reius-
ing 10 recognize that his claims upon an AUDI
ence with the King at all comported wiih MS
personal bearing.
But he finally prevailed by disclosing the
object OF his visit. and was allowed TO wait IN
the ball for His Maicsty's decision, which was
favorable 10 receiving him.
Then, you're fortune teller, eh2 " said the
King, with a halEhaughty hai-curlous AR
speaking in French, which was translated into
English by bis interpreter
That / am, your Highncss" responded
Adam
+" aud You can tell me where the lost ring is,
and who tho robbers arc2
" ] believe so, your llighness.'
" How much time do you require for your
diyiHatOus2"
Three days your Highness.'
Very well. IL on the morning OF the
/ fourth day you do not tell where the ring Is,
/ III have you beheaded. IL you do you shall
have the reward and more, too
The King then instructed Adam 10 be hathed
and properly dressed, rs he would be regarded
guest during his soioun nj court.
in few hours the fortunetcler appeared at
dinner in his first suit Of doub!ct aud hose,
kindly loaned by the butler his shaggy
beard neatly trimmed, aud his wild growth Of
hair curtailcd by the court barber Art had
briefly transformed him into the appearance OF
a gentleman without giving him tho manners
of one.
lie determined 10 enjoy the little Of life that
remained, for he knew that he would certainly
fail as a wizard, and il was evident that the
King would carry out the compact with the
oagerncss OF a Shylock Poor misled man! lie
forgot the Highlands Of his youth the Kenmore
Hills his home there, the patient wife and wan
checked little ones, and his own responsible
ties rs "a husband and father.
The first day he devoted 10 the consumption
OF Madeira witnessed a court performance,
and ia the evening listened with rapture 10
O.ivas playing on the harp. lie went 10 his
hedchambcr about midnight attended by
Pierre
And now happened a curious thing
While tie aged servant was pulling OF tho
fortune-tellcT's shoes, which were new and
fitted tightly, the latter, reminded Of the prox-
unity OF bis doom, remarked in a low hut
audible tone, This is the first one" his refer
Cncc being o the day. Pierre looked up into
the face of the speaker as ii 10 determine
whether the words referred TO himself as being
the first one Of the robbers
Going down stairs Pierre called his associates
and said " We will be exposed by that devil
Of f0rtune-telCr, Tor the Virgin Mary has
told him that we are the guilty ones When !
was drawing Of hs shoes be said. This is
the first onc' Mon DIeu! We shall be guillo.
tined !"
" Tia, ha," laughed Jean; "what nonsense!
You are trying 10 Brighten u.s. j Will 60 up
with him tomorrow night
"On the second day the fortune-tcllcr en-
joycd himself twice as well as on Tie first,
because he was more familiar with the means
employed 10 manufacture pleasure. After a
drawing room entertainment under the au-
spices of the court Jester lie again sought rest,
being accompanied this time by Jean, who like
the other TWO servants, was able 10 speak pigeon
English.
An appropriate time for serious reflection
must be when a mans tenacious shoes are being
removed from his feet, for the Scotchman
during that process sorr0wfully exclaimed:
This Is tAc second one"
" You are right Pierre" said Jean, rcjoniug
bis companions. The forluuc-tcllcr said: This
Is the second one
Zamora was now the incroduuus one. lie
was unwilling 70 accept hearsay as satisfactory
evidence so Ae decided to learn for himself on
the following night.
Tie third day, Adam expected would be the
4 last one on which lac could ever see the sun de-
cline IN the west, and he therefore made an
extra effort 10 squeeze JOY cut Of every pre-
4 cous moment
Just before he retired 10 his chamber in a
semi-state OF MEDITATION, lac confessed 10 the
/ King that be had not as yet received any SUI
pamatural adviecs regarding tie ring, but
4 hoped be would be told where it was IN a
dream.
Zmora performed the nocturnal duties on
J "a aim o r,T
This Is the third Ouc-thc last onen
He tremLIugly repeated them to Pierre and
jean, who thought thCm prophetic Of their
elimination. After holding a consultation they
agreed that ID would be folly 10 try 10 escape.
as they would be- pursued, captured aud handed
over 10 mCTcile-s justice and the only way out
was through the channel Of "A compromise with
the fortune teller
They cautiously entered the apartment occu-
pied by the supposed follower Of witchcraft.
mud Pierre, acting as the spokesman, approached
the nervous sleeper, who was awakened by a
gentle touch.
"Grcat Monsieur, you know we have the
ring," be ptifully murmured.
Oh yes, yes; DO ] was going 10 tell the
King tomorrow. What Of itl" and Adam
rose from tho bed aud leaned on his elbow,
staring 40 the person he addressed, scarcely
realizing the situation.
" Well we Will give Monsieur all our earn,
ings 800 francs and the ring, il be will not
disclose us 10 the King said Pierre with Z
confidential yet miBgiying smile.
"All right. bring up tie ring aud some -four
quickly" replied the fortuuc-tcller
The servant did as requested, being dismissed
with the promise that the secret Of the burglary
would not be divulgcd. By means Of water
and the -FOUR, Adam made a dough-cake, on
which be placed the ring, and then rolled Tie
dough into "a ball about tho size Of a large wal
nut. Softly creeping down stairs he gided out
through the garden aud proceeded 10 the park
where, among many living cuTiOsities, were
some high bred fowls Within a separate in
closure Was The iayOrIte specimen Of the King
a tame old yuliure, which popped down from
lis perch aud luriousiy beat us wings as though
disguised with 30 uutimcly an intrusion. Adam
held the dough bail between the bars, aud tht
bird Immediately came Up, pccked il out Of hii
hand and informally boltcd 10.
The rest Of the story Is soon told. Tho mex
morning the King suspcctinR the fortune
teller 10 lo q humDuP, commanded the death
, block and hcadsmau's AK TO be made ready ia
the courtyard. But the fortuue-teller an
uouEccd that he WAS able to give the desiIeJ
Information, and invited the King his wiz
and daughter into the garden.
Has not las Hlghucss's yulture ever beer
5 out OF iaat cage over yOudcri" asked the fOr
tuue-tcllor.
B Tie King answered through his intcrprotc
/ that IL was frequently allowed the freedom 0
5 the premises, having been out recently.
Then that accounts Tor IT, all Madcm0isell
Olivia has perhaps been strolling out in thi
garden, aud, as ] read tic past, she once stoopc
Q over TO pluck Flower, and the ring, which wa